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Character of the Greeks

The character of the Greeks, even in the time of Homer, would most correctly be called schizophrenic.
Neither education, nor upbringing, nor wealth creates a person in Greece, and their absence does not create a scoundrel.
IN different layers society, you can also meet Alexander the Great - noble, brave, intelligent, with broad-minded, sincere, warm-hearted and generous, and Karagöz - low, treacherous, selfish, talkative, vain, lazy, envious and greedy - often in the same person.

Individualism

Individualism - main feature, characterizing the Greeks, which makes any attempt to sort them into categories and put a label on the Greeks as a nation impossible.
They nurse an overinflated ego that makes any collective initiative completely impossible until they come face to face with a national catastrophe, at which point they rally in a rare display of national unity. The Greeks also display an extreme passion for freedom of choice - which makes them completely impervious to understanding the words "discipline", "coordination" or "system".
"I" - favorite word Greeks When a Greek asks the rhetorical question “Do you know who I am?”, he clearly considers himself the center of the universe. As one old man from Delphi explained, everything is very simple: “The Earth is the center of the Universe, Greece is the heart of the Earth, Delphi is the center of Greece and, therefore, the navel of the Earth, I am the head of Delphi, therefore, I am the center of the Universe.”

Stormy emotions

When a Greek does not sleep, his lively temperament blossoms wildly, unhampered by any conventions. Maybe this is what made the ancient sages carve on the portals of the temple Delphic Oracle sayings “Nothing in excess” and “Know yourself” in futile attempt convince fellow citizens to restrain their emotions.
They did not heed this call then, and they do not heed it now. From Achilles, whose anger was the cause of such mass slaughter at the walls of Troy, to Admiral Miaoulis, who in the 19th century was so angry with the government that he set fire to the Greek fleet, the Greeks give full vent to their emotions, and... do not care about the consequences!
Self-control, although invented by the ancient Spartans, is not only unknown to modern Greeks, but also completely incomprehensible. They do everything with passion - they have fun and they grieve. They shout, scream, burst into pompous tirades, furiously curse fate alike over important and not very important circumstances. No feeling is too personal to remain unexpressed. Their passions know no bounds.
Such rampant incontinence often results in a burning need to express oneself in some physical form.
All over the world people dance when they are happy. The Greeks, on the other hand, tend to pour out their deepest pain and heartache in a heart-rending, majestic dance rhythm.
“The devil lives inside me,” explains the Greek Zorba in the novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. “Every time my heart is ready to burst, he orders me: “Dance!” - and I dance. And my pain goes away.”

Indifference

The ice of the well-known indifference of the Greeks to everything related to improvement is organically combined with the red-hot Greek temperament. public life or to any worthy cause.
In colloquial language, the Greeks still call themselves "Romans", since the Greco-Byzantine Eastern Roman Empire continued to exist for another thousand years after the collapse of the Western Empire. The widely used expression "Forget it, brother! I will not risk my neck to save the Roman nation!" indicates the stubborn reluctance of most Greeks to show active interest to anything that lies outside their immediate environment or that will not bring them personal benefit.
There’s even a song about this that ends with the chorus: “And we’re all sitting in a coffee shop - cigars, coffee and cards, and let it be, brother!”

National psychology is a special phenomenon of social life, more precisely, social psychology and includes “psychological traits and properties, the totality of which is designated by the concepts of the mental makeup of a nation or national character.”

National psychology manifests itself in the form of specific ethnic stereotypes, qualities of national character, national self-awareness, national feelings and moods, national interests and orientation, traditions, cultural differences, habits, manifested in the form of national characteristics of the behavior of a person’s mental states as a representative of a particular historical community.

The concept of “national psychological characteristics” is subordinate to the concept of “mental makeup of a nation” (national psychology) as one of the characteristics of a nation.

National psychological characteristics reflect a dynamic trait national psychology. Therefore, studying them acquires important for organization practical activities in the social and political spheres in solving the actual national and general problems of interaction between different groups of the population in society, as well as in developing theoretical problems of nations and national relations.

The difference in national characteristics is revealed in their “actual functioning”, and they are revealed only through a comparative comparison of those as actually existing in public consciousness various nations.

In the structure of national psychological characteristics, four spheres can be distinguished.

Motivational-background characterizes the driving forces of activity of representatives of a particular ethnic community, the originality of its motives and goals.

The intellectual-cognitive sphere determines the originality of perception and thinking of the bearers of the national psyche, records the presence of cognitive qualities in them that are different from those of representatives of other nations and give the opportunity to perceive the surrounding reality in a special way, build models, schemes, use their own methods of mastering it, carry out their transformative activity.

