It is doubtful whether any country in Europe has as many customs, traditions and delightful little quirks as Greece.

Any visit to her shores is likely to give rise to a myriad of bemused questions and queries.

The list, here, has been put together in a very informal sort of way from various books, novels, brochures, pamphlets, travel-guides, chatting to locals - and personal experience!

It is a mish-mash of those little (and large!) issues that go into making up the Greek cultural landscape. Included are a number of delightful oddities as well as a dash of useless information.

It was once said:
"There is no one on earth as contradictory, as spontaneous, and generous as the Greeks.

So……

Welcome to the land of antithesis, of paradox, of irony and ecstasy."

……All Greek words!

AKROTERIA These are the terracotta sphinxes often seen adorning the roofs of buildings in Greece. They have their origins in the temple architecture dating from about the 6th century onwards. The gable ends of temples were surmounted by akroteria which were considered a symbol of wisdom. Today, akroteria are also regarded as a symbol of bringing good fortune upon a household.

ANIMALS

Greeks are not too partial to animals and cannot really be called animal lovers. The upper classes often keep and pamper pets, but the rest reserve their love for those animals that are useful to them. Often dogs can be seen tethered to poles and barking their heads off. The owner is not being cruel; simply indifferent. Matters are improving though and legislation has been passed to protect animal rights. Citizens are actively encouraged to notify authorities of animal abuse.

BELLS RINGING

All Holy days are marked by the ringing of church bells several times a day - starting in the morning. The main Holy days are those which celebrate the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. The Great Feasts mark the unfolding events of the Revelation. On occasions - especially in small villages and island choras, the mournful ringing of a church bell three or four times; consisting of a single chime followed by a short interval, will be to announce that someone has died.

BLACK DRESS

Greek women wear black as an indication of mourning or widowhood. There is no fixed rule stating this to be the case, though. It is more a tradition or custom than a rule. Many end up wearing black for the rest of their lives. Men get off quite lightly after the death of a relative or family member. - not shaving for a month or simply wearing a black armband.

CHAPELS

Many visitors to Greece may often wonder at the large number of small chapels, churches and monasteries that punctuate the landscape. Years ago it was the custom of those who could afford it, to make a gift to the church of a small chapel somewhere, and afterwards to help maintain it. The church had the right to name the saint to which the chapel, church or monastery was consecrated, but the family who donated it were responsible for the selection of the site and the right of usuage of the living quarters (especially at monasteries) when they were not occupied by the visiting monks. Since the number of monks in the various central monasteries never approached the number of available cells (rooms) this meant that those families who had donated them could always count on available accommodation. This resulted, in turn ,in the choice of site being governed largely by where the particular family liked spending their summer holidays. This accounts for some of the exotic locations of these buildings!

CLINKING GLASSES

Greeks always "clink their glasses against those of their companions before taking a sip, saying "Yiasas" (your health) or "Yiamas" (our health). The clinking of glasses stems from an ancient Greek belief that wine should be savoured with all the senses. It delights the nose with its bouquet, the eye with its colour, the touch and taste with its body and flavour and, because of the clinking of glasses, even the ear.

CYPRUS

It will be often be noted that the flag of Cyprus flies alongside that of Greece on public buildings and in public places. The reason for this is that Greece has had an especially close relationship with Cyprus ever since the island was invaded by Turkey in 1974. The invasion occurred because the "Colonels" who were ruling in Athens at the time attempted to use Greek officers in Cyprus to overthrow the government of Archbishop Makarios who had refused to bend to their will in respect of certain demands they had made on him. Turkey then accused Greece of violating Cypriot independence and invaded the island. (There was a substantial Turkish - speaking minority on the island). After several days of fighting, a cease-fire was signed to prevent a full-scale war between Greece and Turkey. Backed by 30,000 troops, Turkish Cypriots took possession of one-third of the island, although they represented only 18% of the population. To this day the island remains divided with the Turks in the north and the Greek-Cypriots in the south. Tension still exists along the borders of the two sectors with occasional nasty incidents occurring. Greece and Cyprus have a mutual defence doctrine with Greece constantly helping to shore up the island's defences and guaranteeing to defend Cyprus militarily in case of a threat to its sovereignty.

