After three years of break due to the pandemic, the famous Carnival of Patras returned to full glory and vibrant pulse with thousands of carnivalists and even more visitors. 139 crews with over 50,000 people and impressive wagons participated in the grand parade on Sunday that lasted over five hours. …
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Giant, 130-meter-long, souvlaki roasted in Amfikleia, central Greece
The world’s largest kontosouvli, a giant souvlaki, has become a tradition for Amfikleia, central Greece. The large spicy souvlaki made of pork or other meats is traditionally slow roasted on a rod over an open charcoal pit. this year in Amfikleia they surpassed themselves roasting a 130-meters long kontosouvli. The …
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Tsiknopempti: The day Greece turns into a huge grill
Sunshine and mild temperatures are the perfect offer of ancient gods for the revival of the traditional Tsiknopempti, where the whole Greece turns into a huge grill. Whether in the balcony, the garden, the small yard or on the rooftop, whether on pedestrian streets or pavements, charcoal is hot in …
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Anti-smoking law to be updated to plug loopholes
Over the next three months the Health Ministry will seek to close the loopholes in the anti-smoking legislation that allow closed areas to be characterized as open-air, thus allowing people to smoke. Smoking of cigarettes will be expressly banned in cafes, bars, restaurants etc that are closed with canopies, plastic …
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Huge New Year’s cake over 5 tons and 200 lucky coins in Peristeri
A huge New Year’s cake weighing over five tons, consisting of 50,000 pieces and containing 200 lucky coins was set up on the main street of Peristeri suburb of western Athens on December 30, 2022. The amazing Vasilopita may enter the Guiness Book of Records. The cake was created by …
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Happy and Healthy New Year to all KTG readers
A Happy and Healthy New Year 2023 to all KTG readers around the world. Never give up fighting for what’s important and top priority for you. Καλή Χρονιά! Ευτυχισμένο το 2023! 2022 was tough and therefore …things can always get better! PS Ops! Almost forgot! And World Peace!
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Our Greek “Santa” comes on Jan 1 with the New Year’s cake tradition
Chubby, with a red uniform, and a shaky laugh, that’s how our children have learned that Santa Claus is. But our “Santa”, the Greek Orthodox Agios Vassilis, is different and comes with his presents in the night of January 1. Our “Santa” comes from Caesaria in central Asia Minor where …
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Νew Year’s Eve event in downtown Athens
The City of Athens is getting ready for the New Year’s Eve with a countdown spectacle at Syntagma Square and parties in the neighborhood of Thiseio and the Varvakeio meat market. Meanwhile, a countdown party will be held in the neighborhood of Thiseio, at the foot of the Acropolis, featuring …
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Merry Christmas! Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
Merry Christmas with Joy and Health to all readers of KeepTalkingGreece. And “Love and Peace and Hope and Dreams Come True” and whatever on one’s list which it’s usually very long. It’s all a matter of perspective, though. Merry Christmas! Καλά Χριστούγεννα! Καλές Γιορτές!
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Island of Alonissos decorates underwater Christmas Tree (video)
The Greek island of Alonissos has chosen to celebrate its connection with the sea and the underwater diving with the symbolic decoration of an underwater Christmas Tree. The event launched the holiday season 2022. The alternative Christmas event took place on Saturday, December 10, with Alonissos Mayor Petros Vafinis doing …
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Impressive Christmas Tree Lighting in Thessaloniki (video)
The Christmas tree in Thessaloniki ‘s main square Aristotelous was lit on Wednesday evening, thousands of people had flocked to the city center to attend the festive ceremony. The lighting was accompanied by fireworks and a live music concert with Christmas carols and other popular songs. The 18 meters-long tree …
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“Kilkis doesn’t exist”: Crazy conspiracy theory goes viral
“Kilkis does not exist” No one knows how conspiracy theories start but we we certainly know how they are spread nowadays: via the social media. No matter how crazy the theory and rumor, it easily goes viral spreading across one country and beyond… The new viral claim among Greek internet …
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Four in 10 Greeks believe in witchcraft and evil eye (POLL)
Got a headache? Why bother with a painkiller, when it is clear the evil eye is the cause for the hammer in the scull? Superstition appears to be alive and kicking in Greece, with an impressive four in 10 people believing in witchcraft and the evil eye. This is the …
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Athens mayor illuminates the Christmas Tree at Syntagma Sq (video)
Greek capital Athens officially launched the holiday season on Thursday evening, when Mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis pressed the button to illuminate the Christmas Tree at Syntagma square. With the Christmas tree illumination Athens sent a message of peace, unity, solidarity and love everywhere in the world tonight. Music, light, colors and …
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Greek Post: Red mailboxes for Letters to Santa are ready
The red mailboxes of the Greek Post, ELTA, are ready to receive the thousands of letters to Santa Claus – ‘Αγιος Βασίλης in Greek – also in 2022. The Hellenic Post Office is urging everyone to “Write a letter to Santa Claus” for the 31st year in a row, This …
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Greek Ancestry: First digital platform for people of Greek descent
Interested in your Greek roots and family history? Greek Ancestry is the first digital platform created to primarily meet the specific needs of people in Greek descent. Founded in January 2020 by historian Gregory Kontos, an expert in Greek migration history, Greek Ancestry offers high-quality research tools as well as …
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The…MOM: Greek farmer and mother of 4 wins TikTok with authentic recipes
A farmer woman and mother of four from northern Greece has won the TikTok with her authentic recipes and videos. On the popular video platform 39-year-old Anastasia Kalalidou uses the nickname “H…MAM” – “The …MOM” – an idea she got from the daily question of her four children “what are …
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“Exorcisms” in Thessaloniki? “Stay away!” says the Church of Greece
A little known sect organized an admittedly “unique” event on the central Aristotelous square in Thessaloniki: exorcisms performed outdoors. A big screen was displaying “exorcisms” and a crowd of people curiously watching a new …transcendental experience.The exorcisms were held also in English so that tourists could understand. Alarmed by the …
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UPDATE Court finds ex National Theater director Dimitris Lignadis guilty in 2 of 4 rape cases
The Mixed Jury Court in Athens found the former director of National Theater, Dimitris Lignadis, guilty for two of four rape cases on Wednesday. The ruling was decided with a majority of votes. The defendant was in trial for the sexual abuse of three minors and one young adult man. …
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May Day in Greece: Ancient customs meet Workers’ struggles
With strikes to honor the workers’ struggles to resistance against Nazism and ancient Greeks customs Greeks have 1000+1 reasons to celebrate the first day of May. With slogans for better labor conditions and multicolored flowers wreaths at the house doors. Thousands of private and public sector unionists marched to the …
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