Greece has a long history that spans several areas over the centuries.  During these centuries there are many parts of mythology, history, and innumerable experiences that we, Greeks share as a nation. These experiences and the history have shaped the unique culture that characterizes modern Greece. 

 

This culture is not only about respecting and being proud of our famous ancestors of antiquity that shaped Western civilization, but also about living and breathing history and past experiences through customs that are not only kept quite faithfully but are guided to by many Greeks in our casual everyday speeches.  

 

Knowing some of the basic customs of the Greeks can greatly enhance one’s experience when one visits Greece, especially since a lot of those customs are not only upheld quite faithfully but are also alluded to by many Greeks in their casual everyday speech.

 

Here are a few Greek traditions:

                                        For those celebrating their Name Day 

 

1.  Everyone has a birthday, but in Greece, we also have a name day to celebrate.  Most Greeks are named after a saint of the Greek Orthodox Church.  Names such Spyros, Yiannis, Yianna, Maria, Elpida, Dimitris Alexandros and Sophia.  On the day that these saints are being celebrated, humans celebrate their name days.

 

Nameday is a second birthday, presents are given to the one that celebrates, gatherings are arranged and are considered a staple of the social protocol in Greece so that nobody forgets to wish their relatives, best friends and colleagues who are celebrating.

 

2.  March bracelet Martis

 

On the 1^st of each March young Greeks wear Martis a bracelet of intertwined strings of red and white colours.  The Martis is supposed to protect the wearer from the scorching of the sun.  The white colour symbolizes purity while red symbolizes the joy and zest of life.

 

3.  The May Wreath

 

The 1^st of May is when celebrations for spring and summer begin a tradition that takes us back to antiquity, with the ancient Greek celebration for “Anthesteria” which was the ancient Greek flower festival, being its greatest ancestor :  The May Wreath.

 

The May Wreath is a wreath made by wildflowers picked at dawn by young girls and made into wreaths using vines or fresh bendable branches which serve as the wreath’s wiring that supports the multicolored flowers.   The wreaths are then hung on the outside of each house and are left there until completely dried out.  The wreath is supposed to be a protection from evil spirits and the innovation of fertility and affluence. On June 24^th the feast day of Saint John’s the wreath is burned and young people jump over it for good luck. 

 

 

4.  The Evil Eye (Mati)

 

This is a superstition that still holds today, especially with the older generation.  Those who believe in Mati think that those who stare at them persistently with jealousy or envy can give them the evil eye so they suffer from strong headaches, melancholia, dizziness, and fatigue.