The emotional-volitional sphere of representatives of a particular ethnic group is clearly expressed in the emotional and volitional qualities that they demonstrate in their real behavior, and the effectiveness of people’s activities largely depends on their characteristics.

The communicative-behavioral sphere in determining national psychological characteristics characterizes the relationships between people of specific ethnic communities. And since each ethnic group has its own established norms of relations. This area represents big interest when studying, identifying and determining its differences from other peoples.

The population of Greece has a number of common national, psychological, behavioral, everyday and other traits and characteristics, the origins of which are rooted in the distant past and are the result historical development countries.

Among the national psychological characteristics that characterize the activities of the Greek population, it is first of all necessary to highlight motivational ones. Greeks are proactive and businesslike. They try to solve the problem immediately, without unnecessary coordination and without postponing it for later. One of distinctive features The Greeks are hard working. The origins of this quality go back to the great creations ancient Greece. The hands of the Greek people erected majestic architectural structures in Thessaloniki, Patras, Athens and other cities of the country.

The Greeks are characterized by courage and perseverance. The Greeks showed great heroism when they fought against Turkish rule and against the Nazi occupiers during the Second World War.

In speeches masses The love of freedom of the Greek people and their hatred of the oppressors were manifested against foreign invaders.

Analyzing the intellectual and cognitive characteristics of the Greek population, one should note its innate ingenuity. Nature endowed the Greeks with an inquisitive mind and creative talent. It is no coincidence that Greece gave the world a large number of world famous scientists, philosophers, thinkers, writers, poets, artists, sculptors, architects, such as: Homer, Euripides, Pythagoras, Plato, Socrates, Sophocles, Phidias, Aeschylus, Hespodes, Herodotus, Archimedes, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Hippocrates, Praxiteles and many others.

Among a significant part of the population, admiration for any intellectual and even clerical work prevails.

Most Greeks have a penchant for trading. Many people dream of opening their own business, buying a shop, even the tiniest one. The owner of such a shop will never say that he does not have any goods. He runs to his neighbor, borrows the necessary thing from him, but does not refuse the buyer, so as not to lose his clientele.

A small shop, a handicraft workshop is the business of the whole family. In a serious and careful attitude this property expresses a desire for independence, a desire to get rich, and antipathy to working for a fellow tribesman. While he shies away from being hired by “strangers,” the Greek at the same time willingly works for his relatives.

According to their emotional-volitional and communicative characteristics Greek nation quite different from others. Greeks are an emotional people. By nature, they are extremely sociable, spontaneous in expressing their feelings, experiences and have a sense of humor.

Their characteristic feature is also their lively temperament, which manifests itself, in particular, in the widespread use of gestures in the process of communication. The Greeks love external brilliance and nationality, they always want to be in the center of attention. Many have their own Business Cards indicating the position held and existing merits.

When talking with a Greek, you need to be careful in your expressions, since one harsh word can throw him off balance, especially since many Greeks are distinguished by increased self-esteem. Most Greeks, especially city dwellers, are keenly interested in politics, easily succumb to agitation, and readily participate in demonstrations and rallies.

There is a noticeable difference in the behavior and character of northerners and southerners. Northerners are hardworking, thrifty, witty and sociable. Among them there are many emigrants, including from Russia. It is typical for southerners to be overly developed sense nationalism and panhellenism, they are often more self-interested and less serious about work.

For residents of the interior regions of the country and islands in the Aegean Sea, where there is backwardness, great passivity, and even some kind of downtrodden population.

The Greeks passionately love their land and are proud of its great past, culture and traditions. In their native language, they call themselves “Hellenes,” because, having retained a little in soul and appearance from their great ancestors, they unshakably feel themselves to be their descendants. The average Greek, whether he is a successful businessman, an average office worker or a small shopkeeper, is proud to belong to a once great nation.

Most modern Greeks profess a Russian, but now forgotten proverb: “It’s good outside the cordon, but better at home.” One sociological survey conducted in Athens at the end of 1994 found that 70 out of 100 Greeks surveyed believed that in no other country would they live as well as in Greece. And only 5 out of 100 want to live in the USA. Many Greeks consciously refuse " better life" in other countries. They are based on the following considerations: firstly, a wonderful climate, secondly, excellent conditions for recreation and entertainment, thirdly, low level crime, well, and most importantly - high level human relations. Thus, despite the fact that among the countries of the European Union, Greece has the lowest per capita income, the highest inflation and the lowest labor productivity, Greeks prefer to live in their homeland.

The Greeks have a highly developed sense of local patriotism, in particular, pride and nepotism. In the countryside, a Greek will not pass by a stranger without greeting him and asking how things are going. Regardless financial situation, the Greeks extend their hospitality with extreme pride. Any monetary reward for this on the part of the guest may cause offense to the owner.

