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dimi_pat

Active member
I am setting my reading goals for 2024. I am adding some Greek books to my list! Here are some I may consider:

1. The Iliad by Homer – The Iliad is a masterpiece of epic poetry that narrates the events of the Trojan War.

2. The Odyssey by Homer – Considered one of the most influential works in Western literature, The Odyssey is a epical tale of journey and adventure.

3. Antigone by Sophocles – Antigone is a tragedy play that tells the story of a young woman who defies the king's orders and buries her brother.

4. The Republic by Plato – The Republic is a philosophical work of Plato that aims to explore the concept of justice, the ideal society, and the nature of the human soul.

5. Medea by Euripides – Medea is a tragedy play that tells the story of a woman who seeks revenge against her husband after he betrays her.

6. The Birds by Aristophanes – The Birds is a comedic play that explores the theme of human corruption.

7. The Clouds by Aristophanes – The Clouds is a comedic play that satirizes the Socrates' teachings and the intellectual vanity of his students.

8. The Aeneid by Virgil – The Aeneid is an epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a hero who travels to Italy to establish a new city.

9. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles – Oedipus Rex is a tragedy play that tells the story of Oedipus, a king who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.

10. The Symposium by Plato – The Symposium is a philosophical work that explores the theme of love and desire. It is a book that provides an insightful and nuanced perspective on the nature of romantic love.
 
All of these are pretty thick reads. If this were me, I would have trouble reading all of them in one year. I'd keep this list in mind but maybe commit to reading a handful rather than all of them, then if you get to the rest of them, it will be a pleasant surprise! Maybe some of them will be easy, though. How many books total do you want to read? I set my 2024 goal at 50 books - there's no way I'd be able to read all of the above and still meet my goal.
 
All of these are pretty thick reads. If this were me, I would have trouble reading all of them in one year. I'd keep this list in mind but maybe commit to reading a handful rather than all of them, then if you get to the rest of them, it will be a pleasant surprise! Maybe some of them will be easy, though. How many books total do you want to read? I set my 2024 goal at 50 books - there's no way I'd be able to read all of the above and still meet my goal.
I think you might be right. I have set a goal of 24 books - that's 2 books a month - and I think that I'll just choose a few of these. Thanks!
 

List of Cretan Dances?

I will be attending a Cretan wedding and am curious about the traditional Cretan dances! I know the dances are slightly different and I want to learn some. I don't know the names of the dances so that I can look them up. I did some research, though. Are any of these dances common at these weddings?
  • Pentozali
  • Sousta
  • Siganos
  • Chaniotis
There's a dance the wedding party typically does in Crete. Which dance is that?

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?

This year, I plan to do a stricter Lenten fast, so I want to plan some things out in advance.

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.

Learning about hospitality in Greece

I was trying to explain to some non-Greek friends about hospitality in Greece. I feel like it's next level, but how do you explain it?

Could anyone help me explain any of the following:
  • Traditional welcome gestures in Greece
  • Common household customs when visiting a Greek home
  • Etiquette for showing appreciation to Greek hosts
  • Any specific do's and don'ts that a foreigner should be aware of

Ideas for Celebrating the New Month - Kalo Mina

Growing up, I heard my family say this all the time when there was a new month. I finally started paying attention to the tradition and ritual of saying it.

Kalo Mina actually means "Good Month" but my family took it a step further. We developed the habit of doing something special as a family to celebrate.It depends which day it falls. Some things we've done:

- Brunch - We do this if it falls on a weekend.
- Dinner - Going out to dinner is great any time of the year!
- Journaling - We've done family journaling parties, sitting together reflecting on the month. Sometimes we read aloud what we write (depends how the month went LOL)
- Goals - No matter if we do anything, like go out to dinner or brunch, we always sit and review our goals for the month together.

Where did plate smashing come from?

When Greeks feel happy and are dancing and have a good time, they've been known to smash plates. I've seen it! It's not just a tourist thing - but they don't do it much because I am sure they won't want to smash their expensive dish wear.

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...

It got me thinking - where did this tradition come from? Does anyone know?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

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