January 5 marks the Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the Greek Orthodox Calendar, it is a strict fast day as the faithful prepare themselves to…
Tag: Greek traditions
On December 22nd the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates Agia Anastasia Pharmakolitria, Saint Protector of poison and other harmful substances. The Great Martyr Anastasia the “Deliverer from Potions”, also Anastasia the Healer or Anastasia of Sirmium was martyred…
On December 20th, the Greek Orthodox Church begins the Forefeast of the Nativity, whose liturgical structure is similar to the Holy Week preceding Pascha, for the birth of the Son of God is the beginning of…
The many Christmas traditions of Greece that are still honoured today have been passed down through generation upon generation of Greeks from islands, villages and cities alike.
Agios Dionysios is the largest church in Zakynthos and celebrates on December 17, which is the Feast Day of Agios Dionysios, Patron Saint, and Protector of the island. This holy and miraculous…
On December 5, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Agios Savvas the miracle worker. Saint Savvas the Sanctified was born in the fifth century at Cappadocia of pious Christian…
On November 26, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Agios Stylianos, the Protector of Children. Agios Stylianos was born in Paphlagonia of Asia Minor sometime between the fourth and…
On November 25, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Agia Aikaterini the Great Martyr of Alexandria, who is also the protector of students and unmarried women. Aikaterini was the…
On November 9, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates Agios Nektarios the Wonderworker of Aegina. He is considered the Patron Saint for people who have cancer, heart trouble, arthritis, epilepsy, and other diseases.…
Sixteen Greek traditions were approved for inclusion on the national intangible cultural heritage list. UNESCO established its lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages…
Protomagia (May 1st) is International Labour Day in Greece and it is a holiday where people traditionally go to the countryside for picnics, to fly kites and to gather flowers. Today, Greeks…
Koulourakia Paschalina are traditional Greek Easter biscuits, which are usually prepared a few days leading up to Pascha. They’re not too sweet and make an excellent biscuit to accompany your frappe, coffee,…
On March 25, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation by archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she should become the mother of Jesus Christ the Son of God, as today…
Today the Greek Orthodox Church remembers the miracle of Saint Theodore the Tyro and Kolyva (boiled wheat). On the two Saturdays before Lent and the first Saturday of Lent we celebrate Liturgies…
Today is Kathara Deftera, which means ‘Clean Monday’ and it is the first day of Greek Orthodox Easter Lent, which lasts forty days. Kathara Deftera is a public holiday in Greece, and…
Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) is the first day of Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox Church. Today also brings preceding Carnival celebrations to an end, inviting everyone to leave behind the ‘sinful’…
Cheese lovers rejoice! Today marks the beginning of ‘Tyrini’ the week where Greeks worldwide enjoy loads of dairy, cheese and cheese-based dishes, as it is the last week before Great Lent begins. Tyrini…
“Simera ya, simera yamos yinetai….” You would be hard-pressed to find a Greek wedding which hasn’t had that traditional song wafting through the house or street as bridal parties prepare for the…
Today is Tsiknopempti (Smoky Thursday) for 2020, otherwise referred to as the week of Kreatini. This is a special day of the year in Greece, where a large amount of meat is traditionally…
Thousands of people from Greek Orthodox parishes in Sydney braved the smoky conditions and rainfall that occurred, attending this year’s Epiphany celebrations at Yarra Bay on Sunday, January 12, 2020. According to three of…