Greek folk culture reflects the traditions and customs that have developed over time, representing the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. It is a reflection of the values, ideals, and optimism of the Greek people, rooted in solid foundations and a strong sense of identity. The unique character of Greek folk culture lies in its fusion of ancient and modern elements, with every custom and belief tracing its roots back to the distant past, sometimes reaching as far back as prehistory and mythology.

Easter

Orthodox Christianity regards Easter as its most significant festival. Initially, it was a Jewish feast commemorating the Jews’ exodus from Egypt and their emancipation from slavery under the leadership of Moses. Christianity later adopted it as a holiday to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a Jew, who was seen as having sacrificed himself for humanity.

The “Resurrection,” which occurs on the first Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox on March 21, is celebrated in the preceding week after events commemorating the events leading up to the crucifixion. In the Gregorian calendar, Easter Sunday generally falls on one of the Sundays between April 1 and May 10.

The 40-day fasting period that leads up to the Sunday of the Resurrection involves abstaining from animal foods. The last week, referred to as “Holy Week,” involves various customs, including home baking cookies and cupcakes according to Holy Week traditions, as well as the dying of eggs on Holy Thursday.

The “Holy Light,” which is believed to have burned miraculously in the “Holy Tomb” following Jesus’s resurrection, is brought from Jerusalem to Greece and other countries before the Easter feast. After the end of Holy Week, at midnight, believers dressed in festive attire and carrying white candles attend the Rite of the Resurrection in churches, which begins with the ringing of bells. The ritual culminates with the believers lighting their candles from the “Holy Light” and returning home, symbolizing the resurrection of Christ.

Finally, cooking lamb on skewers and eating it with family, spouse, and friends is a widely practiced tradition on Easter Sunday, though its origins are disputed.

Apocries Carnivals

Masquerade balls, eating, drinking and dancing are the main activities during the carnival period in Greece, known as “Apokries”. This period traditionally begins ten weeks before Greek Orthodox Easter and ends on the Sunday before “Clean Monday”, which marks the start of a forty-day fasting period leading up to Easter. The name “Apokria” translates to “away from the flesh”, signifying the upcoming period of fasting.

The last Sunday of the Apokries period is the final day to eat meat until Easter, and Thursday of that week, also known as “Tsiknopempti” or “BBQ Thursday”, is celebrated with large quantities of fried meat.

The weekend before Holy Monday, which marks the start of the fasting period, is marked by carnivals, masked parades, traditional dress parades, and regional customs throughout Greece. On Holy Monday, which is a public holiday throughout Greece, families typically spend time outdoors flying kites and having picnics, weather permitting.

Holy Monday also marks the start of the fasting period, during which red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products are not consumed. However, there are many other delicacies that can be tasted on this day, such as “lagana” (a type of bagel), “taramosalata” (tarama), “dolmadakia” (stuffed grape leaves), fried octopus, “gigantes” pilaki (baked large beans), seafood salads, oysters, and “halvas” (semolina halva).

Christmas

Christmas, also known as Xristougenna or the Feast of the Nativity, is a joyous occasion for the Greek Orthodox Church, celebrated for 12 days from December 25 to January 6. While some traditions like eating turkey and decorating Christmas trees have been imported from other cultures, some Greeks continue to decorate Christmas boats to honor old Christian customs.

• •  Remainder

Singing Christmas carols, or Kalanda, is a tradition that has been preserved till date. Children go from house to house singing hymns and playing musical instruments like the triangle bell, guitar, accordion, lyre, and harmonica. In the past, pastries were given as gifts to children, but today, money is more common.

• • Christmas Genies

During the 12-day period of Christmas to Epiphany Day, Greeks believe in the existence of friendly but mischievous leprechauns called “kallikántzari” who hide in houses and scare people through the chimneys. To keep these demons away, many customs and rituals are practiced throughout Greece. On Epiphany Day, when all waters are blessed, the demons return to the center of the earth.

• • Desserts & Confectionery

On Christmas, tables are decorated with traditional table delicacies and white linens, which represent good luck for the new year. Melomakarona, honey cookies, and Kourabiedes, almond cookies, symbolize the start of the Christmas feast. Another tradition is the slicing of Vassilopita, a New Year’s Cake associated with Saint Vasilios of Cappadocia, which dates back to the Byzantine period. It is believed that the person who finds the hidden coin in their slice will be lucky throughout the year.

