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The National Herald a b DECEMBER 20, 2008 www.thenationalherald.com 2 CHRISTMAS 2008 HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008

The National Herald in A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues By Thornton B. Edwards or it is of of paramount interest to the Greek American interest to note that all houses are community of the USA. A folklorist married to a Greek girl vulnerable to a malicious type of elf Publisher-Editor CEPHALLONIA, GREECE- Even / pixy called the "kallikantzari" Antonis H. Diamataris though the Greek Christmas is re- (sing. "kallikantzaros") who play garded by many as less colorful tricks on housewives, put out the Assistant to Publisher, Advertising than the Greek Easter, the fire and urinate on the Christmas Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos really have some of the richest food if it is not covered at night. Christmas traditions in the world. They also saw the root of a huge Special Section Managing Editor The period is often taken trunk on which rest the founda- Beverly MacDougall very seriously by Orthodox Chris- tions of the world. Production Manager tians and those wishing to take The Greek Christmas celebra- Chrysoula Karametros communion on Christmas morning tions conclude with the festival of 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 will be expected to fast during the "Ta Phota" or "The Lights" as whole period (or at least for the last is called. In the Orthodox Tel: (718)784-5255, three days). Fasting means abstain- Church this feast is important as Fax: (718)472-0510, ing from meat, eggs and dairy the baptism of . On the Eve of e-mail: [email protected] products as well as oil in a strict this day the priest will go round all www.thenationalherald.com fast. If one sees someone at the end houses and sprinkle holy water to Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, of Advent the traditional wish is bless the houses and all those who , 10671, Greece "Kala Christouyenna" or "Good live there. It is believed that this Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Christmas" yet on Christmas Day visit by the priest will expel the Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, the usual wish is not this but "Chro- "kallikantzari" who leave before nia polla" or "many years" (which is they can finish sawing the world's e-mail: [email protected] also the traditional wish for impor- foundations. It is customary to give Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $59.85, 6 months tant feast days and name days). a small donation to the priest by $29.95, 3 months $19.95, 1 month $9.95. Home Greeks will normally start deco- way of appreciation and the name delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $80.00, 6 months rating their homes comparatively for this service he performs is $43.99, 3 months $29.99, 1 month $12.95. late, just a few days before Christ- known as the "ayiasmos" - the word Home delivery New England States, Pennsylva- mas when housewives will start also refers to the holy water itself nia & Washington DC: 1 year $99.00, 6 months making the traditional Christmas some of which is kept with the fam- $51.75, 3 months $37.45, 1 month $15.95 On sweets such as "kourabiedhes" and ily and is believed to have line subscription: Non subscribers: 1 year "melomakarana". Christmas cards plant has several names according arrives at her new home after the the family starting with the eldest. healing properties. On the day of $29.95, 1 month $3.95; are not exchanged between mem- to the locality e.g. in Cephallonia it wedding). A special cake is eaten The one who finds the "flouri" in Epiphany there is the great "Ayias- Subscribers: 1 year $19.95, 1 month $1.95 bers of the same family living to- is called "koutsouna" or "aski- on this day called the "" or their piece will have good luck all mos" service in the church. In some gether nor among friends who live nokara". The boy who brings this St. Basil's Pie in which a "flouri" or the forthcoming year. At the meal larger churches such as at the near enough to be wished in per- plant to the house will be given a lucky coin has been baked. Yet be- table there is also a special decorat- church of St. Eleftherios in Patisia, son; instead cards are only sent to "bonamas" or gift of money for the fore this can be found the head of ed round loaf called a "Vasilopso- Athens, a pair of doves are released those friends and relatives who live New Year. the house must first cross the cake mo" or St. Basil's bread (which is re- from the "kampanario" or separate far away. As elsewhere, the Christ- Also on New Year's Day there is with his knife and then cut the first ally identical in form to the bell-tower. In the port of Pireus and mas tree is a recent innovation and the interesting custom of breaking slice for God, then the next for the "Christopsomo" or "Christ bread" in most islands the priest throws formerly (and indeed still on some a pomegranate on the door for baby Christ, followed by the eaten on Christmas Day and the the cross into the sea and a few islands today) a Christmas ship was good luck (an action which is some- "Panayia" (or "All Holy" - as Mary is "Photitsa" or "Lights bread" that will young men will dive in to retrieve it decorated and had the place of performed by the bride in called), then the next slice for the be eaten on Epiphany). - the one who catches the cross is tree. This Christmas ship or "kar- some regions of Greece when she house and after for each member of Throughout the "Dodekaimera" being blessed. avaki" (ie. little ship) is sometimes The "Lights Day" (i.e. Epiphany) carried around by carol-singers on also happens to be Christmas Day , New Year's Eve and for those few Greek Orthodox on the Eve of Epiphany. It is usually who (like the Russians little children who sing the "kalan- and the Serbs etc.) still follow the da" or carols holding triangles very Old Calendar. Epiphany can really early on these mornings for a few be seen to be the culmination of the coins. Christmas season. While compa- It is really the 1st of January (St. nies and organizations who meet Basil's Day that is the most special after the Christmas holidays may day for children since this is when still be seen in the cut- they receive their presents. This is ting the "Vasilopita" or St. Basil's because is not St. Pie even as late as early February, Nicholas/ but Ayios with Epiphany the Christmas sea- Vasilis or St. Basil and so New son essentially comes to a close. Year's Day is also St. Basil's feast The next day is St. John's Day (i.e. day (and the name day for anyone 7th January). On this day everyone called Vasilis or for girls called Vasi- called Yiannis (John) has their liki - not to mention the day when name day and relatives and friends the Orthodox Church celebrates who visit will still see the Christmas the circumcision of Christ). Early in decorations up in the home. The the morning on New Year's Day a decorations will be taken down on child (invariably a boy) does the 8th January. This is also the time "podariko" or first-footing by bring- when children go back to school - ing a strange plant called a "sky- i.e. on the first weekday after St. lokremmyda" or "dog onion" to the John's Day. house. This is a plant with a few thick green leaves and a bulb that is This article first appeared in wrapped with aluminum foil. This Christmas Magazine.com

ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ ΑΠΟ∆ΗΜΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ (Σ.Α.Ε.) ΠΕΡΙΦΕΡΕΙΑ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD (S.A.E.) USA REGION

NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM the S.A.E USA COORDINATOR

“Man is the Measure of all Things” “Πάντων Μέτρον Άνθρωπος»

Dear Compatriots, With the coming of the New Year, I wish to express some of my thoughts, as the coming of each year signifies the beginning of new endeavors. 2008 endowed mankind with economic, social, and educational tribulations, significant offenses caused by the abuse of po- litical power and the mistreatment of our natural environment. The need for change, a greater respect for humanity and nature, for social justice, educational equality, and peace was ex- pressed worldwide, either by peaceful means or by social unrest. At the threshold of the third millennium, knowledge, technology, understanding and wisdom for positive change exist with- out a doubt. Humanity is ready to set the human being as the measure of all things, as recommended by ancient Greek philosophi- cal thought. Yet, we must set priorities in favor of the common good. We should not forget that we are all parts of the Whole (Εν το Παν.), and therefore we have an effect on, contribute to, and are affected by the Whole. Each of us shares the responsibility and its outcome. For 2009, let us all work towards the common good instead of the self-serving. Let us labor to conquer fear and replace it with love! May our endeavors be constructive. Let us be more cooperative with each other and replace conflict, intolerance and negativ- ity with peaceful negotiations! Let us put these values of selfless contributions towards Society and Humanity. With these thoughts, I wish you all Health, Love, Peace and Productivity. Happy New Year! T. Spyropoulos Συντονιστής Περιφέρειας Η.Π.Α.

