The reality that feta cheese is one of the most versatile contributes to the fact it is often used, but there are dozens of cheeses available throughout the country, without mentioning the local varieties. I realize you dont want to scare people from coming, but it also happened to others in the tour group I was with on other occasions. Worldwide Greeks reserves the rights to remove user accounts, posts, threads, photos that violate our user and privacy policy agreement. The command was given, "Flee for your life! A taboo, also spelled tabu, is a social group 's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons. Definitely feel a very strong connection to the Greeks. Download my latest App for Android or Apple: Greeces Best. Home; Service. by gayle | Dec 27, 2019 | Articles, Cultural Clues, Do's & Taboo's. [56], In medicine, professionals who practice in ethical and moral grey areas, or fields subject to social stigma such as late termination of pregnancy, may refrain from public discussion of their practice. Talking of clothing: I am not going to just single women out. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". But I woukd stay in Plaka or near Plaka, am I safe to go out & have dinner by myself? Its not funny, it doesnt show youve had a good time and worse still, youre a bad Ambassador for your country.What_Not_to_do_in_Greece_Travel_Tips, The public transport in Athens at least is very very good, especially the Metro. Dont try to learn to drive in Greece. Wear a long loose skirt if you intend to go inside churches and bring a shawl or scarf to put over your shoulders better still, wear something with long sleeves. Good friends often embrace; they may also kiss each other on each cheek. Consider Meteora, with its gorgeous mountain top monasteries, or Delphi, with its rich ancient history and ruins. [1] Taboos may be prohibited explicitly, for example within a legal system or religion, or implicitly, for example by social norms or conventions followed by a particular culture or organization. What can be seen as strange to outsiders is quite normal in Greece. Do take your time over coffee theres no rush. Thanks Mike. Garlic and onions are also forbidden in this classic pasta dish. Here's a list of translations. I like cities, markets, etcwhich smaller places would be good for me to visit? The OK sign is considered obscene in Greece and should be avoided. While its tempting to weigh in with your views on the election, dont. Things Tourists Should Never Do in Greece, Ever - Culture Trip Be prepared for changes and delays. !We are planning a trip to Greece in June with our one year old son. Do speak English, as most Greeks youll encounter will know how to speak English. I was lucky in that one of my ,,would be hosts on Aegina explained it to me.I connected with Greece in Nov last year and fell in love with the country. They usually stem from the religion's founding documents (such as the Bible, Torah, or Quran) and include rules designed to protect civil behavior and hygiene. Thanks Vanessayep! I booked my trip for April 2020 not realising that there wont be boats and a lot of places are closed during the Easter time. I actually have no idea so I looked up etiquette and thought this link looked pretty good - hopefully someone will chime in to set us straight! People do not expect you to tip in anywhere else than in coffee houses, taverns, restaurants and maybe room service in the hotels. And to be honest, if I saw an american man being shirtless I wouldnt give a shit, but only if they did it out of need, not if they knew its rude and still did it. What are the best foods to try? It might be inconvenient but public transport in the city does go on strike at times for hours at a time. This gesture has a meaning for the whole of the Mediterranean region, and its not a nice one: it signals that the recipients spouse is cheating on them. In ancient times, the bracelet was made to protect the person wearing it from disease and from the spring sun. Though many Greeks openly complain about their country or lament about how it is being ruined by the current politicians, remember that they are still very proud of their homeland and its cultural contributions to the world. Cultural Clues & Communication Guidelines for GREECE. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Have a good trip. LOL. Thanks for taking the time to read my article and Im glad you found it useful for your up and coming visit to Greece which you will love!It only really gets chilly in Greece from end of November to late Feb. And it all depends on where youre going and what youre seeing: if youll be in the mountains, on an island, in the cities. Not sure where you live! 11 Things You Should Never Say in Greece - Culture Trip Do remember people in Greece dont tend to drink at home before going out, and they start going out about 11pm. Are knee length dresses acceptable to wear in churches as long as arms are covered, or should I bring a maxi dress? While the Greeks may criticize aspects of their society or daily life (politics, traffic etc.) How Greek crisis helped removed taboo on mental health I would not dream of going into a church or anywhere other than the beach in beachwear. Though many Greeks openly complain about their country or lament about how it is being 'ruined' by the current politicians, remember that they are still very proud of their homeland and its cultural contributions to the world. Politics is one of three taboo topics that can hurt your career. Carry a shawl around with you that can be used as a cover for legs and shoulders if needs be. I had an experience back in the summer that made me think of penning this post: Quite happily minding my own business in an Athens coffee shop in the heat, a male backpacker plonks himself down at an outside table opposite me, takes of his backpack and his shirtleaving himself topless in the middle of a busy Athenian street. