An old tradition of Arnea has come to life this year, too, on Christmas eve, called “Pouring honey on Jesus”. During this feast, a big breadcake, called “Christ’s bread” is baked to sweeten Jesus Christ, or “pour honey on him”. This year, Christ’s bread weighed 200 kgs and it took 150 kgs of flour and 8 kgs nuts for its making. Young and old gathered in the central square of Arnea, in spite of the freezing cold weather, in order to taste it.

A king, a cook, the Fotari and a…sausage light up Epiphany’s celebration each year in a small village of Halkidiki, Paleokastro. According to the tradition, on Epiphany’s Eve, before dark, the Fotari (young people of the village) gather in St. Athanasios’ church and, after ringing the church bell, they elect the King, who is sworn in, wears the shepherd’s cape and the sheep bells that make a loud noise and leads the dance.Then, the Fotari walk around the village singing carols.

The last place they visit is the priest’s house, on Ephiphany’s day, where they sing a specific carol for the priest after the ceremony of the sanctification of the waters. After that, they all gather in the central square of Paleokastro, where the King with a long wooden sword hits anybody who stops dancing or tries to get the sausage. The cook does not dance, he is sitting in the middle, among the dancers and the sausage is tied on a stick that he carries. He has also a wooden sword, but he does not obey the King’s orders. The person who succeeds in getting the sausage is the lucky man of the year.

The Photographers of the Photographic Club of the Municipality of Pavlos Melas of Thessaloniki exhibit their work through parallel private exhibitions, in the Cultural Centre of Ierissos from December 20 2011 to January 20 2012, under the name “Photographers’ Views”.

For the 4th year the “Fairytale Land” has opened in Stratoni after the ardent efforts and work of volunteer habitants and the Municipal Bodies of Stratoni.

The opening was made by the Mayor of Aristoteles Municipality, Mr. Christos Pachtas, together with the President of the Municipal Community of Stratoni, Mr. N. Zagorakis, while the Bishop of Ierissos, Mr. Nikodemos, attended the opening, too. In the Fairytale Land festivities, the choir of the Ierissos Cathedral, Arnea choir and the polyphonic choir of Stageira-Akanthus, participated, escorted by the Aristoteles Camerata of the Municipality of Aristoteles.