Greece has a tradition of so-called “kinship solidarity”. Wealthy man will never allow his relatives to languish in poverty. The following indicator can be given. Approximately a third of Greece's gross national product comes from shadow income. This is a second job, and the real volume of production at private enterprises hidden from tax inspectors, home work, as well as deliberately underestimated earnings of private doctors, lawyers and representatives of other “liberal professions”. As a result, every fourth Greek lives in his own home, and every third drives a personal car.

Peculiar household traditions Greeks, their norms family relations. IN family life The husband behaves tyrannically towards his wife. The Greek is convinced that he has every right to cheat on his wife, but this is not permissible for his wife to do.

According to religious norms, a man can marry no more than 3 times in his life. Weddings are prepared and held in compliance with established rituals. If a young man wants to marry a girl, then when he meets, he puts a wreath on her head, and then sends matchmakers to the bride’s house. If the girl agrees to the marriage, then the groom arranges the engagement, and the bride - dinner party. After this, the groom's friends organize a symbolic abduction of the bride, and then the wedding takes place.

Greek women have significantly limited rights. For the same work as a man, a woman receives less pay. Women are almost not represented in senior management positions. Only in a number of places in villages there is a custom when once a year (January 8) the day of women's omnipotence is celebrated. On this day, the management of public affairs passes into their hands, and men stay at home all day, cooking and washing clothes. If a man leaves the house on this day, he is punished.

A woman has no right to go to work without her husband's consent. If she worked before marriage, she needs her husband's permission to continue working. In Greek law there is only the right of the father. If a mother leaves home with her child without her husband's consent, she is subject to punishment for “unlawful retention” of the child.

Colorful National costumes Greeks Since city clothes are quite expensive, many Villagers continue to wear clothes made from homespun materials. Each Greek region has its own traditional holiday clothing.

Many national psychological characteristics of the Greeks are associated with religion. The church occupies an important place in the life of the population. In Greek villages and towns there are sometimes more churches and chapels than schools. On the island of Mykonos, for example, which has only about 3,000 inhabitants, there are 360 ​​churches and chapels.

Widely celebrated throughout the country Religious holidays. Their ritual side has been adapted over the centuries to serve the interests of ruling circles, masking social inequality, creating illusions among the masses about universal “prosperity”. The largest holidays are Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and others. On religious holidays, mass pilgrimages of believers to “holy places” take place.

The most popular religious holiday, celebrated at the end of December, is Christmas. They prepare for it for a long time and noisily. Workers and employees receive a special Christmas benefit in the amount of one third or half of their monthly earnings. It is paid at the expense of previous deductions, with the goal of encouraging the religious feelings of workers and emphasizing the “humanity” of the owners of enterprises and offices. Christmas service in church begins at 4 a.m. and ends at dawn.

During Christmas celebrations, the tree is not decorated and gifts are not exchanged. Christmas is considered a purely family holiday. On holidays, city residents travel to the islands. In 1994, for example, during the Christmas holidays, about 500,000 people traveled from Athens alone to the “holy places”.

On New Year's Eve, the Christmas tree is decorated, Greeks present each other with gifts, and a New Year's cake is prepared, which is usually entrusted to the guest of honor to cut. On January 1, churches hold festive prayer services.

Epiphany is solemnly celebrated (January 6). In coastal areas, church services end on this day procession to the sea with a symbolic ritual of blessing the water there. In the presence of the congregation, the priest throws a cross into the sea. Young people jump into the water to get it. If there is no sea nearby, then the procedure takes place near a body of water. Parishioners then fill a jug with water here and take it home. On this day, the streets of cities and villages are full of people, music is thundering, and bells are ringing in the morning.

The most popular holiday, creating an atmosphere of illusory “prosperity” even for the poorest, is Easter (April-May). Easter is preceded by a month of fasting. The Easter service begins from Saturday to Sunday. The light barely flickers in the church, and then it gradually plunges into complete darkness, personifying, as it were, the darkness of the grave. At midnight, a priest appears from behind the altar with a lit candle. All the parishioners gradually light the candles from it. When all the candles are lit, the priest and parishioners leave the church, and the service continues in the courtyard, at the entrance to the church. Bells begin to ring, fireworks display, guns fire, ships honk, everyone shouts “Christ is Risen” and waves burning candles. The Easter service in Athens is held with the participation of the country's president, prime minister, senior military and government officials, and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

By tradition, military units have an open day on Easter. An Easter lunch is organized for the soldiers. Relatives are invited to attend, as well as unit veterans, representatives of local authorities, and foreign military diplomats. The President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, commanders speak with congratulations to the military personnel different types armed forces and branches of the military, unit commanders.

