Tag Archives: customs

As Greeks are getting ready to flock to the churches five minutes before Holy Saturday midnight, KTG wants to wish to all its readers Happy Easter and Hronia Polla! But also to make a short review of the Greek Easter customs. I know that many of KGT readers are not …

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A police major operation at Greece’s Krystallopigi border control check point at the border with Albania has led in the arrest of at least 14 people: seven police and customs officers and seven civilians of Albanian nationality. the operation of the Internal Affairs Unit of the Greek police followed a …

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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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With their cholesterol at the usual Easter-high levels thousands of Greeks returned home after a long an relaxing weekend in the countryside or the islands a mass exodus after two years of lockdown and movement restrictions. Ferries and ships docked at full capacity at the ports, intercity buses, airplanes and …

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Good Friday is the day of mourning for Orthodox Christians as the Passion Week reaches its peak. Highlight of the day is the Epitaphios procession with the icon of the body of Jesus inside. Typically the icon is a large, embroidered and rich adorned cloth. It is placed inside the …

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Greece’s Carnival season, the Apokries, reaches its peak over the weekend with the biggest Carnival Parade, the Carnival of Patras, to take place on Sunday. The weekend marks the end of masquerading, eating, drinking and dancing and opens the way for the 40-day fasting until the Greek orthodox Easter. Staring …

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March 1st is the day where Greek children have to wear a Martis or Martaki, a red and white bracelet on their wrist. The bracelet made of string has one and solid purpose: to protect the children’s cheeks to get burned from the sun in March. Apparently the sun in …

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Got a headache? Why bother with a painkiller? Get a ‘healer’ and get rid of the Evil Eye right away. If the headaches persist you can consult a doctor, but according to 60 percent of Greeks they will first get a ‘xematiasma’ and then seek other solutions to cure themselves. …

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Childhood memories revived when I watched short live stream from Serres in Northern Greece this morning. Children in traditional dresses with a red pom pom on white headscarf were singing the Spring Carols. On their wrists all children wore Martis, the bracelet made of red and white string. The name …

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The Epiphany and the religious tradition of blessing the Waters was celebrated across Greece on Friday, January 6th. Hundreds of faithful defied the cold and jumped into the sea to retrieve the Cross for good luck. However, in Patras, the holy custom ended up in a brawl among divers arguing …

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 It smells lilac today on Good Friday – the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. In Greek Orthodox churches, at 12 noon the body of Jesus is taken down from Crucifix and laid to the Tomb; symbolized by the flower-covered Epitafios.  The bell …

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Kathari Deytera or Clean Monday marks the end of Carnival and the beginning of the Greek Christian Orthodox Lent – the 40 days fasting until Eastern. What is the best way to celebrate the beginning of Lent? With plenty of Food! Ha! And Kites!   Traditionally the tables are covered with …

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