“The Annunciation” and Greek Independence Day (25 March)

The Greek “double feast” is celebrated every March 25 in commemoration of both the country’s Independence Day and the “announcement” made by Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, stating that she was chosen to bear the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

This event is detailed in the Gospel of Luke, wherein Gabriel informs Mary that she will give birth to a son named Jesus who will be the “Son of the Most High”.

March 25, 1821 is recognized as the starting point of the process of Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, which culminated in the establishment of a new state on January 15, 1822 and recognition on February 3, 1830.

In addition to national and religious holidays, many other traditions hold great importance for Greek society.

Name Day

The tradition of celebrating birthdays was introduced to Greece from other countries, while the tradition of celebrating name days has a deeper and more significant history in Greek culture.

When Greece adopted Christianity, people began adopting names of important figures in Christianity and the Bible, particularly saints. In the Christian faith, each saint has a commemoration day that coincides with their death or martyrdom, and this day is also celebrated as the name day for people who bear that saint’s name. Even traditional Greek names that predate Christianity are still used, although less commonly. The name day for all saints is celebrated on the first Sunday after the 50th day of Easter, which is believed to be when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles (All Saints’ Day).

Baptism

The religious ceremony of baptism represents purification, rebirth, and entrance into Christianity by either immersing the whole body or wetting the forehead with water.

The origin of the word baptism comes from the Greek word “βαπτίζω” (vaptizo), which means “to wash” or “to immerse”. Babies are typically baptized within a year of birth and 40 days after being born. The baptism ceremony serves as the baby’s naming ceremony, and the child is not referred to by name until baptized. The baby’s hair is also not cut until the ceremony.

A godfather or godmother organizes the baptism ceremony, and the baby is dressed in white as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The water in the baptismal vessel symbolizes the purification of ancestral sin, and three immersions signify the 3-day burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After the ceremony, parents traditionally kiss the godparent’s hand and distribute treats such as honey, walnut cookies, chocolates, and children’s gifts like spinning tops. Babies should not be bathed for three days after baptism to protect them from negative energy. After the ceremony, the water should be thrown into the sea or on the ground, and the baby’s clothes should only be rinsed with seawater.

Wedding

In rural areas, the custom of preparing for weddings from infancy has become rare and may vanish altogether. Girls receive dowry items like linens and embroidered fabrics from their mothers. Traditionally, dowries comprised livestock, land, and cash, and in some regions of Greece, the father of the bride was obligated to provide a fully furnished home to his daughter and her future husband.

The concept of marriage in Greece is still widely associated with the church ceremony, although legal municipal marriages are also performed today. During the wedding ceremony, a table is placed in the middle of the church where the rings and crowns are kept along with the Bible. The circle around the table represents eternity and the couple’s invitation to enter the Kingdom of God through marriage. The wedding crowns also signify royalty as the bride and groom will be considered as kings and queens in their homes. During the ceremony, the groomsmen exchange the rings and tiara three times before the priest puts the crowns on the bride and groom’s heads. The crowns are placed in a tray filled with wedding favors, and it is customary for single girls to put these candies under their pillows in the hope of seeing their future spouse in their dreams. Additionally, the names of single girls are written on the bride’s shoes with a pencil, and the first girl whose name becomes illegible is believed to be the first to marry. Finally, after the guests wear the priestly crowns, they walk the couple around the table three times and sprinkle rice as a symbol of their wish for the couple to take root.

When the religious text is read during the wedding ceremony, the groom secretly steps on the bride’s feet or vice versa when the preacher says “And the woman is afraid of the man.” The guests watch with interest to see who will act first. Then, the priest makes the newlyweds drink red sweet wine from the same glass, and any remaining wine is consumed by the groomsmen.

After this ceremony, the parents of the bride and groom kiss the crown first and then the newlyweds. The wedding ends with guests offering their congratulations to the couple at the church.

Traditional wedding dances are also performed at a tavern where the wedding party is held. Later, the groom and bride remove the crowns and place them in the crown box, which is usually situated above the bridal bed.

Following the wedding party, the newlyweds embark on their honeymoon, the location of which should remain a secret.
During the first year of marriage, the bride is prohibited from attending funerals, mourning, or eating halva.