What is Georgian Christmas and its traditions? Christmas only in January, New Year’s Eve gifts, and an unusual-looking tree.

Most of the world today uses the Gregorian calendar.

However, the Julian calendar is still used in Georgia.

Its consequence is that the first day of the new year is celebrated first, followed by Orthodox Christmas.

So when do children get presents?

And what is chichilaki?

In our article, we will explain how Christmas is celebrated in Georgia.

When is Christmas celebrated in Georgia?

Georgians still celebrate Christmas and New Year according to the Julian calendar. They may or may not wish Merry Christmas on December 25th; it depends on their preferences. However, Christmas itself is not celebrated on December 25. The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates them on January 7 instead.

Christmas concludes the 40-day fast that traditionally begins on November 28. It is a time of contemplation, restraint, and inner healing in the sacrament of confession. Believers usually meet in a church where a special service is held.

The service begins late at night on January 6th and continues until 4 or 5 a.m. on January 7th. After communion, everyone congratulates each other on the birth of Christ, and the head of the church gives a speech in front of the people about Christmas. Only then do Georgians go to celebrate this day together with their family members and close friends.

Do you know Georgian Christmas traditions?

One of the essential parts of Christmas in Georgia is the traditional Christmas procession called Alilo, which is named after the Georgian Christmas carol sung during the procession. The march usually starts in the morning after an exceptional Christmas service. What is the history of the Alilo march?

Orthodox Christians all over Georgia participate in this Christmas event. Participants carry Orthodox icons, Georgian flags, and crosses and sing Christmas carols. Priests bless the crowd with holy water, and some people wear costumes associated with the Bible. Anyone can join the march, and many bring gifts and contributions to orphanages, retirement homes, and prisons.

An important Christmas attribute in Georgia is the Christmas tree, but it looks different than what we are used to. A traditional Georgian Christmas tree called chichilaki is made from dried branches of hazelnuts, or walnuts shaved into long curly “strings” to form a small tree.

Georgians believe the tree resembles the beard of Saint Basil the Great, who is said to visit people during Christmas, much like Santa Claus. Chichilaki are decorated with fruit and sweets and remain in homes until the Orthodox feast of Epiphany on January 19, when the trees are ceremoniously burned to symbolize the passing of the previous year’s troubles.

Who brings the children’s presents?

Georgian children receive gifts on New Year’s Eve, December 31. Gifts for children are traditionally carried by Tovlis papa, or Tovlis babua in West Georgian dialects, which means Grandfather Snow. He is dressed entirely in white, including a hat and a cloak called a nabadi. The coat is heavy and very warm because it is made of white sheep wool.

On New Year’s Eve, he descends from the Caucasus mountains and walks around Georgia to bring gifts and sweets to all Georgian children. The children leave a delicious delicacy called churchkhela for Tovlis Papa. It is made of nuts and grape juice and is shaped like a “sausage.”

What is eaten in Georgia at Christmas?

The basis of the Georgian Christmas table is satsivi, or walnut sauce with turkey meat. An interesting fact is that satsivi is served cold, as tsivi means cold in Georgian.

Other popular dishes include eggplant with walnuts or grilled piglets. Christmas in Georgia also has its typical sweets, such as gozinaki, or walnuts with honey, and churchkhela, walnuts coated in concentrated grape juice.

How to prepare satsivi?

Satsivi is a traditional Georgian walnut paste that is served cold. It is used for various meat, fish, and vegetable dishes. The traditional satsivi eaten at Christmas is made from turkey meat. In other seasons, it is usually made with chicken.

Ingredients:

• turkey meat with bones as a whole or a whole chicken
• 2 cups of walnuts
• 5 medium-sized onions
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of dried coriander
• 1 teaspoon of blue fenugreek
• 1 teaspoon of dried calendula
• 1 teaspoon of dried red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 crushed cloves
• salt

Method:

1. Pour water into the pot and add the turkey.
2. Heat over low heat until the meat is cooked.
3. Remove the turkey from the pot and transfer to a baking sheet.
4. Do not pour out the water where the meat was cooked; you will need it to baste the turkey during roasting and later.
5. Bake the turkey at 356°F until it is nicely golden and cooked.
6. Cut the roast turkey into medium-sized pieces.
7. Finely chop the onion and add some broth to the pan where you cooked the meat.
8. Sauté for 6-7 minutes.
9. Add the finished onion to the bowl and use a blender to blend it until smooth.
10. Add the onion to the pot with the rest of the turkey stock.
11. Grind the nuts using a grinder.
12. Add a teaspoon of dried coriander, a teaspoon of blue fenugreek, a teaspoon of dried calendula, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, and five crushed cloves.
13. Mix by hand and crush the mixture with your hands.
14. Pounded a teaspoon of dried red pepper, four cloves of garlic, and salt in a mortar or other method.
15. Mix this mixture and two tablespoons of white wine vinegar with the ground walnuts.
16. Gradually add the water from the pot where the turkey was cooked to the nut mixture, stirring as you add the water.
17. Add and mix until the mixture has a smooth consistency.
18. Then strain this mixture through a strainer back into the pot.
19. Discard the pieces that remain in the sieve.
20. Add the turkey pieces to the pot, boil, and remove from the heat.

Allow to cool completely before serving.

What places to visit in Georgia at Christmas?

Planning a Christmas in Georgia? The capital, Tbilisi, is the number one city worth visiting during the Christmas holidays.

• Tbilisi – the capital offers traditional Christmas markets, the Alilo parade, and everything else that is part of an authentic Georgian Christmas. The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity has a unique atmosphere all year round, but it is even more magical during Advent.

• Batumi—If you’re looking for a non-traditional Christmas holiday by the sea, head to this city on the Black Sea coast.

• Lagodekhi – a small town on the border with Azerbaijan, is a popular starting point for mountain treks in the summer. But it has an exciting atmosphere even in winter.