This is a treasured photo of me with my father taken on Sunday before my extended family arrived for a private book launch where Greek mezedes, ouzo, and champagne cocktails were enjoyed by all!! It was a truly memorable evening celebrated by 4 generations of our family and where my father delivered the most amazing heartfelt speech!
To the Hellenes and Philhellenes around the world. Greek Lifestyle welcomes you to join the celebration of Greek culture, history and traditions.
Greek Lifestyle is the perfect place to share, explore, learn and partake in the inimitable Greek way of life.
Greece is known for its beautiful churches, pebbled beaches, sparkling waters, seaside tavernas, amazing architecture, delicious cuisine, ancient sites, statues and temples.
It is the jewel of Europe cradled between the sparkling waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas where east meets west. The cradle of western civilization, the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, drama, literature, philosophy, science and mathematical principles.
All these wonderful gifts to society from the people we affectionately and respectfully call Hellenes, the Greeks.
I welcome you to the Greek Lifestyle blog and would love for you to share your customs, traditions and recipes with us here at Greek Lifestyle.
Come, and let’s celebrate our wonderful Greek traditions and the inimitable Greek Lifestyle!
GL x
Greek Lifestyle is about Greek culture – modern, contemporary and ancient.
It’s about sharing wisdom and continued learning.
Having a place for Hellensim to be truly celebrated not just by the Greeks but also by those who have been touched spiritually, emotionally and intellectually by the diverse and enriched culture of Greece.
Share with us what Greek Lifestyle means to you.
GL x
I know that we are in the midst of celebrations….but I thought this might be useful.
Fasting
During the Orthodox calendar year there are fasting periods observed that provide an opportunity for spiritual growth and cleansing.
Many traditional Greek recipes can be converted to fasting meals and are equally delicious without meat and poultry. It makes for creative cooking and the use of a wonderful assortment of fresh seasonal vegetables.
Weekly Fast
Traditionally fasting occurs on a weekly basis on every Wednesday (betrayal by Judas) and Friday (the commemoration of the suffering of Christ on the Cross). The following foods are avoided:
Easter Fast (movable date)
The 40-day Lenten Fast prior to Easter Sunday is observed.
During Holy Week, usually the Thursday evening meal is the last full meal taken until Easter. Wine and oil are permitted at this meal.
Good Friday is the strictest fasting day of the Orthodox calendar, and it is customary to not partake of food on this day. Even those who have not observed the 40-day Lent fast usually respectfully observe this day of fasting.
After the Easter Saturday morning church service, when communion is taken, it is permissible to have a little wine, fruit juice and fruit as part of a very simple meal. This provides a little sustenance before breaking the fast completely at the Saturday night Resurrection Service.
Dormition of the Theotokos Fast
The falling asleep of Mary, Mother of God
1-14 August
The feast day for this important day takes place on the 15th August, and in Greece it also marks a national holiday.
The fast period takes place from 1- 14 August, and this two-week fast is similar to the fast of Great Lent.
From Monday through to Friday a strict fast is observed, however both wine and olive oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays, and fish may be eaten on the 6th August for the Transfiguration of Christ.
Nativity Fast
15 November to 24 December
The Feast Day is on Christmas Day.
Throughout the Nativity Fast strict fasting is observed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday oil, wine and fish are permitted, until 13th December when fish is no longer permitted.
Individual Fasting Days
The following are important fasting dates in the Greek Orthodox Calendar, however wine and olive oil are permitted.
January 5th – Eve of the Theophany (Epiphany),
August 29th – the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
September 14th – the Elevation of the Holy Cross
I hope this is helpful!
GL x
Ouzo and meze
Drinking ouzo is a favourite pastime of Greeks both in Greece and abroad. Locals and tourists can be seen leisurely sipping the clear coloured aniseed flavoured aperitif, either neat, over ice, or with a little water added.
Ouzo and mezedes are a lovely way for family and friends to meet up casually and enjoy one another’s company, philosophy, story telling, laughter and lively discussion. Mezedes are made for sharing with people that you love to be with and people you care for. There is a certain intimacy in partaking in mezedes since the only way to enjoy them, is to place the plates at the centre of the table for all to partake.
A simple meze consists of a few olives, a piece of cheese, cucumber and tomato. More satisfying mezedes include mouth-watering taramasalata (caviar dip), dolmades (rice wrapped in vine leaves), or fresh calamari or whitebait that has been lightly floured and cooked in olive oil and drizzled with lemon juice, octopus that has been pickled or chargrilled or prawn saganaki (prawns in rich tomato salsa) are all favourite mezedes.
