Greek Traditions Community

Have any of you traced your family tree or taken a DNA test?

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paharo45

paharo45

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My family is Armenian but I know we have many Greek family members. Have any of you traced your family history? I would love to hear any stories that you have
 
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I have never taken a DNA test and that's something that I've always wanted to do because I don't know much about my family's history. Something just makes me nervous about giving my DNA to a private company. Anyone else feel that way?
 
No, I haven't taken any tests, but I know my dad's dad's side of the family can be traced back to the 1500s in Zakynthos (we have a letter written to our family by Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos and one of his shoes)
 
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ellinasgolfer0320 said:
No, I haven't taken any tests, but I know my dad's dad's side of the family can be traced back to the 1500s in Zakynthos (we have a letter written to our family by Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos and one of his shoes)
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Wow that's very far back, I haven't heard of many Greeks being able to trace their ancestry so far
 
paharo45 said:
My family is Armenian but I know we have many Greek family members. Have any of you traced your family history? I would love to hear any stories that you have
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I have take the Ancestry.com DNA test but it hasn't given details about where in Greece my family is from. I know from family stories, though, that I have ancestry on Kythira, in Athens, Sparta, and Asia Minor (Greek). It's fascinating!
 
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Greek Naming Traditions?

I have noticed that in Greece, there are some traditions associated with naming their children. Although some Greek families in the United States have done this, many have seemed to lose the traditions.

Does anyone know what some of these traditions are? I am helping a friend name his upcoming child... Here's some of what I have learned:

1. Firstborn daughter names after maternal grandmother
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Those are the ones I have figured out. I don't know what is traditional from Greece and what has just been made up amongst Greeks in the US.

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I am helping someone plan her Greek wedding. I wanted to make a list of all the traditions we need to keep in time for the big day. Did I miss anything?

The Stolisma

The wedding day begins with the ritual of 'Stolisma,' where the bride and groom are prepared separately by their families. It's a moment filled with emotion, songs, and blessings, setting the tone for the day. I had honestly never heard of this. Do people still do it?

The Krevati

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The Crowning (Stefana)

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I was just at a wedding and they had purchased plates to smash - so basically they were cheap throwaway plates that actually smashed really well. I almost wonder if they were made for the purpose...

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When does Orthodox lent start this year?

I noticed our Easter is late - May 5th - but Western Easter is at the end of March. Has Lent already started for them? When does our Lent start?

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Lent is a time for introspection, repentance, and spiritual growth. Through the dedicated practice of fasting, prayer, and charity, believers seek not only to grow closer to God but also to better understand themselves in relation to God’s will.
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