Before Easter, workers and employees again receive an Easter benefit in the amount of a month's salary through preliminary deductions. They usually go to visit on Easter. When they meet, everyone congratulates each other with the traditional “Christ is Risen” on breaking the Easter egg.

Easter is celebrated for three days. It coincides with the holding of sports competitions and the demonstration of specially selected films. Traffic controllers on city streets in ceremonial uniforms control traffic from special stands made in the shape of a broken egg. Dance festivals take place everywhere.

In addition to national ones, local religious holidays are also celebrated, which are usually associated with the honoring of mythical heroes or gods, as well as the merits of eminent people included in the “saints”.

Independence Day is celebrated on March 25th. On this day in 1821, the Greeks rebelled against the Turks. During the holiday, military parades, solemn prayers are held in Athens and Thessaloniki, and demonstrations by students are held under chauvinistic slogans. Leaders of the state and armed forces tour nearby military units. In the evening there are mass celebrations.

Okha (No) Day is celebrated on October 28th. It commemorates Greece's rejection in 1940 of the ultimatum of surrender presented to the country by the Italian fascist government of Mussolini. Celebrations are held with the same ideological orientation as Independence Day.

Republic Day is celebrated on June 23 to commemorate the fall of the military junta in 1974.

Most cities in the country celebrate the days of liberation from the Turkish yoke: October 26 - Thessaloniki, June 21 - Kilkis, February 21 - Ioannina, November 7 - Florina. A number of cities and regions celebrate anniversaries of their liberation from German and Italian occupation during the Second World War.

Along with strict observance of all holidays, the Greeks are characterized by a certain ease of behavior. They pay great attention to leisure time. Different segments of Greek society view it differently. On weekdays, men usually spend their free time in taverns in the absence of their wives. On Saturday and Sundays Taverns are most often visited by families. For a Greek, a tavern is a special form of art. This is a kind of center cultural life, as well as recreation for the country's population.

Among the popular entertainments in Greece, games of cards, backgammon and dice are common. Greeks of all classes participate in lotteries organized by both the state and private entrepreneurs.

Television is very popular among the population. Many are avid fans, especially of football and basketball teams.

The basis of Greek food is meat and sea salads. The Greek national dish is kebab souvlaki. It usually serves as the first course. A Greek breakfast usually consists of a cup of black coffee or coffee with milk. Its diet includes a lot of fish, fish products and shellfish, especially shrimp.

The Greek type of dwelling is a two-story stone house with an external staircase leading to the second floor. In the upper part of the house there are living rooms, and in the lower part, as a rule, there are utility rooms, workshops, chicken coops, and often a barn. In a middle-income family, and even more so in a poor family, the rooms are furnished with simple, inexpensive furniture.

Both urban and rural family often consists of representatives of three generations. This is largely due to the high cost of housing and the inability to ensure their existence without the constant support of other family members.

Many Greeks are superstitious. They believe in various signs and slander.

National identity the Greeks are actively exploited and transformed by the ruling circles.

The main place in the content of ideological and psychological treatment of the population is given to the propaganda of Orthodoxy, praise of the existing system in the country, and incitement of nationalism. The “exclusivity” of the Greeks and the “greatness” of their past are emphasized in every possible way. IN Lately In connection with the aggravation of Greek-Turkish contradictions on the Cyprus issue and around the problem of rights to the oil-bearing continental plume of the Aegean Morai, nationalist anti-Turkish propaganda has been widely deployed in the country. Its artificial revival and incitement of nationalism is intended to shift the attention of the masses from internal affairs to external ones, and to distract them from the struggle to resolve the fundamental problems in the country.

In relation to national minorities (Albanians, Turks, Macedonians), the Greek government pursues a policy of oppression and discrimination. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of representatives of national minorities have an unfriendly attitude not only towards those in power, but also towards the Greeks in general.

The ethnocultural characteristics of the Greeks, their ethnic self-awareness are a powerful regulator not only of their organization inner life, but also relations with other peoples and countries.

ABOUT national character We can talk about the Greeks for an infinitely long time and still we will not be able to isolate and separately consider all of its tones and features. After all, the vast majority of the inhabitants of Hellas are by nature bright individualists who have their own view of life and are not afraid to oppose it to public opinion. They are accustomed to defending only their own interests and in most cases are neutral towards any political, economic or cultural events that do not affect their personal little world.

Greek love of freedom

The only thing that no Greek will tolerate is an attack on his freedoms and the freedoms of his country. And this is not surprising, because modern Hellenes inherited the worship of democracy from their great ancestors, who actually invented it more than 25 centuries ago. At the slightest hint of infringement of its rights, this small people turns into a single formidable force, ready to rush at the enemy. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s the Turkish yoke (1821), fascist Italy(1941) or their own government (2010).

