Happy New Year to you too! I was in Greece over New Year's day in 1986. Do you all still shut down elevators and long distance calling at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve? Just curious, I couldn't call home after midnight and had to take the stairs to my room. It wasn't all bad though, the bartender left at midnight too and didn't collect for my drink. lol
It is our tradition to shut down power and lights at the stroke of midnight in order to start New Year fresh! It is only for a moment and then we turn it back on. Unfortunately, elevators sometimes need a reset in order to function properly again

As for the phone calls, you couldn't call home because another tradition is for everyone to call their beloved ones and wish Happy New Year to them...For an hour or an hour and a half after midnight, it is really very difficult to call someone because all lines are really very-very overloaded!
As for the bartender, I guess he wasn't much of a professional! Another tradition is for everyone to have a glass of champagne on the house and to party until daybreak! He should at least open the champagne for you and for all the other customers before his departure!