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A traditional Greek wedding through the eyes of a foreigner
I vividly remember the first time I was invited to a traditional Greek wedding. It was a day full of cultural shocks and confusion. From gunshots to throwing rice and from writing my name on the bottom of the bride’s shoe to countless traditional Greek dances. A Greek wedding is full of rituals, religious as…
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Stereotypes & Culture. My Big Fat Greek Family
Twenty years ago, in 2002, the Greek-Canadian actress, Nia Vardalos, became famous with her movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. As both actress and writer, Vardalos won many awards for this romantic comedy, which she based on her own experience of being Greek. Although the movie is full of extravagant Greek stereotypes as an expression…
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A Greek baby is a family project
Whoever believes that babies are just the offspring of their parents, has never been to Greece. In this country, having a child is a process that involves the whole Greek family. Even long before the child is conceived. The whole family wants your child I stopped counting the amount of times yiayia, mother, and sister…
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Traveling with the Greeks means chaos
This story is for all the non-Greeks that are about to meet their Greek in-laws. As well as the Greeks that have a non-Greek family member. But also for everyone else. Because traveling with the Greek family through the eyes of an outsider makes a funny story. The first time I went to Greece to…
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S’agapo. Greek family love
Greeks are very loving people. And especially with their family and friends Greeks are not afraid to express their love for each other. Moms refer to their children with agapie mou, my love. And whenever friends leave after just hanging out, they will say bye to each other with filakia. Little kisses. I love you…
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Everyone is a child in Greece
The meaning of the word child in Greek is unlike its translation into any other language. While for most of us, a child is a young human being. Either below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority. In Greece, everyone can be called a child. Let’s do a quiz! Question nr.…
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My first real greek
Today, three years ago I was about to have my first greek encounter. It was a rainy Wednesday in the Netherlands, similar to so many other days here, similar to today actually, nothing has changed on that part in these three years, unfortunately. I spent that Wednesday in the office feeling cold and dirty from…
