KARAVAKI THE TRADITION OF DECORATING BOATS NOT TREES FOR CHRISTMAS

 Christmas is linked all around the world to the ancient tradition of decorating trees with many ornaments and flashing lights. 

However, an old traditional custom in Greece's islands and coastal regions dictates that people should decorate a boat rather than an evergreen Christmas tree. 

Despite that nowadays almost every Greek city and household do decorate a Christmas tree there are still a number of public places in Greece where one can see a boat next to the Christmas tree.  

The tradition of "karavaki" which is Greek for a small boat is deeply rooted in the tradition of a country with a symbolic relationship with the sea.