Emotionality of the Greeks

Another typically Greek feature, in addition to their love of freedom, can be considered their pronounced emotionality. The Greeks do not accept half measures in the manifestation of feelings. If they rejoice, then from the heart, if they cry, then sobbing, and even the famous thoughtfulness and steadfastness of the Greek fishermen is only confirmation of this feature of their character. After all, only very emotional person can indulge in immersion in his inner world with the same passion with which he would indulge in joy and fun at his own daughter’s wedding.

Greek hospitality

We simply must mention the famous Greek hospitality, which the cheerful Hellenes, in fact, elevated to the rank of reverently revered national tradition. When you arrive in Greece, you will encounter him at almost every turn. The hotel staff will surround you with truly homely care and attention, in the store the owner will take your order with a kind, polite smile, and in the restaurant the manager will, with great joy and pleasure, tell you which dishes from the menu were especially successful for the chef today. If you have friends or business partners in Hellas, and you have to pay them a visit, get ready for a meeting in comparison with which even the vaunted Russian hospitality pales. This will not be just an ordinary dinner, but a real feast, where the tables are crowded with delicious dishes, the wine flows like a river, and there is no end to the dancing and singing.

Well, in conclusion, we will consider two more traits that, being absolutely opposite to each other, coexist surprisingly harmoniously in the character of the Greeks. This is famous Greek piety and no less famous Greek business acumen.

Greeks and religion

Greeks take religion very seriously - they pray regularly and attend church at least once a week for confession and communion. In almost every Greek house you can see a beautiful carved or forged crucifix and a statue of the Virgin Mary, which Greek women consider their intercessor and patroness. When communicating with Greeks, it is better not to joke or philosophize religious themes, since the interlocutor will either simply not understand you or will be very seriously offended.

Greek business spirit

As for the Greek business spirit, it is clearly visible in the vast majority of representatives of this people. The Greeks love to haggle and, without any hesitation, will try to reduce the price of both a cheap product from the market and an elite item from a fashion boutique. In business, the word “unethical” does not exist for them. They would rather condemn a simpleton who did not use his opportunities than a clever swindler who took everything from life without a trace. But with all this, the Hellenes know how to keep their word and always remain faithful to the concluded contracts, so that, having entered into a business partnership with one of them, you can be absolutely sure that he will go to the end and will not leave you in the middle of the road.

Each country can boast of certain peculiarities that have developed after centuries of its earthly presence. But Greece alone represents one great feature. Just look at her way of life, which has not changed much after centuries.

Only the Greeks can say that they know what life is. These are the people who know how to connect with nature and maintain a constant rhythm nightlife simultaneously. There will be entertainment today, and tomorrow will be a new day with its own experiences and joys. In Greece, there is nothing wrong with having excellent entertainment for your entire month's salary. So what if you then have to live for a month without a single coin in your pocket? But what a walk we had! It’s a paradox, but every Greek wants to be rich, but will never try to save money. He would rather buy a new expensive car, fashionable clothes, or a large cottage. All this so that others can see his wealth and his ability to not deny himself anything. Here this is what is called prestige. Even family often comes second to wealth.
The Greeks are an amazing people, in which sentimentality and hot temperament coexist. Even their denial and consent are not the same as what we have become accustomed to since childhood. If a Greek shakes his head from top to bottom, this indicates his agreement, but from bottom to top it is a firm “no” and it sounds like “ooh.” But the Greek pronounces “yes” as “ne”. Complete oppositions. Perhaps it was they who made it possible to preserve local traditions in their original form. After all, without these traditions, Greece is not Greece. Local residents not only protect their own customs from assimilation modern world, but also revive long-forgotten traditions. This feeling is especially pronounced before the holidays, when the Greeks, for example, can remember that they have always been favorable to barrel organs. Not so long ago, this musical instrument served as a kind of symbol of Athens and was among many citizens as an important household item. Nowadays, only rich Greeks install antique barrel organs to decorate their homes.

