The Legend of Kalikantzara and The Blessing of the Sea
Kalikantzara are little devils from the underworld. They are small and black, with pointed ears, horns, curly tails, goats’ legs and human hands. They arrive on Christmas Eve and come down the chimney of everybody’s house to create havoc. Their intention is to take over the world.
On the 5th of January, the first sanctification of the Epiphany (The Enlightenment) takes place in church on the eve of the holiday. The priests, each accompanied by two choir boys, holding a cross and a basil branch, visit every house in the parish and bless it, the surrounding land and its occupants. This exorcises the devils, who have no where to go but into the water- the sea, a river or even a reservoir.
On Skopelos, on the 6th of January, a long procession is formed and follows whatever road that leads to the sea. Up in front of the procession are the cherub icons, followed by the priests dressed in their best holiday splendour, then the VIPs, followed by all the people. The priests then perform the ceremony of ‘blessing the sea.’
They throw a cross into the water, in memory of the priests who gave the icons to the protection of the sea during the Turkish Occupation, and by this action the devils are sent back to the underworld.
Then, those who dare - mostly the younger people of the village - jump in the usually icy water and compete in retrieving the cross. The one who brings the cross up to the surface will enjoy good luck and health for the entire year.
The fishing boats send up flares and sound their klaxons, after which the whole town then repairs for coffee in the cafes.