Greek Cypriot Culture
Family:
Family is very important in Greek society; either by blood or even marriage - when a relative marries someone that person becomes your koumbaro (for men) or koumbara (for women). Also, businesses are usually family run.Food:
One of the most important things in Greek culture; famous Mediterranean food. Greek love to use fresh ingredients such as garlic, onions, fennel, zucchini, grapes, dates, figs and herbs (dill, mint and oregano). Meat is also a very important part of their diet; every Sunday families gather together for Souvla (basically a barbecue) Food in tavernas are usually meze based meaning a variety of small portions of different types of food is served (usually over 20 different dishes) or there is also the famous Ouzeri where you are brought typically light food such as greek sasuges (pastourma) and halloumi to eat as you drink Ouzo.
Typical Greek Cypriot food:
- tzantziki
- octopus
- dolmades (which is grape leaves filled with rice and beef)
- kalamari (fresh squid soaked in lemon juice)
- cheese pies (tiropitakia - people usually take a box when they go to someones house)
- saganaki (fried cheese)
- Xoriatiki Salata (village salad) - fresh tomoatoes, olives, cucumber, onion, green peppers and feta drizzled in olive oil and oregano
- Melitzanosalata - eggplant puree with olive oil and chopped garlic
- Taramosalat - fish eggs
- Mousake - potatoes, eggplants, beef and cream
- Pastitsio - spaghetti, biff, minced meat and bechamel sauce
- Paidakia (lamb chops)
- Kokoretsi - wrapped and roasted entrails of lamb
- Keftedakia - meatballs with garlic and break
- Meat is usually served with boiled wild greens, olive oil, sat and lemon, mixed with roast potatoes, eggplants, onion, garlic and olive oil (usually on a Sunday)
- Avgolemono - soup with eggs, lemon and chicken (always make it when you are sick - supposedly will make you feel better)
- Psarosoupa (fish soup)
- fassolada - white bean soup with parsley
- Fakies - lentil soup
- Easter soup - lamb entails, avgolemono sop
- patsa - tripe soup and is considered as a hangover cure in the greek society
Greek Cypriot Drinks
- Zivania (tademark of Cyprus)
- Ouzo (most famous; considered the trade mark of Greece) - must mix with ice and (optional) water
- Tsipouro - many villages will make their own which is much stronger and then its called raki
- Mavrodafni - sweet, thick dark wine made in Patras for Holly Communion (when you go to church everyone has to stand in line and get a spoonfull of it by the priest)
- wine (white, red or rose) usually served in karafes
Engagement
Even though this is not practiced by many people today, the majority of villages in Cyprus and far away ones in Greece still do it. Before a couple gets engage, the man must ask the father for his permission to marry his daughter. Once everything is agreed, the priest is invited to bless the engagement rings and are then worn on the left ring and people come by the house to wish them Kala Stephana (Good crowns or Good Marriage) and I ora I kali (that the good hour of the marriage comes)Marriage
This is still very much practiced in the Greek society. The bride has a dowry made by her mother, grandmother and aunts. This usually consists of sheets, towels that have hand made embroideries and the father of the bride tends to buy a house for the newly married couple (furnished).On the day of the weddings, the bride is kept hidden (then the best man and best women usually referred to as Koumbaro and Koumbrao) give the wedding rings to the priest, cross the crowns (stephana) three times and place them on the couples head. One they are declared married the guest throw rice and almond candy in white sugar (koufeta) at the new married couple. Then ones at the reception hall the guest cue u to kiss and tell the couple and their parents na zisete (long life to you) and they give them money which is in an envelope.
Christening
Carnival
Also know as Apokries. Two weeks long and is from the Sunday of Meat Fare and it ends with the start of Lend (Clean Monday). People wear costumes and part in the streets throwing coloured confetti to each other. It is believed that it has pagan roots and originates from the old festivities worshiping Dionysus, the God of Wine.Celebrations
Greek Indepence Day - celebrate Greece's liberation form the Ottoman empire 25th March 1821
Oxi Day (No Day) - October 28th. Greeks celebrate the day Metaxas (a general) said no to the Italians wanting to invade our country.
Superstitions
- Bread - in the villages bread is considered a gift from God, women bless the bread with a cross sign with cutting it
- Evil Eye - someone can catch the evil eye or matiasma from someone who is jealous or envious of them. To avoid the evil eye, you must wear a blue marble bracelet with an eye on it. Also, people hang garlic in their homes to keep it away
- Knives - never hand a knife to someone as it is believed that a fight will then start between them, therefore it is placed on a table and the other person takes it
- Priest - it is custom to kiss his hand in respect
- Spitting - greeks spit on you three times to chase the devil away saying 'ftou ftou ftou'
- Tuesday 13th is an unlucky day, also Tuesday is considered the unluckiest day because its the day that The Ottoman Turks took Constantinople from Greece. Furthermore, it is considered bad luck to do house work on Sunday.
- Piase Kokkino (touch red) when someone says something at the same time it means they will start a fight or an argument, therefore to stop the bad luck from happening they both have to touch red
http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/national-traditions/greek-tradition3.htm
http://www.cyprus101.com/Cypriot_Food/page_1989934.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexandra-popken/its-all-greek-to-me-what-it-means-to-celebrate-orthodox-easter_b_7022256.html
http://www.cyprus101.com/Cypriot_Food/page_1989934.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexandra-popken/its-all-greek-to-me-what-it-means-to-celebrate-orthodox-easter_b_7022256.html
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