801 W. Adams Str., Suite 235, Chicago, Illinois 60607 1220 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel.: (312) 627-1821 • Fax: (312) 627-1943 Tel.: (202) 785-8430 • Fax: (202) 785 5178 E-mail: [email protected] • www.saeusa.org 3751/442 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 3

To His Eminence Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America and to the entire Greek Orthodox Community

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year

© îï ôö from a Friend 3169/615 4 CHRISTMAS 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 Boat vs Τree: A Conflict of Christmas Cultures in Greece

‘ Imported tradition’ being aban- “It’s part of a general trend to re- Cephalonians have even set up a doned for quintessential Greek vive old customs. We are trying to citizens’ group to promote the symbol recover the island’s distinct color boats and its results are already ev- Greeks are increasingly turning that was lost when all our buildings ident. “Every Christmas, more and to decorating small Christmas collapsed in a big earthquake in more boats appear in banks, hotels boats instead of trees, considered 1953,” she said. and shops,” Vallianou told AFP. an imported tradition, in the mis- Sparing the island’s unique popula- taken belief they are reviving an tion of black fir trees is put forward old Greek custom. as a further argument in favor of “We are slowly abandoning the vessels. Christmas trees, which are The Christmas boats are made considered a foreign custom, of paper or wood, decorated with and turning to ships in- small, colorful lamps and a few, stead,” said Erika Val- simple ornaments. They are lianou, a journalist from usually placed near the outer the western island of door or by the fire and the Cephalonia. bow should always point to the interior of the house. With golden objects or coins placed in it, the ship symbolizes a full load of riches reaching one’s home. And the Christ- mas boat is making in- ond city, , erects a roads into mainland huge, illuminated metal structure Greece. in the shape of a three-mast ship Every Decem- next to the in its ber, Greece’s sec- main Aristotelous Square. “The Town Hall introduced the ship in 1999. Thessaloniki is a port city and we thought this would show appreciation for the role the sea played in the city’s economy,” said Thessaloniki Municipal Coun- cilor Vassilis Gakis. “Our ship was the first of its kind in Greece. Many other municipali- ties are adopting it, but their mod- els are not as big as ours,” he told AFP. Even the vast majority of Greeks who continue to stick to the Christ- mas tree consider it a foreign im- port. The modern Christmas tree entered Greece in the luggage of the country’s first king, Otto of Bavaria, who ascended to the throne in 1833 but the tree did not become popular before the 1940s. The ship, by contrast, is viewed singing carols. “But in other parts Tree branches and green bushes as a quintessential Greek symbol. of the country, children held other called “Christwood” always had a Greeks have been seafarers for symbolic objects, such as miniature place in Christian households dur- thousands of years and the country models of the Saint Sophia Church ing the medieval Byzantine and Ot- is today one of the world’s mighti- in Constantinople (Istanbul),” said toman empires. “Whether its ene- est shipping nations. Loukatos. mies like it or not, it is certain that But scholars are skeptical about “Using boats as Christmas ships the Christmas tree existed in the the ships’ Christmas role. “Ships are is a new-fangled development,” Byzantine Empire,” Kamilaki said, not Christmas trees,” said Dimitris Ekaterini Kamilaki, president of the citing historical evidence from Loukatos, one of Greece’s most im- Hellenic Folklore Research Center fifth-century-AD northern Syria. portant ethnographers, as early as told AFP. “We don’t want to ban the Christ- 1975. “Though it is true that chil- The Christmas tree, assumed to mas tree. It has roots in mountain- dren on the islands sang Christmas be foreign, may even have some ous Greece,” said Gakis, explaining carols holding illuminated model Greek roots. Use of decorated why the tree and the boat coexist in boats in their laps,” Loukatos said. greenery and branches around Thessaloniki’s Aristotelous Square. For children, they served as a New Year is recorded as far back as This is a partial excerpt from an lantern in the dark or as a box for in Greek antiquity, as it is in other article http://www.sfakia- presents collected in return for pre-Christian cultures. crete.com/sfakia-crete/christmas.html

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year to all in our Greek-American Community

Peter and Aphrodite Skeadas

201434/563 a b THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 5

Best Wishes for a Joyous Christmas and a Bountiful New Year

The BEHRAKIS Family Foundation 3552/603 a b 6 CHRISTMAS 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 Believe it Not…Christmas Monsters?

the smell of which keeps the wicked elves away), and - perhaps as a peace-offering - the hanging of pork-bones, sweetmeats, or sausages in the chimney. Just as men are sometimes be- lieved to become tem- porarily during their lifetime, so, according to one stream of tradi- tion, do living men become Kallikantzaroi. In Greece children born at Christmas are thought like- ly to have this objectionable char- acteristic as a punishment for their mothers' sin in bearing them at a time sacred to the Mother of God. In Macedonia people who have a "light" guardian angel undergo the hideous transformation. Many attempts have been made to account for the Kallikantzaroi. Perhaps the most plausible expla- nation of the outward form, at least, of the uncanny creatures, is the theory connecting them with the masquerades that formed part of the winter festival of Dionysus and are still to be found in Greece at . The hideous bes- tial shapes, the noise and riot, may Traditions about the Kallikantzaroi - e.g., to mark the well have seemed demoniacal to Kallikantzaroi vary from region to house-door with a black cross on simple people slightly "elevated," region, but in general they are half- Christmas Eve, the burning of in- perhaps, by Christmas feasting, animal, half-human monsters, cense and the invocation of the while the human nature of the black, hairy, with huge heads, glar- Trinity - and a number of other maskers was not altogether forgot- ing red eyes, goats' or asses' ears, means of aversion: the lighting of ten. Another theory of an even blood-red tongues hanging out, fe- the (= Christmas time) log, a more prosaic character has been rocious tusks, monkeys' arms, and large log of wood called a propounded that the Kallikantzaroi long curved nails, and commonly skakantzalos, the burning of some- are nothing more than established they have the foot of some beast. thing that smells strong (sometime nightmares, limited like indiges- "From dawn till sunset they hide the Greeks will also burn old shoes, tion to the twelve days of feasting. themselves in dark and dank places, but at night they issue forth and run wildly to and fro, rending and crushing those who cross their path. Destruction and waste, greed and lust mark their course." When a house is not prepared against their coming, "by chimney and door alike they swarm in, and make havoc of the home; in sheer wanton mischief they overturn and break all the fur- This view is taken by Allatius, who ravening. It is to be noted that ther the study of the Kallikantzaroi niture, devour the Christmas pork, says that a Kallikantzaros has all "man-wolves" is the very name giv- should read the elaborate and fasci- befoul all the water and wine and the characteristics of nightmare, en to the Kallikantzaroi in southern nating, if not altogether convinc- food which remains, and leave the rampaging abroad and jumping on Greece, and that the word ing, theories of Mr. J. C. Lawson in occupants half dead with fright or men's shoulders, then leaving them Kallikantzaros itself has been con- his "Modern Greek Folklore and An- violence." Many like or far worse half senseless on the ground." jecturally derived by Bernhard cient Greek Religion." He distin- pranks do they play, until at the Such theories are ingenious and Schmidt from two Turkish words guishes two classes of crowing of the third cock they get suggestive, and may be true to a meaning "black" and "." Kallikantzaroi, one of which he them away to their dens. The signal certain degree, but they hardly cov- The connection between Christmas identifies with ordinary were- for their final departure does not er all the facts. It is possible that the and is not confined to wolves, while the other is the type come until the Epiphany, when the Kallikantzaroi may have some con- Greece. According to a belief not of hairy, clawed demons above de- "Blessing of the Waters" takes place. nection with the departed; they yet extinct in the north and east of scribed. He sets forth a most inge- Some of the hallowed water is put certainly appear akin to the mod- Germany, even where the real ani- nious hypothesis connecting them into vessels, and with these and ern Greek and Slavonic , "a mals have long ago been extirpat- with the Centaurs. with incense the priests sometimes corpse imbued with a kind of half- ed, children born during the make a round of the village, sprin- life," and with eyes gleaming like Twelve Nights become werewolves, Excerpted from Christmas in Rit- kling the people and their houses. live coals. They are, however, even while in Livonia and Poland that ual and Tradition, Christian and Besides this ecclesiastical purifi- more closely related to the were- period is the special season for the Pagan, by Clement A. Miles, Lon- cation there are various Christian wolf, a man who is supposed to werewolf's ravenings. don: T. Fisher Unwin, 2nd Ed. precautions against the change into a wolf and go about Those who wish to pursue fur- 1913, pp. 229-247.

