Celebrations
Name Days
Children born into Greek families are often given the name of a Greek Orthodox saint. Traditionally, the first-born son is named after his grandfather, while the first-born daughter is named after her grandmother. As a result cousins often share the same names. These naming conventions are still common in the Australian Greek community.
In Greek culture name days are much anticipated and have more significance than birthdays. They are celebrated with sweets, gifts and parties. The ‘honouree’ is host, with celebrations usually taking place at home. Friends and relatives drop in to wish hronia polla, or ‘many happy years’. Sometimes parties are held in restaurants or other public venues. Friends and work mates can expect to be offered sweets. It is customary to accept such offerings and wish hronia polla in return.
As carers and professionals working with Greek elders, it is important to find out the date of your client’s name day, especially if you are likely to have long-term contact. Use the Calendar of Saints’ Days to search for your client’s name day, then mark if in your diary. As name days are so significant in Greek culture your client will feel well-regarded and quite touched by your effort.
Family Celebrations
Greek families hold large celebrations on other religiously significant occasions, especially baptisms and weddings. Greek Orthodox Sacraments gives a complete list of religious celebrations. Customs have changed to some degree from those of rural Greece. But Greek Australian families still consider family participation in religious sacraments cause for traditional-style festivities either at home or in a restaurant, with food, drink, music, dancing and lots of sugar-coated almonds! For baptisms, engagements and weddings the role of godparents, the koumbaro (male) or koumbara (female), is important and he or she is toasted by guests and family members.
Your elderly Greek clients may have children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren who are being baptised or getting married. If your client is attending family celebrations, your congratulatory wishes will be greatly appreciated.
- If a baby is being baptised you could wish your client Na sas zisi (may the child have a long life).
- If a family member is getting married you could wish them Na zisoun (may the couple live a long life).
New Years Day
On New Year’s Day the secular and religious St Basil the Great feast day is celebrated. A special church service is held in the morning and traditional Greek foods are shared. Everyone has a slice of vasilopita, a sweet bread or cake containing a hidden coin said to bring good fortune to whoever gets the lucky piece of vasilopita.
First of January is also the name day for people named Vasili (Basil, Bill) and Vasiliki or Vaso (Vicky).
Lent
In the lead-up to Lent in Greece there are up to three weeks of festivities, varying in form from region to region. This is a period of Orthodox religious significance, but it also connects to the ancient Greek Dionysian festival of early Spring, celebrating the earth’s rebirth after winter. In Australia celebrations occur for just the few days prior to Lent.
Clean Monday (Kathari Dheftera) marks the end of the festivities, known as Apokries, and the commencement of Lent (Saracosti). On this day Greeks wish each other ‘Good Lent’ (Kali Saracosti). In Greece it is a public holiday.
Easter
See Greek Easter.
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary
Held on 15 August, in Greece the Dormition is marked by a public holiday. Festivals (paniyiria) are held in villages and towns across the country. Many Athenians return to their home towns and villages in rural Greece for the summer holidays. This is one of the few occasions when children and grandchildren get together with parents and grandparents still living in rural communities.
Greek Australians continue this tradition with parish celebrations and visits to each other’s homes. 15 August is also a very popular name day. Many common male and female names are celebrated, including: Mary, Maria, Panayiota, Despina, Panayiotis and Mario.
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church on 25 December. On Christmas day early morning church services commemorate the birth of Jesus. Families celebrate much as other Australians do, putting up Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, having BBQs and going on holidays. Lunch is often lamb on a spit. Kourambiethes and melomakarona the are the traditional Christmas sweets. In the Greek tradition it is St Basil, not Santa Claus, who delivers the children’s gifts. Greek carols sung by groups of young children going from house to house are called kalanda.
People named Christos (Chris), Christine, Emmanuel or Emmanuela are visited by family and friends to celebrate their name day.
