Things You Might Not Know About #Greeks And #GreekCulture

Self explanatory from the title

1. Constantinople not Istanbul and Macedonian is Greek

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Greeks are very proud of their heritage. I don't care if they are living in the US and they are 3 rd generation - they are still proud.

They will correct you if you say Istanbul - it is Constantinople and always be that way.

Macedonia is Greek and always was Greek. PERIOD.

2. Coffee Dates

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Business or Pleasure - Having coffee with someone is how you get business done or how you gossip or both. When a Greek says they are going for coffee - expect a 2-3 hour coffee date.

3. Visiting friends

Every Greek - no matter what sex or age - if they are invited to your house they will bring something. A beer - food-flowers-a candy bar - Bottom line they never arrive empty handed.

4. Loyalty

Greeks are loyal. They always start a friendship out at 100% - it is your job to keep yourself there. They are open show affection and loud - but they are loyal until you cross a line. Such lines are:

-messing around with their better half

-lying to them

-calling them out in public (a Greek would never do that - they will smile and nod and tell you off later)

Once they decide you are no longer a friend - and simply an acquaintance ... see FACT 5.

5. Acquaintances

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This is the worst that the enemy zone. If you are simply an acquaintance you are expendable.

This means the friendship was lost due to disloyalty--because Greeks start everyone at 100%. This is where you never want to be. If you are in this zone-you are vulnerable for the following actions:

-throwing you under a bus

-singling you out from the crowd with sarcasm #callout on purpose and with intent

-talked about behind your back and smiling to your face.

If you are an enemy ... you are simply ignored by a Greek.

So it is best to be an enemy than an acquaintance.

6. Passion

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It is in Greek veins - anything they do is with passion - from sex, cooking, dancing, friendships and work - it is all about passion.

From a young age Greeks are taught that being passionate is being alive.

If you have a Greek lover, friend, or coworker - be sure that they are passionate.

With passion comes FACT 7

7. Loud and Hot Headed

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With passion comes loudness and hot headedness. These things go hand in hand. But there is a method to the madness. When a Greek shouts and screams and throws things it is a sign of affection. They care enough to shout about it - either that be a friendly or hostile shout... if a Greek does not show such actions... you are now an acquaintance (See Fact 5) Good Luck!

Also, if you have a loud fight with a Greek - pay attention to how the fight ends.

If the fight ends in shouting - you are still friends and in a short while you will make up and talk about it.

If the fight ends in silence-- you are now an acquaintance (Fact 5) or Enemy (if you didn't cross a line)

8. Turkey

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Turkey to them is a country run my ottoman savages that have no idea where they belong. Are they Muslims? Are they Catholic? Are they part of Europe? The middle east? They are confused - and insist on plundering other countries.

Fact: Greeks were slaves between 1453 and 1821. YES SLAVES to the Turks.

The Hellenic Empire stood tall from 330 AD to 1453 AD (Hellenic =Greek).

The Barbarians - coined at the Ottomans invaded plundering the empire. The Ottomans were the Turks.

The Turks burned libraries, churches, raped Greek women, committed genocide etc.

They even put a Greek man on a spit (BBQ - for real). Greeks retaliated in 1821 and gained their independence kicking every single Turk out having sustained culture and knowledge via word of mouth in schools housed in caves called "Secret Schools".

In summary - Greeks and Turks don't get along because they Turks portray their savage behavior of those times as justified and this is why the majority of the muslim community doesn't count them as True Muslims - but fanatics which is against Muslim religion.

Also .. in the 70's the Turks struck again - attempting to conquer Cyrpus. No one helped - but Greece and Cyprus managed to keep half of the island independent.

Tell me again how they want to be part of the EU when they are still actively invading countries? #dilemma

The picture above is an illustration on how Turkish Warriors killed infants.

Anti-Turkism still exists.

These are the countries that participate:

2.1 Armenia

2.2 Bulgaria

2.3 Cyprus

2.4 Germany

2.5 Greece

2.6 Malta

2.7 Netherlands

2.8 Russia and former Soviet Union

REF

See why it is a touchy subject??

9. Proud

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Greeks are proud. They may not have two dimes to rub together - yet they stand tall and proud of what they do have.

Greeks are usually not they type to ask for help when they need it.

Greeks are very proud - and the company they keep is important - this is why friends are important to them.

10. How to know if a Greek is your friend

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Simple. If they talk to you about their family, sex life and actual problems they are having - and use cuss words freely with you - you are considered family.

If they talk about the weather, current events or work related tasks - refer to FACT 5 and be careful.

11. Religion

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OK - so Greeks are ALL Greek Orthodox. If they are not Greek Orthodox - they are not Greek - I don't care what their Birth Certificate says - or how well they speak the language.

Basic Religion "Rules"

Greek religion is part of Greek culture. Everyone always goes to church on two major holidays. Christmas and Easter. Even if it is for just 5 minutes.

