Diadochian traditions

Diadochian traditions, customs and beliefs are commonly practiced among people of Diadochia. Diadochian society is extremely religious with around 71 percent of the population belonging to the Diadochian Orthodox Church. Most traditions and customs in Diadochia are of a religious nature, but some have their origin in paganism.

Diadochian traditions and customs

Easter festivities

In Diadochia the most important religious celebration is Easter, followed by Christmas. In Diadochia Easter eggs are often dyed red on Holy Thursday to symbolize the blood of Christ. During the days leading up to Easter women bake Koulourakia (butter cookies) and Tsoureki (sweet bread).

Christmas festivities

In Diadochia Christmas is second to Easter. Christmas traditions are still strong however. The use of Christmas tree is popular in Diadochia, but traditionally because Diadochia is an island nation with ties to the sea and a long maritime history Diadochians often decorate a ship, symbolizing the church during christmas.

In Diadochia Christmas ships (where trees are not used) are made of paper or wood, adorned with, colorful lamps and a few, simple ornaments, trinkets and decorations. They are usually placed near a fire and the bow traditonally always points to the interior of the house. Golden objects, presents, small gifts, sweets, and coins are placed in the christmas ship to symbolize riches and prosperity reaching a person's home.

During Christmas in Diadochia, desserts and pastries such as Melomakarona (Honey macaroons), Kourabiedes (shortbrad), Baklava (sweet syrup pastry), Christopsomo (Christmas cake or Christ's bread) are served.

New Years festivities

In Diadochia people switch off the lights at midnight, then celebrate by cutting the vassilopita (Saint Basil's pie or King's cake) The Vassilopita is baked with a coin inside, and whoever gets the coin in their slice are considered blessed with good luck for the whole year.

During New Years in Diadochia pomegranates are smashed in front of of a family's house. The number of dispersed seeds determines the fortunes for the family and all who reside in the home. It is widely believed throughout Diadochia that the pomegranate will bring health, happiness and money for the New Year.

Theophany

In Diadochia Theophany or Epiphany as it is called is a feast that centres around the Great Blessing of the Waters.

Wedding customs

Diadochia has many different wedding traditions and customs. Three days before the Wedding the couple organize a celebration and party kreváti (Greek: for bed) in their new home where friends and family of the couple place money and young children on the couple's bed to symbolize properity and fertility to the new family.

During weddings in Diadochian tradition the groom can not see the bride until the ceremony. After the ceremony the bride and groom drink three sips of red wine from the same glass to symbolize them sharing the cup of life.

At traditional Diadochian weddings, sugar coated almonds are handed out in odd-numbered amounts. The indivisibility of the numbers symbolizes that the newlyweds will be partners for their whole lives. Also during the end of the ceremony people throw rice and flowers for fertility and bliss.

During the wedding party the groom dances the traditional zeibekiko folk dance while the Bride dances the Tsifteteli. Somtimes the Zeibekiko is only danced but with both bride and groom. During the wedding party newly weds are given honey with walnuts to eat and a horseshoe to step on to symbolize sweet and lucky marriage and happy and blissful marital life. Name Day Celebrations

Name Day Celebrations

In Diadochian traditions name days hold more importance than a person's actual birthday does. Almost all Diadochian people owe the origin of their name to a religious saint. During a person's name day in Diadochia, friends, family, visit the person celebrating the name day without invitation and offer well wishes and small presents and gifts.

Baptism

n the Empire of Diadochia baptismal days are one of the most important days in the life of a Diadochian Orthodox. A Baptismal day is ment to take place as soon as possible in a person's life usually it takes place within the first year of a baby's birth. In Diadochia a baby is simply called baby until the baby is baptized.

On Baptism Day in Diadochia, the baby is wrapped in a white towel. The priest who officiates or presides over the ceremony blesses the water while adding olive oil brought by the baby's godparents. The Priest dips the baby into the water three times, saying the chosen name. The priest than blesses the baby and the clothes with myrrh. After this the baby is then dressed in white clothes and the priest places a gold chain on the newly baptized baby and gives the baby its first Holy Communion.

At the end of the ceremony, a celebration is held in the family home and the parents kiss the hands of the baby's godparent’s (who were in attendance since traditionally the baby's actual parents are not in attendance as is custom) and receive congratulatory wishes and thanks from the attending guests.

