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mj_toronto8

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I am scheduled to go to a Greek wedding in a few months and I am trying to figure out the etiquette of what to wear. It is a Greek-Canadian wedding, fairly traditional in a Greek church with a reception after. Both the bride and groom are Greek-Canadian.

I need advice for wardrobe for men and women, as well as kids. The wedding is in the afternoon, the reception at night. The wedding is in early June. There are no instructions on the invitation on how to dress.
 
How Greek is the family? Are they from Greece and have they been in Canada long, or have they been in Canada for a while?

If they recently moved to Canada then you can probably wear anything you want (business casual to play it safe), but if they've been in the Canada for a while then wear what you'd wear at other Canadian weddings (something formal)

The reason I'm asking is because in Greece you wear whatever you want to a wedding... you'll see people show up in jeans and a t-shirt and others will be in a suit without a tie.
 
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How Greek is the family? Are they from Greece and have they been in Canada long, or have they been in Canada for a while?

If they recently moved to Canada then you can probably wear anything you want (business casual to play it safe), but if they've been in the Canada for a while then wear what you'd wear at other Canadian weddings (something formal)

The reason I'm asking is because in Greece you wear whatever you want to a wedding... you'll see people show up in jeans and a t-shirt and others will be in a suit without a tie.
They are recently from Canada. So, it sounds like I can wear whatever I want - something nice but also comfortable. I didn't realize weddings were kind of casual in Greece!
 
I think Canada is similar to the United States in that people tend to dress up for weddings, similar to church clothes (if your church is more formal). But, it is acceptable to even wear cocktail dresses or evening wear, depending on the type of wedding. Often, it is marked on the invitation. If it isn't, being nicely dressed is implied.
 
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What Does Philotimo Mean to You?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word, or really, the concept, of philotimo. It’s one of those Greek words that just doesn’t translate neatly into English. I was recently trying to explain it to a non-Greek friend, and I realized how difficult it is to put into words!

I ended up talking about ideas like honor, dignity, courage, generosity, and doing the right thing because it’s simply the right thing to do. I even used some historical examples, including the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae and the spirit of Ochi Day, to try to explain the sense of duty and selflessness that I associate with philotimo.

But I know the concept can also show up in much smaller, everyday ways. How would you explain philotimo to someone unfamiliar with Greek culture? What does the word mean to you personally?

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.

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In my family, name days were always open-house style, people calling, stopping by, bringing sweets, and it felt very communal. Birthdays, on the other hand, were more low-key.

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Information About Apokries?

I’ve been curious about how people experience Apokries and what it looks like in different parts of Greece. For some, it seems centered on big public celebrations and costumes, while for others it’s more about smaller gatherings, food, and local customs.

I’m especially interested in the traditions people grew up with. Was Apokries something your family actively celebrated, or did it feel more like a community event? Did you attend costume parties, parades, or specific local festivities? And how did days like Tsiknopempti fit into it for you?

I’d also love to hear whether your experience changed over time, for example, celebrating differently as a child versus as an adult, or noticing differences between village and city celebrations.

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I’m looking forward to hearing how this tradition shows up for others.
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

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