{"id":12382,"date":"2025-09-30T11:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.omilo.com\/2017\/09\/19\/experience-beautiful-autumn-greece\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T13:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T10:55:14","slug":"experience-beautiful-autumn-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omilo.com\/nl\/experience-beautiful-autumn-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"Autumn in Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"

Autumn in Greece is full of surprises<\/strong>!
\nEven though summer is probably the most popular season in Greece, for Greeks and non-Greeks, also autumn and winter have much more to offer than you might think!
\nSince the Tourist Industry focuses on Greece as a typical country for summer holidays, not everyone knows that Greece is more than only beaches and sea.
\nHere an introduction to different aspects of the beautiful Greek autumn.<\/p>\n

Greek Etymology<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Greek word for autumn, \u201cftinoporo\u201d, is a difficult one and hard to remember.
\nHowever, for those knowing Ancient Greek, it is easy to understand the etymology of the word:
\n\u201c\u03c6\u03b8\u03b9\u03bd\u03cc\u03c0\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf\u201d, comes from the Ancient Greek \u03c6\u03b8\u03b9\u03bd\u03cc\u03c0\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd [phthin\u00f3p\u014dron] < \u03c6\u03b8\u03af\u03bd\u03c9 + \u03bf\u03c0\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1 (fthino, to wither + opora, fruits)
\nand so the word describes part of the natural phenomena during this season.<\/p>\n

Greek olive oil and wine<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Autumn is a busy season for those working in the agricultural sector:
\npicking grapes and olives<\/strong> are the main jobs, as well as making olive oil and wine.
\nWe all know Greece makes excellent high standard olive oil as well as wine, in many different areas in Greece.<\/p>\n

Click here to read more about Greek olive oil and how it all started!<\/a><\/p>\n

If you also want to read more about the excellent wines of Greece, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By the way, grape must, or \u201cmoustos\u201d in Greek, is used to make desserts and delicious cookies: moustalevria and moustokouloura.<\/strong>
\nDo not forget to taste them while in Greece.<\/p>\n

Historical events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The two most important historical dates and also National Holidays during this season are:<\/p>\n

28 October<\/span> 1940<\/span>: the \u201cOxi\u201d-day or \u201cNo\u201d-day (\u0395\u03c0\u03ad\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u038c\u03c7\u03b9)<\/a>.
\nGreeks celebrate the day that dictator Ioannis Metaxas said \u201cNO\u201d to Mussolini and refused to allow the Italian army to enter\/invade Greece during World War II.<\/p>\n

17 November 1973<\/span>:
\nAthens Polytechnic uprising (\u03b7 \u0395\u03be\u03ad\u03b3\u03b5\u03c1\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a0\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03c7\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03bf\u03c5).
\nThis is the date when the Politechneio students organized a popular rejection to the Greek military junta (1967-1974).
\nThe uprising let to bloodshed in which several people were killed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nature in Greece<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Last but not least, autumn is a fantastic season for beautiful walks in the cities or in the Greek countryside.
\nNot only walking became popular in the last years, also biking is now \u201cin\u201d<\/a>!
\nClick on the video below to take a look where Athenians can bike and walk<\/a><\/p>\n

\"biking<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Those of you that love the outdoors or would like to experience a holiday while picking olives or grapes, this is a perfect season for you!<\/p>\n

Visiting the Greek islands off-season<\/h2>\n

You might not see the splendid Autumn colors on the islands, since most of\u00a0 the trees on the Greek islands remain green the entire year (like olive trees, pine trees…)
\nbut you will be amazed with the beautiful walking trails, warm sea, empty beaches, and still enough taverns and cafes operating to enjoy your evenings.<\/p>\n

The more southern islands like Rhodos, Crete and Santorini\u00a0 usually have warmer weather, and a longer tourist season than other smaller islands. Normal life as well as tourist services work normally on those islands till mid-November.\u00a0 The perfect season to explore those islands without tourist crowds and thousands of sunbeds..<\/p>\n