Carnival

In Diadochia the Carnival Season takes place just before the start of Lent, when majority of the the nation who are of the Diadochian Orthodox faith fast. Carnival is also known as Apokriés (Greek: Αποκριές, "saying goodbye to meat"), or the season of the "Opening of the Triodion" (named after the liturgical book used by the Diadochian Orthodox church until the Holy Week).

The three weeks of Carnival are:

• Profoni: Meaning Announce because it the ceremonial tradtional announcing of the opening of the Carnival season from a high point in each city, town, village, and hamlet in Diadochia.
• Kreatini: Meat eating Week. The most important event of this week is the Tsiknopempti(Thursday of the Grilled Meat).
• Tirofagou/Tyrinē: Cheese week. During cheese week meat is traditionally not eaten. During this time cheese dishes, creamy puddings and pastries are common including, Tyropita (Cheese pie), Galatopita (Milk pie), Galaktoboureko (custurd filled pastry), and other foods made with cheese, milk, and eggs. The most important event of this week is on the last sunday before the start of Lent, known as Tirini cheese Sunday.

Diadochian Good luck charms

Basil

In Diadochia during the Christmas season a wooden bowl is kept with basil in it. Once a day, the mother, dips a cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual was believed to keep the Kalikantzaroi (Goblins) away from a person's house because they are said to fear holy water as well as fire.

Pomegranates

It is widely believed throughout Diadochia that the pomegranate will bring health, happiness and money for the New Year.

Horseshoe

In Diadochia horseshoes symbolize happiness and longevity, and is considered a protection from the evil eye.

Garlic

Garlic is used in Diadochia to protect against the evil eye.

Color Blue

In Diadochia the color blue is considered lucky and used to protect against the evil eye which coincidentally can also give bad luck in some cases.

Diadochian superstitions

The Evil Eye (O Kakó Máti)

In Diadochia superstitions involving the evil eye is strong in rural parts of the empire. In Diadochia it is believed people get the evil eye or “matiasma”, from people who are jealous or envy them. People try to matiasma by wearing good luck charms such as anything with blue because blue protects against evil in Diadochia, this includes bracelets and blue marble trinkets with an eye painted on it. In Diadochia a person with blue eyes is also believed to be able to give matiasma. Garlic is often hung in people's homes as a way to protect and guard against the evil eye.

Bread

In Diadochia because Bread is considered a gift from God, people often make a sign of the cross with a knife before slicing it out of religious reverence.

Knives

In Diadochia it is bad luck to hand a knife to some one because it is believed by doing this you are bringing a fight to that person. Because of this knifes are always set down on the table and never handed.

Spitting

Some Diadochians believe that spitting chases the devil away. So when ever a people in Diadochia traditionally talk about bad news or good news, all others spit three times as a way to ward off evil and the devil.

Tuesday the 13th

In Diadochia Tuesday especially the 13th is considered the most unlucky of all days because on this day on Tuesday April 13, 1204 Constantinople was fell to the Fourth Crusade. This superstition has been reinforced by the fact that Constantinople fell for a second time on a Tuesday, May 29 1453to be exact. The number 13 is unlucky because the numbers 1453 if added (1+4+5+3=13) equals 13 and the number 13 spoils the perfection of the number 12: 12 gods of Olympus, 12 months, 12 hours of day and night each, 12 labors of Heracules, and the 12 zodiac signs.

Piase kokkino

In Diadochia it is bad omen when two people say something at the same time. Diadochians believe that this will cause a fight or argument between the two people. When people say the same thing together they must tell each other ""piase kokkino" (Catch/touch red) and both have to touch any red item they can find around them to ward off bad luck.

Kallikantzaros

Kallikantzaros or Kallikantzaroi are wicked goblims in Diadochian folk tradition that are supposed to live under ground all year sawing at the World tree but emerge right wehn the tree and the world with it is about to collapse during the twelve days of christmas to tease people and cause mischief. On Epiphany Day in Diadochia priests in villages go to people's houses and the rooms with blessed water to force the Kallikantzaroi to return underground to find that the world tree has healed itself. The goblins restart their work and the cycle starts up again. It is also believed that the Kallikantzaroi are afraid of fire and holy water.