Greece

Traditions & customs:

Traditions in Greece and Greek Islands either have a religious character or come from paganism. Furthermore, most of the traditions and festivals still followed and celebrated today are religious. That is why so many panygiria are organized in the country, which are actually religious celebrations of saints followed by traditional music and dance in the square of the village. These panigiria are a strong element of the Greek culture and take place all year round, especially in summer.

Religion:

Religion plays an important role in the understanding of daily culture. The 98% of the Greeks are Christians Orthodox. The rest of the population are Muslims, Roman Catholics and Jewish. Greece and Russia are the only countries to have such a big proportion of Christians Orthodox. The Orthodox Church forms the third largest branch of Christianity, after the Roman Catholics and the Protestants.

Music:

The Greek music is of unbelievable diversity due to the creative Greek assimilation of different influences of the Eastern and Western culture of Asia and Europe. Music in Greece has a long history dating from the ancient times, during which poetry, dancing and music were inseparable and played an important part in the ancient Greek everyday life and culture.

Food and wine:

The Greek cuisine is famous for its good quality products and the amazing taste of its food and wines. Some dishes are the same everywhere in Greece, whereas some others are local culinary specialties. The same dishes can be cooked differently or with different ingredients depending on the region. Food is an important part of the Greek culture.

Products:

Many products are characteristic of Greece, including various types of cheese (feta, metsovone and formaella), virgin olive oil from Lesvos, Crete and Laconia, capper from Santorini, potatoes from Naxos, citrus fruits from Peloponnese and others like honey, wine, spices, nutes and more. These fresh culinary products are widely used in cooking and constitute strong elements of the local culture.

Recipes:

Traditional recipes of Greece are usually easy but require special products that are grown in the Greek land. Baklava, moussaka, pastichio, gemista and kleftiko are the most famous Greek recipes. The Greek cuisine, a characteristic element of the culture, has been largely incluenced by the French, Italian and Turkish cuisine.

Churches:

You can see a church in almost every plot of land in Greece and around all the Greek islands. In fact, you can see churches in the most bizarre spots, even inside caves and gorges. These churches vary in size and style. The town squares usually have large churches, while the countryside is dotted with small, lovely chapels. The style is mainly Byzantine, while in the Cyclades islands most churches are painted in white and blue. The evolution in the style of churches is a characteristic feature of the culture.

Museums:

There are many museums around Greece that mostly host archaeological findings or folk items. The most interesting are the archaeological museums, that host exhibits from the prehistoric till the Roman times. The New Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum are worth a visit. Occasionally, there are also some theme museums around the country to present the local culture and history.

Architecture:

The architecture in Greece has gone through many phases: from the Doric and Ionic style of the temples in the Classical times, to the Byzantine style of the churches and the Neoclassical style of recent years. Every architectural style shows the culture and traditions of that era. The architecture in villages and islands is very different from the architecture in large cities.

Festivals:

Most festivals in Greece take place in summer. They can be religious festivals (panigiri) on the occasion of the name day of the protector saint in a village or town, or they can also be cultural festivals with various events. These festivals constitute an integral part of the local culture and attract many visitors.

Cultural Events:

Many cultural events take place in Greece all year round. Particularly famous is the Athens Epidaurus Greek Festival, with events in the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the Herodeion Theatre in Athens and other venues. Such festivals with music concerts, theatre performances, lectures and custom revivals take place in all Greek islands and towns, usually in summer, presenting the local culture and occasionally hosting international participations.

Nightlife:

Nights in Greece are a delight. A summer night out usually starts with a dinner at the many taverns and restaurants in the Greek islands and continue with a soft drink in a lounge bar or with a crazy night in a club till the sunrise. It is almost part of the Greek culture to have dinner in a traditional tavern during holidays. Some places known for their nightlife are Mykonos, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and more.

Cafe & Kafenion:

Going out for a coffee is a special habitude for the Greeks, a strong part of their culture. The average coffee meeting for a Greek is about 1 and half hour. The Greeks get together over a coffee and chat loudly. In the village squares, you will see the traditional type of cafeteria in Greece, the kafenion. Mostly old men go there to drink their traditional Greek coffee, chat and play cards.