Archive for 'Culture'
Is there anything good on tv? Posted by Ourania on Oct 14, 2014
Do you like television? In Greece most people like television (τηλεόραση, teeleorasee) because it’s an accessible means of entertainment. Usually, they prefer to watch reality shows, series and entertainment shows. Cooking shows are also very trendy nowadays. Below there is a list of some tv shows. If you want to watch Greek television, you can…
How to be polite in Greek Posted by Ourania on Sep 9, 2014
One of the first topics Greek students have to learn is the use of the polite form. It is a relatively “new” element, as it did not exist in ancient Greek, and has its origins in French. It is formed by the second plural person. E.g. «Τι κάνετε κύριε Δήμου;» (Tee kanete keerie Demou?) How…
What can vegans eat in Greece? A list of vegan summer foods Posted by Ourania on Jul 21, 2014
Most foreigners have connected Greek food to seafood, fish, cheese and meat. It’s true that the most typical dishes, such as souvlaki (σουβλάκι), moussaka (μουσακάς) and Greek salad (χωριάτικη σαλάτα) are animal-based products and cannot be consumed by vegans. Traditional Greek cuisine is based on the fasting periods during which people were not allowed to…
A touch of Greek Easter Posted by Ourania on Apr 15, 2014
The countdown to Easter (Πάσχα, Pasha) , the most important Greek holiday, has already started. The Easter traditions have been preserved and are still followed by most Greeks, religious or not. Some people, relate Easter to a big open air celebration with music, dance, and of course a meal that is composed of lamb and…
Greece in fifteen questions Posted by Ourania on Mar 25, 2014
In Greece on March 25 we celebrate the Independence Day and also the Annunciation to Virgin Mary of her conception. Instead of writing a post about a topic that can be searched on Wikipedia or on documentaries, I decided to make a quiz about Greece. Making a quiz about Greece is not easy and I…
Let the kites fly, it’s Clean Monday! Posted by Ourania on Mar 3, 2014
Clean Monday (Καθαρά Δευτέρα, Kathara Deftera) is the first day of the Lent that lasts until Easter. It is called “clean” (καθαρά, kathara) because the Christian believers purify themselves spiritually and physically by eliminating the consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products and by abstaining from sin. Customs Each region has its own customs but…
Traditional New Year Carols from Greece Posted by Ourania on Dec 31, 2013
Χρόνια πολλά! (Hronia polla, many greetings) Today is New Year Eve and children go from door to door singing carols (κάλαντα, kalanda), in order to wish people “Καλή Χρονιά” (Kali Hronia, Happy New Year) and to get a tip. This is a custom dating from the Byzantine years. The word κάλαντα (kalanda, carols) derives from…