Greek Xmas Deco

 It is traditional in Greece  to decorate a small wooden boat at Christmas.  It dates back to ancient seafaring days, so they say .

Greeks are seafarers, traders and fishermen and men were often away for long periods of time.  When they returned the women celebrated by decorating small wooden boats. So the Greek Maritime site says. Don't forget feasting, says me.

In the 19th century  Europeans began decorating Christmas trees and slowly the tradition of decorating boats returned here in Greece.  Saint Nikolas is the patron saint of sailors, and so they say, it became the custom to decorate small boats on 6th December on his Fiesta and leave the decorations up till 6 January.

This boat lights up our big window.

It has been there for a couple of weeks.  Traditional decorations go up first

And our second boat lighting up the back wall