Rejoice in the spirit of Christmas!

May love and hope be in your hearts this holiday season and throughout the coming year! WR Stephen G. and Thelma S. Yeonas

201327/588 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 7

••• A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas A Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year •••

JOHN, MARGO ANDREA AND YANNI CATSIMATIDIS © îï ôö 3537/707 8 CHRISTMAS 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008

The American Hellenic Institute HELLENIC AMERICAN and Its Affiliates BANKERS The AHI Foundation ASSOCATION The AHI Business Network The AHI Public Affairs Committee wishes all

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

wish all a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year

AHI Headquarters a b Hellenic House a b 1220 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 3020/132 www.haba.org Tel.: (202) 785-8430 - Fax: (202) 785-5178 3159/679

Paideia Studies in Greece 2009-2010

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3780/565 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 9

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Τhe Saint Louis Greek American Community

Wish you 1140 Franklin Ave., Suite #214 every Garden City, NY 11530 Tel.: (516) 248-2153 Happiness... Fax: (516) 248-3822 Visit us at: www.marathonpayroll.com

... we go the distance May we all be blessed with Christian faith this Christmas Accurate on Time and walk in love and wisdom through the coming year Complete Payroll Services Hellenic Cultural Foundation

a b Hellenic Investment Group Hellenic Spirit Foundation Merry Christmas Karakas Associates A Happy New Year Karakas Family Foundation a b Saint Louis, Missouri & 200701/339 200953/130 PANRHODIAN SOCIETY OF AMERICA «APOLLON»

wishes all Rhodians and all Hellenes of the Diaspora

a Blessed Christmas with Peace in the New Year! a b

POLYVIOS PAVLIDIS, President STEVE PELARDIS, Vice President Christina Kapolis, Secretary 3167/151 William Angelis, Treasurer

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Our Best Wishes To the Community for a H A N A C, Inc. Executive and Administrative Offices: Merry Christmas Best Wishes 49 West 45th Street 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036 and (212) 840-8005 Fax (212) 840-8384 for Happy, Healthy Holidays a Happy New Year www.hanac.org SENIOR SERVICES: • Crime Victims Services • Archbishop Iakovos Senior (718) 728-3811 MERRY CHRISTMAS Residence and Senior Program • Drug Treatment and Prevention (718) 726-1227 Services (718) 204-1200 • Ravenswood Senior Center • BEGIN-GED Program (718) 786-1550 (212) 996-3949 HAPPY NEW YEAR • Vallone-Dimotsis-Lindsay Senior • NYC Taxi Academy (718) 433-0493 Center (718) 626-3035 • Employment Opportunities to our customers, friends • Angelo Petromelis Senior Center (646)539-5890 • Weatherization Programs (718) 961-0344 and the Greek Community (718) 626-7575 / (718) 267-6543 • NORC Senior Program • Home Services Systems-Home (718) 609-1028 Care (718) 726-4444 • Senior Transportation Program • English as a Second Language- Gust and Tom Papanicholas (718) 267-6910 Evenings after 6pm (718) 433-2710 SOCIAL SERVICES: • Astoria Social Services Program YOUTH SERVICES: (718) 728-3586 • Youth Services (718) 204-2325 Aroma Coffee Co., Inc. • Bronx Social Services Program • Corona Beacon After School (718) 409-9876 (718) 651-4656 7650 Industrial Drive, Forest Park, IL 60130 • Child and Family Counseling • Astoria Beacon After School (718) 274-9007 (718) 433-1989

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New York New Jersey

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Providing legal services to the Greek American community since 1957. www.papadatos.com 3327/382 3478/325

Μerry Christmas

Happy New Year to all of you

Honorable Judge & Mrs Nicholas Tsoucalas

a b 201413/399

Merry Christmas The National Herald and a Happy Healthy wishes it’s readers Prosperous New Year! a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! P.J. Mechanical Corp. Peter J. Pappas

135 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011 Τel.:(212) 243-2555 • Fax: (212) 886-6605 a b 200789/395 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 13

Dr. Ahmed Mohiuddin, MD, FACC

President and CEO, Medical Center of Boston International, Inc.

TO ALL OF OUR GREEK FRIENDS IN AMERICA AND GREECE

WE WISH YOU A HEALTHY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS HOLIDAY SEASON!

The Medical Center of Boston International, Inc.

