"New Year's Eve (Ship Model Competition)!" Chios Island Local Custom Tip by greekcypriot

On New Year’s Eve, people gather at the central square and exchange Christmas Ships, flattering each other.

Young people dressed as sailors build their own navy ships through the whole year. These boats can be quite long reaching up to 2 or 3 metres probably longer. They have the ship on wheels and take it round the neighbourhoods making stops at every house where they sing.
These songs are actually praises to the people of the house. In return they are given sweets or some pocket money. All night long the connons blow off as they go from one house to the other. It is a very nice local custom and the instrument they use to accompany the praises is called "trabuka" made of fined clay and leather.