When in Greece, you are often likely to hear “Chronia Polla!” being said in good cheer.
Pronounced chronia polla it literally means ‘many years’.
You will hear it at Christmas, at New Year’s, at Easter, on August 15th.
It is used as a birthday wish, on a name day and many other times in between.
Sometimes you might even wish to use it just because it feels good. It is warm, familiar and wishes one well.
You can’t really go wrong!
On the run up to Christmas it feels like a ‘good morning’.
There is St Catherine’s on November 25th, St Nicolas on December 6th, St Anne’s on December 9th and of course the great patron saint of Corfu, St Spyridon, is celebrated on December 11th.
And there’s still another 13 days left until Christmas!
Name days are as important as birthdays in a Greek Orthodox society.
The older generation in fact often goes by their name day rather than their birthday, some having had no exact record of their birth.
When visiting Greece during the summer months there are plenty of opportunities to say “Chronia Polla” too.
According to the Greek Orthodox calendar there is a name day to be celebrated every day, some certainly more obscure than others.
Anytime you want to wish someone well you might want to give it a try. There are no gender or age considerations to this unless you’re getting married. There’s another etiquette for that!
At Spiti Prifti we think family and so anything that wishes well is welcome.
Just so you know, Agia Eleni day is celebrated on May 21st with a customary dip in the Spiti Prifti swimming pool.
Above all else, however you wish to say it, we wish you ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ!
