All about Zakynthos

During the festive twelve days - the Christmas period -, groups of singers used to sing carols on the eve of the New Year in homes and shops. Each company, in order to visit someone, used, a few days before going to the house or shop, to send a card, informing them of their intention, and of the members of the singers' company. Today, groups of young children go to the homes of relatives and friends and sing carols on New Year's Eve. The municipal band also played carols on New Year's Eve. The band of Ag. Giannis also played "Happy Birthday" in the houses where the landlord of the house was celebrating. Carols were also sung to the Metropolitan on the evening of the eve of the Epiphany. After the vespers, which is sung in the Metropolitan church, accompanied by clergy, authorities and people with the music of the Municipality band playing, the Metropolitan is taken to the residence, the "Piscopate". There a church choir sings carols, specially written for this particular evening. They also sing the "fame" , the "polychronic" of the Metropolitan. Then from the balcony of the "Piscopate", the Metropolitan delivers a speech. After the speech, the people climb up to the pitch and congratulate the Metropolitan, thanking him and exchanging greetings.