Greek Traditions Community

Do Greeks exchange Christmas gifts?

1 - 5 of 5 Posts
ssherie_

ssherie_

Active member
I am visiting Greece for the first time to visit people this Christmas. Is it customary to give gifts? I know Greeks in the diaspora like in the United States and Canada follow the tradition of giving gifts... but I can't tell if it's a big thing in Greece.

I would think it is somewhat similar to in the United States. Some of the people I am visiting spend part of the year in the US and part in Greece.

Some thoughts about gifts:

- I plan to bring some things to them unique to the US.
- I likely would have done this anyway, but figured I'd wrap it.
 
It's mostly with kids and not on Christmas, but you could give something if you wanted. Gifts are given on New Year's day when Agios Vasilios comes
 
ellinasgolfer0320 said:
It's mostly with kids and not on Christmas, but you could give something if you wanted. Gifts are given on New Year's day when Agios Vasilios comes
Click to expand...
Yup - all my friends who live in Greece do their gift exchange on New Year's, and gift giving doesn't seem to be as big of a deal.
 
Yes I've visited Greece in recent times an in Greece the tradition of exchanging gifts does exist, particularly among family and close friends. It's not as commercially extensive as in the United States, but it is a cherished part of the holiday celebrations. Bringing unique items from the U.S. as gifts is a fantastic idea, especially since they hold a personal touch and represent your culture. Wrapping them adds a festive touch and shows your effort and care. As some of your hosts split their time between the U.S. and Greece, they'll likely appreciate the blend of customs. Btw, enjoy your trip and the warmth of Greek hospitality during the festive season!
 
In my Greek family, we give gifts more on New Year’s Day, since that's St. Basil’s Day. It’s not a huge thing like in some other cultures, but we do enjoy small thoughtful gifts. I was organizing something similar at work abroad and used Corporate Gift Malaysia to find simple, meaningful presents that weren’t over the top. It worked out well, and the team really appreciated the gesture.
 
Last edited:
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Greek Easter Celebrations in Greece?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Greek Easter lately and realized I don’t actually know what it’s like to experience it in Greece itself.

I grew up with the traditions here, like church services, red eggs, the midnight “Christos Anesti,” and of course the big Sunday feast, but I’m curious how it all feels in Greece. Is the atmosphere different? More intense? More communal?

What are the days leading up to Easter like there, especially Holy Week? Are there specific customs, processions, or local traditions that stand out depending on the region?

I’ve also heard things about candles at midnight, fireworks, and entire towns participating, how true is that?

Would love to hear from anyone who has experienced it in Greece or grew up there. What are the moments that really define Greek Easter for you?

Do younger generations still follow traditional Greek customs?

Lately I’ve been wondering how much traditional Greek culture is still being carried forward by younger generations, both in Greece and in the diaspora.

I’m not talking only about the big holidays or major family events, but the smaller everyday things too — name days, church traditions, hospitality, family meals, fasting periods, village festivals, coffee rituals, respect for elders, even certain sayings and customs. Do younger Greeks still actively participate in these traditions, or do they mostly happen because parents and grandparents keep them going?

I imagine the answer probably depends a lot on location, family, and lifestyle. Someone growing up in a village might have a different experience than someone in Athens or abroad. I’d love to hear from people of different ages, which traditions have stayed strong, which ones are fading, and are there any that younger generations are bringing back in new ways?

Anyone here struggle with outpatient rehab not being enough?

I’m curious if anyone else has been through this. I’ve been trying to get sober for a while now and started with a standard outpatient program because it seemed easier to balance with work and daily life. At first it felt okay, but after a couple weeks I noticed I was slipping back into old habits way faster than I expected.
It kinda feels like once the session is over, you’re just thrown back into the same environment with very little structure or support. I’m starting to wonder if outpatient is just too “light” for some people, especially if relapse has already happened before.
Has anyone here switched from regular outpatient to something more structured like IOP or medication-assisted treatment? Did it actually make a difference, or was it just more time in treatment with the same results?
Would really appreciate hearing real experiences — good or bad.

Greek Traditions from Childhood?

I’d love to hear everyone’s memories of Greek traditions from childhood, especially the small everyday things that may not even seem unusual until you look back on them later.

For me, some of the strongest memories are tied to food, church, family gatherings, name days, holiday preparations, and the feeling of constantly having people around. Even certain sounds and smells immediately bring everything back.

I’m also curious how traditions differed depending on region or family background. Did your family keep strong village customs? Were there things your grandparents insisted on doing a certain way? Any traditions connected to Easter, Christmas, weddings, coffee, hospitality, music, or food?

For me, we ate a family-oriented Sunday meal where everyone go together after church. That was a big part of things for me.

Are most Greeks left or right?

Are most Greeks liberal leftist progressives? Most that I encounter are. Not only that but self hating. WHY?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top