In modern Greece, traditional carols are still going strong, with vibrant regional variations that reflect the country’s diverse cultural heritage. Lyrics often feature local dialects and idioms, while melodies draw from a range of musical influences. For instance, carols from the Ionian Islands carry Italian overtones, while those from Thrace incorporate Eastern European elements. In Epirus, the sound is more austere, contrasting the joyful, dance-like rhythms of the Cyclades. In Athens, mainstream carols are the most commonly heard, and Anglo-Saxon Christmas tunes have gained popularity in recent years. Some of these have even been translated into Greek and are often sung alongside traditional kalanda, so while the words might sound all Greek to you, the tunes may feel surprisingly familiar.

The custom is especially strong in rural areas, but you won’t miss it in the cities either. In Athens, where kalanda thrive with surprising vitality, families eagerly await the arrival of youthful choruses at their doorsteps. Armed with jingling triangles, children venture out in groups, spreading festive cheer on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and Epiphany Eve (January 5). The bright, clear tone of the triangle ensures their melodies ring out, drawing attention and adding rhythm to their performance. The children begin with a cheerful invitation: “Να τα πούμε;”—loosely translated as “Shall we sing?” Refusing is considered bad luck, but who could say no to their spirited songs and heartfelt wishes?

Historians trace the word "kalanda" to the Latin calenda, meaning “the beginning of the month.” This likely refers to the Roman celebration of New Year’s Day in January. Carolling itself is believed to have roots in the ancient Greek custom of Eiresione. As part of this tradition, children would sing hymns while carrying a decorated olive branch adorned with wool garlands and autumn fruits like figs, walnuts, almonds, and chestnuts. This practice was central to the Pyanepsia festival in ancient Athens, a celebration dedicated to Apollo. The festival included sacrifices to ensure bountiful harvests and protect crops. Children would visit homes, performing their songs in exchange for small tips—a custom remarkably similar to today’s kalanda.

With the rise of the Byzantine religious regime, this practice was condemned as pagan and eventually banned. However, Greeks traveling abroad introduced elements of the tradition to northern cultures. In regions where olive trees were scarce, locals adapted by decorating fir branches, laying the groundwork for the Christmas tree we know today. Centuries later, the fir tree returned to Greece as a Western Christmas custom, introduced by the Bavarians during King Otto’s reign. In 1833, the olive branch of ancient Eiresione was symbolically replaced by the fir tree, which was first decorated in the palaces of Nafplio—the initial capital of the newly formed Greek state.