Upper Darby, PA – Dressed in traditional folk attire and carrying replica oil lamps, the Pontian Akritai of Philadelphia brought in the sounds of Christmas. Sharing the traditional sounds of Christmas Pontian Greek has been a long time tradition. “I have been singing and visiting some of these homes for 30 years”, said Effie Pavlidou Iconomou, President of the Akritai in Upper Darby.

“This is how we remember our ancestors and customs of our people,” she added. Visiting homes and businesses, they brought tears and smiles to many Greek-Americans who welcomed them and shared traditional Greek sweets of the season, like melomakarona and kourabiethes.