New Year's Day

New Years Day with the extended family.

What a way to start the year.  Another celebration, another feast.  As you start the year so shall the year continue they say here. 

I was once told by an elderly aunt not to have a shower or wash my hair on New Year's day because I would find myself having to shower everyday all through the year. Duh, yes, that's what I would be doing anyway!  That was many years ago when baths were a once a week, Saturday night, operation

Crossing on the car ferry we went to Galatas and the home of my daughter's in-laws where various cousins and aunts had also gathered.

Pappous had the grill lit outside in the sunshine and cooked some pork souvlaki.  Then an octopus went on the grill.  The appetiser was ouzo with sun dried and grilled octopus.

Appetiser - food or drink to stimulate the appetite

Do we really need an appetiser?

 Pork souvlaki, pork chops, lamb chops

Also salads, lettuce and tomato

Tzatziki

Greens of the field

Lots of vitamins and minerals from fresh vegetables, olive oil from this year's harvest, 

Greek yoghurt for the tzatziki and loads of garlic, lemon juice 

All dishes salt free

Plates in front of us on the table, as is the custom, are empty.  We choose what we want to eat and put as much, or as little, of what we want on our plates.

It is best to always leave a small portion on your plate or you'll find one of the aunts pressing more food on to you. 'faei paidi mou, faei'  ... 'eat my child eat' and usually 'you've eaten nothing, try a little lamb.  Do you need more bread, there is another bowl of salad in the fridge, a little feta?'.  They move the platters around so there are dishes full of food right in front of you .

We sat around the table for many hours, though not eating

The younger ones went out to shoot a few baskets in the yard.  

 One of the cousins went down to the graveyard to light the candle on his father's grave .  His father has been dead almost two years now but some member of the family will light the candle and spread a little incense every day. He is not forgotten

The men watch a football match on TV

The aunts go to feed the chooks and goats

We went across the courtyard to see the maiden aunts and then came back for coffee, more chat and another glass of wine

Squares of chocolate indulgence.  

Indulge in - to take part in something freely, avidly, for pleasure

Something fresh and green to clear the palate

Pots of winter basil in the yard