Contact information: Medical Center of Boston International, Inc. 33 Pond Ave., Brookline, MA 02445, USA Tel: 1-617-738-7300, Fax: 1-617-739-4821

ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΟΣ Ο ΚΑΙΝΟΥΡΓΙΟΣ ΧΡΟΝΟΣ 3039/577 © îï ôö 14 CHRISTMAS 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 Christmas in Ioannina Μay the love, peace and grace of the Incarnate Lord be with us all By Jan Pierce gretted his action and threw sugar Special to the National Herald into the lake to sweeten the water for her. She reputedly still haunts Μay the New Year 2009 be full he legendary and romantic the lake at night. district of Epiros is the ideal As darkness fell, we walked Greek Christmas get-away. through the narrow cobblestone of health happiness and prosperity for everyone TThis rugged and wild area streets enjoying the old houses dec- on the border of has in- orated for Christmas. We passed spired many poets and is the source the Asian mosque (now a muse- of some of Greece’s most famous um), ruins of the old Turkish bath- God bless our Holy Church in America and our Parish folksongs. house and the Romaniote Jewish We knew we had entered Epiros synagogue. Preparations for Christ- when the highway left lush orange mas, just a few days away, were still of the Archangels of Stamford Connecticut groves behind and began to wind underway. One man, high up on a north along the gorge of the Louros ladder was stringing lights along River. The river’s green water his eaves, while others, adding last rushed past giant plane trees, their minute decorations to their bal- leaves rust brown in the December conies, called out greetings to their sun. Numerous riverside restau- neighbours. A very Merry Christmas and rants advertised fresh trout pro- duced by fish farms taking advan- tage of the cold clear water. We ate This rugged and wild a Happy and Blessed New Year lunch beside a tall Roman aqueduct area on the border of and then continued upwards Albania has inspired through mountain valleys to the city of Ioannina. many poets and is the was about to set when source of some of we drove through one of the origi- Greece’s most famous nal stone gateways to Ali Pasha’s Turkish citadel and found our small folksongs. hotel. Hotel El Kastro, in a renovat- ed mansion, is one of only two Another huge stone gateway small hotels in the quiet residential led us out of the citadel into the district inside the old citadel walls. bustling maze of the city’s old quar- We quickly dropped our bags in our ter, with its small traditional shops, room and walked a few metres to bakeries piled high with Christmas the inner fortress, ‘Its Kale’, to catch treats such as kourabiedhes, and the sunset. cafes full of students from the Uni- Another set of stone gates led us versity of Ioannina. We had to ask through the inner fortress walls to a directions a couple of times to find viewpoint beside Ali Pashas’s Koundouriotou Street where our minareted mosque. We looked out choice of restaurant, Esaei, has over Lake Pamvotis to the Pasha’s been created behind the façade of hunting grounds on the island of an old stone house. An ancient cart Nissi. In every direction, gleaming parked on the narrow street snow covered peaks, turning gold marked the entrance. The glass- in the setting sun, rose up behind roofed dining room, full of antiques the dark grey green hills surround- and folk art, was artfully designed ing the lake. Beside the mosque, Ali to look up at the lit stone walls of Pasha’s tomb, marked by a Turkish the original house. The restaurant cast iron cage and the ruins of his owner brought out a pile of old Ευφρόσυνα Χριστούγεννα seraglio, where hundreds of his newspapers and an armful of big wives spent their lives, could still logs and, within minutes, a fire was be seen. From one of the restored blazing in the central round fire- stone buildings, now used as a bar, place. The restaurant specializes in Eιρηνικό και Eυτυχές το Nέο Eτος rock music reminded us that we traditional Epirot food. We started were in the twenty-first century but with goat cheese and arugula salad as we looked down into the re- and crisp, freshly fried, traditional mains of the dungeons where Ali vegetable fritters made from shred- Pasha tortured his prisoners, we ded zucchini, carrots, potatoes and could still feel a chill of fear. onions. This was followed by a se- Ali Pasha, a Turkish renegade lection of pitas, each the specialty who set up his own kingdom in of a different part of Epiros- mush- Northern Greece between 1789 room from the Zagori district to the V. Rev. George Poulos, Parish Council, Youth and 1822, is infamous for his bru- north of the city, chicken from the tality and cruelty. In a fit of jeal- neighbouring city of Metsovo and

a b ousy, he drowned his son’s mistress leek from Ioannina- all accompa- Philoptochos, Greek School, Sunday School in Lake Pamvotis along with sixteen nied by excellent local Epirean red of her serving women after she spurned his advances. Then, he re- Continued on page 16 3045/569

The Hellenic Orthodox Church of Lowell Holy Trinity Established 1900 Designated a National Historic Place in 1977

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HEALTHY and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Very Rev. Dr. Cleopas Strongylis Stephen C. Themelis, President The Parish Council Choir, Philoptochos, Sunday School The Principal and Staff of

