Holidays In Greece : Greek Traditions And Culture

July 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment

by Adam Capewell

In this installment of our guide to holidays in Greece we look at Greece’s culture…

Greece lies at the crossroads where East meets West. It has also been ruled by the Romans and the Turks, and in turn Greece’s own Byzantine Empire governed much of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. This history has left a rich cultural legacy and the Greek people take a passionate pride in their culture and their country.

The national language and native tongue of the vast bulk of the population is Greek. But English is relatively widely studied and understood and English-speaking visitors usually encounter no significant language problems. French, Italian, and German are the next-most commonly studied foreign languages.

In fact, 1 million residents there (equivalent to 10% of the population) are foreign-born (mainly from Eastern and Central Europe, Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa); which has contributed to not only language diversity, but also to the Greek cultural landscape in general.

A very religious country, 97% of the population class themselves as Christian Orthodox. Officially, and like in all European countries, the Greek State and the Orthodox Church are separated, but this separation is not written or regulated by the Constitution and the Greek Orthodox Church has a great power in Greek society.

Greeks, particularly in rural areas, tend to be more superstitious than other Europeans. Many still spit to ward off misfortune or keep away the devil and older people will often bless a fresh loaf of bread by making the sign of the cross with a knife before cutting into it. However, less common traditions and superstitions will vary from region to region, and even from village to village.

In Orthodox tradition, Easter is the most important holiday. It involves religious processions and costumed parties, and Easter Sunday is marked with a feast. But Christmas tends to be more private, a family holiday, even though public places across Greece are adorned with lights and decorations. Many towns and districts also have regional festivals at various times of the year that mark local patron saints, wine harvests or historical events.

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Holidays In Greece : Greek Traditions And Culture

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