Family & Name Day

The family is sacred in Greece — and that's no exaggeration. Children often live with their parents until marriage (and sometimes beyond), grandparents are an integral part of child-rearing, and Sunday family meals are not optional but mandatory. "Where is your family?" is one of the first questions a Greek will ask you.

The dowry (Prika) still exists unofficially: parents traditionally buy the daughter an apartment or house before she marries. In an economic crisis with skyrocketing real estate prices, this is increasingly unrealistic — a social powder keg.

Children are welcome everywhere in Greece — in restaurants, cafes, taverns, even late at night. Greek children eat with the adults, stay up until midnight, and are pampered by everyone present. "Child-friendly" is not a characteristic of a restaurant — it is the normal state.

The name day (Onomastiki Eorti) is more important than the birthday in Greece. Every day in the orthodox calendar is dedicated to one or more saints. If your name is Giorgos (George), you celebrate on April 23; Dimitris on October 26, Maria on August 15. On the name day, one hosts at home, offers sweets and drinks, and friends drop by without being invited. The name day child treats — not the other way around! If your colleague says "Tomorrow is my name day," bring a small gift (or invite them to dinner).

About 60% of Greeks are named after one of only ten saints: Giorgos, Dimitris, Kostas, Giannis, Nikos, Maria, Eleni, Katerina, Vasilis, and Panagiotis. This makes name days almost national holidays — on May 21 (Konstantinos/Eleni), it feels like half of Greece is celebrating.