Greece Local Customs

  Loggos harbour front
by Tracyden
 
  • Loggos harbour front
      Loggos harbour front
    by Tracyden
  •   Local Customs
    by Robin020
  • Me having a sip
      Me having a sip
    by mickeyboy07
  • down in one?
      down in one?
    by mickeyboy07
  • Local Band
      Local Band
    by mickeyboy07
 

Most Viewed Local Customs in Greece

201.

People   Crete Island

People, Crete Island

 15 Reviews  The evil eye is big in Crete, where I lived for four years, and possibly elsewhere in Greece. If you go into someone's home, don't look too enviously at their things and don't pass too many... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

202.

Byzantine Churches   Thessaloniki

Byzantine Churches, Thessaloniki

 2 Reviews  As Thessaloniki and nothern Greece in general became part of the modern Greek state just 92 years ago, its people have special ties to the Greek institutions that have been alive for over 1000 years -... 

 See All 21 Local Customs in Thessaloniki

203.

Food and Drink   Crete Island

Food and Drink, Crete Island

 14 Reviews  This tip is not about any one particular restaurant but a comment on our experience of several restaurants in the eastern end of Crete ( all in the Prefecture of Lasithi). All of these eating places... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

204.

Statues   Thessaloniki

Statues, Thessaloniki

 2 Reviews  it's a miracle and a well kept secret among tourists, i.e. all tourists know about it, but the locals do not:) So, if you have a little wish... or a big one, you should touch the toe of Aristotelis... 

 See All 21 Local Customs in Thessaloniki

205.

Religion   Crete Island

Religion, Crete Island

 5 Reviews  Crete became part of modern day Greece less than a hundred years ago, maintaining to a degree its cultural variety. There used to be a sizeable Muslim but Greek speaking minority in the island, now... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

206.

Strikes   Thessaloniki

Strikes, Thessaloniki

 1 Review  Strikes are popular in all of the greece, strikes of bus drivers (good for you if you are a student there, the schools are closed), of rug-collectors and of unic=versity secretaries, of post offices,... 

 See All 21 Local Customs in Thessaloniki

207.

Strange Things   Crete Island

Strange Things, Crete Island

 4 Reviews  The story goes that the iron bars sticking out from the roof of many Greek houses are exemptions from taxpaying, as long as the house isn't yet finished but in fact they are exclusively there for the... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

208.

X-MAS in Thessaloniki   Thessaloniki

X-MAS in Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki

 2 Reviews  Christmas is a great time to visit Thessaloniki. Although there aren't so magical as in Germany or Austria, you will often see the town full of snow. The town is very beautifully decorated. There is... 

 See All 21 Local Customs in Thessaloniki

209.

Little Shrines on the Road   Crete Island

Little Shrines on the Road, Crete Island

 3 Reviews  The miniature churches or shrines next to the roads are memorials for people killed in a car accident, at the same spot where the accident happened. The family of the deceased construct and maintain... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

210.

Fairs & Festivals   Thessaloniki

Fairs & Festivals, Thessaloniki

 1 Review  Interational Film Festival of Thessaloniki. It's a must everyday, for as many films as you can handle each day and lasts for one week. Everybody you met the previous day will be there. Meaning every... 

 See All 21 Local Customs in Thessaloniki

211.

Raki (tsikoudia)   Crete Island

Raki (tsikoudia), Crete Island

 3 Reviews  This is the famous local drink of Crete. It is produced in late October or early November and it is distilled from grape skins. It is transparent, very strong and in the summer it is served cold. Raki... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

212.

Flora and Fauna   Crete Island

Flora and Fauna, Crete Island

 3 Reviews  Platanos or Plane Tree, a tree that grows close to water. You can find it usually close to a river in gorges or in the central square of villages of Crete. It looks similar to the maple tree and it... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

213.

Music   Crete Island

Music, Crete Island

 2 Reviews  Lyra, Cretan traditional musical instrument. The one of the photo is totally a hand made one by Giorgos Tzagarakis; one of the best Lyra's artisan of Greece. Kissou Kampos Village. Prefecture of... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

214.

Traditional Products   Crete Island

Traditional Products, Crete Island

 2 Reviews  A major draw to the Lasithi for the many buses of day trippers is to see the 'thousands of whiteclothed-sailed windmills' which irrigate the high plain ringed by mnountains. But there are apparently... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

215.

Children   Crete Island

Children, Crete Island

 1 Review  The Greek people love children, if you travel there with children, especially an angelic looking one who`s parents gave her a Greek name, little old ladies will stop you in the street to admire, kiss... 

 See All 70 Local Customs in Crete Island

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Greek Cuisine

by Lilasel

Greece has a rich gastronomic history, whose roots go far back in time. It has one of the oldest and tastiest gastronomic traditions in the world, a tradition made of different flavours, scents, ingredients and techniques from the prehistorical times until today. 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.

