Experiencing Orthodox and Catholic Easter the same year, is possible!
Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated by most Greeks, all over the world. But many people are also experiencing two different Easters in one family, depending on their cultural backgrounds.
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Kathara Deftera, or Clean Monday is an important day for Greeks. We celebrate the end of the Carnival and the beginning of fasting which leads to Easter (forty days later). The name comes from the adjective “katharos”=clean. This day is also called “Koulouma”.
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Carnival in Greece is a big winter celebration, during which Greeks enjoy themselves, organize parties and eat a lot of meat!
The aim of Carnival is to encourage all citizens, and visitors, to be a part of a lively, fun-filled celebration, which takes place in many venues, squares, streets and schools of villages, towns, or city neighborhoods. Read more about Greek Carnival, while learning useful Greek vocabulary.
Winter in Greece is never boring, and for those who thought that Greece is only a summer country, you couldn’t be more wrong :-). Due to its varied nature and culture, Greece has to offer something in any season!
The end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 was a sunny and warm period, but we expect any moment the winter to start…
Better be prepared, and get your warm cloths ready…or start planning your winter trip to Greece!
Below you can also listen to the Greek audio by teacher Marina. For the Greek text, click on the button here above.
The Vasilopita is a nice Greek Tradition . Baking the “vasilopita”, a special cake for the New Year, will make sure to start things off right! When cutting the cake into slices on New Year’s Day, Greeks will name each slice as they cut it, after everyone in the family and friends. Usually, also a coin is hidden in the bottom of the cake. Whoever is lucky enough to get the coin in their slice is considered especially blessed in the coming year! So maybe a nice Greek tradition to also try it with your family and friends back home?
The Greek Traditional Christmas Boat is very popular again since the last decade.
Do you prefer a Christmas tree or a Christmas boat?
(Greek text below)
The decoration of the Christmas tree is not a Greek habit. It is said that the first Christmas tree in Greece was introduced and decorated by the Bavarian king Otto in 1833. In Greece, according to tradition, we decorate a boat, mainly on the islands. The boat symbolizes the maritime identity of the country. Greeks, a seafaring nation, of course, combined the celebration of Christmas with the sea. The decoration of the ship was also a kind of honor and welcome to the sailors returning home to celebrate Christmas with their families.
Did you ever celebrate Greek Christmas and New Year in Greece? Apart from other Christmas traditions, you will hear typical Greek carols all over the country: the “kalanta”. Greece is rich in music and depending on the geographical regions, there are different Christmas and New Year songs, using different instruments and rhythms.
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When we think about the Month of December in Greece, we usually think of winter and celebrations. Let’s learn more about a typical Greek December Month.
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What about going to a Hammam in Athens? You will combine elements from classical antiquity, the Ottoman past and a modern city. Since it was under Ottoman occupation between 1458 and 1833, it also had public baths called hammams. When you come to Athens today, you can visit the Bath of the Winds or experience spa services at one of the modern hammams of the city.
When you visit Athens , not only you can explore the capital of Greece, but at the same time you can also make several one-day excursions to nearby coastal villages, beaches and archaeological sites within the prefecture of Attica. One of the trips we believe is really worth it to add to your “list”, is to visit the “temple of Poseidon” in Sounion, at about 60 km from centre Athens. You can combine it with a swim in the clear waters of the Aegean sea or a nice dinner/lunch in one of the fish taverns nearby.
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Experiencing Orthodox and Catholic Easter in the same year15/03/2023 - 11:34 am
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