The Christmas Boat is an old Greek tradition known as “Karavaki”, meaning little ship. This holiday tradition still thrives today. In Greece, around the holidays, it is tradition to decorate your boat with lights. If the family did not own a boat, they would use small model boats to decorate.
Why do Greeks have boats at Christmas?
In the past Greeks, being a nautical people, would decorate boats instead of Christmas trees. The tradition of “karavakia” comes from the connection between Greece and the sea. Some say that it was a way to thank Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, for protecting the people who worked at sea.
Where can I watch the Christmas ships?
The Christmas Ships have parades on both rivers. The Columbia Fleet parade begins at 7pm starting from the Salty’s / Gleason Boat ramp area down to the Vancouver waterfront. It might be worth the $5 parking fee at Gleason Boat Launch on Marine Drive, just to watch them prepare.
How do you decorate a boat for Christmas?
Deck the hulls—decorate your boat with lights, inflatable figures, other festive decor. Test your lights—and then test your lights again. Add music to your display. Think small when you start out; and always work with the shape of the boat.
What is the Greek Christmas boat? – Related Questions
How do you attach Christmas lights to a boat?
String the lights to the wire, and then staple it to wood frames, which are then secured to the boat using halyards, lines, blocks, and integral boat structures such as outriggers, masts, booms, and spinnaker poles. String lights above the deck level, inside boat lifelines, in case docking or assistance is needed.
How do you put Christmas lights on a boat?
AC-powered lights can be plugged into an inverter running off a boat battery; you’ll want to use LEDs to minimize the current draw. You can also power up using a properly installed marine genset (be sure to fuel up during the day), but don’t use a portable generator.
Can you put LED lights on a boat?
Today, more boat owners are switching over to LED lighting as their old incandescent and halogen bulbs burn out. Here’s how to install LED lights on your boat.
Can you put lights on a boat?
Lighting up boats for events has become increasingly popular in recent years. Stringing lights on a boat makes for a fun and festive atmosphere. You can decorate your boat with LEDs and a lighting controller.
What does a single white light on a boat tell you?
Keep a lookout for lights that may not be bright, such as those on smaller vessels. These vessels may only display a single white light or a torch light. A single white light can also mean a vessel is at anchor, or travelling away from you.
What does the black ball mean on a yacht?
Day signal, black ball
Day shapes are mast head signals visually indicating the status of a vessel to other vessels on navigable waters during daylight hours. The equipment is required on board by International Regulation for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972.
When boating at night what does a single white light on a boat tell you?
All-Round White Light: On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead light and sternlight into a single white light that can be seen by other vessels from any direction. This light serves as an anchor light when sidelights are extinguished.
Can you run headlights on a boat?
There are no laws requiring boats to be able to light up other objects, only to illuminate themselves. The biggest misconception about finding the best boat headlights for nighttime driving is that you can take the headlight or light bar off a car or truck and use it on a boat.
Where do you put lights on a boat?
Generally, all boats will have a red light on their port side and a green light on their starboard side. To put it in plain English, if you’re in the driver’s seat, the red light goes on the left, and the green light goes on the right. A white light should be at the stern of the boat.
What lights should be on a boat?
The required lights are: Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least two miles away—or if less than 39.4 feet (12 meters) long, at least one mile away—on a dark, clear night. An all-round white light (if vessel is less than 39.4 feet long) or both a masthead light and a sternlight.
What lights are required on a boat at night?
An all-round white light or both a masthead light and a sternlight. These lights must be visible from a distance of at least two miles away on a dark, clear night. The all-round white light (or the masthead light and sternlight) must be visible from all directions in a 360-degree circle.
What does a blue light on a boat mean?
(a) Law enforcement vessels may display a flashing blue light when engaged in direct law enforcement or public safety activities. This light must be located so that it does not interfere with the visibility of the vessel’s navigation lights.
Which side do you pass an oncoming boat?
If you meet another boat head-on: Under the boating rules of the road, vessels approaching each other head-on are always supposed to pass each other port to port — or left to left, just like on the road.
What do two short blasts of a horn mean?
One short blast tells other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my port (left side).” Two short blasts tell other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my starboard (right) side.” Three short blasts tell other boaters, “I am backing up.”
Why do ships Honk 3 times?
Two short blasts tell other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my right (starboard) side.” Three short blasts tell other boaters, “I am operating astern propulsion.” For some vessels, this tells other boaters, “I am backing up.”
What does 4 honks on a boat mean?
prepares to depart the dock the skipper gives four blasts on the horn to alert local boaters they are getting underway.