Smashing Pomegranate on New Year

The pomegranate is an ancient red fruit that has been the symbol of fertility, prosperity, and regeneration for thousands of years in Greece and Greek mythology.

During Christmas time in Greece, you see pomegranates everywhere. Most Greek households hang this rich fruit above the main entrance door of their house, and some people also get the fruit blessed at Church before doing so.

A little before the clock strikes twelve, marking the advent of the New Year, it is the custom to turn off all lights and for family members to step outside their homes, symbolising the old year that has passed.

After midnight, The family members step in again with their right foot. The person who enters immediately after the first footer rolls the pomegranate, holding it in their right hand, and forces it against the door to smash it open.

It is said that the number of seeds that scatter around is proportional to the amount of good luck the family will receive within the upcoming year.  It is also believed that someone who gets a red spot on them by the fruit’s juice will be extremely lucky that year.

There are, of course, variations of this custom in different areas around Greece.

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*Image by Greek City Times (Copyright)