Καλή Χρόνια!

The marble hallways in the Benakio rang with cries of “Καλή Χρόνια!” and “Χρόνια Πολά!” on the first days back after Christmas Break.  These greetings, roughly equivalent to our “Happy New Year!” and "Many happy returns!" (and literally translated “good year” and “many years”) were joyfully exchanged with anyone that each person hadn’t seen since the new year began.  In our regular Thursday English Department meeting, one of the teachers brought in an enormous powdered sugar-dusted “vasilopita” or traditional New Year’s cake, flavored with orange extract and peel.  Tradition states that a coin be placed in the cake, and whoever gets the slice with the coin will have good luck in the New Year (a tradition that strongly reminds me of the Mardi Gras King’s cake tradition.)  The teacher who had the slice containing the coin was also given a small gold charm on a necklace.  According to one of the teachers, all jewelry shops in Greece produce these silver or gold New Year good luck charms, and there is “fierce competition” among the different shops.  Apparently the first slice is also traditionally given to Jesus, though I believe ours was consumed.

I also received two beautiful pomegranate ornaments from teachers in the English Department; one, a lovely silver, and the other a clear blue glass.  The pomegranate is considered a symbol of good luck in the new year, and there are a couple of interesting New Year’s traditions related to the fruit that a shop keeper in Monastiraki related to me.  During my Christmas shopping in this popular tourist shopping district, the shopkeeper explained to me that actual pomegranates are smashed outside doorways on New Year’s day in Greece for good luck!  It is also customary for young people to take a pomegranate to their grandmother, which she keeps until the day that they marry.  The shop keeper, of a grandmotherly age herself, showed me a couple of dried pomegranates on her shelf that she had received as a result of this tradition.

I love the overall feeling of returning to school after a break.  Of course, there are the sleepy-eyed students and the re-adjustment to the schedule (accompanied by jet-lag, in my case), but there is also a rededication and enthusiasm that is refreshing, breathing new life into the classroom.  So, “Καλή Χρόνια!” and “Χρόνια Πολά!” to all of my blog readers!  I wish you a Happy New Year and many years, besides!