Greek Traditions Community

Do Greeks exchange Christmas gifts?

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ssherie_

ssherie_

Active member
I am visiting Greece for the first time to visit people this Christmas. Is it customary to give gifts? I know Greeks in the diaspora like in the United States and Canada follow the tradition of giving gifts... but I can't tell if it's a big thing in Greece.

I would think it is somewhat similar to in the United States. Some of the people I am visiting spend part of the year in the US and part in Greece.

Some thoughts about gifts:

- I plan to bring some things to them unique to the US.
- I likely would have done this anyway, but figured I'd wrap it.
 
It's mostly with kids and not on Christmas, but you could give something if you wanted. Gifts are given on New Year's day when Agios Vasilios comes
 
ellinasgolfer0320 said:
It's mostly with kids and not on Christmas, but you could give something if you wanted. Gifts are given on New Year's day when Agios Vasilios comes
Click to expand...
Yup - all my friends who live in Greece do their gift exchange on New Year's, and gift giving doesn't seem to be as big of a deal.
 
Yes I've visited Greece in recent times an in Greece the tradition of exchanging gifts does exist, particularly among family and close friends. It's not as commercially extensive as in the United States, but it is a cherished part of the holiday celebrations. Bringing unique items from the U.S. as gifts is a fantastic idea, especially since they hold a personal touch and represent your culture. Wrapping them adds a festive touch and shows your effort and care. As some of your hosts split their time between the U.S. and Greece, they'll likely appreciate the blend of customs. Btw, enjoy your trip and the warmth of Greek hospitality during the festive season!
 
In my Greek family, we give gifts more on New Year’s Day, since that's St. Basil’s Day. It’s not a huge thing like in some other cultures, but we do enjoy small thoughtful gifts. I was organizing something similar at work abroad and used Corporate Gift Malaysia to find simple, meaningful presents that weren’t over the top. It worked out well, and the team really appreciated the gesture.
 
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