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d_kakavouli

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Here are a few useful calendars I've found
Thanks for sharing! I add the "Greek Holidays" calendar to my google calendar to get reminded of important dates but it doesn't include Saints Days
 
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About 5 years ago a friend (non Greek) asked me if her granddaughter had a nameday. Her name was Patrice. I explained Patricia is my Anglo name but my Greek name is Paraskevi. Wanting to impress her συμπεθέρη, she asked me if I could let her know when their namedays were. I now have around 40 people on my list. I use namedays.gr ,iconograms, abbamoses.com to source namedays. Wikipedia is a good source for icons. When I cannot find a Greek Orthodox name, I also search Eastern Orthodox church and the Coptic Church. Sometimes I search Catholic saints for names like Xavier and Corona.
Each month I go through my existing namedays and add new names to my list. Abbamoses does not have icons. Some of the names in namedays.gr are a little dodgy. I write about the saint,why they became a Saint and their feast day. Saints can have more than one nameday depending on the Greek Island or province that celebrates the saint. In 2019 i was lucky enough to go to Cappadocia where most of our saints were born, resided, persecuted and became saints. Patricia
 
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About 5 years ago a friend (non Greek) asked me if her granddaughter had a nameday. Her name was Patrice. I explained Patricia is my Anglo name but my Greek name is Paraskevi. Wanting to impress her συμπεθέρη, she asked me if I could let her know when their namedays were. I now have around 40 people on my list. I use namedays.gr ,iconograms, abbamoses.com to source namedays. Wikipedia is a good source for icons. When I cannot find a Greek Orthodox name, I also search Eastern Orthodox church and the Coptic Church. Sometimes I search Catholic saints for names like Xavier and Corona.
Each month I go through my existing namedays and add new names to my list. Abbamoses does not have icons. Some of the names in namedays.gr are a little dodgy. I write about the saint,why they became a Saint and their feast day. Saints can have more than one nameday depending on the Greek Island or province that celebrates the saint. In 2019 i was lucky enough to go to Cappadocia where most of our saints were born, resided, persecuted and became saints. Patricia
THank you so much for sharing. I love the name Paraskevi, it is my aunts name. I will use these saints day calendars to track everyones name days. It is so hard to keep track these days because there aer so many people to keep track of and these days everyone has more unique names in Greece. Cheers :)
 
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Having a name day is really special. I was baptized under a different name (Kaliope) than my birth certification (Katherine) and I actually celebrate both! I don't think there are really any strict rules, it's all about what we are comfortable with and if our parents had a saint in mind when they named us.
 
Greeks have quite a few beautiful and unusual female names. Now I have started to think about naming my daughter a Greek name. Perhaps it would be unusual enough for my state, and her name would be unique. I was also surprised to hear about the existence of the name calendar for the first time from you. Previously I had only heard of regular calendars. The thing is, I also use one so I don't miss important meetings or events. For example, before Christmas, I need to turn in a large number of reports. So already now I put in my december calendar all the dates when I have to do it. You have children, so maybe you can use a calendar like this so you don't forget about your schedule.
 
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Having a name day is really special. I was baptized under a different name (Kaliope) than my birth certification (Katherine) and I actually celebrate both! I don't think there are really any strict rules, it's all about what we are comfortable with and if our parents had a saint in mind when they named us.
My sister is Kalliope. Our Mum, although born in Australia (my Grandparents migrated in 1922) like most of her classmates could not spread English when she started school. He name Asimina was translated to Mena. So our Mum gave us Anglicised names. Paraskevi (me) became Patricia. Kalliope became Colleen. Very Irish names.
 
Greeks have quite a few beautiful and unusual female names. Now I have started to think about naming my daughter a Greek name. Perhaps it would be unusual enough for my state, and her name would be unique. I was also surprised to hear about the existence of the name calendar for the first time from you. Previously I had only heard of regular calendars. The thing is, I also use one so I don't miss important meetings or events. For example, before Christmas, I need to turn in a large number of reports. So already now I put in my december calendar all the dates when I have to do it. You have children, so maybe you can use a calendar like this so you don't forget about your schedule.
All Greek Orthodox parishes (in Australia) produce a calendar with Saints nameday. Cost is usually whatever you can afford. I know the Greek Orthodox church in Hawaii has one. I bought one this year.
Female Greek names are beautiful. Kalliope, Paraskevi, Panayiota, Elefteria, Vasiliki, Ourania...... list goes on and on. Most Greek names have namedays. That's at least 3 presents a year.
 

Greek Tsiknopempti Traditions?

I realized Tsiknopempti is coming up soon, and it made me curious how everyone celebrates it, especially outside of Greece. Growing up, I always associated it with grilled meat, lots of smoke in the air, and a general feeling of celebration before Lent started, but we never had a really structured tradition at home. Now I’m wondering if I should start one.

Do you usually grill at home, go out to a Greek restaurant, or gather with friends and family? Are there certain foods you always make, or is it more about the atmosphere and being together? I’ve seen photos from Greece where entire neighborhoods are grilling outside, which looks amazing.

I’d love to hear what Tsiknopempti looks like for you, whether it’s something big and festive or just a simple meal that still feels meaningful.

Does your family make fanouropita for Saint Phanourios Day?

I recently saw a news article about Saint Fanourios Day, and it showed people bringing fanouropita cakes to a church to be blessed. I knew about fanouropita and the tradition of making it when you’re hoping to find something that has been lost, but I didn’t realize how much of a church tradition it could be on the saint’s feast day itself.

Does your family make fanouropita for Saint Fanourios Day? If so, do you bring the cake to church to be blessed, or do you usually make it at home and share it with family and friends?

I’m also curious whether this is something that is still widely done in Greece or if it depends on the region, parish, or family. Are there any other traditions your family follows for Saint Fanourios Day?

I’d love to hear how people observe the day and whether fanouropita is part of your family’s tradition.

How did your family spend summers in Greece?

I’m curious how many of you spent summers in Greece growing up.

My experience was a little different. My parents both worked full time, so we never packed up and spent entire summers in Greece the way some Greek families did. But I had friends and cousins who seemed to disappear every June and come back just before school started, full of stories about village life, island beaches, family gatherings, and adventures with cousins.

I always found those stories fascinating and sometimes wished I had experienced that myself.

For those of you who did spend summers in Greece, what was it like? Did you stay in a village, a city, or on an island? What did your typical days look like? Are there any traditions, memories, or experiences that still stand out to you today? I'd love to hear your stories!

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?

What alternatives to Linktree offer robust customization for bio links?

Trying to level up my bio link setup because Linktree feels kinda stiff for what I want to do. I’ve been tweaking my branding this year and I need something that lets me mess with colors, layouts, maybe even some light animations without feeling boxed in. I’m running a mix of art commissions and small merch drops, so having more control would help a ton. If anyone’s found a link-in-bio tool that lets you get creative without needing to code like a pro, I’d love to hear what’s working for you.
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

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