DANCING

Dancing has been an essential part of every Greek's life since before the beginning of recorded history. Archaeological evidence shows that as early as the fifteenth century BC religious ceremonies involved dances that must have borne a marked resemblance to the dances executed today in the tavernas and village squares. Originally, the dance was part of the worship of primitive gods. Later, dances were also used to incite men to fight and to condition soldiers and sailors to work in perfect unison, following unspoken commands transmitted by touch. Dancing is mostly the preserve of men; and women are traditionally expected to dance with great dignity - never doing the fast steps. Every region of Greece has its own dances, as have all the little ceremonies of life. The dances of Greece are generally divided into two groups: the syrto dances, which are slow and dignified with their dragging and shuffling steps, and the pedecto dances which include hopping, jumping, stamping, leaping or springing steps. Most often Greek dances are performed by a number of participants forming an open circle or a line,and moving counter-clockwise. The leader demonstrates his skill by improvising, while the rest of the line does the basic step, almost like a chorus. The five best-known Greek dances are the Kalamatiano, the Tsamiko, the Zeibekiko, the Hasapiko, and the Syrtaki. The Zeibekiko, Haspiko, and Syrtaki are also chiefly danced by men, although nowadays women are allowed to join in. The Zeibekiko, a favourite dance in the tavernas, is either a solo or is performed by two persons dancing face to face. This is the dance Anthony Quinn performed in the film "Zorba the Greek".

DOUBLE-HEADED EAGLE This oft-observed symbol has two basic symbolic meanings. In the Byzantine era (330 -1453AD), the emperor was also patriarch of the church, a dual role represented by the double-headed eagle. Also, it represents the two major centres of Christianity - Rome in the west, and Constantinople in the east.

DRINKS

The national drink of Greece is ouzo, a strong pernod-like clear spirit that is distilled from the residue of grapes after the wine is made. When ice or water is added, the ouzo turns white. Retsina, or resinated wines, are the "vin du pays" of Greece. Retsina is a pungent wine with a sharp taste of resin. Some say this is because the original wine casks were made of pine, which leaked resin into the wine, and that the Greeks got used to the taste. Others say that the Ancients added resin to prolong the life of the wine.

EASTER

Visitors to Greece often wonder why the Greek Easter falls on a different date to that of Easter in Western Europe. According to the First Ecumenical Council of 325 AD, the Orthodox Easter comes on the first Sunday after the full moon of the spring equinox. That's why it is not at the same time as the Western Church.

EVIL EYE

In Greece just about everyone believes in the power of the "evil eye". The "evil eye" is probably about envy. A Greek will rarely give "the eye" to someone intentionally. It is usually cast by accident. The kind of person who casts "the eye" is more likely or not a neighbour or an acquaintance; someone with whom relations are - if not warm - at least cordial. It can happen inadvertently when something is praised, or even silently admired. Wearing blue - blue beads or the little blue pupil encased in plastic - repels that danger. Many adults place one of these blue plastic eyes next to the cross they wear on a chain around their neck.

FLAG

The cross in the upper left-hand corner of the Greek flag is symbolic of the country's strong links with Orthodoxy. The blue and white colours represent the dominant colours of Greece. - blue for the sea and the sky and white for the whitewashed houses.

FUNERALS

Funerals in Greece are very elaborate affairs, followed invariably by coffee and brandy for all who attend,and by a wake for close relatives and friends. Since cremation is against the tenets of the Orthodox Church, the body of the deceased is always buried. Three years after burial, the bones are dug up and washed in red wine. They are then placed in a private mausoleum. When a body is exhumed in a state of preservation, it is considered by many Greeks to be a sign of sainthood.

GEOMETRIC "GREEK KEY" This design, which has certain variations, is known as the "Greek Key" or the "Meander". It is the most ubiquitous sign seen throughout Greece. It has its origins in Pontos in Asia Minor. The design represents the meander to be found in any river. Rivers in some areas were regarded as having "life-giving" powers in the same way as the River Nile had. Rivers were therefore seen as a symbol of life, rejuvenation, regeneration etc… Its origins go back to about 2000 BC.

MACEDONIA

It is not unusual to see signs reading "Macedonia is Greek" or "Macedonia was, is, and always will be Greek" daubed on walls or on the sides of buildings. The "Macedonia Question" is still a contentious one in Greece. In 1991 one of the breakaway republics of the former Yugoslavia named itself Macedonia; injuring Greek national pride and sparking off vehement protests at home and abroad. Diplomatically, the Greeks fought tooth and nail against anyones' recognising the breakaway state, let alone the use of the name Macedonia. However, their position became increasingly isolated and by 1993 the country had gained official recognition from both the EC and the UN - albeit under the provisional title of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Salt was rubbed into Greek wounds when the FYROM started using the "Star of Vergina" as a national symbol on their flag; printed banknotes portraying the White Tower of Thessaloniki, and retained passages in its constitution to "unredeemed" Aegean territories. Greece still refuses to call it Macedonia; calling it instead Skopje - after its capital. In 1995 Greece lifted its embargo on Macedonia opening its mutual borders to tourism and trade. In return for this, the Macedonians agreed to drop controversial clauses from their constitution and replaced the offending "Star" in the flag. Relations are now almost normal; only the name is the problem. Current favourites are New Macedonia or Upper Macedonia.

