greek culture and traditions

A very important tradition is that everyone who has a name coming from a saint celebrated by the church celebrates his name on a given day of the year. In Greece, name days are more important than birthdays. If someone wishes you ill and has bad thoughts while looking at you, then you may get “evil-eyed”. Let us know in the comments below if you have some of these traditions in your country or if it was the first time hearing them. During the service in the church of the Virgin Mary in Markopoulo village, harmless little snakes appear inside and around the church and at the end of the day they disappear. These were just a few Greek traditions that form the Greek culture and lifestyle. Greeka? GREEK TRADITIONS. Diamond Rings 1. family 1. The first week of the carnival starts with a specific church celebration. Nowadays, people mark the day by getting dressed up and participating in street parades, with the city of Patra hosting the most popular carnival in Greece. 10 Best Restaurants and Taverns in Thessaloniki favored by locals, 35 Interesting Facts About Greece You Absolutely Have To Know, 10 Greek Experiences You Can’t Wait To Have After The Pandemic Is Over, 5 Iconic Greek Painters You Should Know About, The Traditional Greek Recipes You Need To Try, The Most Common Greek Names and When They Are Celebrated. Traditions in Europe (and especially in Greece and in Salento-Italy) 246 views | +0 today. Prev NEXT . A radiant culture. Many of the feast days, such as Pascha, are both religious and social in nature. The festival consists of two weeks of the feast, beginning from the Sunday of Meat Fare and ends with the first day of the Lent, called Clean Monday (Kathari Deutera). During this, if both persons, the one reciting and the one afflicted, start to yawn, then the evil eye is true. Customs and traditions in Greece and the Greek Islands are an important aspect of the Greek culture. We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience and to analyze site traffic. The third and last week is called Cheese Week or White Week when you are not allowed to eat meat, just dairy and fish. Nowadays, it is more likely to see someone smash plates in a small taverna or private celebration. The white symbolizes purity while the red represents passion and life. The bells ring continuously and people throw fireworks. Grain, grapes, and olives are central to the diet, supplemented with eggs, cheese, yogurt, fish, lamb, goat, chicken, rice, and fruits and vegetables. Since we are talking about Easter and the Lent period, we have to mention Tsiknompempti. Follow Tag; Art 1. Dionysus was a God of contradictions, being the god of both fun and aversion, germination, fertility, and wine making. The Good Saturday Dinner takes place after midnight and consists of mayiritsa, tsoureki (Easter cake) and red eggs. You will find below the many Greek traditions still honored in Greek modern culture, no matter people's age, until today. Furthermore, most of the traditions and festivals still celebrated today are religious. “Lagana” is another one of the foods consumed on Clean Monday. The masked men beg passersby for some coins as payment for successfully casting away the evil spirits. Everyone is costumed and parties take place in the streets and bars, throwing colored confetti to each other. People gather around a body of water, such as a lake, river or the sea and the priest throws a special cross into the now blessed waters. If someone sees a black cat, this is supposed to be bad luck for the rest of the day. It is a special kind of flatbread, baked only on that day. Culture & Traditions. Certain foods are … However, in Greece this isn’t only a matter of luck and superstition – couples cannot marry on Christian holidays for example Lent and xmas for this is forbidden legally. This bracelet should be worn during the whole month of March. Do you have a question about Greece and the Greek islands? The polychromy of the customs is part of the things that mark the tourists who visit the country deeply. Corfu island is the most famous place for Easter. Families attend church services and follow that with food, music, and dancing. Many of their traditions are centered on the Greek Orthodox faith. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Greeka. Greek wedding. The villagers watch the little snakes make their appearance every year around the monastery, while believers hurry to touch them to bring good luck to them and their families. The Greek homes were very unique. In many towns around Greece and in the islands, local customs revive. The main things that characterize a nation are its history, tradition, and culture. On the first day of March, the Greeks wear a red and white bracelet made by a thread which is called Martis. While many Greek-Australians hold onto what they call “ta ethima mas” (our culture and traditions), what constitutes Greek tradition varies and blurs with every generation and may not absolutely reflect the descriptions in this profile. Through this blog, I want to try to introduce you to the things that made me love this country. On the 6th of, One of the most famous traditions in Greece, takes place in the city of, The Greek Carnival is a celebration with street parties, parades, and masquerades, similar to Carnivals in other Western Christian countries. Like all tourist destinations of character, Greece preserves a very rich culture and traditions that can date from several millennia. On the 6th of January we celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. This Greek tradition is still practiced today and if you visit Greece in March you should try to spot the little red and white strings on people’s wrists. In this case, an expert in xematiasma must tell a special pray to release the person in pain from the bad effects of the evil eye. In Greek wedding Traditions, similar to other countries, the date from the wedding itself should be chosen carefully. Names such as Philiskos, Chares and Aristonidas may stand out when talking about sculpture. Facts about Ancient Greek Culture elaborate the way of life, tradition and customs of the ancient people in Greece. Food in Daily Life. History 2. inventions to make you buy stuff 1. italia 1. italian 1. On Good Friday, the day of mourning, the Epitaphios, the tomb of Christ with its icon, decorated with flowers, is taken out of the church and carried around the village followed by a slow procession. After that, snakes appeared and chased away the pirates. Hello! I am a recent graduate of International and European Studies Department with interests in politics, human rights, books, and travelling. Gender Roles. The Virgin Mary is important in Greek culture so another big date in Greece is August 15 or Dekapent Avgoustos. So, this Thursday is the day when you have to eat as much meat as possible. Modern democracies owe a debt to Greek beliefs in government by the people, trial by jury, and equality under the law. SPEDIZIONE GRATUITA su ordini idonei Fascinating traditions tied to different clans and localities, with multiple layers of social, economic and ritual significance. Among religions in Greece, the largest denomination is the Greek Orthodox Church, which represents almost the entire population and which is constitutionally recognized as the “prevailing religion” of Greece. Traditions, religion, music, language, food and drinks are the pillars of contemporary Greek culture and lifestyle, making the country an attraction point for visitors from all over the world. They are are versatile, friendly, hospitable, considerate and generous. Gina Mamouzelos. Rites inextricably connected with specific places, communities and holidays. A person that is said to have received the evil eye gets a strong headache and a string of “bad luck”. Some vary depending on the region within Greece. During this day,  the menu consists of seafood, like cuttlefish and octopus and different shellfish, like shrimp and mussels. In Greece, the engagement period may last for years and it is like a commitment to the families. On Easter Sunday, the family roasts the lamb on the spit. I am also in deep love with Greek culture and traditions, Greek language and anything that has to do with this devine place. As the country is located on the meeting spot between Europe, Asia, and Africa, Greek culture is actually a rich mixture of … And more? They were constructed with an outdoor courtyard. All Greeks love good food, all sorts of entertainment and keep traditions with religious respect, as it is part of their inherited history and culture. All year round, they live underground and saw the tree of the year. It is a custom in Greece to get engaged before getting married. For example, traditional Greek dances and folk music have bot… With this age-old tradition, the Greeks celebrate the beginning of spring. Been shaped by classical past | +0 today throwing flowers at the feet of most... Greece, the bracelet are not random or meaningless ( Xristougenna ) they! They all call me Eri and i live in Thessaloniki favored by locals than grape juice fruit! Social life in Greece, the Greeks celebrate the beginning of the year love this.! 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