Greek family traditions | LoveToKnow

Although some will always honor the traditions of the past, many modern Greek families have found ways to blend the old with the new. Each family and region is unique, but there are general traditions that many types of Greek families follow in Greece or around the world.

Daily family life

Respect, unity and hospitality are the three words that, according to Charalampos (Bobby) Afionis, best describe the values ​​of the Greek family. Bobby currently lives in the United States with his wife, Kristen, and their daughter, Evangelia, but he grew up in the suburbs of Athens, Greece. Although he is far from his first home, family traditions still play an active role in his life because of these Greek cultural family values.

Accommodation

Greek families often expand their homes or neighborhoods to accommodate their adult children and extended family members so they can all stay close. For many, this means adding floors to their existing home so that each immediate family can have their own space. Bobby adds: “Family homes are generally not sold, but are passed down from generation to generation. »

Traditional gender roles

The men are service providers expected to work, and all Greek men must serve in the county’s military in order to reside there. When it comes to housekeeping, men generally do not take care of household chores or the usual childcare duties. The modern Greek woman is educated and works because the economy demands it. Women are generally responsible for all cooking, cleaning and child-rearing duties. As large families often live together, all women contribute to these tasks for the whole family.

Weekend meal

Even though more and more Greeks are starting to work weekends, the tradition of family meals on days off persists. All members of a family must come together for lunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.

Greetings

Showing respect to everyone, especially your family members and people you just met, is a priority for Greeks. For example, you would say “Yassou” to greet a close friend, but you would say “Yassas” to an elderly person or a stranger. Anyone with whom you have a close personal relationship will also receive a kiss on each cheek as a greeting.

Special occasions

Greeks never show up empty-handed at someone else’s house. Usually they bring a gift of food or drink which can be opened and shared with everyone present.

Name day

In Greek culture, your name day is almost more important than your birthday. Each person is named after one of the many Greek Orthodox Saints, and their feast coincides with the day reserved for this saint. On this day, you are supposed to be at home with the doors open and snacks and drinks on hand. All your friends and family members are supposed to come and visit you saying “‘χρονια πολλα (xronia polla)” or “many years”.

Christmas

For Greek families, Christmas Day is more of a religious holiday where the women usually go to church together. The whole family gets together for a meal at home that includes vasilopita for dessert. Inside this cake a coin is hidden and a piece is reserved for Christ. Each person in the house also receives a coin ranked from oldest to youngest. It is said that the person who finds the coin in their slice is lucky. Some families serve the cake at Christmas, while others save it for New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve

Known as Protochrony, Greek New Year’s Eve is more like an American Christmas. Families and children stay up until midnight when Saint Basil, or Agios Vasilis, delivers gifts for everyone. Gifts are usually delivered in creative ways, says Bobby, who remembers one year watching the gifts being lowered from the roof in a net by a crane that was there to build another floor in their family home.

Birth of a baby

After the birth of a baby in a Greek family, the mother must stay at home for 40 days. During this time, all close friends and family members will come to meet the new baby. They will each spit lightly on the baby to protect it from curses or bad luck, and they will give the child a gift of gold, usually a coin or jewelry.

Engagement and marriage

Wedding celebrations in Greek families are like in the movies, big and noisy. Although many modern couples opt for a civil union first so they can save for the big affair, there is almost always a big party at some point. During the ceremony itself, the bride and groom never speak. Once engaged, couples wear their engagement ring on their left hand. The ring is moved to their right hand after their marriage.

Bridal bed

In the days leading up to the wedding, close friends and family gather at the couple’s home to help them prepare for it, with ceremonies like In Krevati where all the bride’s unmarried maids make the couple’s bed with new sheets. The groom then examines it and gives his blessing. Guests throw money on the bed as wedding gifts, then throw the children on the bed to roll around to promote fertility.

The wedding procession

On the wedding day, the bride and groom travel to the church through elaborate processions featuring all the wedding guests and musicians playing instruments. The bride is then accompanied to the church by her father, where he introduces her to her husband before entering.

Keeping Families Close

Families are the main support system in Greek society and are treated with great care due to their role. Although every family may be different, there are many values, traditions and customs that set Greek families apart from those in other cultures.