NAME DAYS

Most Greeks do not celebrate birthdays beyond the age of 12. Instead, they celebrate their name days (or "giorti"); the day of the saint after whom they were named when baptised. Children are usually named after their grand parents, though in recent years it has become fashionable to give children names deriving from Greece's history and mythology. When someone celebrates his or her name day you may be told, "Giortazo simera" (I'm celebrating today) to which the traditional reply is "Chonia polla"(Many years). Friends tend to drop in, bearing small gifts, and are given cakes and sweet liqueurs in return. As already mentioned, the name of newly-borns are usually determined by the name of their grandparents, starting with those on the father's side. During the Christening - which may be some time from the birth, the godparents are the ones to actually designate the name, and they usually abide by the parent's wishes. A gold pendant with the child's name and the name of the godparents is placed around its neck to commemorate the event.

NATIONAL DAYS

These are special days in the Greek calendar and are celebrated along with the usual public holidays such as Independence Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas. Referring to a Greek calendar or diary, though, three national days, in particular, might catch the attention because of their rather "quirky" names.

Clean Monday:
This day occurs about 40 days before Easter Sunday and it establishes the beginning of lent - a period of prayer and fasting. Clean Monday is a feast day - and on this day the family usually goes out for a picnic. It has therefore nothing to do with "clean"!

Protomagia:
1st of May - or May Day is primarily a celebration of Spring. Set aside for a country outing "Anixi" means Spring. It is a green month. Everything has "opened". Wildflowers are everywhere. People collect flowers and decorate their cars for the trip home and make a flower wreath which they place over their doorways or verandah railings as a good omen: symbolically transferring the power of nature to themselves. They also put out garlic for good luck and a thorn for their enemies! A bonfire is made of all the wreaths in June when the time comes for reaping.

Oxi Day:
This is "NO" Day - The day in 1940 when John Metaxas, the Greek Prime Minister, said "NO" to an ultimatum from an Italian emissary that the Axis forces should be allowed onto Greek soil. It was at this point that Greece then entered the war on the side of the allies. The day is marked every year by parades all over the country.

"PHILOXENIA"

Ever wondered why so many hotels, pensions, studios etc are called "Philoxenia"? Greeks have a natural obsession with hospitality. This attitude towards strangers is "Philoxenia". The term is difficult to define, but essentially it is the the respect every Greek has always had for the wants of strangers and his determination to fill these wants (The Greek word xenos can mean foreigner or guest). So, "Philoxenia" is really another way of saying "hospitality". A visitor to a Greek home is always greeted with great warmth. Very often water or some other beverage will be offered together with some or other sweet or pastry. It is considered impolite to refuse, so be prepared to put your diet on hold! This will especially be the case if you have been invited for a meal. Your host will not accept "no" for an answer no matter how much you protest that you don't have space for another morsel!

PLANTS AND FLOWERS

Visitors to Greece marvel at the profusion and popularity of Bougainvillea and Geraniums. Contrary to popular belief, they are not the national flowers. They are planted as they are hardy and don't mind poorish, sandy soil. Also, they do not need much water. - which, of course, is in short supply in Greece.

SHRINES The little shrines seen alongside the road are there for those who need a bit of spiritual sustenance on their journey. Often they may also indicate the site of a fatal accident. The shrine then serves as a kind of small memorial to the deceased.

UNFINISHED BUILDINGS

The number of unfinished buildings that punctuate the landscape are there largely because of the way that Greek bureaucracy works. There are complex zoning regulations which change with every new government. This often causes building projects to be stopped in mid-stream. On many occasions people start off ambitiously but run out of money so that the project is abandoned. Also, if the owner is short of money he will plan the building of the house as along term project putting up a wall a year for example. The main reason, however, that keeps houses from being completed is the law that states that taxes will only be levied once the roof is on. That is why there are so many houses with a few iron supports that continue to stick out.

VOTIVES A religious custom that dates from pre-Christian times is that of the votive "offerings". People who are sick or in danger of their life vow to bring to the Saint of their choice a token of their gratitude; a sort of "bribe" for interceding on their behalf. It can be anything - from offering a candle to building a chapel! The Greeks also offer tama, a thin silver plaque embossed with a scaled-down model of whatever is being asked to be made healthy or saved from peril (hearts, eyes, feet, hands; even houses, boats or cars). These offerings can be found attached to the frames of icons in churches or chapels.