Every major political decision is made with a Priest in the room

Knowing a Senior Positioned Priest is a stronger contact than knowing the Prime Minister of Greece.

If you get a new home or open a new business - it must be blessed by a priest. If not your house will burn and you business will fail.

If you see a hearse, ambulance, or firetruck passing - you must do your cross - as a quick gesture to honor those less fortunate than you. (this is kind of sweet huh)

Every Easter you must get the the flame from the church via candle and burn a cross symbol at your doorstep. If you don't you will have bad luck all year.

Your children must have a name of a Saint. No naming your kids Sally or Molly unless it is Sally-Georgia or Molly- Dimitra etc.

12. Cooking

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Every Greek - male or female .. if they are a true Greek - they know how to cook.

They don't use cookbooks -

They peel potatoes with a knife (amateurs use peelers)

They use olive oil

They eat meat (vegetarian Greeks are like fairies.. they don't exist unless they have been westernized.)

A Greek man is always able to cook (pretty good too!)

Not because he took lessons but he watched as his mom , yiayia or dad cooked. This is why most Greeks in America have diners, restaurants etc.

13. Failing Greek Economy

Greeks invented money. I had to say it because it is true.

Greeks are bad at money management - no hiding that.

Greeks like to have a good time, eat good food and dance.

Money is necessary only to provide these things nothing more.

14. World War II and the word NO

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Did you know that the Greeks were responsible for putting an end to WWII?

No? Well now you do.

Since Hitler and Mussolini had great respect for the Greeks - they did not invade them.

Instead, Mussolini called the Greek Prime Minister and asked permission for German troops and Italian troops to pass through Greece and position themselves there to invade the African coast. The Greeks said "NO" and that is where the war ended... with the Greeks kicking butt and stalling the Germans until they froze - and Stalin backstabbing them.. It is a Greek thing -- Greeks and Russians share the same religion after all. They would NEVER and will NEVER go to war.

Every October 28th the Greeks celebrate "NO day" because it was the day they told Hitler and Mussolini --NO-- If you ask me, the whole world should be celebrating it - because the Greeks were the reason the Nazis fell - not the US, UK or France - .. it was the Greeks.

Most countries in Europe were under Nazi control within days of invasion ... France for example was able to fight them off only for 8 days... The Greeks? 6 months until the war ended.

Winston Churchill said "Greeks do not fight like heroes... Heroes fight like Greeks" (snap)

15. What about WW3?

As the Greeks see it --if war happens they are ok -

The Middle Eastern nations love and respect them - even though we don't share their religion. Right back at them for the Greeks. These countries go way back- bonds were formed in BC times before most nations that exist today existed.

Far East: They respect the Greeks -- again they go way back from BC times. Those are old childhood friends.

Russia: Greeks and Russians share the same religion. They will never go to war.

US? Well, the US can't pick on Greece because the above three fronts will get angry that the youngest country is trying to attack the civilization that gave the world, math, democracy, philosophy, money, trade, language, civilization, agriculture, ... I can keep going. It will be about principle. It is like hitting an old man - you just can't.

So when WW3 happens - Greece will kind just be on the strongest alliance - :) and most likely stay neutral.

16. Greeks don't tolerate Bullies

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One thing a Greek can't stand is a bully.

They will stand up for the vulnerable party as if the person being bullied was a family member.

This notion circles back to FACTS 4 and 9.

Bullies automatically become acquaintances see FACT 5.

17. Salad

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When Greeks eat salad .. the best part is at the bottom of the bowl... so everyone dips a piece of bread to soak up the juices from tomatoes, oil and feta.

A GREEK SALAD NEVER HAS LETTUCE!

If you think it is weird- you don't know how to eat.

The Greeks call this a "PAPARA"

18. Lent / Fasting & Greek Easter

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Greeks actually have a lent - that is actually the week after BBQ Thursday because the lent consists of being animal product free for 40 days (torture for the Greeks)

Very devout religious Greeks go 40 days without meat and wait till Easter Sunday to eat meat, eggs and milk again.

The majority of the Greeks do the following.

They start Lent on the Monday - and eat fish and non-meat products for about 4 days.

Then the last week of Lent about 50% of them will fast because Resurrection Saturday you MUST go to church and get communion and you MUST fast for that.

The remaining 50% fast from Thus to Saturday.

Greek Easter- because the lent lasted 40 days with no meat - a whole lamb is required to feed the appetite. Lamb on a spit roasting over a fire with tons of sides to go with it.

In the US most Greek Families with a backyard (or front) will do this and will off passerby's a piece and invite their non-Greek neighbors. It is a time where Greek families open up their homes to all to celebrate. Monday is considered a religious holiday and most Greeks in the US exercise the religious right for the day off because they usually can't move from all the food they ate on Easter Sunday.