Greek Christmas breads and New Year pies have often impressive decorations such as serpentine figures made of dough. The serpent is a survival of the doctrine for the oikouros ofis*, the ancient home-protecting serpent, which believed to be an incarnation of Erechtheus.
Of course, not only Erechtheus was depicted as a snake but also Ζeus Ktesios (the Acquirer), the protector of the storehouse, was represented as such. The Minoan snake-goddess was a house goddess too.
Of course, not only Erechtheus was depicted as a snake but also Ζeus Ktesios (the Acquirer), the protector of the storehouse, was represented as such. The Minoan snake-goddess was a house goddess too.
The cult of the house snake still survives in parts of Greece. Among farmers, we find the snake as a spirit of the earth, a spirit who possesses life-giving powers and ensues health and good fortune.
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| New Year Pie. Bread Museum, Amfikleia |
So, don’t forget to decorate your New Year pie with a dough- snake.
May it bring you health, happiness and prosperity.
Oikouros: the word is a compound of oikos= house and ouros = a watcher.
Ofis: snake
You might also be interested in: Vasilopita, the New Year Pie
Happy New Year Bread
