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Epitaph
Good Friday. The Epitaphios has already been prepared. Christ is dead. Throughout Greece, as elsewhere in the Orthodox world, his icon, or more precisely his shroud—a large, luxuriously decorated embroidered cloth—is displayed.
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Greeks of Asia Minor and Greeks of Hellas
Otherness and identities during the Greco-Turkish War in Asia Minor (1919-1922) In May 1919, the first Greek soldiers landed in Smyrna. This new episode of Greco-Turkish warfare on the soil of Asia Minor, lasting three years and four months, was part of the political and military continuity of the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and the Great War (1914-1918). It ended with the rout of Greek troops in August-September 1922 and an exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey.
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Frappé coffee
Visitors to Greece of a certain generation, once they arrive at Athens airport, or otherwise on board the first ferry to the islands, order their first frappé coffee. And the adventure begins!
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The Evzones
Who among the visitors to Athens has not sent an illustrated postcard of an Evzone, literally ’the one who wears his belt well’, or has not directly photographed this legendary Hellenic Presidential Guard, traditionally dressed in its short-flared petticoat, fustanelle and its pompom shoes. Emblematic figures of Greek national folklore and at the same time a historical elite body, the Evzones are the appointed epigones of the klephtes, literally the thieves, these bandits – supporters of the Greek War of Independence from 1821 to 1830, liberating the country from the yoke of the Ottoman Empire.
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In the mountain of Pindos
For those in the know, Agrafa remains a mountainous territory—one that, until just a few years ago, was virtually “inaccessible” and, by all accounts, shrouded in mystery. This vast region is brimming with gems perched along its slopes, overlooking rushing waters, narrow valleys, and lakes; their very stones embody the rich regional heritage. Nestled between lakes and mountains, these villages define the unique character of mainland Greece—a blend that is, ideally, a harmonious mix of culture, history, and culinary delights, all set against an extraordinary natural backdrop.
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Balkan Times
Tradition is an action—a way of passing on knowledge, customs, or practices from one generation to the next, whether through speech, writing, gesture, or rhythm. The appropriate Greek term is Parádosi [Παράδοση], which literally means “that which is given” or “handed down.” This applies equally to traditional music and song, as well as to dance, all of which are encompassed by the rich repertoire known in Greece as Dimotikó [Δημοτικό]—in other words, a genre of music that stems directly from what has been transmitted by the démos, or the people.