All Greek life from birth to old age is permeated with all sorts of traditions. It is especially important for every Greek to know folk dances. At least the basics, otherwise he might be branded with disgrace. There is nothing surprising if a Greek gets up from the table and starts dancing. If some thief is mass dance marathon will remain sitting at his table, most will think that he is simply not a real Greek or a visitor. And the most important tradition of Greece is to always remain an eternally young country.
The Greek's lively and charismatic character is evident whenever he is awake. Yes, Sparta introduced such a concept as self-control and self-control, but this not only did not take root in Greece, but also remains incomprehensible to this day. Fun is in every Greek's soul. Social status, financial status and age do not matter. In the face of joy and eternal youth, everyone is equal. Only the Greeks can express pain and sorrow through ritual dance movements. The rest of the world dances only when a person is having fun.
The Greeks are Orthodox Christians, so Easter and Christmas have the greatest scope of celebrations here.
In Greece, addressing unfamiliar people is usually done by last name. When friendships are established, your new friend will usually be the first to ask you to call him by his first name. By the way, the Greeks do not give up their seats on public transport to older people and it is not customary for ladies. In addition, when writing down the address, it is necessary to specify the area, or even better, certain landmarks. The secret is that in Athens the same street names can appear several times in the city. Sometimes taxi drivers don’t know how to get to your street.

Greeks can invite you to visit, but this does not mean that you are going to a banquet. Also, don't take your shoes off and don't be surprised by smoking. These people smoke whatever they like and absolutely everywhere - it’s a tradition. The character of the Greek people lacks punctuality. Even a business meeting can be delayed because one of the parties is simply late. Even the usual “tomorrow” for us, which sounds like “avrio”, means something vague. It could really be the next day, or maybe the Greek makes an appointment for you next month.
The Greeks are constantly on the move, but the climate imposes its own restrictions on human activity. Lunch begins at approximately 2 o'clock in the afternoon and can last as long as an hour. After this, it is time for a nap. A Greek can safely take a nap for 2-3 hours. That. from 2 to 6 pm, and also after 22.00, Greeks call by phone only for very urgent matters.

A Greek restaurant requires tips, a monastery rejects all kinds of summer shorts and miniskirts, because they are from another life. Of course, the Greeks themselves often criticize their customs and argue about the advisability of following this or that rule, but they cannot stand it when foreigners try to do this.
It is also not customary to rush here. You can be late for a meeting, you can also wait a long time for your order in a restaurant, and then the bill. However, this does not affect the promises. If the Greek said so, he will do so, only perhaps a little later.
The Greeks are no strangers to hospitality, so you shouldn’t refuse a treat at village houses. There is a special attitude towards Russian guests here. Russia has more than once helped the Greeks cope with various conquerors, in addition, we have the same religion. Russian tourists leave a lot of money in the local treasury. This includes purchasing expensive jewelry and vacationing at resorts.
Important feature The Greek way of life is the national cuisine. Love for her is not discussed. Moreover, the Greeks love to eat. Most of dishes are prepared using nuts, fish, lemons, lamb, tomatoes, garlic and raisins. Very popular are a kind of cabbage rolls wrapped in grape leaves (dolmates), chir-chir, which is something similar to chebureks and various dishes on a spit. The Greeks drink alyan - a national drink based on sour milk. They also love sweets here.

Special attention is paid here to barbuni sea fish, horiatika salad (chopped vegetables with pieces of cheese), squid (kalamarakia), eggplant (melitsanes), caviar salad sea ​​fish(taramosalat), shrimp (gardes) and gemistes - baked tomatoes stuffed with a mixture of rice and meat.
Wine has been popular in Greece since its inception. The most popular white wines are Cambas, Pallini and Santa Elena. Red wines are represented by the Mafrodafne and Domestika varieties, which are often also white.
In addition, there are local drinks: “Ouzo” is a strong alcoholic drink whose taste is reminiscent of anise; “Raka” and “Mastic”, which is actually processed resin from the mastic tree. The most famous Greek cognac is called Metaxa. Coffee, which is served to guests in a small cup with a glass of plain clean water next to it, is also very popular.
In general terms, Greece is somewhat similar to Russia, so the stay of our tourists in this amazing country turns out to be very comfortable and impressive. In addition, many Russians are not averse to purchasing a house in Greece.

Holidays in Greece ‹ More about Greece ‹ Value system

The value system, behavior, manners and obsession of the Greeks

System of values

We live once!

Greeks know how to enjoy life to the fullest. They want to have a good time and live for their own pleasure here and now, and let tomorrow go to the devil! A Greek can waste a month's salary on one single feast and spend the remaining time before payday penniless, but with a satisfied grin on his face.
The Greeks manage to have fun even in situations that plunge other peoples into deep despondency. Their unbridled optimism is expressed in the common phrase “God willing!” and in the well-known “maybe” concept.
They tell a story about how, during the time of Turkish rule, a Greek made a deal with a qadi (su-
dyey) bet that in a year he will teach his donkey to read and write; in this case, he was supposed to receive a thousand gold coins, and if after a year the donkey remained illiterate, he would lose his head. The Greek borrowed money against future winnings, married a nice girl and lived happily ever after. A friend asked him, “Aren’t you going to do something to train the donkey?” “Bah!” answered the Greek. “In a year, either the donkey or the judge will probably die. They are both so old!”

