As the new year approaches in Mytilene, communities gather at the small church of Panagia Faneromeni for a cherished tradition. The chapel remains open from New Year’s Eve until midday on New Year’s Day, where visitors collect ‘silent’ water for the ‘podariko’ ceremony, signifying good luck. This custom, which includes rituals involving olive branches, pomegranates, and sacred water, dates back to post-1922 and reflects the blending of local and refugee traditions.