Greek Traditions Community

Greek festivals in Florida!!

1 - 9 of 9 Posts
seleanor

seleanor

Active member
I live in Houston, but my sister just moved to Florida so I'll be visiting her a lot this summer. I know that Florida is open so are there any Greek festivals happening this summer? I would love to visit, I really miss seeing Greek dancing and eating festival food
 
  • Like
Reactions: acamp7
Florida is wide open and so are the festivals. The food will be that much tastier after the year we’ve had!
 
the festival in Naples is the best we have been to. It is very well organized and not/was not expensive 5 years ago. Fort Meyers is pretty good but not near the Naples one. We have been to festivals in Wilmington, DE, Chester, Pa and Savannah, GA, that do not come close to Naples.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dpappas87 and Lenio
Xpisto said:
the festival in Naples is the best we have been to. It is very well organized and not/was not expensive 5 years ago. Fort Meyers is pretty good but not near the Naples one. We have been to festivals in Wilmington, DE, Chester, Pa and Savannah, GA, that do not come close to Naples.
Click to expand...
Is it the one at St. Katherins church in Naples?
 
The Greek GlendI at St Barbara Church in Sarasota is a 4 day festival and is the Thursday after the Super Bowl every year
A beautiful church with wonderful people and the food is fantastic
christos anesti
 
  • Like
Reactions: nadellii and ssherie_
  • Like
Reactions: nadellii
Retos said:
The Greek GlendI at St Barbara Church in Sarasota is a 4 day festival and is the Thursday after the Super Bowl every year
A beautiful church with wonderful people and the food is fantastic
christos anesti
Click to expand...
Four days wow! The ones near me are usually only one or two days that sounds so fun
 
Florida usually has several Greek festivals during the summer, especially in larger cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale, where you can enjoy food, music, and traditional dancing. Checking local church calendars helps, too, since they often host them. If you’re traveling between events, Limo Service Orlando, Florida, can make getting around easier and more comfortable.
 
1 - 9 of 9 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?

Decorating the Christmas Boat?

I’ve always loved seeing photos of the decorated Greek Christmas boat, but I’ve never actually done it myself. This year I’m thinking of finally giving the tradition a try, and I’d love some guidance from those who grew up with it or still decorate one at home.

How do you choose the size or style of the boat? Do people usually use a wooden model, something handmade, or even a simple paper version? I’m also curious about how it’s decorated, is it mostly lights and ribbons, or are there specific colors and symbols that carry meaning? And where in the house do you typically place it?

I’ve read that the tradition goes back to honoring sailors and welcoming loved ones home for the holidays, which I find beautiful. If anyone has stories, photos, or tips for creating a first Christmas boat, I’d love to hear them.

Symbolism of Christopsomo?

I’ve been reading a bit about christopsomo lately and realized I don’t fully understand all of the symbolism behind it. I know it’s more than just a Christmas bread, and that many families treat it with a lot of reverence, especially on Christmas Day. I’ve seen versions decorated with a cross, nuts, and sometimes intricate patterns pressed into the dough, and I’m curious what each of those elements traditionally represents.

In some households, it seems to be baked only once a year and cut in a very specific way, almost like a ritual. In others, the customs appear to vary by region or family history. I’d love to hear how people learned about christopsomo growing up, and whether the symbolism was explained to them or simply passed down through practice.

If you know the meanings behind the decorations, ingredients, or serving traditions, I’d really appreciate hearing more.

What are your favorite name day traditions?

I’ve always loved the tradition of celebrating name days. In my family, they’re just as meaningful as birthdays, and sometimes even more fun because they bring everyone together in a different way.

When a big name day comes around, especially one that several family members share, we often turn it into a full family gathering. For example, on a name day like Nick/Nikolas, where there might be multiple people celebrating, it becomes almost like a mini family holiday. Someone hosts, there’s plenty of food, and everyone comes by to wish the celebrants “chronia polla.”

I also like the simplicity of the tradition. Even if there isn’t a big gathering, people still call or send messages to acknowledge the day.

Do you celebrate name days in your family? And are there certain ones that turn into larger celebrations because several people share the name?

Why do Greeks celebrate name days?

I grew up with name days being a big deal, and I’ve always wondered why they feel more important than birthdays for so many of us. I know they’re tied to the Greek Orthodox Church feast days and the saints we’re named after, but it feels like there’s something deeper going on culturally.

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.

Do you feel like name days still carry that same weight today? Or has it changed depending on the generation or where you live?
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