Tip Photo
Don't Worry...that is the Key!

by cherrybubble

My advice (since I know Greek fluently and have been there 6 times) is Don't Worry! Everyone is pretty laid back in Greece & most of the kids & teenagers know English. You won't find many or if any at all, adults who speak english but I remember one of my friends Demetre from Athens spoke prefect english. She knew practically everything and she didn't have a thick accent.Another thing is they like forgieners, so don't be shy!Also it is custom to kiss on both the cheeks but only to someone who you actually know (family, friends). People might kiss you on the cheeks when you meet but try not to iniciate the kissing because it might be awkward. People are pretty easy-going about such things though, so don't worry about it!Also I'll share 2 words with you that arn't usually in the dictionary but are fun:RE- pronounced REH means like you, like, friend, buddy etc. You can say it at the end of...

Tip Photo
Easter Sunday in Athens

by Lilasel

On Easter Sunday friends and family gather in homes, eating barbequed lamb, red eggs, bread, salads and Easter cake. Before the red eggs are eaten, however, you must crack them against your neighbours, and whoever wins by having a whole egg at the end, will get all the luck.

Tip Photo
Saturday's night in Leonidio

by Lilasel

On Saturday everyone goes to church late in the evening, carrying with them unlit candles. At midnight the priest announces the resurrection of Christ ("Christos anesti") and lets the people light their candles of the Holy Flame taken from Christ's nativity cave in Jerusalem. As everybody does this fireworks and crackers go off and the dark night is filled with light from the candles. After this, everybody goes home for a meal - the fast is over. If their candles are still burning, a cross is made in the doorway with the soot, to protect the house for the coming year.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!

Tip Photo
The Good Friday in Monemvasia

by Lilasel

The actual Easter festival begins on Good Friday and people go to the churches to see how the priests and monk's take down the icon of Christ off the cross, wrap it in linen and put it in a great casket covered in flowers symbolizing the tomb of Christ. Then the bier (epitaphios) is taken through the town or village, with people lamenting the death of Christ.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!

Tip Photo
Kaló Pásxa

by Lilasel

In Greek, Easter is called Pascha, meaning passover. It is the eternal Passover from death to life and from earth to heaven.I was lucky to see the celebration of Easter in Greece in 2003: the procession of the "epitaphios" in Monemvassia, unforgettable customs in Leonidio on Easter's Eve and the lunch-dinner with Big Greek Family on Easter Sunday with traditional greek music and dances!!!

Tip Photo
Gyro Pita or Souvlaki

by Lilasel

It's the most popular street-snack in Greece. Ingredients:*51 kg/2 lb of pork meat, cut in cubes with 1 inch (2.5cm) sides *6 Pita breads *Juice of 4 lemons *Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning *6 wooden skewers *TzazikiPut the pork meat in the wooden skewers, salt and pepper them. Cook over a barbecue fire, on a skilet or under an oven grill. In the meantime, spread some oil on the pitas and place under the oven grill, browing slightly each side, but not drying them. When the meat is done, dip them in a long glass containing the lemon juice and then holding a pita bread in one hand empty the skewer contents in it removing the skewer. Sprinkle with oregano and salt, add tzaziki and the souvlaki is ready.

Tip Photo
SPINACH PIE or SPANAKOPITA

by Lilasel

Ingredients:*One pack of very thin 'filo' pastry (obtained from a specialist deli) *1 Kg / 2 lb of spinach, either frozen or fresh *1 kg / 2 lb of feta cheese *250g / 1/2lb of butter or margarine *2 cloves of garlic or garlic power If the spinach is raw, cook and slice thinly. If frozen, defrost. In either case, mix the feta cheese with the spinach to make a mixture, adding the chopped garlic. Spread some butter on an oven tray. Open the filo package and place each thin pastry (it is as thin as paper) on the tray, buttering each one using a brush. After you have done 8 filo slices, place the spinach/feta mixture and spread over the entire oven tray, covering the 8 pastry slices. On top of this, place the remaining pastry slices, buttering each one of them as well. Notch the last one creating 2 inch (5 cm) on a side, squares. Place in a medium heat oven and cook till brown.

Tip Photo
Greek Salad or HORIATIKI

by Lilasel

Ingredients:*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.

Tip Photo
MOUSSAKA

by Lilasel

National Greek dish. Every single Greek believes his own mama's moussaka is the best in the world. I've tried the home-made moussaka... absolutely delicious!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...

Tip Photo

Top 3 Hotels in Greece

Grand Bretagne Hotel Athens  Athens

 17 Reviews and 640 Opinions  Every visitor to Athens cannot fail to notice this huge hotel. It's right on Syntagma Square,... 

 Hotels in Athens

Astra Apartments & Suites  Santorini Island

 1 Review and 404 Opinions  My husband and I finished off our honeymoon at the Astra Apartments, an all-suite hotel. The website... 

 Hotels in Santorini Island

Marni Village  Crete Island

 1 Review and 220 Opinions  Stayed in October 2006, and really have no complaints about the accomodation,Very friendly and... 

 See all 128 Hotels in Crete Island

Questions and Answers

pritj profile photo

Q:  Hi! Last holiday I had to give up on Greece but this year I ve decided to visit there. I am planning to go on mid-October , but I... 

ranger49 profile photo

A: I have been to Athens during the winter months and it can sometimes be quite pleasant weatherwise but colder in the evenings even in October.. It is a capital city... 

Read 6 Replies

postQuestion_button