Greece is a wonderful country that stole our hearts. It has a fascinating history and incredible landscapes. Plus, it's full of fun facts! For example, did you know that its inhabitants are quite superstitious? In this post we tell you 20 surprising curiosities of Greece to get to know the country a little better.
What does the Greek flag mean?
The nine lines on flag represent nine syllables of the national motto: “Eleftheria i Thanatos” (Freedom or Death). The blue recalls the color of the sky and the sea, while the white symbolizes the purity of the fight for freedom. The corner cross represents the traditional Greek Orthodox church.
Greek is the oldest language still in use
According to archaeological findings, Greek is the oldest living language. It has been used for about 5,000 years and has been very influential for other modern languages such as Spanish or English. Lots of words have Greek roots. Despite having only 11 million inhabitants in Greece, more than 14 million people speak Greek around the world.
There is a large Greek colony in Australia
According to the Australian census, Melbourne has over 150,000 inhabitants of Greek descent. Therefore, it is the city outside of Greece with the most inhabitants of that nationality. One of the most surprising curiosities of Greece, why did so many Greeks go to the other side of the world? The reason was the Australian gold rush, which attracted thousands of citizens from around the world.
Greece has thousands of islands
When planning a trip to Greece, one of the most difficult things is deciding which islands we want to visit. What if we told you that there are more than 3,000 islands? Of course, only about 150 are inhabited. We visited Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes and Santorini (which has been awarded as the best island in the world by a lot of publications).
It is the only country in the world where tourists triple the number of inhabitants
With only eleven million inhabitants, Greece receives about thirty million tourists every year. In fact, tourism constitutes almost 20% of Greece's gross domestic product. It is the only country in the world to get tourists to triple its population if we exclude Luxembourg, Cyprus and Malta (which have less than a million inhabitants).
The original Santa Claus was Greek
One of the nicest curiosities of Greece is that the figure of Santa Claus was born there. That thing about it coming from Finland is a lie! Legend has it that a Greek priest started this tradition of giving gifts for Christmas in the 4th century. He put coins in the shoes of those who left them outside the home to help the most disadvantaged. Unlike the current Santa Claus, he had brown skin, brown eyes, and was slim.
Greece is the world leader in sponge production
Greece is the country that produces the most marine sponges. In addition to sponges, they also produce tons of olives. It is even said that there are trees from the 13th century that still produce olives. One of the curiosities of Greece with more Mediterranean flavour.
The name of Greece does not have Greek origin, but Roman
The official denomination of the country is the Hellenic Republic, although it is usually abbreviated as Hellas. But, in the rest of the world everyone talks about Greece. It is a word that derives from the Latin Graecia, which means "land of the Greeks". That name was created during the period of Roman occupation.
Be careful when greeting!
Do not even think about opening your fingers when greeting. That gesture of opening the palm of the hand with the fingers apart (called a moutza) is considered an insult. So, if you must indicate the number five or say hello, do it with your fingers together.
Greece is the sunniest country in Europe
With an average of 250 sunny days each year, Greece is the country with the best climate in Europe. It is also easy to find hotels at a very good price throughout the country to have a luxury vacation.
The Greeks are very superstitious with the evil eye
Some of the curiosities of Greece are closely related to superstitions. Most people fear the evil eye, a curse from someone with envy, jealousy, or anger. To ward off the bad luck that the evil eye can cause, many Greeks wear a blue eye as an amulet. That is why you will see them in all kinds of products: jewellery, bags, key chains, t-shirts.
The blue of the roofs is no coincidence
Many roof tops in Greece are blue and it is not aesthetic, but superstition. In theory, blue drives away evil. Therefore, in the streets of Oia, the most beautiful village in Santorini, you will be well protected.
You eat a cake with a coin inside to start the year, one of the curiosities of Greece
Greeks ring in the new year by eating a cake. It is called Vasilopita in honor of Saint Basil, which is celebrated on January 1. It has a peculiarity: there is a coin hidden inside the mass and the person who finds it in his portion will have good luck during the coming year.
Soldiers have always worn very cumbersome suits
The uniform of the Evzones consists of a felt hat, a shirt, a vest, a skirt with 400 pleats, tasselled leggings, and huge shoes with a tassel. If that sounds like too much, how about the 33kg of Armor worn by soldiers in Ancient Greece? They have never been short!
Greek women rule the roost
The Greek population is dominated by women. There is 55% of Greeks against 45% of Greeks. In addition, about 65% of university students are also women. So, the future of the country is in female hands
The Olympic Games were born in Greece
It is one of the most famous curiosities of Greece, but we could not forget it. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 at Olympia, north of Athens. They were a tribute by athletes to Zeus, the god of the sky and the leader of all divinities. Interestingly, the first Olympic winner was a cook named Coroebus, who won the athletics event.
The ancient Olympic Games stopped being held in 393, when the Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned them. In 1896 they were taken up again in their modern version and the chosen place was (of course) Athens.
Athens is the cradle of civilization
The city of Athens has been inhabited for 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe. In addition to this milestone, democracy, philosophy, political science, Western literature and mathematical principles, among many other disciplines, were born there.
The Greeks are very familiar
Nursing homes are almost non-existent in Greece. Older people often die cared for by their family in the children's home. Young people find it difficult to leave home. People start living togethaer only if they are married.
Coffee is the national drink
Greece has a true passion for coffee. Whether you go in winter or summer, you will surely end up drinking litres of coffee. In summer the terraces are filled with "Greek frappés", which is a traditional iced coffee covered with foam.
Do not miss it!
Greece is the place where you can enjoy the most. People from all over the world join art, cultural, educational and performing tours of Greece. I recommend you visit this piece of land once in your life.
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As you walk by the major archaeological sites and streets lined up with houses and mansions, you will have an impression of walking with the time machine.
Ancient monuments, big and small churches, remnants of Ottoman period, museums, cafes, bars and shops selling traditional Greek products will pave your way as you walk down narrow cobbled streets.
DELPHI THEATRE: Built along the slope of Mount Parnassus, this ancient theatre is another alluring archaeological site of Greece.
This theatre includes the Sanctuary of Apollo and gives audience a spectacular view of the entire sanctuary and the olive valley below.
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