Greece

GREECE

By Nicolas Kilbourne

What Greece’s Flag Stands What Greece’s Flag Stands ForFor• The cross represents the Greek The cross represents the Greek

Orthodox faith. Orthodox faith. • Blue stands for the sea and sky, Blue stands for the sea and sky,

which are also associated with both which are also associated with both the pagan goddess Aphrodite and the pagan goddess Aphrodite and with the Christian mother of God, the with the Christian mother of God, the Virgin Mary. The shade has varied Virgin Mary. The shade has varied over the years. over the years.

• White symbolizes purity. White symbolizes purity.

Greece’s MapGreece’s Map

Greece’s Physical Greece’s Physical CharacteristicsCharacteristics• 1.) Greece is on the southern part of 1.) Greece is on the southern part of

the Balkan peninsula. the Balkan peninsula. • 2.) Mount Olympus is the largest 2.) Mount Olympus is the largest

mountain in Greece (9570 ft).mountain in Greece (9570 ft).• 3.) Greece is home to a series of 3.) Greece is home to a series of

ancient volcanoes. Most are on ancient volcanoes. Most are on islands, and the latest eruption islands, and the latest eruption occurred in 1950, on the island of occurred in 1950, on the island of Santorini. Santorini.

• 4.) Greece has 3,000 islands but only 4.) Greece has 3,000 islands but only 140 are inhabited.140 are inhabited.

FactsFacts• SocietySociety

– Population-10,787,690 Population-10,787,690 – Life expectancy-78 years (M: 76/F: 81years)Life expectancy-78 years (M: 76/F: 81years)

• EconomyEconomy– developed capitalist country ranking 31developed capitalist country ranking 31st st world wide in world wide in

gross domestic product. However, Greece is in debt and in gross domestic product. However, Greece is in debt and in bad economic trouble.bad economic trouble.

– Most people work in service industries or in manufacturing. Most people work in service industries or in manufacturing. – Currency- Greece is a member of the European Union and Currency- Greece is a member of the European Union and

uses the Euro. It is in debt and economic trouble. uses the Euro. It is in debt and economic trouble. • GovernmentGovernment

– republic with a legislative body called parliament and a republic with a legislative body called parliament and a presidentpresident

– Official Name-Hellenic RepublicOfficial Name-Hellenic Republic

Greece’s CultureGreece’s Culture

• Most of Greece—97 percent—is Christian Most of Greece—97 percent—is Christian Orthodox. The other three percent are Orthodox. The other three percent are Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Jewish.Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Jewish.

• Greece's official language is Greek, with 2 Greece's official language is Greek, with 2 or 3 percent speaking Macedonian, or 3 percent speaking Macedonian, Albanian, or Turkish.Albanian, or Turkish.

• Greek literature includes poetry, myths, Greek literature includes poetry, myths, drama, philosophy, history, and travel drama, philosophy, history, and travel books.books.

Greece’s Customs and Greece’s Customs and TraditionsTraditions• 1.) Some Greeks believe that spitting chases the devil 1.) Some Greeks believe that spitting chases the devil

and misfortune away. That is why when someone talks and misfortune away. That is why when someone talks about bad news, the others slightly spit, saying three about bad news, the others slightly spit, saying three times “ftou, ftou, ftou.” times “ftou, ftou, ftou.”

• 2.) In Greece the unlucky day is Tuesday the 13th and 2.) In Greece the unlucky day is Tuesday the 13th and not Friday the 13th.not Friday the 13th.

• 3.) Most Greeks are named after a religious saint. A very 3.) Most Greeks are named after a religious saint. A very important Greek tradition that takes place is that important Greek tradition that takes place is that everyone who has a name coming from a saint everyone who has a name coming from a saint celebrated by the church celebrates his name on a celebrated by the church celebrates his name on a given day of the year. On the name day of someone, his given day of the year. On the name day of someone, his friends and family visit him without invitation and offer friends and family visit him without invitation and offer their wishes as well as small presents. The hostess of their wishes as well as small presents. The hostess of the house offers pastries, sweets, and hors d’oeuvres to the house offers pastries, sweets, and hors d’oeuvres to the guests. In Greece, name days are more important the guests. In Greece, name days are more important than birthdays.than birthdays.

My Favorite Greek Food: My Favorite Greek Food: DolmadesDolmades

• Mix onions, ground beef, Mix onions, ground beef, lemon, minestra, fresh lemon, minestra, fresh mint and dill weed, mint and dill weed, lemon, etc. lemon, etc.

• Wash grape leavesWash grape leaves

• Flatten the grape leaf Flatten the grape leaf on a plateon a plate

• Fill with some of the Fill with some of the mixturemixture

• Turn in the ends and rollTurn in the ends and roll

• Cook in a large pot with Cook in a large pot with the juice from the grape the juice from the grape leaves.leaves.