Customs & Traditions in Greece
Food:
Staple food in Greece would be olives, grapes, and wheat. Many traditional Greek dishes have become famous thanks to tourism and Greek immigration. Popular meat in Greece would be lamb, goat and pork which are eaten as main dishes, along with sides such as salads made of vegetables, olives and feta cheese. Popular beverages include retsina, wine grown from local grapes and flavored with pine resin, as well as ouzo, an anise-flavored liqueur consumed before meals. Seafood is very popular in Greece, owing to the strong fishing industry. The original Greek Gyro sandwich originating from Greece has became very popular in the United States.
Some popular foods in Greece that have became well known are honey-sweetened baklava, and moussaka, a ground meat and eggplant dish.
Holiday/special traditions:
A Greek funeral custom is for mourners to eat boiled wheat with sugar and cinnamon.
The New Year is celebrated in January on St. Basil's Day, when Greeks bake a cake called vassilopita, with a coin hidden in it to bring good luck to whoever finds it.
Easter is the most sacred time in the Orthodox calendar, beginning with a festival called Aprokies, followed by Lent and the Anastasi ceremony on Holy Saturday. Easter is celebrated by feasting on lamb and boiled eggs.
Ways of behavior & language: (common behavior & greetings)
A common greek stereotype is that Greeks are traditionally nice to other Greeks, but commonly rude to nationalities because they feel theirs is best.
Language:
Common Greek Greetings:
English: Greek:
Hello Yassou (YAH-soo)
Goodbye Kherete (KHEHR-eh-tay)
How are you? Ti kanis? (tee KAH-nihs)
Sorry Signomi (seeg-NOH-mee)
Thank you Efkharisto (ehff-kah-rees-TOH)
You're welcome Parakalo (pah-rah-kah-LOH)
Hey friend E! fYle
Greek has approximately 12 million speakers worldwide.
Language:
Common Greek Greetings:
English: Greek:
Hello Yassou (YAH-soo)
Goodbye Kherete (KHEHR-eh-tay)
How are you? Ti kanis? (tee KAH-nihs)
Sorry Signomi (seeg-NOH-mee)
Thank you Efkharisto (ehff-kah-rees-TOH)
You're welcome Parakalo (pah-rah-kah-LOH)
Hey friend E! fYle
Greek has approximately 12 million speakers worldwide.