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. LIVING IN GREECE
Greece of today is rapidly changing with new technology leading the way. The European influx in the tourist industry have helped to modernise the country the demands on the holiday sector have increased so the Greeks have had to change local culture and attitudes towards modern Greece. One of the most significant of these was the 2004 Olympic games that united the county as the Greeks celebrated this historical event in modern Greek history, and the games were an overwhelming success in the world. The youth of today are independent and well educated, with many studying overseas. There is, still though, a large contrast between Greek village and town life. Many villages still retaining their traditional way of life with the community men sitting in the kafenions debating all subjects, while the women gathering outside their homes, relaxing gossiping among themselves in the warm atmosphere. The older generation traditionally staying and living with there friends from school days, whilst the impatience of the younger generations already planning moving out of villages into cosmopolitan life in the cities and towns. Tourism has made a greater understanding for the younger generation to appreciate the changing in the outside world, the villages on the coastal islands have dramatically changed beyond recognition in tourist resorts catering for the largest economy in Greece.
No matter what islands you are on the most overwhelming influence of the Greek people is there inbreed hospitality that even with modern live something never change. One outstanding quality of the Greek life is there culture is to live with the land. Over the generations most Greeks have a connection to the land through agriculture, where it is with family olive trees, vegetable plots or vineyards. Most Greeks make thee own village wine from there own grapes as a tradition to share with others in the communities and with tourists, each islands has it own special drink on Crete if you are in a tavernas as a after dinner drink a small bottle of Raki normally is produced, this drink relates back to the wine production of Crete.
Greeks today live longer like most Europeans, however the Greeks in Europe have a higher life expectancy. One of the reasons is through the generations the women have kept the traditional cooking techniques and ingredients from the past and very much alive in today's cooking. Fresh fish, Greek salads, goats cheese, olive oil all sustain a rich health balanced diet, most Greeks eat huge amounts of fruit along with a relaxed outlook on life. Greek culture at the centre as always being closely linked to the church with the priests of the Greek Orthodox church. In Greece under the law, each person has to be baptised, by the church married by the church and buried by the church, so the influence of the priest in the communities is very strong. Becoming a priest in Greece is a high Honour especially at on of the many monasteries around Greece. The culture of handmade crafts can be see everywhere in Greece, from hand-woven cloths, leather handbags, to local chesses making Greece has a wealth of culture linked to the past, with crafts handed down the generations.
Wedding are a very special time for the families all the relations are invited, in some cases up to 2000 gusts can be invited to the social events that mark the families all centered around the church. The holy rituals of Greece really being with the most religious time in the Greek calendar Easter. Greeks celebrate there birthday as names day which occur on a particular day during the year, unlike European which traditionally celebrate birthdays on the day they where born. In Greece, the custom a persons name is the day that they celebrate there name not birthday so on a particular day during the calendar year a name of George shall come up on that day a party or dinner,is given for direct family and friends, or as general hospitality cakes are given to everybody.
Villages throughout Greece celebrate their church’s name on a certain day. The church of St .Georges has a names day on the 15th August, the village festival is affectionately known as pavili , the commencement of the festival begins on the eve of the Names day, and ends 2 nights later. This is a community event where live music dancing good food and, drink, are the order of the days events. Another of Greece's names days is St Nicholas, he is the patron saint of all maritime sailors of the seas on the 6th December, Greek folklore, proclaims him The Lord of the Sea. Not only the patron of the seas but also the patron saint of all Greece.
WATER FESTIVAL OF Epiphany The Eve of Ta Fota in January the sprinkling of holy water priests walks around the village sprinkle the water to bless each house in the village. Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan is celerbrated with the solemn blessing. The annual Feast of Epiphany water ceremonies are held across Greece with the participation of the local church's priests. During the ceremony the Holy cross from the church is thrown into the sea local men dive into the cold waters to retrieve it. The honour is for the first person to retrieve the cross is blessed by the church. EASTER RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL The most important holiday time in Greece is Easter is Clean Monday that is a national bank holiday there Greece stops for the day. The Easter festival marks the end of 40 days of Lent, normally the exclusions of food products during the fasting excludes the eating of eggs, oil meat and dairy produce. EASTER Holy Week The church begin the holy week that leads up to Greece's Easter. The priests are business at this time of the year Easter like in other European countries the dates for Easter alter each year. Church services for the Greeks are held daily during Holy Week. Even thought with the economy many owners of business observe Holy Week and close there doors, tavernas that remain open observe the lent rules and only serve fish and vegetable dishes. The children of Greece enjoy the game of egging the women of the family hard boil eggsadding a red colour dye to symbolise Christs of blood. At the end of lend chicken soup is severed with traditional cooked biscuits, cheese pies to be eaten after the Easter Saturday the fasting officially end.
good Friday Good Friday is a day of sadness and mourning the churches in Greece from the bringing of the morning the death toll ringing starts noted by the mono tone of a signal bell. The church service begins very early evening thereafter this special service a procession starts from the church around the streets carrying the epitaph, with the faithful religious congregation walking behind, dressed in black to symbolise the sorrow. As the religious day progresses all the shops and business remain closes a respects for the parades. EASTER SATURDAY The village children now begin to preparee a community bonfire the fire is to symbolises the burning of Judas this normally takes place outside the village church just after the churches service around midnight. The midnight service for the Greek orthodox worshipers with the Anastasi resurrection, climaxing the Holy Week all the villages attend, at the end of the resurrection the lighting of the Holy Flame takes place. After the midnight service tavernas are opened as lent ends the foods not permitted are consumed in a family and friends feast. EASTER SUNDAY Traditionally the day of rest, the roasting of a lamb on a roasting spit, over hot coals in the garden is the meal of the Easter festival where family and friends socialise enjoying food, wine, music. The free sprit of the Greeks dancing normally follows as the celebrations get underway into the early hours of the morning.
Easter Monday The Monday is an official bank holiday in Greece, there very few places are open the Monday concludes the Easter festival. Christmas IN GREECE Christmas after Easter in the next most important religious holiday festival celebrated with the Orthodox church. Like Christmas Day in Europe December, is a time for the family unlike Europe children in Greece receive there present on January 1st, called St. Basil’s Day from Father Christmas or Santa Claus. The Greeks all Christmas Xristouyenna in a straight translation means the birth of Christ.
Christmas Eve, Kalanda tradition carols singing takes place by the village children. Christmas Day is usually spent the whole family attending Christmas dinner roasted lamb, pork or turkey, cooked with egg in a lemon sauce. Sweet bread symbolising Christ and home made Christmas biscuits covered with sugar.
New Year Even in Greece the time old tradition European new years eve of first footing, takes place right across Greece. The first person to step over the threshold of a home after midnight is extremely lucky for that person. A gift is normally placed on the doorstep of the home. Children are normally rewarded with money as a new years gift. dancing MUSIC FESTIVALS Music and traditional costumed dances are wide spread throughout Greece. What is surprising that in Europe many girls attend ballet classes in Greece it is usually traditional Greek dancing lessons. In all villages many Greek children play musical instruments forming local folk groups with singers, that entertain the locals.
GREECE a world of difference
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