Tradition & Dance

Name day celebration

In Greece, most people are named after a saint. A major tradition is that anyone named after a saint celebrated by the Church observes their "name day" on a specific date each year. On this day, friends and relatives often visit without needing an invitation, offering their congratulations and small gifts. Hosts usually provide pastries, sweets, and appetizers for the visitors. In Greek culture, name days are often considered more significant than birthdays.

Engagement

In Greece, it is customary for couples to become engaged before marriage. Traditionally, the man asks for the woman’s hand from her father and close relatives. During the engagement, both families exchange gifts with the bride and groom. The couple wears engagement rings on their left hands, which are moved to the right hand after the wedding. Engagements in Greece can last for several years and are seen as a formal commitment between families. This tradition remains strong in both the mainland and the islands, though it is gradually becoming less common.

Carnival

In Greece, Carnival is known as "Apokries." The festival lasts for two weeks, starting on the Sunday of Meat Fare and ending on the first day of Lent, called Clean Monday (Kathari Deftera). During this period, people wear costumes and enjoy parties in streets and bars, often throwing colored confetti. The most famous Carnival parade is held in Patra. In many towns and islands, local customs are revived during this festival. Carnival has pagan origins, linked to ancient celebrations in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry.
The most representative dances for that period are:
Nizamikos (Macedonia-Naousa)
Zervodeksos (Crete)
How they grind pepper (Epirus)
Gaitanaki
Ni ke Ntre (Aegean Islands)
Koukia (Thessaly)

Clean Monday

Clean Monday, also known as Pure Monday, Green Monday or simply Monday of Lent, marking the start of Lent (Saracosti), is traditionally spent outdoors. Families go for picnics in the countryside and fly kites as part of the celebration.

Easter

Easter is the most important holiday for Greeks, even more so than Christmas. On Holy Thursday or Holy Saturday, women dye eggs red and bake Easter bread and pastries. Good Friday is a day of mourning, when the Epitaphios—the decorated tomb of Christ—is carried in a solemn procession through the village, with the faithful following and paying their respects.
On Holy Saturday night (Megalo Savato), people dress in their best clothes and attend church. Just before midnight, the church lights are turned off to symbolize the darkness of Christ’s tomb. The priest then lights a candle from the Eternal Flame, chants “Christos Anesti” (“Christ is Risen”), and shares the flame with the congregation, who pass it from one person to another. Bells ring continuously and fireworks are set off. After midnight, the Easter meal is served, including mayiritsa (soup), tsoureki (Easter bread), and red-dyed eggs. On Easter Sunday, families roast lamb on a spit. Corfu is especially famous for its Easter celebrations.

March 25th

Greek Independence Day, celebrated on March 25th, marks the beginning of the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. It is both a national and a religious holiday, coinciding with the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

"Ohi" Day

On October 28th, Greece commemorates the day when dictator Metaxas refused the Italian demand to occupy the country during World War II. This day celebrates the courageous “Ohi” (“No”). Greeks display the national flag on their homes, and parades are held featuring schoolchildren and the military.