No Presents, No Decorations, No Christmas Lights

Your author, hard at work. Photo courtesy of my husband, Alf B. Meier.

International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Monday, Dec. 18, 2006
Karpathos, Greece

In one week, Dec. 25, you'll find us eating under the stars. It's our tradition. This year, 10 guests (representing four countries) are expected in our festive courtyard.

We'll make sure the lamb is on the grill, but most of the meal is pot-luck. We're sure to dine on mini spinach pies, stuffed vine leaves, typical Greek broad beans, and thick slabs of feta cheese speckled with oregano.

The round loaves of Karpathian bread have been baked in an outdoor stone oven (though not by me). I'll whip up the usual tzatziki (garlic yogurt dip), but my main job will be to create a jumbo Greek salad. I'm confident it'll turn out great. Our oil was cold-pressed from olives we picked ourselves.

Except in the cities, Christmas isn't such a big deal in Greece: no exchanging of presents; no Christmas decorations. We always observe a simple, no-frills holiday season. The only hint of sparkling Christmas lights will be the stars.

One thing we can never agree on is Greek wines, other than we all vote for red. Some of us prefer an unfiltered wine from Macedonia, while others ask for specifics from the isles of Rhodes or Crete. Our local wine is too fruity to go with our meal, but we'll have time to enjoy a glass afterward. There will be the standard ouzo and metaxa for those who so desire.

The night will end late. We'll be eating on "Greek time" and that means please don't show up before 9 p.m. It could be well past midnight by the time we get around to serving dessert.

Roberta Beach Jacobson
For International Living

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