Greek Cultural Traditions

Greeks are a very warm and hospitable people. The Greek culture is steeped in tradition and a rich history. Being located at a junction point for three continents has had an impact on the culture and traditions of Greece to this day.

The Christian Greek Orthodox Church, which is the predominant religion in Greece, is the major influence on family traditions and festivals. One celebration is Carnival or Apokries. This is a week-long celebration starting with Sunday the Meat Fare and ending at the start of Lent, which is referred to as Clean Monday. Easter Sunday is the biggest holiday, even more so than Christmas. March 25th is Greece's Independence Day, in which they celebrate the country's liberation from Ottoman rule in 1821.

The people of Greece are very family oriented. Baptism is a very important day for Greeks; families gather to attend the ceremony and have large celebrations afterward. An engagement before marriage where the prospective groom asks the father for his daughter’s hand in marriage is another way in which family traditions and values are still held tightly. Whereas folk dancing has been shelved in many countries, in Greece it is still practiced on many occasions like weddings.

Though many works of Classical Greek art and architecture have been lost to history, some sculptures and other works of art have survived. A number of examples of classical and Byzantine architecture still dot the landscape. Athens, which is the capital of Greece, is a great place to view many of these timeless works of art.