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Tuesday the 13th
Unlike the western belief, in Greece the unlucky day is Tuesday 13th and not Friday 13th.
The expression "Piase kokkino" (touch red)
When two people say the same thing together they immediately say "piase kokkino" to each other and then they must both touch any red item they can find around them; this is because Greeks believe that saying the same thing is a bad omen and that the two persons will get into a fight or an argument if they don't touch something red! Why the colour red is associated may have its roots in the fact that 'red' often symbolizes the 'blood of Christ.' Leave a Comment
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Both knitting and embroidery are time-honored traditions in Greece. Because of the tourist industry, new markets have been provided for Greeks who work in the leather and pottery crafts.
We discovered that some of the best examples of Greek crafts come from villagers where the skills are handed down from generation to generation. We saw elegant embroidered cloth that were decorated with floral and geometric designs. The women who created these beautiful items learned the needlework from their mothers and grandmothers. The local agora or marketplace is where the women sell their embroidery.
In regions where sheep and goats are raised, wool sweaters and wool rugs are made. The thick woven rugs are called flokati. These rugs are soaked in water for three days to soften the wool. In a town called Arachova, the hand-woven and brightly colored and patterned rugs are sold as rugs, as bedspreads, and as wall hangings. I purchased a small one, and it has Athena in full armor on it along with the Greek design as a border.
We saw city markets filled with stalls selling wood carvings, leather goods (purses, boots, vests), silver metalwork, and clay pottery decorated with ancient designs. The most popular item seemed to be the clay pottery.
I think that the Greek jewelry [considered as some of the most beautiful in the world] can also be purchased from sidewalk stalls as well as expensive jewelry shops. I purchased a piece of silver jewelry while in Athens.
While in Greece, you will have no difficulty finding quality arts and crafts to purchase or just to admire. Leave a Comment
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PASSING THE KNIFE PLEASE!
Greeks never hand knives to someone who ask for it for they consider that if they do that they will fight with the person; so they set it down on the table and let the other person take it.
This same custome is true of money! I still get upset when the clerk at the supermarket throws my change down on the counter, even when I have put my hand out for her to put it in! They think that if they give you the money in your hand, it will bring them bad luck! Leave a Comment
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Spiting
Some Greeks believe that spiting chase the devil and the misfortune away. That is why when someone talk about bad news (death, accident, etc…) the others slightly spit three time saying "ftou, ftou, ftou". Another example is when someone compliments a baby, a child or even an adult for its beauty he will also spit three times on the complimented person.
I thought it was very fascinating, to find what most would consider a superstition, in the Greek Orthodox Church ceremony for Baptism, where both the priest and the person baptising the child, spit 3 times inorder to renounce the devil! It isn't really 'quite' a 'spit' but it mimics the motions and the sounds of 'ftou, ftou, ftou,' are made instead. Leave a Comment
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 !!Kites Flying Above Acropolis
Sky!! by janetanne
Kite Flying Tradition - Clean Monday - Lent Begins
Every year in Athens on Clean Monday, (Kathara Deuftera) children and adults alike, can be seen on every high hill and valley, flying their kites! The most famouse of these places for kite flying, is on the hill to the South of the Acropolis, Phillopopou Hill, but kites can be seen literally everywhere in Greece on "Kathari Deftera!"
Besides flying kites on this day, Greeks throughout the country, eat special foods that begin the traditional 40 days of fasting before Easter.
If you like cooking or are just missing those great, healthy Greek Foods you tasted when you visited Greece, have a look at my latest pages with
GREEK RECIPES FOR LENT!!
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GREEK RECIPES FOR LENT!!
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 by Lilasel
*Four tomatoes, sliced in segments
*One sliced onion
*1/2 sliced cucumber
*Some olive oil
*Sliced feta cheese (a white, salty cheese made with goats milk)
*Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
Mix the ingredients together and spread the oil over them. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and oregano. Leave a Comment
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Easter is probably the most important holiday in Greece. It's especially important to the Greek Orthodox Christian religion.
Each year on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, Greeks dye hard-boiled eggs red as an Easter tradition. It symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.
On Easter Sunday, Greek families place these red dyed hard-boiled eggs on their feast tables.. Then, everyone takes an egg and clinks it against everyone's eggs. The person whose egg breaks LAST is believed to have good luck that year.
I also discovered that the Greeks rub the eggs with a paper towel that is dipped in olive oil after the eggs have been dyed red. The olive oil gives the eggs a shiny look. Leave a Comment
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 by Lilasel
Eating out in Greece is a national pastime and a leisurely pleasure. The native cuisine is delightfully uncomplicated and quite different from what's found in Greek restaurants abroad. Much of the cooking relies on simple seasonings and fresh meat and vegetables. Leave a Comment
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 by LilaselLeave a Comment
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 I love grilled octopus! by Lilasel
Other famous Greek dishes are gemista (tomatoes or peppers stuffed with a combination of rice, mince, herbs, pine nuts and raisins), saganaki (fried cheese, usually kefalotyri, or anything in a cheese-based red sauce), kakavia (soup made of a variety of small fishes and vegetables). Leave a Comment
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