Greek Traditions Community

When I am dining out in Greece...who pays?

1 - 14 of 14 Posts
ssherie_

ssherie_

Active member
I am under the impression that Greeks don't really split the bill...so when I'm hanging out with my Greek friends in Greece what on earth should I do? This is something I really don't understand as a Canadian
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
Don't stress, you won't even get a chance to see the bill. Greeks are very proud and very generous (filotimo). They would consider it an insult if you were to pay. If you ever see 2 Greeks arguing over the bill at a restaurant, it will be as to who should pay, not trying to get the other to pay but themselves to pay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
You can offer to pay the bill, and you should try to pay - they won't let you though.

Whenever I'm out with my friends in Greece we argue about paying the bill. I'll take their cards and give the waiter/waitress my card instead...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Hash, ssherie_ and Vangelis
ellinasgolfer0320 said:
You can offer to pay the bill, and you should try to pay - they won't let you though.

Whenever I'm out with my friends in Greece we argue about paying the bill. I'll take their cards and give the waiter/waitress my card instead...
Click to expand...
So always offer? And I guess that way you only end up paying sometimes. Everywhere else if I offer to pay, I'm always paying LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
ssherie_ said:
So always offer? And I guess that way you only end up paying sometimes. Everywhere else if I offer to pay, I'm always paying LOL
Click to expand...
You don't have to always offer, but odds are that you won't be the one paying, especially if you're a guest - they'll find it offensive if they don't treat you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vangelis, Hash and tomipark
ellinasgolfer0320 said:
You don't have to always offer, but odds are that you won't be the one paying, especially if you're a guest - they'll find it offensive if they don't treat you.
Click to expand...
In cases where you're a guest or someone is older than you assume that you won't be paying. But it is polite to offer
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vangelis and Hash
Who pays?
The Germans and the French and the EU, not the Greeks
 
  • Haha
Reactions: daniel
That's right. If you ask to pay in cash, you won't get a receipt in many cases. This is because the owners don't want to pay taxes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash and redsoxdw_
ellinasgolfer0320 said:
That's right. If you ask to pay in cash, you won't get a receipt in many cases. This is because the owners don't want to pay taxes.
Click to expand...
Do you pay taxes? If you pay taxes then your not Greek
 
  • Like
Reactions: efhernandez_
I agree, you will argue about who will get to pay the bill! If that doesn't happen, just carry around Euros and throw some cash down that you want to pay... then other people will chip in.
 
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

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?

Does your family make fanouropita for Saint Phanourios Day?

I recently saw a news article about Saint Fanourios Day, and it showed people bringing fanouropita cakes to a church to be blessed. I knew about fanouropita and the tradition of making it when you’re hoping to find something that has been lost, but I didn’t realize how much of a church tradition it could be on the saint’s feast day itself.

Does your family make fanouropita for Saint Fanourios Day? If so, do you bring the cake to church to be blessed, or do you usually make it at home and share it with family and friends?

I’m also curious whether this is something that is still widely done in Greece or if it depends on the region, parish, or family. Are there any other traditions your family follows for Saint Fanourios Day?

I’d love to hear how people observe the day and whether fanouropita is part of your family’s tradition.

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?

What alternatives to Linktree offer robust customization for bio links?

Trying to level up my bio link setup because Linktree feels kinda stiff for what I want to do. I’ve been tweaking my branding this year and I need something that lets me mess with colors, layouts, maybe even some light animations without feeling boxed in. I’m running a mix of art commissions and small merch drops, so having more control would help a ton. If anyone’s found a link-in-bio tool that lets you get creative without needing to code like a pro, I’d love to hear what’s working for you.

Anyone here struggle with outpatient rehab not being enough?

I’m curious if anyone else has been through this. I’ve been trying to get sober for a while now and started with a standard outpatient program because it seemed easier to balance with work and daily life. At first it felt okay, but after a couple weeks I noticed I was slipping back into old habits way faster than I expected.
It kinda feels like once the session is over, you’re just thrown back into the same environment with very little structure or support. I’m starting to wonder if outpatient is just too “light” for some people, especially if relapse has already happened before.
Has anyone here switched from regular outpatient to something more structured like IOP or medication-assisted treatment? Did it actually make a difference, or was it just more time in treatment with the same results?
Would really appreciate hearing real experiences — good or bad.
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