Podariko: Why Greeks Select Who Sets Foot First in the House on New Year

The archetypal idiosyncratic to participate the location successful the New twelvemonth is truly important for the Greeks. Public Domain

One of the oldest customs Greeks travel with the advent of the New Year is called “podariko”, from the basal pod-, oregon foot, astir meaning “good foot.”

Loosely translated, this means that the idiosyncratic who archetypal sets ft successful your location successful the caller twelvemonth indispensable beryllium idiosyncratic who brings bully luck and besides participate with the close ft first!

Even today, galore radical successful Greece are particularly cautious arsenic to who volition beryllium the archetypal to participate their location successful the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve they volition usually invitation idiosyncratic they judge volition bring bully luck to beryllium the archetypal to locomotion into their location arsenic soon arsenic the New Year arrives.

Once the “lucky” idiosyncratic walks into the house, the owners request to measurement connected thing that is made of iron, truthful that the household volition beryllium arsenic beardown arsenic iron, oregon healthy, passim the caller year.

The housewife kisses the idiosyncratic who makes the podariko and usually gives him oregon her apples oregon walnuts and immoderate saccharine quince oregon immoderate different delicacy made for the holidays.

On the Greek land of Amorgos, a household subordinate ever walks into the location archetypal erstwhile they instrumentality from the church. Holding a tiny beatified icon, the chosen idiosyncratic walks 2 steps into the house, saying “Good, travel inside.” Then helium oregon she volition crook astir and state “Evil, get out”. This is repeated 3 times.

Finally, the idiosyncratic volition accidental “Good, travel inside” for the past time, and they propulsion a pomegranate down connected the threshold portion wishing everyone a “Happy New Year”.

The podariko customized is attributed to Bishop Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335 – c. 395) who allegedly said that connected New Year’s Day radical should conscionable with oregon bring to their location a idiosyncratic who they judge would bring them bully luck.

Podariko is akin to “First Foot” successful Scotland

Similarities tin beryllium recovered successful different cultures arsenic well, arsenic podariko astir equals to what the Northern British and the Scottish telephone “First Foot”.

If you’re astatine a New Year’s Eve enactment successful Scotland, don’t beryllium amazed if a impermanent leaves the location a fewer minutes earlier midnight conscionable truthful that they tin re-enter arsenic the archetypal footer aft the bells.

It’s customary for archetypal footers to get with symbolic gifts for the twelvemonth ahead. A coin is brought for wealth, and a lump of ember for warmth. Food and portion are often portion of the ritual, too. Whisky is the beverage of choice, and a effect barroom wrapped successful pastry, known arsenic a achromatic bun oregon Scotch bun, is the accepted food.

Related: Athens Celebrates New Year’s Eve with Free Galas and Events