Name days of the Twelve Days: from Christmas to Epiphany

In Christian tradition the Twelve Days (Δωδεκαήμερο, Dodekaimero) run from Christmas Day, 25 December, up to and including the eve of Epiphany on 5 January. In Greece this is the season of the kalanda, the carols children sing door to door, and, in folklore, of the kallikantzaroi, mischievous goblins said to roam the earth until the waters are blessed at Epiphany. It is also one of the busiest stretches of the year for name days: within two weeks, some of the most common Greek names are celebrated.

From Christmas Eve to Saint Stephen

• 24 December, Christmas Eve: Evgenia (Eugenia), on the feast of the martyr Saint Eugenia.
• Christmas, 25 December: Christos, Chrysoula, Manolis and Emmanouela, as well as many women named Christina, although Christina's main name day is 24 July.
• 26 December, Synaxis of the Theotokos: Manolis and Emmanouela celebrate again. The day is also a public holiday in Greece.
• 27 December, Saint Stephen the Protomartyr: Stefanos (Stephen) and Stefania.

The Sunday after Christmas

On the Sunday after Christmas the Church honours together Joseph the Betrothed, King David and James the Brother of the Lord, so it is the name day of Iosif (Joseph), David and many men called Iakovos (James). The feast falls on the Sunday between 26 and 31 December; if there is no such Sunday, it is kept on 26 December. In 2026 it falls on 27 December, the same day as Saint Stephen, and in 2027 on 26 December. Some calendars simply list Joseph on 26 December.

Towards New Year

Between 28 and 31 December some rarer names are celebrated: Domna on the 28th, Veniamin (Benjamin) on the 29th, Anysia on the 30th and Melania on the 31st, New Year's Eve.

On 1 January the Church celebrates the Circumcision of Christ and the feast of Saint Basil the Great, and the Divine Liturgy that bears his name is served. Vasilis (Basil) and Vasiliki celebrate amid the New Year wishes and the cutting of the vasilopita, the New Year cake with a coin hidden inside.

From New Year to Epiphany

• 2 January: Serafeim (Seraphim), on the feast of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. The forefeast of Epiphany begins the same day.
• 3 January: Genovefa, on the feast of Saint Genevieve of Paris.
• 5 January: Theoni. The eve of Epiphany is a day of strict fasting, unlike the earlier days of the Twelve Days, which are fast-free.
• Epiphany, 6 January, which Greeks call Theofania or Ta Fota (“the Lights”): Fotis and Foteini, Theofanis and Theofania, and Iordanis. After the Great Blessing of the Waters a cross is thrown into the sea, a harbour, a river or a lake, and swimmers dive in to retrieve it.

And the day after: Saint John

The celebrations do not stop at Epiphany. On 7 January the Church honours the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist, who baptised Christ in the Jordan, and it is the name day of Giannis (John), Ioanna and Prodromos. Because Ioannis and Ioanna are among the most widespread Greek names, the holiday season ends with one of the biggest name days of the year.

One wish, two reasons

During the Twelve Days you will hear “Chronia polla!” twice over: it is the name day wish, but also the greeting Greeks exchange at Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. For a Christos or a Vasiliki, one wish covers both the name day and the holiday. For more wishes, and for what the person celebrating usually replies, see how to wish someone a happy name day.

Communities that keep the old calendar celebrate these fixed feasts 13 days later: Christmas on 7 January and Epiphany on 19 January. See the guide to the old and new calendar.