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Gifts for visiting people in Greece ideas. Folkways, Mores, Taboos, and Laws - ThoughtCo Im a 57yr old single lady NOT looking for my Shirley Valentine moment. Click on the image below, Things to know before travelling to Greece, Syntagma Metro Station Archaeological Collection, Hynes Eagle 40L Review The Best Carry-On Backpack to Avoid Paying Airline Baggage Fees, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/cultural-faux-pas-around-the-world/, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/greek-dishes-top-things-eat-drink-athens-greece/, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/greek-island-all-round-packing-list/, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/privacy-policy/, https://www.touchscreentravels.com/apps/greeces-best/. I very rarely see men walk around shirtless in townmaybe when working in their yard at home on a hot day or after a long hot job. We are CatholicUSA?. It has gotten less strict as time has gone on and times have changed but is still a taboo in Greece. Curiously, for a people so religiously minded, the Greeks had no word for religion itself; the nearest terms were eusebeia ("piety") and threskeia ("cult"). Its less risky if youre flying back but delays are always possible with flying as well. Why was dissection taboo in Greek antiquity? Awareness of the Greek Culture by Jacob Hagan I noticed that there is a taverna culture of "gaming". Dont try to cram in too many Greek Islands. Think of it as a coffee milkshake, maybe not as thick.Photo by Anna Oates, The thing is, Greeks love their coffee so much it is a culture here You can sit around for hours nursing just one cup/glass, and you wont be harangued by a stroppy waiting staff to move or order more. Hugging and kissing is common in public spaces. Like YES. But whilst Greece isnt a strict country with regards to attire, one does have to extend a modicum of common sense in the clothing stakes at times (I have seen some real faux pas) and it dawned on me that a post about etiquettein Greece in general would be useful to have to hand as whats obvious to me may not be obvious to others. I mean, you have to throw one on one if you go into a store or restaurant, but other wise yeah, males do whatever the fuck they want. I have just seen some ridiculousness in the clothing stakes in the past mainly from younger travellers who have an attitude of We dont care what your culture is, this is what I wear and you will not dictate to me what to wear which makes me angry because it shows a lack of respect to culture as far as Im concerned. A taboo acknowledged by a particular group or tribe as part of their ways aids in the cohesion of the group, helps that particular group to stand out and maintain its identity in the face of others and therefore creates a feeling of "belonging". The word taboo gained popularity at times, with some scholars looking for ways to apply it where other English words had previously been applied. 19A, Kapnikareas Str., 1st Floor10 556, Athens, GreeceEmail: info@truevoyagers.comPhone: +30 694-680-8832, GTNO | Travel & Tour Operator License Number: 026160000639301, Terms of Service Privacy Policy Return Policy EU Support, Athens Rivera, neighborhood, lake Vouliagmeni, Sounio, sunset, Voula, beach, temple of Poseidon, SNFCC, museums, Athens, folk art, musical instrument, jewelry, numismatic, coins, christian, byzantine, lesser-known, "Get a Taste of Athens food tour" for a chance to get acquainted with the amazing Greek cuisine with a local expert, Athens Loom Weaving Workshop: Create Your Own Masterpiece, Greek Breakfast Walking Tour with a Local Foodie, Athens Mythological Tour: Boudoir of the Gods, Acropolis and Parthenon Private Guided Tour, Athens Ultimate Tour for First Time Visitors. When one travels, one gets used to being aware of surroundings, etc. Thanks April. At junctions you often wait for a sign but in the end nothing happens and they turn or go straight on with no indication whatsoever. This is an occurrence wherever you are in the world). Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding clothing: Do show a modicum of decency and use your common sense. I see tavli played all the time. As an example, it was considered a misfortune for twins to be born, and they would be subject to many rules not incumbent on other people.[18]. It is the new frappe and the absolute summer coffee. We are not responsible for any information that you choose to share in your public user profile. Greeks usually avoid double dipping by tearing off chunks of bread every time before dipping. Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding clothing: Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding drinking: Some customs and etiquette in Greece tips for Driving and Public Transport: Download my Travel App to Greece. Speaking of cream or milk, adding it to carbonara is an absolute no-no.