Whether you prefer No 12, Plomari, Mini or Metaxa it matters not. Simply pour the ouzo and take sips as you prepare the meze, and then pour another ouzo and sit back and enjoy with your friends and family.
I’m off to have a glass of Plomari!
Stin iyeia mas! (Cheers or to our health!)
GL x
The essence of Greek cuisine is simple; good quality fresh ingredients, lovingly prepared, rustic, authentic and flavorsome.
Greek cooking varies from region to region however it is always extremely healthy and delicious. Most dishes that include meat or poultry can be made equally delicious in a vegetarian version of that recipe. This is essential for the many days of fasting throughout the Orthodox calendar.
Essential to Greek cuisine is olive oil, lemon, rigani, tomato, pulses, feta, yoghurt, olives and a range of seafood, poultry and meat. Dishes are seasoned with spices including cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, black and white pepper, cumin, and pimento to name a few.
Growing herbs whether on a balcony or in an herb patch allows cooks to infuse their dishes with freshly picked ingredients that provide optimal flavors. Popular herbs include dill, basil, fennel, mint, oregano and parsley.
Sweets are made for special occasions. Most recipes call for nuts, honey, citrus, cloves and cinnamon. Usually Greeks enjoy fresh seasonal fruit, nuts or yoghurt after a meal.
Greek cooks expertly preserve fruits and vegetables to be used throughout the year including fruit for spoon sweets, tomato paste, pickled vegetables and olives.
Of course it is customary to enjoy a Greek coffee after a meal, served as either vari (strong), metrio (medium), or glyko (sweet).
How do you like to take your coffee? What is your ritual?
GL x
Greece is a dream destination filled with history, myths, and legends. Visit only once and you will yearn to return. Your heart will lead your mind to reminisce and relive the wonder of such a vibrant country steeped in rich history. You will remember the generosity and warm heartedness of the people, the taste of ouzo taken with your favourite mezedes, the salt on your skin after bathing, the walks on the pebbled beaches, the amazing sunsets and the unique and inimitable Greek Lifestyle.
Greece is the land of light; a light that imbues a warm glow onto its ancient sites and radiance onto the white washed homes. A shining light igniting thought, illuminating minds, and a beacon for paving the way towards our own modern existence.
Greece invites visitors to explore the antiquities, revel in kefi, partake in the fresh and seasonal cuisine, happen upon festivities and celebrations and all the chaos that ensues when unprepared travellers get caught up in the whirl-wind.
We would love to hear some of your experiences!
GL x
Greeks are known for their love of life, their love of family and the rich traditions that form part of important and every day events. The Greek lifestyle is a unique way of living. Greeks have a certain enthusiasm and zest for life. They are passionate, warm-hearted and endearing, and would usually go out of their way to offer help. This is known as Philoxenia, and is an underlying element of the inimitable Greek way of living and what we warmly refer to as the Greek Lifestyle.
The people of Greece and the diaspora go about their daily life embracing the unique culture that is made up of family, orthodoxy and traditions. These are intrinsically intertwined to form the basis of the the traditional Greek Lifestyle and the essence to living Greek.
Share you stories with us here at Greek Lifestyle.
GL xx
Greeks love to entertain and celebrate. Certain dishes are usually made at a particular times of the year. At New Years loukoumades (do noughts drizzled in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon) are prepared as is the vasilopita (new year bread). Eastertime is busy for homemakers baking koulourakia (biscuits) and lampropsomo (Easter bread), and preparing kokkina avgo (red dyed eggs). At Christmas time the home is filled with the spicy aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and honey as freshly baked melamacarona (honey walnut biscuits) are taken out of the oven and dipped in a warm honey syrup. What would a traditional Christmas be without the delicate and exquisite kourmbiedes (crescent shaped biscuits).
Happy baking!
GL x
I’m feeling inspired by Homer’s classic story The Voyage of Odysseus, and recalled this famous poem titled Ithaka by Constantine P. Cavafy that was penned in 1911.
As mere mortals, we all experience obstacles and challenges in our lifetime that can seem comparable to Odysseus’ quest to return home to Ithaka.
But what does this mean? Ithaka is symbolic of a long journey representing an inner quest of self-discovery, and reminds us it is not the destination that matters; but the journey.
The question remains.. do we have enough strength, focus and determination to achieve our goals and endure life’s obstacles and difficulties as they arise, thereby becoming more wise and knowledgeable regardless of what our destination is; our own personal version of Ithaka?
I hope that you enjoy this poem!!
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.