Join the festive tradition and learn Greek New Year’s Kalanda

·

On New Year’s Eve in Greece the kalanda tradition continues to reign supreme.

Children go from door-to-door singing carols in order to wish people “Καλή Χρονιά” (Happy New Year) and are rewarded with sweets or coins. This is a custom dating back to Byzantine times.

The carols also differ from region to region, island to island, village to village, although the central motifs remain the same: wishes for love, peace, health, joy and wealth.

To help you join in with the festive tradition, The Greek Herald shares the lyrics to its favourite carol: Αρχιμηνιά κι Αρχιχρονιά.

Greek Lyrics:

Αρχιμηνιά κι Αρχιχρονιά
ψηλή μου δεντρολιβανιά
κι αρχή— κι αρχή καλός μας χρόνος
εκκλησιά με τ’ άγιο θρόνος.

Αρχή που βγήκε ο Χριστός
άγιος και Πνευματικός,
στη γη— στη γη να περπατήσει
και να μας καλοκαρδίσει.

Αγιος Βασίλης έρχεται,
και δεν μας καταδέχεται,
από— από την Καισαρεία,
συ’ σαι αρχόντισσα κυρία.

Βαστά εικόνα και χαρτί
ζαχαροπλάστη, ζυμωτή
χαρτί— χαρτί και καλαμάρι
δες και με-δες και με το παλικάρι.

Το καλαμάρι έγραφε,
τη μοίρα του την έλεγε
και το— και το χαρτί ομίλει
Άγιε μου- άγιε μου καλέ Βασίλη.

Κάτσε να φας κάτσε να πιείς
Κάτσε τον πόνο σου να πεις
κάτσε, κάτσε να τραγουδήσεις
Και να μας— και να μας καλοκαρδήσεις

Pronunciation:

Archiminiá ki archichroniá
psilí mou dhendrolivaniá
ki archí kalós mas chrónos
ekklisiá me t’ áyio thrónos.

Archí pou vyíke o christós
áyios ke pneumatikós,
sti yi na perpatísi
ke na mas kalokardhísi.

Ayios vasílis érchete,
ke dhen mas katadhéchete,
apó tin kesaría,
si’ se archóntisa kiría.

Vastá ikóna ke chartí
zacharokárno, zymotí
chartí ke kalamári
dhes ke me-dhes ke me to palikári.

To kalamári éghrafe,
ti míra tou tin éleye
ke to chartí-ke to chartí omíli
áyie mou-áyie mou kalé vasíli.

kátse na fas kátse na pis
kátse ton póno sou na pis
kátse na traghoudhísis
ke na mas kalokardhísis

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister meets Sydney’s Greek business and community leaders

Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Ioannis Loverdos met with Sydney’s Greek business and community leaders at a Business Sydney breakfast.

Conquest unveils $900 million plan for former Cyprus Club site at Stanmore

Conquest has lodged plans for a $900m retail and residential precinct on the site of the former Cyprus Community of NSW Club in Stanmore.

Councillor Katerine Theodosis calls on Merri-Bek to preserve its proud migrant history

Merri-Bek Councillor Katerine Theodosis has tasked Council to lead a program which documents and showcases the city’s migrant history. 

AHEPA Australia launches ‘Saving Hearts’ fundraiser in support of Heart Foundation

AHEPA Australia will host a Saving Hearts Fundraiser on Sunday, October 12, at The Grand Roxy in Sydney in support of the Heart Foundation.

Former Sydney teacher Bill Kafataris jailed for child sexual grooming

Bill Kafataris, 57, has been sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty of sexually grooming a child following a retrial.

You May Also Like

Police officers and SA community bid public farewell to Joanne Shanahan

The South Australia Police Force, along with the South Australian community, payed their respects to Greek Australian Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan.

Jacky Benmayor: The last speaker in Greece of a Jewish language close to extinction

Jacky Benmayor is the last speaker in Greece of Judeo-Spanish, or Ladino, a language derived from Old Spanish.

‘It was really hard’: Nick Kyrgios on struggle to overcome Wimbledon defeat

Nick Kyrgios has opened up about the difficulty of bouncing back from his Wimbledon final loss to Novak Djokovic last month.