La Greek civilization is one of the oldest of which we have reference. This culture is deeply rooted in the Mediterranean, so its customs have a lot to do with its past as a great civilization and its relationship with the sea. The customs of Greece have been maintained quite a bit over the years, especially on its islands, places where we can see deeply rooted traditions.
All the customs of Greece they can be shocking at times for some people. However, it is a town that has a lot to do with other European and Mediterranean peoples, with whom it shares a lifestyle and traditions. We will see some of its most important customs.
Breaking dishes
This is one of the customs that most attract the attention of everyone who goes to Greece. Without a doubt it is a custom that we have seen in some films and that is why it is already something known throughout the world. Tourists find it a peculiar and funny habit of breaking dishes. It is common for large celebrations where friends and family get together to break dishes. This serves to express joy today, but the origin appears to be fuzzy. It is believed that it was done to drive away evil spirits when they approached, making them believe that a violent scene was taking place. If it seems strange to us that someone ends up with their crockery, we should know that in the houses they usually have low-cost utensils and simple preparation that is what they use for these occasions. So if you are lucky enough to attend a Greek party, do not miss the opportunity to break some dishes. Even in restaurants they have plates to break during the celebrations.
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All the Greek families are traditional and they are very close. In this sense they resemble the Italians, since they also attach great importance to family gatherings at mealtime. If we travel as tourists to small islands, it will surely be easy for us to see the traditional and family lifestyle they have. However, we will not be able to appreciate the great importance of these intimate meals in the family.
Greek weddings
All the Greek weddings are also very traditional. Unlike in other ceremonies, in Greek weddings the groom must wait for the bride at the door of the church, since they will enter together hand in hand and with white candles. Both will have a crown placed on their heads during the ceremony. Rings must be exchanged three times in honor of the Holy Trinity. During the ceremony we may see again the breaking of plates typical of Greek festivals, in the moments of greatest joy. On the other hand, it is common that in these celebrations people are encouraged to perform a traditional hasapiko dance, which is performed by leaning on each other's shoulders and moving their legs in unison in a well-known dance. If you can attend any of these ceremonies with dance, you can always try to carry it out.
The Rebetic
El Rebético is a sung narrative who was born in Asia Minor and is already part of the Greek tradition. It is played with the bouzouki instrument that is part of the lute family, widely used in the Middle Ages by troubadours. In this song you can even improvise and it has a satirical air. It was a very popular song and for that reason it has survived the passage of time.
Ancient greece
There were many customs in Ancient Greece that we are aware of thanks to all the legacy left by this advanced civilization. One of his funeral customs It consisted of putting two coins in the eyes of the dead man so that he could pay the ferryman who was taking him to the other shore. The clothing is also very recognizable, with the long tunics called chiton over which a wide cloth called himatión was crossed.
Greek holidays
Christmas is also celebrated in Greece. Today the custom of putting up a Christmas tree has become popular as in many other countries in the world. However, here it is very traditional decorate the boats in honor of Saint Nicholas, sailors pattern. It should not be forgotten that Greece is closely linked to the sea and a large part of its population lived from fishing, especially on the small islands. Kalikántzaroi are little elves who apparently arrive at Christmas time and sneak into houses through chimneys to scare those who come across them. They leave with the XNUMXth of January, at the end of Christmas. On New Year's Eve, the San Basilio cake is eaten, which in tradition resembles our roscón de Reyes, since whoever finds the coin inside will be lucky.