My Greek Family Christmas

Yuletide logs!

Families have their Christmas customs and traditions last year we started a new one.

We have a new addition to the family; sweet Melina, our first Grandchild.

Now Christmas is all about Melina.

Last year she helped me trim the Christmas tree, well, she was only one and a half years old, I rectified things after she had gone home!

We had such a good time though; watching the wonder on her little face, laughing at her excitement when we switched on the tree lights was sheer joy.

With a little help from Mel

Christmas stories

This year I decided to make decorating the tree with Melina an official part of our family Christmas.

Last year Melina had just happened to drop by with her parents while I was putting up the tree but this year it was planned.

They would be arriving early evening and we would have a “Trimming the Christmas tree supper party”.

I was up early preparing Pastitsio; the Greek Lasagne which everyone loves and is something which can be made beforehand.

This is a must as I knew that with Melina around there would be no time to be cooking in the kitchen!

Pastitsio

My Daughter-in-law, Sandra, kindly offered to make her famous ravani: Greek semolina cake.

A mouthwatering, deliciously moist cake soaked in orange syrup, yummy on its own but absolutely delicious with ice cream and black cherry syrup!

Sandra’s ravani

Once all the Christmas paraphernalia had been brought up from the basement and the pastitsio was ready to be served we opened a bottle of wine with which to fortify ourselves before they arrived!

Christmas cheer

With a log fire roaring in the fire place it really was beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Home fires burning

My son had warned me that if I started to trim the tree from scratch with Melina it would take us until midnight!

He knew from his experience of trimming their tree with her.

Melina had to examine each bauble carefully and then choose just the perfect place for it to hang.

I had told Melina that I wouldn’t start without her so I was loathe to do so, after all aren’t we supposed to set an example to children?

I didn’t want to break my word.

The thought of six hours trimming the tree though soon changed my mind!

I did most of it on my own, leaving the things that I thought Melina would like best, for her to put on the tree.

I need not have worried as soon as Melina saw the tree she was in such a state of bliss I think she had forgotten about my promise to her.

Oh Christmas tree

What a good job I had listened to my son even the few things left for Melina, to put on the tree took an age.

We must find just the best place to hang this!

A job well done!

Some things didn’t even make it on to the tree; she loved them so much and she wasn’t parting with them.

One decoration which never left her side all evening was Micky Mouse in a snowstorm.

Melina you have taste already it’s the one and only decoration from Paris.

All things French and all that!

With love from Paris

When the tree was to Melina’s satisfaction she checked out other small Christmas details around the house.

A touch of Christmas

Little details

Don’t these little Murano bowls, look lovely, with tea lights in them?

See how they glow?

Christmas candles

Mel, of course, just had to blow out my Christmas candles!

Vintage Murano glass bowls

This glass bottle in the shape of the Eiffel tower once held cognac.

It now holds sea glass collected from Loutraki beach.

I added a star and voila:

“Paris à Noël”

Star bright

Follow that star

Next week my daughter and her boyfriend will arrive from Athens and we shall all celebrate Christmas together, as we do every year, Christmas really is a family affair!