Greece

By: Jon Apostolopoulos

Where is it?Located in southeastern EuropeGreece is 1,500 miles from England.

Here it is

The Greek Flag

Islands1400 islands of Greece227 are inhabited. Only 78 islands have more than 100 inhabitants.

Who lives here?Population 10,722,816 (July 2008 est.) Age structure:0-14 years: 14.3% (male 789,137/female 742,469) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,101/female 3,575,572) 65 years and over: 19.1% (male 898,337/female 1,149,200) (2008 est.) Median age:total: 41.5 years male: 40.4 years female: 42.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:0.146% (2008 est.) Birth rate:9.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Death rate:10.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Net migration rate:2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

What's the weather like?Greece has mild winters and very hot, dry summers cooled by seasonal breezes known as 'meltemia'. Snow can fall in the mountainous regions in winter. Winter is the wettest season and rain is unlikely between June and August.

What is spoken?The main/official language is GreekModern Greek is the officially used language, but there are several non-official dialects spoken as well.Standard Greek is the only official language of the Hellenic Republic, and is spoken by some 99% of the population

The Greek island of Crete, home to Cretan, one of the largest spoken Greek dialects.

So…What is it known for?Greece is known for it's beautiful beaches and seas, a variety of foods (olives, feta cheese, souvlakis) and it's ancient culture.It is a great vacation spot.It has boomed in market value and tourist hot spot in the last 20 years.Greece is also well known for its sculptures, paintings, pottery, poetry and playwriting.

What are the religious views?The Greek population is composed of a 97% of Christian Orthodox. The rest of the population is Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish. Greece (and the Greek Islands) and Russia are the only countries to have such a great proportion of people that belong to the Orthodox Church.

What are the customs?There are many customs spanning from superstition to religion.

(See next 2 slides)

BaptismBaptismal day is one of the most important days in the life of a Greek orthodox. Sacrament of Baptism usually occurs the first year after the baby is born. The baby is called baby and doesn’t have a name until it is baptized.The baby is undressed and wrapped in a white towel. Then the priest blesses the water of the baptismal font and adds olive oil brought by the godparents. He then immerses the baby three times in the blessed water, saying the chosen name (usually the same as the grandmother’s or the grandfather’s name). The baby receives the sacrament from the priest who blesses the baby with “myrrh” (olive oil blessed by the Patriarch) as well as the baby’s clothes. Then, the baby is dressed with white clothes and the priest puts a gold chain with a cross on the baby’s neck and gives the baby its first Holy Communion.At the end of the ceremony, the parents kiss the godparent’s hands and receive the guest’s wishes: “na sas zisei” (long life to your baby).The ceremony is followed by a celebration at the family’s

EasterEaster is the more important celebration for the Greeks, even more than Christmas.Women dye eggs in red, godparents buy news shoes, clothes and a candle to the kids and, in villages, the exterior of the houses and the streets are whitewashed.During Good Friday, the day of mourning, the Epitaphio, the tomb of Christ with its icon, decorated with thousands of flowers, is taken out of the church and carried away through the village or the neighbourhood (in the big cities) to the cemetery followed by a slow procession. At the cemetery everyone lights a candle for the dead; then, the Epitaphio with its procession returns to the church where the believers kiss the image of the Christ.During the night of the Holy Saturday (Megalo Savato), everybody dresses well and goes to the church where a ceremony is hold. Just before midnight, the priest turns off all of the churches’ lights, symbolizing the darkness and silent of the tomb; at midnight, the priest lights a candle from the Eternal Flame, sings “Christos Anesti” (Christ arises) and offers the flame to light the candle of the people that are the closest to him. Everyone passes the flame one to another while the priests sing the Byzantine Chant Christos Anesti. Then, everyone goes out of the church to the streets. The church’s bells ring continuously and people throw fireworks. People say one to another “Christos Anestis”, to which the reply to is “Alithos Anesti” (indeed he has rise).People go home and share with their families the Resurrection Meal which consists of Mayiritsa (a lamb’s entrails soup), Tsoureki (Easter cake) and Easter biscuits.The following day, Easter Sunday, is spend in family around a meal consisting of roasted lamb (turned over open pits), various appetizers and a lot of wine and ouzo. Everybody dances and celebrates until late in the night.

123 and ABC’sLiteracy (2003)

 • Men • Women 97.5%98.6%96.5% Enrollment Rate1,426,175

 • Primary 786,025  • Secondary 360,248  • Post-secondary 276,902

Education is similar to education here in the U.SThere are both Greek and American schools

What to do?In their spare time:sleepgo to the beachshoppingsports (soccer is widely popular)boating

What’s grown?Local grown crops:-Olives-Zucchini-Tomatoes-Lettuce-Peppers-Cucumbers-Fish-Squid-Octopus -Oregano-Mint-Garlic-Dill-Onion

What’s to Eat?Very diverse dishes Typical Mediterranean foodTypically 3 meals a day (morning, afternoon, night)

Some Common dishes/food:-Olive Oil (used in MANY dishes-staple ingredient)-Greek salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, olive oil, olives, oregano)Spanakopita (Greek spinach pastry) Tiropita (Greek cheese pie/pastry)Saganaki (Greek grilled/fried cheese)Calamari (fried/grilled Greek squid)Dolmathes (stuffed grapevine leaves)Gyro (Greek sandwich consisting of meat roasted on a vertical rotisserie)

Olive Oil

Tiropita

Greek Salad

Spanakopita

Saganaki

Almond Paste Cookie with CherryBaklava

Loukoumades

Halva

Kataifi

Lets check it out!

Bibliography

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/gr.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttp://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Greece/Climate/http://www.greeka.com/greece-traditions.htmhttp://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi