Χαίρε, Γενάρη

Wishing you all health and happiness in 2006. And hoping that this will be the year in which Bush finally gets his come-uppance. Perhaps I’m being naïve to wish for such a thing; but paintings of semi-nude Greek victories always bring out my optimistic side.

The contemplative ΓΕΝΑΡΗΣ (January) shown here is a detail taken from The Twelve Months, painted by Yannis Tsarouchis (1910-1989) in 1972.

The cross pictured is an allusion to the Greek celebration of Epiphany (January 6), which commemorates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan. On this particular feastday, those Greeks living near the sea (which is most of them) gather at the local pier where the priest hurls a gold cross into the water, at which point dozens of eager Greek youths in nothing but their speedos dive in after it, each one hoping to be the lucky one to retrieve it and receive a special blessing and the accolades of the community. And what better way to begin the new year than with a bunch of wet, wiry Greek youths?