WR the Hellenic American Academy - Established 1906

201202/573 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 15 A Child’s Christmas In Macedonia By James Karas There was even more excite- made a few weeks earlier in the vil- ridden, rusty bridge that could fit Special to The National Herald ment when we stopped by the lage still. The women joined the only one car at a time. The river homes of relatives where we could men for visits to close relatives but was a mere rivulet that in the sum- In the northwestern corner of expect a coin in addition to a few there were no restrictions on the mer went almost dry. I used to Greece, a stone’s throw away from extra chestnuts. Five, ten or twenty men. swim and catch fish in it when I was the borders of Albania and the For- centimes was the going rate de- January 6 is the Epiphany and a child. The water buffalos, the mer Yugoslav Republic of Macedo- pending on the wealth of your rela- for Armenohori it meant that the sheep and cattle that crowded the nia lays the city of Florina. A few tive. These were the coins with the whole village went to the river after muddy streets are gone and finding kilometers east of Florina lays a vil- hole in the middle and, to put it in church service. The priest, my a parking space has become an is- lage of ancient lineage, incompara- context, a drachma had one hun- grandfather, conducted a service sue. The grass was not as green, the ble beauty and immeasurable im- dred centimes. It took several hours there and threw a cross in the river. sun was not as bright, even the portance. The allocation of these to visit every house in the village The water was cold and frequently roads had shrunk; all had changed. attributes to this village is not and you ended up with a satchel had a thin sheet of ice on top but The best parts, however, still re- based on any unreliable esthetic full of chestnuts and maybe a cou- this did not stop the young men main. Like Keats’s Grecian Urn, criteria or mere human judgment. ple of drachmas. In short, you were from entering the river in order to what Armenohori has left me shall It is based on the simple fact that I wealthy. catch the cross. My mother would be for ever new, for ever warm, for was born there. Armenohori is the The fat guy with the red suit and not allow me to get near the water ever young and still to be enjoyed: most beautiful village in Greece. the ruddy cheeks also known as – I was simply too young. The man it has left me with prime memories There is archeological evidence Santa Claus had not heard of Ar- who caught the cross was consid- of undiminished splendor. (not based on the fact that I was menohori yet and we had not heard ered lucky and he and his friends born there) that the village has of him either. I first saw him on a went around the houses where they James Karas holds degrees in been inhabited for the past three that my sister sent were given money. English Literature and Law from and a half thousand years. Alexan- me from Canada but he made no Armenohori is still there but my the University of Toronto. In ad- der the Great’s grandmother, Eury- impression on me and I had no idea village has disappeared. When I re- dition to practicing law and ex- dice, was a princess from Lyngistis that he was supposed to drop in turned as an adult the bridge that tensive community involvement, and I firmly hold that Alexander through the chimney on Christmas was a couple hundred yards from he has taught at Ryerson Univer- went by my village many times on and bring me presents. The only my house and where I used to play sity and writes on theatre and his way to visit his relatives. In this presents we got were a couple of had changed completely. The huge opera for The Greek Press of case, faith trumps lack of historical luxury items such as apples or or- steel span across a roaring water- Toronto and about culture for evidence. anges and they were just handed to course had shrunk into a pot-hole other publications. I spent about a decade of my us. The Christmas tree had not been childhood in Armenohori, back in invented yet. My version of Santa the 1950’s and it has left me with Claus was of course St. Basil but he memories that are, as Ernest Hem- wore a halo and looked like all the ingway said about Paris in the other scary saints that I saw in 1920’s, a moveable feast. church and had to kiss on Sunday. In the 1950’s Armenohori was The traditional Christmas food an agrarian village where little had valley with very few trees around come and carried away every twig. in the village was pifti, boiled pig’s changed since the time Princess Eu- and the houses were heated mostly My mother woke up the other fat that had formed into a jelly with rydice left to marry King Amyntas with coal. Finding wood therefore neighbors (my father had already pig’s feet, knuckles and other such III of Macedon. There was no elec- was no easy task and we had to go left for Canada) and they all delicacies in it. It was larded with tricity, no plumbing and nothing out in the country looking for some pitched in and in a short time there garlic and eaten cold. I could not mechanical. Water was brought in dead tree or shrub that had not was enough wood to start a re- get enough of the stuff. Fifty years from a well on the edge of the vil- been carried away already. spectable fire. The tradition was later, my sisters still make this item lage in pitchers that resembled There was an open space near that the youth started the fire and of peasant haute cuisine but, alas, those used in the Bronze Age. Al- the gate to my house and that was the men joined them before dawn. my enthusiasm for eating it has though horses were around, the where the bonfire was lit around The men brought tsipouro and been reduced to honoris causa and most frequently used source of midnight. We piled the wood in my chestnuts and sat around the fire only a small plate, please. power was a team of oxen. It was yard near the front gate and got up eating and drinking. The women The bonfires were lit again on an integrated society that still told as soon as our mothers would let were at home preparing for Christ- New Year’s Eve and the same tradi- stories about the Turks (the area us. We carried the wood across the mas. tion was followed. St. Basil did ar- was liberated in 1912) and had road to the open space and lit the Just before dawn all the chil- rive at midnight without any of his lived through world wars, famines fire. I still remember my mother dren from the village gathered at North American paraphernalia: no and a civil war. The villagers were telling me that I had to get some the gate of a house on the edge of deer, no costume and no gifts ex- completely self-sufficient and re- sleep or she would not let me go. the village. This was the starting cept for some fruit on the table. On membered with pride that while Naturally there was fierce com- point for visiting every house in the New Year’s Day we had the tradi- people were dying in the streets of petition about which neighbour- village where we were given a tional vasilopita with the coin in it. the big cities during World War II, hood would have the biggest bon- chestnut or a potato. The chestnuts It was cut in ritual fashion, one no one went hungry in our village. fire. That depended on the number were usually boiled and sometimes piece for each member of the fami- Life in the village revolved of youngsters of the mahala and raw; the potatoes (given by poorer ly and one for the house. The pan around work and religious holi- their industry. My neighbourhood families) were always boiled. was twirled around three times and days. Easter was the most impor- had pride of place when I was small The anticipation for the woman we were then allowed to take the tant religious event but Christmas but by the time I was ten, many of in the first house to come out and piece that stopped in front of us. provided the most excitement for the houses had been left empty. The give us the chestnuts was no less Starting with Christmas, there is the children. One great tradition villagers had started leaving for than waiting for a rock star to ap- a name day to be celebrated every was the lighting of bonfires in every Australia and Canada. The handful pear. When she came to the gate, other day it seems. People named neighbourhood (mahala) during of us that were left did our utmost we rushed at her as if she was about Christos, Stefanos, Vasilios, Fotis, the night before Christmas Eve. to keep up. One Christmas, we to distribute manna to Moses’ fol- Yannis and others have their saint’s Gathering the wood for the bon- gathered in my yard to carry the lowers. From there we followed a day and an excuse for the men of fires was the job for youngsters and wood to the bonfire and discovered well-defined route that allowed the village to visit them for a drink it took weeks of scavenging to find that nothing had been left. Young- you to visit every house in the vil- and meze. The drink was almost in- enough wood. Armenohori is in a sters from another mahala had lage. variably tsipouro, which had been

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Irene Racanelli Kathy Orioli Lic.RE Salesperson Lic.RE Associate Broker 516-944-2864 516-944-2865 ΟΜΙΛΟΥΜΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ 201424/711 a b 16 CHRISTMAS 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 Christmas in Ioannina Continued from page 14 were winding our way past remote phai at a height of 3960 feet. Unlike farms where bored dogs, waiting some of the other nearby villages PEACE ON EARTH wine. for any entertainment, joyfully whose beauty has attracted tourists The following day dawned sun- chased our car. The winter season and the businesses that follow, Tse- ny and warm with deep blue skies. meant that cars were few and far polovo’s remote location means that The hotel’s selection of cats curled between and tour buses non-exis- it has remained much as it was a up in the sun in front of the door. tent. We passed a monument to the hundred years ago. Steep cobble- We decided to visit the municipal women of the Zagora perched high stone streets lead past houses made museum located a two minute walk on a cliff overlooking the agricul- entirely of local materials including away inside the former Asian tural valley below, a reminder of gray, moss covered slate rooves that mosque. The mosque is part of a the region’s difficult past. When we look like they were created by the complex of original Turkish build- saw our first half-moon Turkish Seven Dwarves.. Only one small tav- ings built on the highest point of packhorse stone bridge we were erna warmed by an open fire and the citadel, surrounded by cypress amazed by its symmetry and singu- one cafe were available for refresh- and Italian pines. Large piles of lar presence. One kilometer later, ments in the tiny central square. cannon balls and rows of cannon we were stunned when we arrived Another day, we visited Dodona, barrels piled against the stone walls at another much larger arched whose fame is now more about de- attest to the city’s remarkable past. bridge straight from a Grimm fairy licious goat cheese than its ancient Before entering the mosque we tale. We could almost see the Three oracle. Today, most visitors don’t ∂¶π °∏™ ∂πƒ∏¡∏ stopped to gaze again over the lake Billy Goats Gruff beside the rushing ask for a pronouncement from Zeus where the dazzling distant snow rapids. Above us, the gnarled grey from the rustling leaves of the sa- covered mountain peaks were dou- cliffs of the narrow gorge rose up cred oak, but the site of the oracle is bled in the blue water. The muse- hundreds of feet, eroded into magi- still worth visiting to see the the- um collection itself was overshad- cal shapes like those found in old ater, one of the largest and best pre- owed by the architecture of the Chinese water colors. served in Greece. Built by King The Chryssis Family Southborough, Massachusetts a b

3789/564

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies extends warmest appreciation and respect to the Hellenic Community for its support.

