The Christmas bread of Microsia, a Christmas tradition that has been observed for 100 years in Mytilini

The Christ bread of Microsia was heptazymo or ‘fatazymo’, it means leavened seven times.

In the Adramytinos gulf, opposite the north and east of Lesbos, they “caught” the yeast long before the fermentation with “robitho juice” and basil!

According to records from Asia Minor refugees on Lesbos, chickpeas were soaked in holy water and basil.

It was then left for seven days next to the icons, followed by infusing in a tulpan.

What was left over was not thrown away but was “given to the hens”.

This was followed by the first kneading with a little flour, in order to make a soft and layered dough. This dough was “sealed” with their hands and left covered in a warm place to “rise”.

Overall, they puffed the dough in the same way, adding water and flour each time. The seventh time a little oil, herbs (nutmeg, cinnamon) and a little sugar were added.

After the seventh kneading, the dough was decorated with walnuts and sesame seeds, while in the southernmost parts of the Adrammitin gulf near Aivali, it was also stamped with the “etelia”, a round wooden seal with the double-headed eagle.

They were eaten on Christmas morning after church with the first bite dipped in sweet wine.

Until his last bite, no knife was inserted into Christopsomos, and any crumbs went “to the feet”!

This Asia Minor custom is still observed today 100 years after the destruction in many houses of Lesvos, especially in those with residents of refugee origin.

RES-EMP

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