Research Paper On Greek Culture

Customs and traditions in Greece and the Greek Islands are one important aspect of the Greek culture. There are either of a religious character or coming from paganism. Furthermore, most of the traditions and festivals still celebrated today are religious.The Greeks are very superstitious and believe a lot in religion but also in a supernatural or paranormal phenomenon. Traditions and superstitions vary from island to island, from villages to villages and from region to region. Contemporary Greek culture and traditions are very rich and diverse, reflecting Greece’s location at the crossing point where the West meets the East and the country’s great and turbulent history. The culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years - dating from

In Greece, every region has its own wealth of traditions for these important dates on the calendar, with special holiday dishes, songs, or seasonal carols like the Christmas kalanda. On Epiphany, young men on all the islands and coastal regions of the mainland dive into the cold sea to be the one who retrieves the cross thrown by the priest. Easter is by far the most important celebration for the Greeks, even Christmas comes second. The celebrations for Easter truly begin two months before. Easter Sunday is spent with family and friends. The Easter meal is truly a feast with loads of salads, vegetable and rice dishes, bread, cakes, cookies, and plenty of wines and ouzo. Most of the Greeks owe their names to a religious saint and in Greece, name days are more important than birthdays. Everyone named after a saint honored by the church celebrates his of her name on a given day of the year. When someone has a “name day” his or hers friends and family visit him or her without invitation and offer good wishes and small presents. The host greets the guests with pastries, sweets, and appetizers. Another big Greek celebration is “Apokries” or