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greek_ggirl

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I am wondering who on this forum is fasting for lent this year! Sometimes I struggle to fast because my friends are always going out to restaurants where there aren't many veggie options and its so difficult but I try my best to eat Lenten food as much as possible. Please let me know in the comments below! I look forward to hearing your experiences and perhaps some of your favorite Lenten recipes.
 
I will be fasting on and off! I have some health issues so I am unable to fast every single day
 
Of course we are. Kathera Deftera (Clean Monday) is Monday 7th March. Nistea (fasting) nowadays is not that difficult. It is vegan diet with fish allowed. Think of Nistea as a clean out of toxins in your body. If you really cannot manage the 40 days - Wednesdays, Fridays and Megali evthomada (Holy Week). Fish is eaten on 25th March - Evangellismo and 23rd April - Vayou (Palm Sunday).
Do as much as you can. You will feel better for it.
 
Of course if you have health issues, you are forgiven from Nistea.
 
I am wondering who on this forum is fasting for lent this year! Sometimes I struggle to fast because my friends are always going out to restaurants where there aren't many veggie options and its so difficult but I try my best to eat Lenten food as much as possible. Please let me know in the comments below! I look forward to hearing your experiences and perhaps some of your favorite Lenten recipes.
Used to love this period of the year very much.... terrific vegetarian food..
 
It is a really great period to cleanse your body
 
We will attempt to. We usually mess up...
 
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I fast on and off. Towards the beginning, I try to just get more consistent with fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. I gradually increase my days as lent progresses. I typically fast during all of Holy Week.
 

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.

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?

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.

Do younger generations still follow traditional Greek customs?

Lately I’ve been wondering how much traditional Greek culture is still being carried forward by younger generations, both in Greece and in the diaspora.

I’m not talking only about the big holidays or major family events, but the smaller everyday things too — name days, church traditions, hospitality, family meals, fasting periods, village festivals, coffee rituals, respect for elders, even certain sayings and customs. Do younger Greeks still actively participate in these traditions, or do they mostly happen because parents and grandparents keep them going?

I imagine the answer probably depends a lot on location, family, and lifestyle. Someone growing up in a village might have a different experience than someone in Athens or abroad. I’d love to hear from people of different ages, which traditions have stayed strong, which ones are fading, and are there any that younger generations are bringing back in new ways?

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!

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