domed and minareted mosque. We passed one Greek couple Pyrrhus in the 3rd century BC it Next door, behind the sheltered who had stopped to take pho- was later rebuilt by Philip V of archways of an old stone and brick tographs of themselves in front of Macedon and then used by the Ro- colonnade, a small privately run icicles dripping down from the mans for gladiatorial contests. Its museum, Mouseio Rapakousi, dis- limestone. Lichen covered beech magnificent size, seating 17,000 plays an amazing collection of an- and oak trees, still holding on to people, and its almost perfect con- tique Turkish and Greek weapons. their russet leaves, lined broad dition means that, in summer, it is The Foundation is proud to work This museum is the work of one deep valleys. Each turn of the wind- used to present ancient Greek dra- dedicated private collector and its ing road revealed new vistas of ma. On the sunny winter morning in partnership with the University of Michigan hospitable informality means that deep limestone gorges and snow we were there, we were the only it is up to each visitor to decide on a covered mountains. Here and visitors. for the study of Modern Greek fair price of admission. Both muse- there, grey stone villages spilled The winter combination of ums claim to have the Ali Pasha’s down the mountainsides. snowy vistas, quiet stone villages

a b language, culture and history in the 21st century original water pipe. No doubt he After we missed a signpost we beside rushing rivers crossed by had many. began a winding journey deep into half moon packhorse bridges, old 8001 Ronda Drive, Canton, MI 48187 • Tel.: (734) 459-3000 The next morning, a covering of most remote part of the mountains, Turkish ruins, and warming wood newly fallen snow dusted the encountering several different par- fires magnifies Epiros’s romantic 201468/715 square and stone citadel walls. The ties of hunters with their dogs and and beguiling beauty. Epiros at quiet that follows fresh snow de- guns, out to shoot birds in the oak Christmas shatters the stereotype scended to create an atmosphere forest, and passing packmules of Greece as all about summer sun not unlike the one that would have wearing wooden saddles. As we and beaches. The poet Kostas Krys- been common for the various came around one corner, we found tallis has captured its magic. groups of Romans, Franks, Byzan- the road filled with a herd of “I want to hear around me pines tines, and Turks who controlled the dozens of big-horned mountain and beeches screaming, city beginning with the defeat of cattle, their cowherds and their I want to walk along crags, the Macedonian king, Perseus, in dogs, on their way from high ridges, lofty peaks, 168 BC. mountain pastures to lower more I want to see hanging waters to The fresh snow and crisp air per- sheltered fields. Unlike goats, the left and right.” suaded us that this was the perfect cattle were unafraid of cars, sur- day to begin our exploration of the rounding us while the cowherds Jan Pierce is a freelance writer in State Senator Leonidas and Dr. Donna Raptakis Zagorahoria (stone villages), the shouted and tried to prod them out Vancouver. She is a local histori- untamed area of Greece located in of the way. an specializing on Kitsilano , a Alexandra and Nicholas the mountains just a few kilometers Our destination of the day, the neighborhood of Vancouver and north of Ioannina. Within moments small village of Tsepolovo, is currently divides her time be- of leaving the main highway, we perched on the side of Mount Tym- tween Vancouver and Greece. Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Vice-Chair, Committee on Environment and Agriculture Secretary, Committee on Judiciary

District # 33 Res. 401-397-2720 2080 Nooseneck Hill Road Bus. 401-397-3344 319 East 74th St., New York, NY 10021 Coventry, R.I. 02816 Fax. 401-397-6302 [email protected] State House 401-275-5567 Founded in 1949, The Cathedral School

a b is an Ιndependent Co-Educational Day School www.raptakis.com 3571/389 Nursery - Eighth Grade Scholarships provided by the STAVROS S. NIARCHOS FOUNDATION

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a b 3039/699 Bus Service Available 3120/591 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 17 And George Bailey On Wall Street The Encounter of Corporate Efficiency and Subprime Mortgages

By James Karas George Bailey is unfortunately Special to The National Herald the original king of subprime mort- gages. King is a misnomer in repub- Santa Claus is no doubt the most lican America but be that as it may, ubiquitous figure this time of the George is lending money without year, appearing on stage, television doing proper credit checks or to and malls, not to mention coming people who he knows will not be down the chimney delivering credit able to repay the loans. George card bills on Christmas. Almost as wants to practice socialism by lend- prevalent are two rather different ing money in the belief that it will gentlemen called George Bailey create jobs and get the economy and Ebenezer Scrooge. moving. Well, as Lehmann Brothers Both are men of business, will tell you, if you lend money to bankers in fact, and they could be people who cannot pay it back, you seen stalking the boards a few will run out of the stuff, will not be blocks from Bay Street (Toronto’s able to pay your own lenders and equivalent of Wall Street) in stage you will head straight to Chapter versions of Charles Dickens’ A 11 and this time not of A Christmas and Frank Capra’s Carol but of the United States It’s A Wonderful Life. The 19th cen- Bankruptcy Code. George Bailey tury Englishman and the 20th cen- should have read Dickens in the tury American have a lot in com- right frame of mind and avoided mon, not least of which is that no near-disaster. Christmas would be complete with- George’s bank is on the brink of out seeing them. collapse because of lack of money. is produced His bank was not called Citicorp by Soulpepper Theatre Company in and he had probably voted Democ- an adaption by Michael Shamata rat, therefore there was no seven with Joseph Ziegler as Scrooge. It’s hundred billion dollars of taxpay- A Wonderful Life has been adapted ers’ money to rescue him. He only for the stage by American play- needed $8000.00 in any event and wright Philip Grecian and is pro- he was rescued by donations from duced by The Canadian Stage Com- the townspeople. Is this the Ameri- pany. Seeing the two plays back to can equivalent of “from each ac- back sent me musing about the cording to his ability, to each ac- characters and eventual fate of the cording to his need”? protagonists. Both men are visited by some The image that most of us have pretty strange dudes. In fact of George Bailey is from Jimmy Scrooge is visited by three weirdoes Stewart’s portrayal in the 1946 who drop by in the middle of the ment in productivity, helps out Tiny and fiscal prudence from Scrooge. movie. Scrooge is best remembered night and scare the jeepers out of Tim with no question of deductibil- Neither Capra nor Dickens told from the 1951 movie with Allister him. George is visited by Clarence, ity and becomes a loveable man us the real end of their stories. Sims although there have been A.S.C. (Angel Second Class because with no indication of the benefits to Scrooge became the George Bailey many others. he is too dense and incompetent to be derived from that status aside of London and in addition to squan- Scrooge and Bailey are both get his wings even after a couple of perhaps from the promise of a large dering money on the poor and bankers and, as Jefferson so ele- hundred years of residence in heav- number of attendees at his funeral needy let Cratchit run his bank. The gantly put the making of money, en.) and subsequent memorial lun- latter made George look like J. P. they are pursuing happiness. Scrooge’s three visitors are the cheon. Morgan when it cam to banking Scrooge espouses the all-American temporally correct Ghost of Christ- Having displayed his incompe- and Scrooge’s bank failed. Scrooge virtues of efficiency, prudence mas Past, Ghost of Christmas Pre- tence as a banker and on the brink never saw the weird ghosts again tough-mindedness in business and sent and Ghost of Christmas Fu- of losing his depositors’ money, and died in a flophouse wondering profitability. When panhandlers ap- ture. He is shown his youth when George Bailey can come up with no where he went wrong. pear at his door on Christmas Eve he changed course in the pursuit of better solution than to jump off a George Bailey had a Merry asking for a donation for poor and happiness from domestic bliss to fi- bridge. Clarence A.S.C. steps in and Christmas and a Happy New Year needy children, he unceremonious- nancial gain. Then he is shown the shows George how worse off the thanks to the rescue efforts of the ly boots them out. They do not pro- present as represented by his em- world or maybe just his little town townspeople but he did not change vide evidence that they represent a ployee Bob Cratchit’s mawkishly would have been if George were his lending practices. His bank registered charity necessary to sentimental family and the lame not born. The town would have went bankrupt and George was make any contribution tax-de- Tiny Tim. He is also taken to the fu- been taken over by the nasty Mr. subpoenaed by the Federal Reserve ductible nor do they furnish any ture and learns that Tiny Tim does Potter and the people he helped to answer a few questions. Instead proof that those so-called needy not become a falsetto singer who would have suffered terrible conse- of going to Washington, George brats cannot be taken care of by gets married on The Tonight Show quences. The world would not have paid another visit to the bridge. other means. but in fact dies. been the same without him. This time Clarence was not there to Showing his socialist propensi- port That pretty much does it for Clarence does not mention that stop him. Clarence at least did well ties, Scrooge suggests state-run or- bauch- the un- Scrooge. He wakes up on Christmas the town and the depositors of from the venture: he got his wings. phanages and workhouses as alter- ery, he, a desirable morning a born-again-socialist who George’s bank would have all been Merry Christmas. natives to fleecing businessmen. banker, results. He starts throwing money around as if better off if he ran the bank a bit Besides, if people will go for injudi- should hardly is a true Re- it grew on trees. He gives Cratchit a more competently, in other words James Karas is a lawyer and cious and unprotected sexual de- be asked to sup- publican. raise with no evidence of improve- took a few lessons in management writer. He lives in Toronto.

