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knicks_fan87

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This question is out of pure curiotisty! What do my fellow Greek-Americans and Greek-Canadians do for thanksgiving? Do you eat turkey? Do you even celebrate?
 
I was born and raised, for the most part, in America. Why wouldn't I celebrate it? Of course I eat turkey. There is nothing in the Orthodoxy that prevents me from eating it. I celebrate it like other Americans.
 
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This question is out of pure curiotisty! What do my fellow Greek-Americans and Greek-Canadians do for thanksgiving? Do you eat turkey? Do you even celebrate?
I am a Greek- American. My family does a lot of the American-traditional stuff (like serving a turkey, pumpkin pie, that kind of thing), but we also add some favorite Greek dishes. My family "stuffing" involves rice, allspice, and chestnuts and I have heard many Greek Americans say they serve the same thing. I don't even know what it is or what the origin is. Last year, we served spanakopita for an appetizer, and Ek Mek Kataifi for dessert alongside pumpkin and apple pie. For the record, the Ek Mek actually stole the show!
 
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Great question!

Not sure on the Greek Canadian side of things, but here is some information about how Greek Americans celebrate Thanksgiving:

 
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I am a Greek- American. My family does a lot of the American-traditional stuff (like serving a turkey, pumpkin pie, that kind of thing), but we also add some favorite Greek dishes. My family "stuffing" involves rice, allspice, and chestnuts and I have heard many Greek Americans say they serve the same thing. I don't even know what it is or what the origin is. Last year, we served spanakopita for an appetizer, and Ek Mek Kataifi for dessert alongside pumpkin and apple pie. For the record, the Ek Mek actually stole the show!
I loooove ek mek kataifi!! Is there any recipe that you used that you could divulge for us?
 
We Australian Greeks do not have Thanksgiving. BUT in 2006 we were in New York. My sister and I went to the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Didn't realise how freezing cold it was, left my gloves behind. A vey kind lady next to me gave me her leg warmer as my hands had turned purple. We had dinner at our cousin's in Astoria. They had everything (turkey, stuffing, lamb, chicken) as they didn't know what we would eat. We had to say what we were thankful for. Our Mum and Aunt very tearfully said that we were there to join them. And we were very, very grateful and thankful.
 
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We Australian Greeks do not have Thanksgiving. BUT in 2006 we were in New York. My sister and I went to the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Didn't realise how freezing cold it was, left my gloves behind. A vey kind lady next to me gave me her leg warmer as my hands had turned purple. We had dinner at our cousin's in Astoria. They had everything (turkey, stuffing, lamb, chicken) as they didn't know what we would eat. We had to say what we were thankful for. Our Mum and Aunt very tearfully said that we were there to join them. And we were very, very grateful and thankful.
Sounds beautiful. Kudos to your family for making so much food, that is truly the Greek way, making sure that everyone is taken care of
 

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?

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.

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.

What are your favorite name day traditions?

I’ve always loved the tradition of celebrating name days. In my family, they’re just as meaningful as birthdays, and sometimes even more fun because they bring everyone together in a different way.

When a big name day comes around, especially one that several family members share, we often turn it into a full family gathering. For example, on a name day like Nick/Nikolas, where there might be multiple people celebrating, it becomes almost like a mini family holiday. Someone hosts, there’s plenty of food, and everyone comes by to wish the celebrants “chronia polla.”

I also like the simplicity of the tradition. Even if there isn’t a big gathering, people still call or send messages to acknowledge the day.

Do you celebrate name days in your family? And are there certain ones that turn into larger celebrations because several people share the name?

What Does Philotimo Mean to You?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word, or really, the concept, of philotimo. It’s one of those Greek words that just doesn’t translate neatly into English. I was recently trying to explain it to a non-Greek friend, and I realized how difficult it is to put into words!

I ended up talking about ideas like honor, dignity, courage, generosity, and doing the right thing because it’s simply the right thing to do. I even used some historical examples, including the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae and the spirit of Ochi Day, to try to explain the sense of duty and selflessness that I associate with philotimo.

But I know the concept can also show up in much smaller, everyday ways. How would you explain philotimo to someone unfamiliar with Greek culture? What does the word mean to you personally?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

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