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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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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)
Wow that's very far back, I haven't heard of many Greeks being able to trace their ancestry so far
 
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

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!
 

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?

Best Christening Gifts for a Close Friend's Child?

What are some good christening gifts for the child of a close friend?

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to a Greek christening, and the last one I attended was for a relative, so I’m realizing I’m not completely sure what is considered appropriate these days.

Since this is the child of a close friend, I’d like to give something a little more meaningful than just a standard gift, but I also don’t want to overdo it. Are religious gifts like an icon, cross, or children’s Bible still common? Would money, jewelry, or something personalized be appropriate?

I’d also be interested to know whether there are certain gifts that are traditionally given by family members or the godparents that I should avoid duplicating.

What have you given for christenings recently, especially when the child belonged to a close friend? I’d love some ideas that feel thoughtful and appropriate.

Are most Greeks left or right?

Are most Greeks liberal leftist progressives? Most that I encounter are. Not only that but self hating. WHY?

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.

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.

For those who no longer live in Greece, do you still mark Apokries in some way, or has it faded with distance?

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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