Karavaki of Greece
Products by Kurelu aim to showcase the ancient art of weaving. Colors reminiscent of the sky, sun, and sea, together with the "art of the loom", a tradition of Greek cultural heritage. Symbols with meaning, work made with love. This is a handmade piece on loom, a true piece of authentic Greece.
The Christmas Boat is an old Greek tradition known as “Karavaki”, meaning little ship. This holiday tradition still thrives today. The Karavaki symbolises sailing towards the new life that follows the birth of Jesus Christ and with Greece being so connected to the sea, decorating a boat during Christmas also serves as a token of gratitude to the marines and sailors who have devoted their lives to the sea for their country.
In Greece, around the holidays, it is tradition to decorate your boat with lights. If the family did not own a boat, they would use small model boats to decorate. Children carried the model boats around along with musical instruments as they sang carols to their neighbors. Some families would place the model boat near the fireplace or on display at the front door as their Christmas Boat.
Boats represent a powerful symbol in Greece of moving towards a new life,
Boat measures approx 5 inches horizontally
Made in Crete by Kurelu