Let’s find out about the Christmas custom of the “flaming yew” in the region of Epirus...
In the region of Epirus up in the northern corner of Greece, we still come across a very old traditional custom which emerges from centuries back...
The story says, that when baby Jesus was born, the three shepherds had to walk through the pitch black night in order to go and greet the baby's birth.
In order to find their way in the darkness, the shepherds thought of setting fire to dry brunches of yew which they would hold during their long nocturnal journey. This is exactly what they did and - at once - their dark way through the mountains became a trip in the company of ample light and squeaky noises and rattle by the flaming brunches !
Nowadays, if you find yourself in the village of Papigo in Epirus for a Christmas break, you will come across people walking and holding flaming brunches of yew or any other tree brunch that rattles as it burns, just for the fun of it. People will walk around the little picturesque village alleys to go to their neighbors and wish them “Merry Christmas”, joyfully holding their burning yews. The more squeak and rattle the brunch makes...the better!
During the festive days of Christmas, the inhabitants of the city of Ioannina in Epirus have a similar custom, where they hold a bunch of bay leaves or yew which they will throw in the fireplace of the house they are visiting, alongside loud wishes for a joyful Christmas!
As you might have guessed...the more fire, squeak and rattle the bay leaves and yew makes in the fireplace, the stronger the wishes will be for the people who are present.
“Lambs, goats, brides and grooms!!”
well yes...this does constitute the warmest wish one can make to the landlord and lady of the house...up North in the beautiful region of Epirus!
