Greece

While women have gained greater prominence and rights in the last generation, Greek society is still male-dominated. Men may attribute their failure to external circumstances rather than to personal inadequacies. While Greece’s older generations value family, religion, tradition, and education, younger generations view status and friends as very important.

Greeks like to "pass" time, not to "use" it. That is, they may not be prompt in keeping appointments and they consider it foolish to set a specific length of time for a meeting. Greeks are very proud of their cultural heritage, which they view as being central to Western civilization.

Friends and relatives usually hug and kiss when they greet one another. Otherwise, people shake hands. Young men often slap each other on the back or arm instead of shaking hands. Close friends and family members are called by their first names, but acquaintances and strangers are addressed by their title.

A Greek may smile even when angry or upset. In Greece, when one wants to indicate ‘no’, they tilt the head side to side or backwards. To indicate ‘yes’, one nods the head forward. A puff of breath through pursed lips may be a sign to ward off the jealousy of the ‘evil eye’ after a compliment has been given or received. Greeks frequently use their hands during conversation as a form of non-verbal communication.

It is very common for friends and relatives to drop by unannounced in rural towns. Unnanounced visits occur less often in the larger cities, because schedules are more hectic. When a Greek host insists several times about anything they usually mean it and a guest should try to accommodate them so their feelings will not be hurt. Greeks enjoy having friends to their homes for dinner or for special events such as birthdays and holidays.

People in Greece typically dress in a blend of modern Western styles and traditional elements, depending on the occasion and location.

Urban Areas: People often wear contemporary Western-style clothing in cities like Athens and Thessaloniki. This includes jeans, t-shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses, and suits. Fashion trends in these cities are similar to those in other European cities.

Rural Areas: The clothing might be more practical and comfortable in rural areas, often reflecting the local customs and lifestyle.

Traditional Greek clothing is usually reserved for special occasions, cultural festivals, and celebrations. Some key elements include:

Men: Traditional male attire might include the fustanella (a kilt-like garment), a white shirt, a vest, and tsarouchia (leather shoes with pompons).

Women: Traditional female attire often includes a long dress or skirt, a blouse, an apron, and a headscarf. The garments are usually richly decorated with intricate embroidery and vibrant colors.

Summer: Light, breathable fabrics are standard due to the hot weather. People often wear shorts, sundresses, linen shirts, and sandals. Beachwear is also popular, given Greece's extensive coastline.

Winter: In the colder months, Greeks wear layers, including sweaters, jackets, scarves, and boots. While winters are milder than in many parts of Europe, it can still get chilly, especially in northern regions.

Weddings: Wedding attire is often formal, with men wearing suits or tuxedos and women wearing elegant dresses or gowns.

Religious Events: For church services and religious ceremonies, conservative clothing is preferred. Women might wear skirts or dresses that cover the knees, and men might wear long pants and shirts.

While tastes vary between urban and rural dwellers, certain foods are common to all Greeks, such as lamb, seafood, olives and cheese. Olive oil, garlic, onions and spices are widely used in cooking. Greek dishes such as souvlaki have become popular in Australia as fast foods. Everyday dishes include moussaka, bean soup, eggplant, stuffed tomatoes and pasta.

The main meal of the day is lunch, served in the early afternoon. However, lunch is becoming less important as work schedules change, and dinner is becoming the largest meal of the day. It is impolite to leave the table before everyone has finished eating, or to leave food on the plate.

While tastes vary between urban and rural dwellers, certain foods are common to all Greeks, such as lamb, seafood, olives and cheese. Olive oil, garlic, onions and spices are widely used in cooking. Greek dishes such as souvlaki have become popular in Australia as fast foods. Everyday dishes include moussaka, bean soup, eggplant, stuffed tomatoes and pasta.

The elderly are respected, and have much authority in society. They are addressed by courteous titles and are served first at mealtime. If older parents must live in a home for the elderly, their children typically make all the arrangements and visit frequently. Children are treated with firm discipline but their parents spend a large portion of their income to clothe, feed and educate them. Parents believe it is their duty to provide a good education for their children. Parents will usually help their children, married or not, if they are able.

Young men and women socialize like the rest of Europe. They enjoy dancing, visting clubs and eating out.

Ancient Greeks were proud of their athletic skills and held the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. These games were originally part of a festival dedicated to the god Zeus, who was believed to reside on Mount Olympus. The games were banned towards the end of the 4th century A.D., when Christianity became the official religion. They were not held again until 1896, when the modern international games took place in Athens.

In ancient times, warfare stopped for the Olympic Games. The champion of the games was given an olive branch as a token of honor. A part of the wall of his home city was torn down, since it was believed that a city that gave birth to an Olympic champion did not need a wall to protect itself. Soccer is probably the most popular national sport; basketball became a national passion when Greece won the European championships in 1987. Volleyball is also becoming increasingly popular. Car racing is a favorite spectator sport. The Acropolis Rally draws thousands of people every year.

Water sports are important to the Greeks. Most children learn to swim at an early age, and sailing and diving are popular. Greek children also play hide-and-seek, tag, and hopscotch. Other popular games for children include mélia, which is similar to monkey in the middle, and triódio, which is a more complicated version of tic-tac-toe.

