Greek Traditions Community

Visiting People on Crete

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d_kakavouli

d_kakavouli

Active member
While we are in Greece this year, we will be visiting some people that live on Crete.

They are very generous to us, and very nice people.

Basically we are there for a cruise stop this year, and they will be picking us up for dinner at their house.

We want to give them a gift. Any ideas? Is it appropriate to give a gift?
 
This is a great question. I would love to hear from Greek people themselves what they most like to receive!

It’s definitely appropriate to bring a gift, especially if you’re having dinner at their home. I try to bring gifts (in general) that are unique to my home, but with the availability of goods worldwide, that’s getting harder to do, so I just try to pick out something that I hope they’ll like. For a dinner, you could bring a nice bottle of wine or some sweets. Maybe your cruise ship could arrange something, or you could pick up something at your previous stopover. Being invited to a dinner is such an honor and fun!
 
Greek custom is that you never go to someone's place empty-handed (it's viewed as rude unless you're a tourist).

Usually you just take a cake or some other kind of sweets to someone... Something from your country would be preferable over something from Greece.. several different chocolates or anything you've learned about your friends that you think they might like.

If you're in the USA andIf they have kids, get them marshmallows or the stuff to make stores. Greek marshmallows taste completely different than American marshmallows, and they will go crazy over them.
 
My gut is to try to bring something even if you have to grab a bottle of wine from the ship or something... I certainly wouldn't go empty handed. Or, you can bring them a small gift from home - I don't know what honestly I think wine is a really good choice.
 
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