Which Greek traditions you love/hate the most & why ?

Question

& which traditions you would like Greece to keep the most, and which ones to disapear? :)

Answer 1

I am Greek, born and raised in Greece... and I am Greek Orthodox. And let me tell you, that other people who mentioned the eggs, its retarded... and I was really offended by it. The Red easter eggs are painted red because the Red Color is the Color of Jesus' Blood... the day he rose for US!

We color them on the Thursday before Easter, the day he died, and crack them on the day he rose singing a beautiful hymn at midnight on Easter Day for the next 40 days. Its a wonderful tradition.

I am not a fond of August 1-15. Although its VERY important and I celebrate it in respect.. you are not allowed to get Married between August 1 through 15, you cannot eat meat either. You must fast. Most Greeks get Married on August 15, 16, or 17.. because its RIGHT after the fast.

The reason for this is that we take 15 days of the year to celebrate and honor the Virgin Mary. And we may not combine souls (get married), eat another living creatures flesh (eat meat) and cut back on things that give us pleasure for those 15 days.

on August 15 ALL Greeks have a huge celebration. Each village gets together with Lambs and Goat and all types of meats, we cook and eat endlessly and get married!

Answer 2

i would keep them all b/c greece is awesome the way it is, as you know that, and you should just accept that

lol    =)=p=D

Answer 3

I love the tradition in Kefalonia for the festival of St Gerasimos. When the mummified body of the Saint is past over people who wish to be heeled. I think its a great tradition and the festival is always a great gathering of the communities on the island

=)

Answer 4

I don't either love or hate most Greek traditions.I think many of them are loosing their original meaning. I usually take part cause there is no other option except staying home. Like most young Greeks in big cities I go to church for the Anastasi(resurrection), for about 10 minutes. During Christmas most don't go to church at all. They are all in a rush to go back home, eat great traditional food and prepare to go out and have fun.

The Greek Orthodox traditional wedding as a custom is really something great but then again the exploitation of the event by the priests makes me so angry. Same thing goes for baptism.

What I really like are small local traditions that are found throughout Greece where everybody takes part and really serve the purpose of uniting a village or an island. My favorite is the tradition of "fanarakia" in Tinos island. Sorry if I sound too negative or unpleasant, I'm 28 years old now and starting to see things with a different prospective. Old and weird maybe!

If the Olympic flame ritual in Olympia is considered a tradition then it surely is my favorite as it makes me shiver in pride

Answer 5

AS all countries have traditions i guess greece.has some traditions that are not practile in todays world.what our anscestor did 100 years ago..was for thier time and timing..we do move very fast today.the church and state have to reveiw some of our traditions..to either assimulate them in to todays fast life or admend  them ..but not to lose thier meaning or essence of values. most of our tradions are our way of living through our relegion and ethics.they all reflect the GREEK. for the sake of our future generations we have to review them NOW!!! before they all thrown out the window.  but having said that.. i guess the most hated tradtions that i hate with a passion is the way widows keep on wearing black..not so much the younger widows..but the older generation .i alwasy hated that...very very.backward..al though i respect the significance..i see it as over the top when they keep on wearing the same black drab..even god said REJOICE... mouring has its limits as well..

Answer 6

easter

Answer 7

The traditions we have are just part of who we are I honestly love them all. Some times it can be frustrating but again it's part of being Greek and I wouldn't change it.

Answer 8

I adore the traditions surrounding weddings and Easter - however really dislike the 'traditions' usually pushed by the church which have nothing to do with the New Testament and are usually concerning women - after childbirth - after the death of a partner - where we can go ..... keeping women as 2nd rate citizens with rules no one can explain!