1 - 7 of 7 Posts

dubai_suzie

Active member
This is a very popular custom in Greece and you might come off as strange if you don't parcticiate. If you're invited to someones house, it is customary to bring dessert or a small gift to show your toes of appreciation for the fact that they're hosting you. It is likely that they will also offer you food, dessert or coffee as well. So don't be surprised if they do!
 
100%. This is common courtesy in Greece. I always take a cake or some little ice creams when I go to someone's house.
 
Last edited:
This is a very popular custom in Greece and you might come off as strange if you don't parcticiate. If you're invited to someones house, it is customary to bring dessert or a small gift to show your toes of appreciation for the fact that they're hosting you. It is likely that they will also offer you food, dessert or coffee as well. So don't be surprised if they do!
Nice.... always did this for all friends in Mykonos... cookies, cakes, used to take my cooking as I make mean Macaronada and Tono salads!...I used to take small bottles of Greek liquors as well...Kalley Mera from Thailand and Monsoons..
 
  • Like
Reactions: redsoxdw_
Nice.... always did this for all friends in Mykonos... cookies, cakes, used to take my cooking as I make mean Macaronada and Tono salads!...I used to take small bottles of Greek liquors as well...Kalley Mera from Thailand and Monsoons..
Amazing!! I try to be as generous as possible, there is nothing like the hospitality I have received in Greece...its astounding
 
100%. This is common courtesy in Greece. I always take a cake or some little ice creams when I go to someone's house.
Is it mostly dessert that one gifts, or can you bring other things?
 
Saw this old thread and couldn’t resist adding that I’ve noticed regional differences too. In some areas people bring wine instead of dessert, or even something small from their hometown. Have any of you seen this vary between islands or cities?
 
I’ve had good luck bringing a small sweet or even a cozy little scent as a host gift. I once brought a bottle of https://nothingbutscents.com/products/dragons-blood-wild-berry-oil to friends because the earthy smell felt relaxing, and it went over really well. Stuff like that is easy to tuck into your bag and feels personal without being over the top.
 

Greek New Year Traditions?

I was thinking about Greek New Year’s and realized how different it can look depending on the family. Some people keep it very simple, others have a full house, food on the table, and specific traditions they do every year.

In my family, the focus was always on being together, cutting the vasilopita, and easing into the new year rather than making a big spectacle of it. I know some families stay up late, some go to church, and others treat it more like a quiet reset after the holidays.

I’m curious how others celebrate. Do you have any specific New Year’s traditions that feel especially Greek to you? Is there something you do every year without thinking about it, or something that only makes sense inside your family? I’d love to hear how people mark the start of the year.

How does your family celebrate?

I’d love to hear how everyone here celebrates Christmas in their own Greek way, whether you’re in Greece or part of the diaspora. Every family I know seems to have its own version of the holiday, shaped by region, faith, and generations of habits. Some homes revolve around church and fasting, others around baking marathons and big family tables, and others around quiet gatherings with just a few people.

Do you celebrate on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both? Are there specific foods that absolutely have to be on your table every year? Do you make Christopsomo, melomakarona, kourabiedes, or something unique to your family’s region? I’m especially curious about traditions that came from grandparents or villages that maybe aren’t as common anymore.

If you feel like sharing, I’d love to read about the rituals, foods, church customs, music, or even small personal traditions that make Greek Christmas feel like Christmas to you.

What was school like in Greece?

I’m Greek, but I never actually went to school in Greece. I only spent summers there growing up. Lately, though, I’ve become really curious about what everyday school life is actually like.

I have close Greek friends who are moving back to Greece permanently, and they have two young children (ages 5 and 7) who will be entering the Greek school system. It made me realize how little I really know about the day-to-day experience beyond what I remember from being around cousins in the summer.

For those of you who went to school in Greece: what was it like, especially in the early years? How structured is the school day? What’s the relationship like between teachers and students? And how do kids generally adjust socially?

I’m genuinely curious what those first school years might feel like for them!

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.

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?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top