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Greek superstitions have mostly originated either from modern Orthodox religious beliefs or from more ancient remnents of paganism. In some cases, paganistic beliefs still exist but have been so deeply hidden and overlaid with new rituals, that seldom are they recognized as being pagan. Nevertheless, they remain within the veins of Greek existence. They vary from region to region and are much more intricate than space allows here. Leave a Comment
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 by Lilasel
In Monemvasia attention is centered on the Church of Christ Bound (Elkomenos Christos), where all the services of the season are held. The procession of the "epitaphios" along the paved alleyways of the medieval town is a memorable sight! Leave a Comment
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 by Lilasel
Ouzo is not produced in any other part of the world except Greece.
Ouzo, it is a 100% Greek product and country's national drink. It is made from a precise combination of pressed grapes, herbs and berries. It begins as alcohol made from grape skins or other local produce. It is then mixed together with herbs and other ingredients, including star anise, coriander, cloves, angelica root, licorice, mint, wintergreen, fennel, hazelnut and even cinnamon and lime blossom. The mixture is boiled in a copper still, regulated by a taster.Ouzo it is usually served as an aperitif on ice and water, in mixed drinks and cocktails.
WINE
Today, Greece produces some of the best wines in the world.
In Greece, one can find more than 250 grape varieties, which produce some excellent wines.
The most important white grapes include 'Assyrtiko', 'Athiri', 'Monemvassia', 'Debina', 'Roditis', 'Sideritis', 'Savatiano', 'Muscat blanc a petits grains', and 'Robola' among others.
The most important red grapes include 'Aghiorghitiko', 'Xinomavro', 'Mavrodaphne', 'Aidani Mavro', 'Athiri Mavro', 'Kotsifali', 'Mandelaria', and 'Negoska' among others.
http://www.thegreekwine.com/home.html
METAXA
Metaxa is distinguished as the most famous Greek spirit worldwide. Metaxa is available in three versions: Three Star, Five Star, and Seven Star. Each star represents a year that it's been aged in oak barrels, thus the Seven Star is the most aged and selected type.
Metaxa 3star (at least 3 years old).
Metaxa 5star (at least 5 years old).
Metaxa 7star Amphora (at least 7 years old).
Metaxa Private Reserve (at least 20 years old). Leave a Comment
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 by Lilasel
Ingredients
*1 kilo / 2 pounds potatoes
*1/2 kilo ground beef
*1/2 chopped onion
*1 cup tomatoes from a can
*1/2 glass white or red wine
*1 cup of olive oil
*1/2 cup chopped parsley
*Salt, pepper and nutmeg
For the topping:
1 liter milk/2 pints
1 cup flour
1/2 cup of butter
2 eggs
Grated cheese (Emmenthal OK)
For just plain old Mousaka, remove the potatoes, however it is normally served with them.
Boil the potatoes and stop half way. Peel them and let aside. Fry the onion in the oil till brown, add the ground beef, wait 10 minutes while stirring, and add the wine, tomatoe, parsley, salt, pepper and about a tablespoon of sugar, and then add 1/2 cup of water. When the water is absorbed, remove from heat, and add the grated cheese and the egg yolks (keeping the egg whites for the topping. In a saucepan bring three cups of milk to boil, mix the flour with the remaining cup and pour stirring constantly, making a thick paste - if too thick, add milk, if too thin, add some more flour. Remove from heat, and add the egg yolks, egg whites and the nutmeg. Butter a baking pan, and put the sliced potatoes in it. Cover with the meat mixture and then cover with the contents of the saucepan. When the topping turns brown, serve cool. Leave a Comment
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 by LilaselLeave a Comment
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 drinking frappe by Lilasel
The younger generation prefers the long, cool frappe coffee. It's made with instant Nescafe mixed with water, ice, milk and lots of sugar. For many greeks it's a way of life. And personally I love it a lot... Leave a Comment
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In Greece, eating out is a way of life. Whether in a local taverna or in an elegant restaurant, Greeks take their time over food. Breakfast is light, lunch is eaten in the mid afternoon and dinner usually doesn't start before 10:00 p.m.
I shall start with Greek appetizers (Mezedes)-
Fava - yellow split pea puree' cooked with onion and olive oil
horiatki - tomato, cucumber, olives and feta cheese salad
plaki - a bean dish
melitzanosalata - eggplant salad
dolmadakia - grape leaves stuffed with meat, rice and onions served with lemon sauce
keftedes - meat balls
tomato leftades - fritters made from tomatoes & onions & deep fried
kalamaraki - squid
feta - white goat cheese
tzatziki = yogourt dip with cucumber and garlic
spanakopita - spinach and cheese pie
Greek entrees -
choice of grilled meats, baby lamb or beef, veal or chicken
a wide assortment of seafood such as octopus, squid, red snapper or lobster
moussaka - layers of eggplant, minced meat and potatoes topped with cheese sauce and baked
youvetsi - a veal or shrimp casserole
pastitsio - macaroni with minced meat and bechamel, baked
gemista - either tomatoes or green peppers stuffed with mince meat or rice
gigantes - large dried beans with onions and tomato sauce
saganaki - fried cheese served with lemon
ksifias - grilled swordfish
souvlakia - pieces of meat grilled on small skewers
Dessert can include -
baklava -
pagoto - ice cream
yogurt with honey
Beverages -
Greek coffee is similar to Turkish coffee. When ordering specify "pikro" means bitter, "metrio" means semi-sweet and "gliko" means sweet.
Tipping -
Tipping is customary. In restaurants, avoid doubling the tip i.e. adding 15% to a bill which already includes a 15% service charge. If service has not been included, restaurant waiters expect 12% . The service charge is by Greek Law, so additional tipping is a recognition of special service. Leave a Comment
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 by LilaselLeave a Comment
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 by Lilasel
The most striking custom of the area of Leonidio is that on the night of the Resurrection the sky is filled with hot-air balloons released by the faithful of each parish! Leave a Comment
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The home land of olive tree is Greece. According to a myth goddess Athena was competing with Poseidon for favour of Athenians. The god gave them salty water, whereas the goddess offered them an olive tree and naturally won the competition. For ancient Greeks an olive tree was a symbol of prosperity and fertility, because it can bear fruit for several hundred years. Brides used to put on their heads wreaths made of olive leaves. Olive twigs were put to graves and hung on the doors of mourners' houses to bring consolation and chase away bad spirits. Olive oil was rubbed into the skin of athlets before sporting events. Solon, one of the seven sages of Greece, ordered to plant olive trees wherever it was possible and introduced death penalty for cutting down even one tree. Homer used the words 'liquid gold' to describe olive oil.
This name still holds water today. Olive oil is the best possible fat to be used in the kitchen; it contains a lot of vitamines and minerals. It is easy to digest, it lowers the level of 'bad' cholesterol, prevents heart attacks, protects from asthma, cures skin irritatiopns.
The olive tree doesn't look very impressive - twisted and gnarled - but it's very strong. It can live even 2000 years. It is estimated that there are 30 million olive trees growing in Greece (the number of people is 10 million). Each person there eats 30 litres of olive oil per year, which makes Greece the biggest consumer of 'liquid gold' in the world. Leave a Comment
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