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auroracoor1

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How do Greeks get their names and choose the names for their children? And why are so many names repeated in Greek culture? Thanks :)
 
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I believe first names are family names and are passed down from the grandparents of the children
 
First born son is named after father's father, and second born son after mother's father, and same with daughters. First is named after father's mother, etc. Sometimes names are chosen from antiquity, such as Aristotle or Athena, and some Greek names become Americanized, such as Dimitri being James or Jim.
 
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First born son is named after father's father, and second born son after mother's father, and same with daughters. First is named after father's mother, etc. Sometimes names are chosen from antiquity, such as Aristotle or Athena, and some Greek names become Americanized, such as Dimitri being James or Jim.
Wow thank you! Are these traditions slowly changing? Or is the newer generation keeping them?
 
Hard to say, some do and some don't.
 
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Hard to say, some do and some don't.
I think they're starting to do so more than before, but I wouldn't say its the majority. Many Greeks are still keeping the tradition
 
My family deviated a little bit from the normal traditions, but stuck to it somewhat. It is I and my sister - she's named after my grandfather. But it is so nice to have the the names stay in the family, no matter how they stay there.
 

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.

How was your experience using a virtual concierge at a luxury resort?

Booked a fancy resort for a once-in-a-blue-moon getaway, and they keep hyping up this “virtual concierge” thing like it’s the next big miracle. I’m kinda torn. Part of me loves the idea of ditching phone calls, but part of me worries it’ll feel cold or glitchy, like talking to a chat bot instead of a real human who actually cares if my room smells weird or if I need extra towels. If you’ve used one before, was it helpful or just marketing fluff? I’m trying to figure out if I should trust it or just stick to the front desk.

Are most Greeks left or right?

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

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?

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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