“In her arms she held the hope of the world”

May the blessings of the Christ Child and His Loving Mother be with you at Christmas and always

a b From the Heart Evanthea and Leo Condakes 200768/558 18 CHRISTMAS 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 The Magi and the Spirit of Christmas

ne of the unique stories in stars, and gained an international None of these names is obvious- the Bible is that of the reputation for astrology, which was ly Persian or is generally agreed to journey made by the three at that time a highly regarded sci- carry any ascertainable meaning, Owise men to . ence, only later giving rise to as- although Caspar is also sometimes Today, the Three Kings and the Star pects of mathematics and astrono- given as Gaspar, a variant of the are celebrated in Christmas carols, my (as well as the modern practice Persian Jasper — "Master of the on greeting cards, and with front- of fortune-telling). Their religious Treasure" — from which the name yard light displays. But the popu- practices and use of astrological of the mineral jasper is derived. larity of the tale is not confined to sciences caused derivatives of the One candidate for the origin of the this century. Although it is a hand- term Magi to be applied to the oc- name Caspar appears in the Acts of ful of sentences in the book of cult in general and led to the Eng- Thomas as Gondophares (AD 21 – Matthew, the story and veneration lish term magic. c. AD 47), of the three grew over the centuries On the other hand, the King The shrine of the Three Kings at and became intertwined with the James Bible translation of the Magi Cologne Cathedral that according story of Christmas. In Cologne, as wise men may be somewhat po- to tradition contains the bones of Germany, there is a gilded shrine litically motivated: the same word the Three Wise Men, were first dis- that, according to local tradition, is translated as sorcerer to con- covered by Saint Helena on her fa- contains the remains of the wise demn "Elymas the sorcerer" in Acts mous pilgrimage to Palestine and men since the Middle Ages. 13, and is left un-translated to de- the Holy Lands. She took the re- However, little is know about scribe Simon Magus in Acts 8. mains to the Church of Hagia the Three Wise Men. They ulti- Treating Simon Magus as being as Sophia in Constantinople; they mately locate the infant and wise as the Magi that visited Jesus were later moved to Milan (some present their gifts of gold, frankin- could be viewed as heresy — Simon sources say by the city's bishop, Eu- cense, and myrrh, and they depart- Magus was considered by many storgius I, before being sent to their ed, returning home by another Christians as the founder of Gnosti- current resting place by the Holy route so as to evade Herod. cism, a Christian group condemned Roman Emperor Frederick I in AD Matthew does not mention their as arch-heresy. It is unlikely that the 1164. The Milanese celebrates names, how many there were, or would deliberately their part in this tradition by hold- even if they were all men - they refer to Simon Magus in glowing ing a medieval costume parade were not even kings. terms; the name of the canonical every 6 January. Just about the entire story of the crime of simony derives from the Three of the gifts are explicitly Three Wise men comes to us from name of Simon Magus. identified in Matthew — gold, the Historia Trium Regum, the His- The phrase “from the east” is the frankincense and myrrh — and tory of the Three Kings, which is at- only information Matthew provides have become one of the best known tributed to the fourteenth-century on origins of the Magi, apart from items from Matthew; it is often as- cleric John of Hildesheim and the identifying that they come from sumed that these three are the only book of Mathew in the Bible. Bibli- their own country rather than gifts the Magi are described as giv- cal scholars believe that the origins Judea. Traditionally the view de- ing. However, it has been suggested of the Three Wise or Magi or the veloped that the Magi were Persian by some scholars that the "gifts" Three Kings, or Kings from the east, or Parthian, a notion held for exam- were in fact medicinal rather than to be Median, perhaps Zoroastrian ple by John Chrysostomos, and precious material for tribute. priests, from ancient Persia who Byzantine art generally depicted John Chrysostomos suggested were experts in astrology. them in Persian dress. Some believe that the gifts were fit to be given According to the Gospel of they were from Babylon, which, at not just to a king but also to God, Matthew they came "from the east the time, was the centre of Zur- and contrasted them with the Jews' to Jerusalem" to worship the Christ, vanism, and hence astrology. traditional offerings of sheep and "born King of the Jews". Matthew Though the Bible does not number calves, and accordingly Chrysosto- writes that they followed a star that the Magi, traditionally there were mos asserts that the Magi wor- came to be known as the Star of always seen to be three, as three of shiped Jesus as God. This is be- Bethlehem. As they came closer to the gifts were specifically named. lieved to be unlikely by some, if the Jerusalem, King Herod tried to In the Eastern churches a variety theory that they were members of trick them into revealing where Je- of different names are given for the the Zoroastrian priesthood is cor- sus was, so that he might be put to three, but in the West the names rect. death. Upon finding Jesus, the Ma- have been settled since the 8th cen- In the Monastery of St. Paul of gi gave him an unspecified number tury as Caspar, Melchior and Mount Athos there is a 15th centu- of gifts, amongst which were three Balthasar. The names of the Magi ry golden case containing purport- highly symbolic ones: gold, frank- act called the Massacre of the Inno- Some critics consider this nativity which was associated with the birth derive from an early 6th century edly the Gift of the Magi. It was do- incense and myrrh. Because these cents, in order to eliminate a rival story to be an invention of the au- of a new king. The disappearance Greek manuscript in Alexandria, nated to the monastery in the 15th three gifts were recorded, it is tra- heir to his throne. Herod was con- thor of Matthew. of Liu Shang from China's imperial translated into the Latin Excerpta century by Maro, daughter of the ditionally said to have been three vinced that Jesus was the legiti- Three leaders of the Chinese court for two years shortly after this Latina Barbari. The Latin text Col- King of George Vragovitch, givers; however, Matthew does not mate heir to the thrown and was Christian Church cite an alternate star was discovered suggest, ac- lectanea et Flores continues the tra- wife to the Ottoman Sultan Murat indicate how many wise men came determined to prevent any poten- proposal for the origin of one of the cording to them, that he journeying dition of three kings and their II and godmother to Mehmet II the from the east. tial rival from assuming power. Je- Magi. They state that many Chinese the Silk Road to Bethlehem. names and gives additional details Conqueror (of Constantinople). After seeing Jesus, the Magi sus and his family had, however, es- Christians believe at least one of The word Magi is a Latinization of their clothes, coming from Syria. Apparently they were part of the headed for home but on the way caped to Egypt beforehand. the Magi came from China. They of the plural of the Greek word ma- This text is said to be from the 8th relics of the Holy Palace of Constan- they were warned, in dreams, of After these events, however, the offer anecdotal evidence about Liu gos (µαγος pl. µαγοι), which is a century, of Irish origin. In the East- tinople and it is claimed they were Herod's deadly intentions for the magi return home and passed into Shang, the chief astrologer during derivative from Old Persian Magu- ern churches, Ethiopian Christiani- displayed there since the 4th centu- child and decided to return home obscurity. The story of the nativity the Han dynasty in China at the pati. The term is a specific to the ty, for instance, has Hor, Karsudan, ry AD. After the Athens earthquake by a different route. This prompted in Matthew glorifies Jesus, com- time that Jesus was born. Liu priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. As and Basanater, while the Armeni- of September 9, 1999 they were Herod to resort to killing all the pares him to Moses, and indicates Shang discovered a new star the part of their religion, these priests ans have Kagbha, Badadakharida temporarily displayed in Athens in young children in Bethlehem, an that his life is fulfilling prophecy. Chinese called the "king star" - paid particular attention to the and Badadilma. order to strengthen faith and raise