Greek people enjoy socializing in outdoor theaters, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. A favorite pastime in cafes is távli (backgammon). The summer season is an exciting time for theatrical events, which take place in open-air theaters from June through September. On weekends and holidays, Greeks travel to visit friends and relatives in other parts of the country.

Music and dancing have been a vital part of Greek life since antiquity. There are hundreds of Greek dances. Some of the traditional ones are kalamatianós, tsámiko, sirtó, zembékiko, sirtáki, bálos, and hasápiko.

Kids wake up around 7 o’clock in the morning, as school normally starts at 8:15 a.m. Parents normally wake their children up, especially if they are very young. It is rare for a young child to wake up using an alarm clock. Then, they help their children wash their face and invite them to eat breakfast in the kitchen. A typical breakfast for children is a glass of milk and toasted bread with cheese. Many children also have milk with cereal for breakfast. After breakfast is finished, parents take their children to school. Depending on the weather, a walk or a drive to school are both possible. Recently there is an effort from municipalities to offer school buses free of charge. Children living in urban areas have slightly different days. They usually wash, get dressed, and eat breakfast alone or with their grandparents, as their parents are already occupied. Their breakfast is also slightly different. They usually have toasted bread with tomato or Greek cheese and eggs. After that, they almost always walk to school, even if the school is not that near.

Children are obligated to attend nine years of school in Greece, primary level being the first six. Today there are thoughts that school should be obligatory for 12 years and it is very likely that this law will soon be applied. Primary level schools are always in a different building than secondary schools. They hold around 100 children for each class. Half of the primary level schools in big cities are old buildings that have always been schools and have some history. There are also many new buildings that were built to accommodate children as the population increased. However, in some areas far from the city center they do not have adequate buildings to be used for schooling or the buildings used don’t have the right technical specifications. Small villages almost always have new buildings for schools. However, there is usually one school in each region and many children have to walk a long distance regardless of the weather. Classrooms have desks and chairs for each child and a lot of free space. There is a board and a desk for the teacher. Classrooms have toys, especially toys that teach numbers and letters, and it is also common to have musical instruments for children, usually small electric pianos, xylophones, and harmonicas. Electronic and audiovisual equipment is usually available in a private classroom and not in each classroom. Teachers either move the equipment to the classroom when they want to use it or take the children to that classroom to attend the lesson there. This applies to schools in small villages as well, as these areas are usually the first to implement advanced technological changes. Schools usually have a kiosk selling fast food in the schoolyard. These kiosks are normally private and therefore not controlled by the school. Many children buy snacks from there and eat them during breaks.

A typical school day for young children starts at eight o’clock in the morning. Classes are approximately 45 minutes followed by a 15-minute break. There is always a longer break for lunch. Children can either eat something that their parents have prepared and given them or buy a snack from the kiosk. Their day ends at one o’clock at the latest. There are many schools that occupy children until 4 o’clock, but that also depends on the region. The subjects that are taught in primary schools are the same for every school: Greek language, mathematics, geography, history, music, painting, English, and German language. As children grow older, more subjects are introduced. It is compulsory for all children to attend secondary school. In cases of severe health difficulties, children can attend a special school or be taught at home. Teachers in schools are responsible for taking care of the children. In cases of disputes or conflicts, the matter reaches the headmaster who is responsible for both children and teachers. Matters of discipline are solved in the school and rarely reach a higher authority. However, there are no clear instructions on every aspect of the procedures. Children are not obligated to wear uniforms nor do they greet adults in a specific way. They are obligated, however, to be polite and much attention is given to the way they behave towards teachers and to each other. The school occupies life until the age of 18 in most cases. About 85% of students who finish school continue higher education through universities, colleges, or other seminars. It is not common for someone who has no higher education to get a job in Greece. During the first years of education, children also begin their extracurricular activities. English courses, gymnastics, and music are preferred. There is a very high percentage of children that attend English courses and music schools to learn to play an instrument, most of the time in private schools. A high percentage also attend swimming pools, with water polo being their preferred game. Many of these activities are stopped as the child reaches higher classes since studying takes up all of their time. Children living in urban areas follow the same program. It is very common for these kids to attend dancing courses that teach traditional Greek dances. These groups are supported financially and almost always give children the chance to visit foreign countries and take part in traditional dance competitions or festivals.

Schools have limited sports facilities. Only private schools offer sports facilities. Public schools have scheduled a gymnastic course that rarely takes place. Usually, it’s free time for children to play whatever they want. Sports facilities are rare; teachers seldom follow the program even if they exist. This usually happens because they are scheduled during the day, and children have difficulty concentrating in the following class when they are tired.

Children spend their Saturday mornings visiting private classes. Almost all children have English courses on Saturdays, along with music lessons or sports activities. Parents drive them to these activities as well. Sunday is traditionally the day that they stay at home. They spend the day doing their homework and playing with their parents. Many children also spend time watching television. During the week, children spend their evenings in the same way. Usually, they have English classes twice a week. Many of them attend music schools once a week and on Saturdays. When they don’t have extracurricular activities, they spend their time at home. They do their homework and spend time with their parents. Families gather to have dinner and talk. The main course of the day in Greece is lunch, and dinners are usually lighter meals. Young children have a strict bedtime, especially on school nights. Depending on their schedule, age, and, of course, their mother, bedtime is between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Children usually protest at bedtime and ask to watch some more television, but this rarely happens.