Greece+-+Culture

media type="youtube" key="ZTpAgAcbgSk" height="308" width="506" align="right" Greece is a country of vast culture. Influenced by its location and famous history, Greece has become culturally known for their traditions, religion and music.

__Traditions and Culture __
//Name Day Celebration:// Many people in Greece are named after religious saints. Everyone who does have a name coming from a saint is celebrated by the church on their own special day. On your "Name Day" you are visited by friends and family who come to wish you the best as well as bring small gifts. These days are usually more important than birthdays!

//Marriage:// There are many marriage traditions in Greece. The father of the bride offers the new couple a home as a wedding gift. Before the wedding the bride is kept secret from the groom by her female friends and family. After the wedding the guests throw rice and almond candy coated in white sugar called ta koufeta. Everybody then makes their way to the wedding reception, usually held at a restaurant where guests drink and dance the night away. Newly married Greek couples usually depart for their honeymood immediately after the reception.

//Knives:// Greeks never hand knives to one another. If this is done they consider it to be a gesture to fight. Instead they place the knife on a table and let the other person pick it up.

//Tuesday the 13th:// Unlike Western beliefs, Tuesday the 13th is considered to be an unlucky day, rather than Friday the 13th.

__Religion __
 97% of the people in Greece are classified as Christian Orthodox. Greece also houses Muslims, Roman Catholics, and Jews. Religion is a very big part in Greek life. The Orthodox Church is present in school systems, as well as a morning prayer and religion classes. The Orthodox Church also has a roll in the political system. If they don't like a certain policy or rule being implemented, they usually have the power to change it.

__Music __
 Greek music is very diverse due to their long history or songs, poetry and dancing. Common types of Greek music include:
 * //Greek Folk Songs (Dimotiko Tragoudi):// Love, wedding, freedom, or death and sorrow songs. Played with instruments such as bagpipes, drums, violin, and tambourines.
 * //Cantadha:// A romantic serenade sung with three male voices.
 * //Nisiotika:// A popular island song with violin, clarinet, and guitar, accompanied by high-pitched women's voices and low-pitches male voices.