\"\"Interested to listen to one of our Podcast stories, taking place off-season?<\/p>\n

here is a story taking place in Santorini, off season
\nhttps:\/\/omilo.com\/easy-greek-stories-podcast-16\/<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/h4>\n

and a story taking place on the island of Kimolo; Stuck on a Greek island
\nhttps:\/\/omilo.com\/easy-greek-stories-podcast-21\/<\/a><\/h4>\n

\nLearning Greek in Greece, during the Autumn season<\/h2>\n

If you would like to be in Greece during the Autumn season, while improving your Greek, and join Omilo, then we can suggest various courses.<\/p>\n

Officially the Autumn Season starts mid-September, so you can choose between following courses;<\/p>\n

October course on Naxos island<\/a><\/p>\n

October-November courses in Athens<\/a><\/p>\n

Festivals, cultural events, and nightlife<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As you probably have noticed, Greeks are very outgoing people, looking for company and entertainment all the time.
\nAlso in autumn, there are many local wine festivals as well as film festivals.<\/p>\n

The major cities (Athens, Thessaloniki) offer an amazing selection of cultural events: \u00a0concerts, theatre and dance performances, expositions, fairs, movies,..
\n\u201dCulture\u201d is very important in Greek life and education. If you would like to experience some of those events, together with Omilo,
\nyou are very welcome in our intensive Greek language courses in Athens.<\/p>\n

Athens<\/a> and Thessaloniki<\/a> are also famous for their nightlife. \u00a0Greeks are late birds and usually do not go to eat dinner before 9 or 10 at night. Many night clubs or concert halls in Athens open after midnight. Even with bad weather nightlife is as buzzing as during other days, so the whole autumn and winter entertainment is guaranteed!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Religious events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Greek Name days are connected to the Orthodox religion and are celebrated a lot in Greece (they are actually much more important than birthdays). Nearly every Greek name has a name day, and on every day of the calendar, another name is celebrated. You can easily find the \u201cGreek Name Days\u201d on the internet! Some names are very popular in Greece and those dates are usually known by everybody in Greece.<\/p>\n

Some examples of popular name days during the autumn season are:<\/p>\n

October 26<\/span>: Saint Dimitris\u2019 Day. \u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03ae\u03c4\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2 (Dimitris) and \u0394\u03ae\u03bc\u03b7\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1 (Dimitra)
\n\u0386\u03b3\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03ae\u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 (Agios Dimitrios) is also the protector of \u00a0Thessaloniki and therefor 26\/10 is a National Holiday for the city of Thessaloniki.<\/a><\/p>\n

November 8<\/span>: Angelos, Angeliki, Michalis, Stamatis<\/p>\n

November 25<\/span>: Katerina<\/p>\n

Those names are very common names and probably every Greek has a friend or relative with one of the above-mentioned names.
\nWhen somebody has his\/her name day, you visit them or call them and say \u201cXronia polla!\u201d \u2013 \u03a7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac!
\nIf you want to learn different Greek wishes as well, feel free to download our free Ebook “Greek Wishes for Any Occasion”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n


\nGreek Expressions and vocabulary\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As for every season, specific vocabulary and expressions are used. Let\u2019s have look at the most common ones:<\/p>\n

\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc \u03c6\u03b8\u03b9\u03bd\u03cc\u03c0\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf! \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kalo fthinoporo!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Enjoy the autumn season
\n\u0389\u03c1\u03b8\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u03b2\u03c1\u03cc\u03c7\u03b9\u03b1! \u00a0 \u0399rthan ta protovrochia!\u00a0 \u00a0 The first rain arrived\u201d (after the hot summer)
\n\u0392\u03c1\u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03ba\u03bb\u03bf\u03c0\u03cc\u03b4\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1! \u00a0 \u00a0Vrexei kareklopodara!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 It rains \u201cchair legs\u201d or it rains cats and dogs
\n\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc \u03c4\u03c1\u03cd\u03b3\u03bf! \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kalo trigo!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Enjoy the picking of grapes\/olives!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click here and listen to our teachers for the correct pronunciation \ud83d\ude42<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So there are plenty of reasons to visit Greece during Autumn\u2026 and maybe combine it with learning Greek at Omilo!<\/strong><\/p>\n