If I were rich...

The cherished dream of every modern Greek is to get rich as quickly as possible, preferably without lifting a finger. But it would never occur to him to hide his wealth in a box. “After all,” they say, “there are no pockets in a shroud.”
On the contrary, they need money to spend it, and to show it off so that everyone will notice - on sports cars, dazzling jewelry (real, of course), clothes from famous couturiers, fur coats, country houses and baskets of flowers for performers in the nightclubs where they are regular customers. All the rest - successful career, successful marriage, family - comes in second place.
The old Cretan, proclaiming a toast, summed up this dream as follows: “To our future joys, friends! May we be kidnapped by lovely girls - and may we live a short but full life!”

Self-esteem

Philotimo - self-esteem is a value that the Greeks carefully protect and
put above everything else. It implies self-respect, honor, conscience, respect for others, fair play and debt. Usually, appealing to self-esteem can make a Greek rise above his circumstances. Showing disrespect or disregard for Kphilotimo is tantamount to losing face eastern peoples. This is a serious insult that requires revenge.

Behavior

Never throw grandma off the train!

Greek family bonds so strong that you can often find three or even four generations living in the same house, or at least close enough to literally shout to each other.
Despite the Greek "machismo", in eight cases out of ten the wife and mother are the non-nominal head of the family, especially in cities.
Looking at the picturesque photographs of Greek peasant women, loaded with bundles of firewood and obediently wandering behind their husbands, proudly sitting on donkeys, one can assume that the lives of these women are nothing better than life their sisters in Muslim countries. However, like many things in Greece, this appearance is deceiving.
The carefully hidden truth is that most Greek men live under the thumb of women, but they would rather die than admit it. Even middle-aged bachelors who have their own apartments visit their mother almost every day, who will feed them deliciously and iron their shirts impeccably.
For Greeks, a mother's cooking is always the most delicious, and therefore, when choosing a wife, a Greek will look for a girl similar to his mother. After all, the Greek proverb states that a wife is always like a mother-in-law, and Greek women are raised from childhood to be respectable mothers-in-law.
The older generation enjoys traditional respect in the family, even if the time has passed when they held the reins of power in their hands and when the children fulfilled their every whim. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that old people bring pensions into the house (sometimes quite significant), but most likely it is more important: after all, the children received everything from them on a golden platter until they became adults, so now they feel obligated to care for their elderly parents.
Besides, what will the neighbors say if they don't take care of their parents? They will be spoken of as if they had no philotimo at all.

They wouldn't let King Herod get anywhere near it!..

Stay away from Greek kids! Behind their angelic faces hide overfed, spoiled, boastful, demanding fiends of hell. These cute babies will destroy your house faster than a demolition team. Parents may yell at them for the sake of appearances (mainly when everyone else is sleeping sweetly), but they themselves spoil them terribly, yielding to the most reckless demands of their children.
As a result, most children develop all worst qualities Greek character, and none better. Fortunately, healthy competition among peers, higher education, the army, work activity and other harsh realities of life, as a rule, cut them down, and such positive qualities and virtues suddenly appear in them that no one even suspected.
Boys, as more spoiled, are much worse than girls. They should continue family name- therefore, nothing is too good for them, not to mention the old women’s belief that denial of tender age can make a future man impotent. There are spankings, slaps, and terrible threats (“I'll skin you!”), but real discipline is rare.
Greeks adore their children and care for them endlessly until they find a good, stable job or get married. Relationships with parents are rarely broken, no matter what, and certainly do not degrade to the level of polite acquaintance so common in the rest of the Western world.

Other little things

The Greeks are one of the most non-racist nations in the world. If they tell racist jokes, it's because they can't resist the punchline of the story, not because they actually think anything bad of anyone.
The ancient Greeks said: “He who is not a Greek is a barbarian.” But, as the 3rd century BC orator Isocrates said, “we call those who share with us Greeks.” general culture"Modern Greeks think the same way.
There are a lot of foreigners living and working in Greece (half of them illegally); among them are exchange students, political refugees and tourists who came for a week or two to relax, but 10 years later are still hanging out here.
The Greeks do not distinguish between individual ethnic and religious groups - rather, on the contrary, they are ready to bend over backwards to make “others” feel at home. However, this does not mean that the nightclub gatekeeper will let you in if he decides that you have no money or that you can expect trouble.

Dog life

The Greeks cannot be called such animal lovers, although you can often find elderly spinsters spending all their meager savings on a full house of stray cats and dogs. As a rule, keeping pets is a privilege of high society and those who try to imitate them.
The rest reserve their love for those animals that have at least some benefit. But if a Greek gets himself a cat or a dog, he will not allow them to sleep on the bed or run wildly around the house. In big cities, the fear of rabies (no cases of which have been reported for several decades) still forces mothers to warn their children: do not go near “those dirty dogs”!

