City of Athens holds 'Break the Pomegranate' 3-day festive event
Organized by the 'Booktopia' team, it includes interactive happenings, book stalls, children's activities, DJ sets, gifts for attendees and plenty of street foods and coffee, according to the official announcement.
On Friday, a van of the municipal radio station ATHENS 9.84 will be broadcasting live from the spot from 15:00 through 20:00.
In Greek culture, the pomegranate fruit has symbolized fertility, luck, prosperity, renewal, and regeneration since ancient times. It has been the symbol of many goddesses, including Hera, the goddess of marriage, Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, and Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Queen of the Underworld. Since most New Year's day, rituals involve ways to bring luck to a household, it makes perfect sense that the pomegranates are part of these deep-rooted traditions.
The tradition of smashing a pomegranate on New Year's Day dates back to ancient times and originates in the Peloponnese or Serres. In modern times, when the family returns home from church on New Year's Day, the man of the house smashes the pomegranate on the front door. He wishes that the juicy, bounteous ruby-like segments of the fruit fill the home with health and happiness — and joys as many as the pomegranate's arils. According to Greek tradition, the more seeds that spread all over the floor, the more good fortune will be brought to the house!
