CHRISTMAS IN CORFU

23rd December 2024
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Corfu Town at Christmas is a special place to experience Christmas with its Greek Orthodox heritage, Christmas decorations and traditions. The old town's streets and squares are decorated with lights, candy houses, Christmas trees, and Santa Clauses from December 12 to January 7. 

Weather wise during the day temperatures average around 10 degrees Celsius.  The humidity can make it feel colder and it can also be wet and windy.  It rarely snows in Corfu, perhaps once in 20 years, so a white Christmas is never on the cards.  Locals have been known to take a dip in the Ionian Sea on Christmas Day as the sun can come out and temperatures can reach 20 degrees Celsius.

Corfu’s Christmas Traditions

When it comes to Christmas traditions, some in Corfu and mainland Greece are the same as the rest of the world, others are unique to the Ionian Islands. 

Carol Singing 

Ta Kalanda is when Christmas carols are sung over a three-day period beginning on the 24th December; the other two days are New Year’s Eve and the Eve of Epiphany. Local choirs and children walk around all day, going from doorstep to doorstep and sing a song specific to that day and are given money by the homeowner.  

Christmas Feasts

Throughout the festive period, Greek families will gather together in large numbers and enjoy homecooked dishes.  Christmas Day on the 25th December is celebrated along with most of the world.  However, presents are traditionally given on the 1st January - Saint Vasilios's feast day.  On Christmas Day, the traditional festive meal is Avgolemono – a soup made with eggs, lemon, rice and turkey or chicken.  Lamb or pork is often served with roast potatoes and people will share Christopsomo, or "Christ's Bread". There’s no Christmas pudding, but delicious baked cookies are popular – a soft honey cookie called Melomakarona and Kourabiedes, a shortbread cookie full of nuts and raisins.


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