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a b www.skylineequitiestrealty.com 3252/706 200053/181 WR THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 20, 2008 CHRISTMAS 2008 19 Why get cross about Xmas

Some complain it takes the Christ out of Christmas, other assume it is a form of lazy shorthand. Style guides at the Times, and this website are among those which rule out its use, where possible. But should this particular four-letter word be causing so much offence? Researchers say it is a mistake to think of Xmas a modern invention born on High Street. And far from being an irreligious abbrevia- tion, it appears to have impeccably Christian credentials. The “X” is thought to represent the Greek let- ter “” – the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Christos. Bill Purdue, an Open University historian and author of The Making of the Modern Christmas is among those who support this view. “I suppose to us it will always look like an , but it would first seem to be an abbreviation used by clerics with a good knowledge of ancient languages,” he said. “A lot of people disapprove of it or think of it as blas- phemous because they think the X stands money for earthquake victims. Mary were no longer in Bethlehem. for anonymity – the ‘Mr. X’ sort of idea.” When the Magi first enquire Matthew never actually says that It seems Christmas has been abbrevi- about Jesus, Matthew says that they are in Bethlehem at the time of ated for at least the past 1,000 years. Before they are overheard by "Herod the the visit of the Magi. Since Joseph Xmas, there was XPmas, according to Inge Mil- King", which is accepted as refer- and Mary traveled to Jerusalem for full, assistant editor of etymology at Oxford Eng- of Southwell, it is part of a “blasé attitude” to- “It makes it a bit better but, at the same time, ring to who died in the circumcision of Jesus and her lish Dictionaries (OED). She found references in wards Christmas, which she finds offensive. “I people aren’t writing it for that reason. They are 4 BC. This is seemingly in contra- offering after her purification 40 the Anglo Saxon Chronicle as far back as 1021 know Xmas has been substituted for Christmas writing it for quickness,” she said. diction with Luke's mention of a days later it is plausible that they and says the P was probably dropped later. for a long, long time but it gets my goat,” she “When it comes down to it, it doesn’t really census and of Quirinius being gov- were either in Zacharius and Eliza- There may have been religious reasons for said. matter, but it’s just part of the whole degenera- ernor of Syria, which both apply to beth's house or had procured a Christ, as Jehova was abbreviated in Hebrew, “It is the glib way people substitute Christ tion of what, for me personally, is very impor- some time after AD 6. The Magi house of their own within the two she said. with this anonymous X. It is all part of the PC tant. claim to wish to pay homage years from the time of Jesus' birth “But of course it also saved space and in a picture – gets squashed into a small- (proskunesai in the Greek) to a and the visit of the Magi. Another gospel manuscript the word Christ would ap- er and smaller corner.” This piece appears at the following site: King of the Jews. While proskune- theory is that the Magi visited pear lots of times. Parchment was expensive so She is also not convinced by the argument http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/maga- sai can mean honoring either a king about two years after the birth of anything that would save space would be wel- that the word’s history makes it acceptable. zine by Emma Griffiths BBC News or a God, King of the Jews is a clear Jesus, explaining why Herod, come. And it is no coincidence that X resembles and direct challenge to Herod's au- thwarted in his plans, later ordered a cross – there’s quite an old symbol, an X and a thority. Herod was renowned for the death of children aged two P, called Chi-Ro, and it could be that X looked his paranoia, killing several of his years and younger. like a symbol for Christ.” own sons who threatened him. As According to most forms of Whatever its origins, it was good enough for an Edomite, Herod would be espe- Christianity, the Magi were the first the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who wrote in cially threatened by a heir of David, religious figures to worship Christ, a letter in 1801: “On Xmas Day I breakfasted who would automatically be more and for this reason the story of the with Davy”. in favor with Jewish fundamental- Magi is particularly respected and But, along with complaints that Christmas ists of the time, who had a particu- popular among many Christians. has become too commercial, critics of the word larly xenophobic attitude. The visit of the Magi is commemo- persist – and in some cases take direct action. This narrative of the visit of the rated by Catholics and other Christ- The former Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Magi is the first point in Matthew ian churches (but not the Eastern Reverend Alan Chesters, made a recommenda- that Bethlehem, the place of Jesus' Orthodox) on the observance of tion to his clergy that they avoid using the word birth, is mentioned. According to Epiphany, January 6. The Eastern altogether. the chronology in Luke, the family Orthodox celebrates it on Decem- He is now retired, but the diocesan left Bethlehem soon after arriving, ber 25 along with Christmas. This spokesman Martyn Halsall said “Xmas” was still when Jesus was forty days old, but visit is frequently treated in Christ- a talking point, particularly among older people, according to Matthew, the Magi vis- ian art and literature as The Adora- regardless of its Greek meaning. ited Jesus in Bethlehem when he tion of the Magi. “I think that ‘s a subtlety lost on most of the was at a house. This raises the There are many traditional sto- population,” he said. question of how the family has its ries about what happened to the As Christmas is in danger of becoming so own home in the town when the Magi after this, with one having over-commercialized people are saying: Let’s re- Magi visit, having only been able to them baptized by St. Thomas on his member what it is all about. have a stable when Jesus was born. way to India. Another has their re- A spokesman said there However, Matthew does not say the mains found by Saint Helena and was no policy on using the word Xmas, and house belonged to Joseph and brought to Constantinople, and some clerics were well aware of its Greek roots Mary. eventually making their way to and saw no problem with it. It is also entirely possible that Germany and the Shrine of the But for Jane Wyles, deputy editor of the when the Magi visited, Joseph and Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral. Church of England’s C Magazine for the Diocese

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