Christmas in Samos this year for me... Time to return to my birthplace for one more time… the fifth time for 2006!

I have traveled to Samos during winter for a special reason… a wedding, a time for a blessing start of the joint life for two of my best friends, Angela and Chrisostomos.

Angela and Chrisostomos asked me a few months ago to be their first of honor at their wedding which will be at 30 of December and I accepted the great honor. We have started working from that day to organize the big event which would be held at the one of the most beautiful churches of Samos , at the church of Virgin Mary 's Entrance at the Temple , one of the biggest and ancientent churches in Karlovasi, my home town.

Angela asked me to be in Karlovasi before Christmas in order to be sure that the weather conditions will not keep me away from Samos . During winter Samos have this privilege… to be isolated by the rest of the world. I promised to Angela that I will arrive at the island before Christmas and I kept my promise.

Angela was right. Because of the bad weather conditions the ships have stopped their route to the island and many flights have cancelled their flights to the island for the same reason.

We are lucky. I am in Samos and Angela will have her first of honor at her wedding.

At Christmas Eve Day I started early in the morning run to finish one more of the season's obligations. I visited Theodoros, my God son's home and accompanied him at the church of “Agia Marina” at Illisia for his first holy communion.

Theodoros, as always was a real gentleman and he did not make me tired at the church.

Holy communion of the children with the company of their God parents is a custom that comes from the Greek Orthodox religion at all holy days.

Theodoros has received also his presents for Christmas by me and same happened with his mother, Christina, her present for her Name Day. Vasilis shot the photo of a day we need to remember.

Theodoros first holy communion Day!

I traveled to Samos with my aunt Yiota. A few minutes after we entered at her home in Karlovasi she was ready to decorated the tree at her home.

I helped her and memories came for both of us from old times. It is something that happens to all of us when we open the box of the Christmas ornaments and we remember the story of each one of them. She showed me some ornaments that keep to remember the happy moments of her childhood, from the time that her mother was alive or some other that she bought at happy moments of her life with my ungle, Nicos, before his lost a cold day at the Aegean Sea.

So many memories that a Christmas tree holds!

For Greeks the Christmas Eve night is not the night that Santa Claus comes. Our Santa Claus is not Saint Nicholas. Our Santa Claus is Saint Vasilios and he comes at New Year's Eve. So we don't open presents at Christmas morning.

We use to attend the Christmas Liturgy at the churches which starts early at the morning. After the finish of the Christmas Liturgy we kiss each other and we wish “ Chronia Polla ” as this is the main greeting of the day. That wish means “Many Happy Years for you”.

A nice welcome waited me at Karlovasi by my family. I spent a nice night with friends and family members.

That is something very common in every place of Greece and all around the world that Greeks live. A surprise came for me after the end of Liturgy and at the time that everybody walked back to their home. It was an initiative of the Mayor of Karlovasi, Panagiotis Limberis. He arranged the start of a special concert from the soundboards of the town. Christmas sounds from all over the world filled the atmosphere of the small town. We walked at the Karlovasi's streets sharing those special Christmas sounds and offering our wishes to friends, family members and every person we have met.

Loads of happy people governed by the Christmas spirit!

We enjoyed this special concert for 2 hours, as long we needed to prepare our Christmas dinner, the big family table which collects all the family members. Traditional main dish for this dinner is pork and stuffed turkey. The bread of this day is the Christmas bread the “Christopsomo” a description of it I have placed at my previous blog and of course the wine is plenty and as desserts the famous Melomakarona, Kourambiedes and Baklava.

This Christmas dinner starts midday and ends at evening with music and dance.

Well… we are Greeks! Those big family dinners at holy days signalize every year of our life. They have a special place at our hearts. They are precious memories of our life!

"Chronia Polla" to all of you!

Enjoy your life with the Greek way these holidays. Share the love, share the special moments with a big smile. Open your hearts to invite more friends at your hug!