Greece is famous for its many important archaeological sites and ancient monuments. It is a small country with a total population of about 10 million people. The most popular tourist site in Athens is The Parthenon. The Parthenon is a temple to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, built in 438 B.C….
Category: Greek Culture for Kids
Greek Culture for Kids
Greek Traditional Music and Instruments
Greek music and dance have a very long history. In ancient Greece, music was performed to accompany poetry or plays. Some Greek folk dance rhythms are taken from the poetic metre from ancient dramas. During Christian times and up until the present, instrumental music, dance and song have been important parts in special events…
Greek Culture for Kids
Common Greek Surnames
Throughout history, ancient Greeks did not have official last names, but they did have some patronymic characteristics (i.e., Achilles was Achilles Pileidis from his father Pileas). “Patronymics” means that Greek surnames usually come from the first name of the father of the family. So if someone’s last name is Demetriou, that means that the…
Greek Culture for Kids
Greek Common Names
Greek children do not celebrate birthdays instead they celebrate their “name day”. Their name day is the day of the Greek Orthodox saint they were named after. Traditionally, the eldest child in a Greek family is named for one of their grandparents. Popular Girls’ Names Maria Eleni Aikaterini Katerina Vasiliki Basiliki Sophia Angeliki…
Greek Culture for Kids
Greek Fashion
Much of today’s fashionable clothing was once simple clothing worn by ancient Greeks. In Ancient Greece people wore outfits made from one piece of fabric with holes cut out for the head called the peplos and chiton. The peplos was sleeveless and the chiton covered part of the arms. In colder weather, people…
Greek Culture for Kids
Greek Fun Facts
Greece is one of the oldest cultures in Europe. Ancient Greek culture has had a strong influence on the government, the arts and ideas for the western world. The Greeks had the first democracy in the world. They were the first people to have an alphabet. In fact the word “alphabet” comes from…
Greek Culture for Kids
Hopscotch to Craps; Traditional Greek Children's Games
CRIPPLING: The children rule a rectangle on the cement and using parallel lines , they divide it into 4 parts , the stairs. The first 3 should be equivalent to one another , but the last one is about 3x bigger than the others and it is called king. The children number the…
Greek Culture for Kids
Greek Customs and Etiquette: Warm and Inviting Hospitality
Greeks are much known for their hospitality. They are warm, kind, and welcoming people. It’s not uncommon to be a visitor and be invited to some kind of family outing, or to a home for tea and coffee. To say hello, you may be offered food of various types, and if they offer…
Greek Culture for Kids
Historical Greek Figures
Alexander the Great Alexander the Great was born in 356 B.C. in Pella, Macedonia. He was born to parent’s Philip of Macedon, who was a superior Army General and organizer and his mother was Olympias, princess of Epirus. When Alexander the Great turned 20, he gathered forces in Greek Cities in Corinth that…
Greek Culture for Kids
Easy Greek Recipes, History of the Olympics and the Greek Alphabet, and More
Greek Games; Children’s Traditional Games in Greece CRIPPLING: The children rule a rectangle on the cement and using parallel lines , they divide it into 4 parts , the stairs. The first 3 should be equivalent to one another , but the last one is about 3x bigger than the others and it …