Greek manners

In their unique interpretation of the word “freedom,” the Greeks often confuse good manners and the obsequious obedience which they were forced to adopt under the Turkish yoke in order to survive. As a result, they believe that politeness is only suitable for slaves.
Add to this an absolute aversion to discipline (which they are taught to do from the cradle), a desire to put everyone in their place, and a general tendency to lower standards (since it is always easier to move down than up) - and it will not surprise anyone that good manners are not are the strongest trait of the Greek character.
Greece does not have a class system with clearly defined boundaries; Different classes mix freely, so bad manners can be found in the most unexpected places. Birth and a good school do not guarantee a position in society, and the concept of a “social upstart” does not exist for the Greeks.
Since the titles of the nobility are prohibited by the constitution, what the Greeks call the upper classes are in fact the nouveau riche of today married to the nouveau riche of yesterday. This rich social dough is leavened with the addition of intellectuals, scientists, artists, senior managers and politicians.
Those few representatives of truly old families who can still afford to move in society decorate this social cake like decorative cherries. But most of the ancient families mentioned in the Venetian Golden Book, whose ancestry goes back to the Byzantine court and whose ancestors were influential landowners and leaders of the past, in financially went down a long time ago. There may be quite a few of them left, but still not many enough to provide positive influence to the unmannered majority.
And so Greek manners are best described as superficial. Handshakes are for getting to know each other only. Friends say “Yia soul” to each other and kiss on both cheeks, regardless of gender or age. Bowing and kissing hands are reserved for priests of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Standing in line is practically an unprecedented experience. Greeks move and drive in an aggressive manner, and their actions are completely free from any concern for the well-being and peace of mind of others. Don't expect to be told "thank you" or "please" or anything resembling punctuality all the time, and don't expect Greeks to remain calm in a crisis. Those who do this will regret it later (if they survive, of course).

At the table

The table manners of the Greeks leave much to be desired. Elbows scurry back and forth, hitting neighboring plates; your neighbor may run into your shoulder in an unequal struggle with a stubborn piece of meat. And even in expensive restaurants it is not considered shameful to gnaw bones. People reach into shared dishes with appetizers and salads with their fingers and dip individual pieces of bread into the common sauce.
At the same time, everyone is chatting and chewing without closing their mouths.
But what the Greeks lack in table manners, they more than make up for good mood and lively sociability. If you have at least a few Greeks at the table, even the most formal dinner is sure to ring with laughter - to the benefit of everyone present.

Greek obsession

The passion for easy money is one of the obsessions of the Greeks, as evidenced by the numerous state lotteries, which create a couple of millionaires every week and at the same time provide the treasury with a decent income. For many Greeks, buying a lottery ticket is as common a habit as reading the morning newspaper, and once they buy a ticket, they begin to daydream about what they will do with all the money they win. This is how they spend their time dreaming until the day of the draw. The day of the draw (and, accordingly, disappointment) comes, and everything starts all over again - they buy new tickets and start dreaming again.
Greece may be a poor country, but most Greeks have more money than they can spend. Money pleases the enormously inflated ego of the new bourgeoisie, and it tries to advertise the amount of money it has with cars, furs and other acquisitions. This innocent desire to show off is understandable - most of the townspeople left their villages for big cities only 50-60 years ago, so their urban mentality has not yet formed - it will take at least two more generations for them to become a real middle class.
The enormous popularity of the soap operas Dynasty, The Bold and the Beautiful and their Greek imitations is matched only by Greek self-doubt. Through such films, they seem to live among all those items of prestige and wealth that they cannot or do not dare afford in real life. Equally popular are game shows, which, with prizes ranging from toasters to cars, quench the Greeks' thirst for easy riches.
One might expect the Greeks to be obsessed with their cultural heritage, but no. They are indifferent to him - as they say, the closer you know, the less you respect. The Greeks remember their famous ancestors only when their fame can serve some practical purpose.
But who they respect most are the heroes of the War of Independence. They are also terribly proud of the fact that in World War II they still continued to fight against the Axis powers, when the rest of Europe had already capitulated: “We no longer say that Greeks fight like heroes, we say that heroes fight like Greeks,” said Winston Churchill.
Greek National holidays- March 25 and October 28 - celebrate victories in these two wars with flags and emotions. The Greeks may be indifferent to classical Hellas, but as soon as anyone questions any of the heritage of their ancestors, modern Greeks will rise one and all to defend this heritage, since they perceive any disregard for their historical past as a personal insult, like infringement of their own philotimo.