Greece - Culture and Society

The culture of Greece is characterized by great diversity and richness. There are a number of factors that influenced the culture and society of Greece. One of them is that Greece is located at a meeting point of the eastern countries of the world and the western countries, thus the lifestyle of the people is influenced by diverse traditions and practices, which further affects the culture of the land. Greece is known to have a great history. The country had been under the occupation of a number of countries and has also passed through several historical phases. All these have had an impact upon the Culture and Society of Greece. Greek is the native language of the land. Greeks are religious people and there are a number of important traditions that forms an important part of the culture and lifestyle of the Greeks. Greeks are proud of their cultural heritage and their contribution to world civilization. A study found that Greeks' pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of every other European nation. Plays continue to be staged in the theatres where they were originally performed. Greek literature includes poetry, drama, philosophy, history, as well as travelogues.

 

Religion and Tradition

Traditions, religious practices, music, food are all integral part of their culture. Large numbers of religious festivals are celebrated by the Greeks with great enthusiasm. Greeks were initially known to be orthodox by their nature but this has changed with the increasing western influence. Majority of the Greeks follows Christianity. Muslims, Jewish and Roman Catholic are other religious groups of Greece. Their society consists of close knit families. Younger people are not as devout church-goers as their parents and grandparents, yet most will still turn to the church to observe such important rituals such as weddings and funerals. Easter is the major religious holiday and the celebration is more important to most Greeks than Christmas. The institution of marriage also plays an important role. Tradition and religious practices forms a core of the social lifestyle of the Greeks. Women in Greece society are given great importance and are provided with good educational facilities. The Church plays a greater role in political, civic, and governmental affairs than in more secular countries.

 

Family Values

Greeks are extremely warm, welcoming and hospitable people. Honour and family honour is also very important to a Greek person. Bear this in mind should you feel the urge to publicly or privately demean or confront someone in Greece. If you challenge one person, in some respects you are taking on the whole family. So any grievances or problems should be dealt with in a very noble, polite and low-key way. In Greece, the extended family is one of the most important factors within society. Grandparents and senior citizens are treated with dignity and respect, and as such you should make an extra effort to endear yourself to them. The family is the basis of the social structure. The family offers both financial and emotional support to its members. The extended family is expected to help relatives in times of need, even to the point of assisting them to find employment. Family relationships carry over into business. Nepotism is accepted. The wrongdoing of one family member brings dishonour to the entire family.

 

Greetings and Social Etiquette

When meeting someone for the first time, they shake hands firmly, smile, and maintain direct eye contact. If introductions to a Greek family are being made, bear in mind that it is good manners to acknowledge and shake the hands of any children present too. Once you have made a firm acquaintance with a Greek person, you may find that hugging and kissing each cheek becomes the norm with women, and a friendly resolute pat on the shoulder or back more common between men. Good friends often embrace; they may also kiss each other on each cheek. Male friends often slap each other's arm at the shoulder. Greek people are very open and emotive in their speech and body language. You should easily be able to tell what a Greek person is feeling and thinking, as they often punctuate their words with gesticulations. You should be aware that in Greece, the ‘OK’ signal of making an ‘O’ shape with your thumb and forefinger is actually a vulgar gesture. The alternative and acceptable way of gesturing ‘OK’ is by making a fist and pointing your thumb to the sky. It is also vital that you distinguish the different movements that signify ‘yes and ‘no’, as they differ slightly from the usual nodding and shaking of the head. ‘Yes’ is signalled by a slight nod of the head downwards, and ‘no’ is signalled by a small bob of the head upwards.

 

Dining Etiquette

As Greek people are famous for their big-heartedness and hospitality, don’t be surprised if you are invited to a Greek family home for dinner. Whether dining out or invited to a dinner party, you should make sure that you are conscious of the proper dining etiquette in Greece. Quite often, especially in popular tourist areas, dancing will feature as part of the entertainment during your meal. If you are invited to a Greek  home, arriving 30 minutes late is considered punctual. Dress well. This demonstrates respect for your hosts. Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. Your offer may not be accepted, but it will be appreciated. Expect to be treated like royalty. Compliment the house. Expect a great deal of discussion. Meals are a time for socializing. It is considered polite to soak up gravy or sauce with a piece of bread. People often share food from their plate. Finish everything on your plate. Put your napkin next to your plate when you have finished eating.

 

Here are some general cultural norms:

1. The "moutza", consists of extending all five fingers, palm out, towards a person in a forward motion.  The closer the hand is to the other person's face the more offensive it's considered.  Similar to the American "talk to hand" gesture.

2. Check the bill to see if the tip is included at a restaurant. Usually there is a 15% gratuity included. You may also wish to leave an additional tip on the table for those who bus the tables.

3. Bring a gift for your host. A nice host gift would be brandy, flowers, cakes, fruit, etc. If you want to give flowers, you may also have them sent in advance. Take your shoes off upon entering a home.