Kathara Deftera & Koulouma in Saronida

Yesterday it was Clean Monday and we decided to go for the traditionally picnic and kite flying, even if the weather really didn´t look good!

We ended up in Saronida, by the sea.




Igår var det Kathara Deftera - Rena måndagen - och vi bestämde oss för att göra den traditionella utflykten med picnic och drakflygning, trots att vädret verkligen inte såg nådigt ut!

Vi stannade i Saronida, vid havet.

There were quite many benches there, so we used one of them like picnic table...!

Det fanns många bänkar där, så vi dukade upp vår "Rena måndagen" picnic på en utav dem...!

(It was printed SARONIDA on the benches, and here I played a little with a photo...)
(På parkbänkarna var det stämplat Saronida, och härovan har jag lekt lite med ett fotografi...)

After all the weather was really nice for kite flying! It was a little wind, and not cold at all. We even got to see the sun, and very few rain drops... The string of our super kite is 350 meters and it was all the way up during the whole time we were there. Here it´s on its way down. It took us 35 minutes to get it down...!

Vädret var faktiskt väldigt passande för drakflygning! Det var lagom med vind, och inte alls kallt. Vi fick se lite sol och några få regndroppar... 

Vår superbra drake har ett 350 m långt snöre och draken virvlade högst upp hela tiden vi var där. Här håller vi på att hala in den. Det tog 35 minuter...!

Kali Sarakosti!!!
Maybe of interest Clean Monday, Koulouma & Sarakosti

Vers om moderskärlek - C.Vasilakis - Verse about maternal love

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Häromdagen var jag på en liten föreläsning som hölls här i Glyfada. Bl.a läste författaren Charalambos Vasilakis upp en en kort berättelse han skrivit på fri vers inför Morsdag idag. Ja, liksom i många andra länder är det Morsdag i Grekland idag.

Alla besökare fick generöst nog ett exemplar av häftet "Παράθυρο στην ποίηση της μητρικής αγάπης" - "Fönster till poesin om moderskärleken".

Det är en rörande berättelse om en mamma som gör allt för att hitta sitt försvunna barn. Än mer rörande då författaren och hans fru förlorat en son i en trafikolycka.

Jag tycker mycket om teckningen på häftet! Undrar vem som är konstnären?

The other day I was on a small lecture here in Glyfada, where among other things the writer Charalambos Vasilakis was reading a short story he had written thinking of Mother's Day today. Like in many other countries it's Mother's Day in Greece today.

All visitors were generously given a copy of the booklet "Παράθυρο στην ποίηση της μητρικής αγάπης" - "Window to the poesy of maternal love".

It's a touching story about a mother who does everything possible to find her missing child. Even more touching as the author and his wife have lost a son in an accident.

I like very much the drawing on the booklet! I wonder who is the artist?

Fick syn på denna fantastiskt fina målning av en afrikansk kvinna med sitt barn av Jonene Ficklin.

Happened to see this beautiful painting of  an African woman with her child in her arms by Jonene Ficklin. Lovely, isn't it?!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day! ♥

Credits:
Picture of painting with the African mother with child from the artist's - Jonene Ficklin's - blog: The wonderful obsessions

Varför firas Första maj i Grekland? Why is 1st of May celebrated in Greece?

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Jag fick en fråga av min bloggvän Babbi om varför man firar Första maj i Grekland.

Dels är det ju även i Grekland strejkdag för alla arbetare. Det är den Internationella arbetardagen med allmän strejk samt demonstrationer.

I år var det en lugn demonstration i Atens centrum med ca 15.000 demonstranter och årets budskap var "Aldrig mer arbetslös Första maj".





I got a question from my blog friend Babbi why May day is celebrated in Greece.

Also in Greece May day is the workers day and noone employed goes to work. It's the International worker's day with general strike and demonstrations.

This year it was a peaceful demonstration in the center of Athens with about 15.000 people taking part. The message 2014 was "Never again unemployed May Day".

Picknick ute i det gröna och kransbindandet av blommor är en gammal sed som härstammar från hedendomen. De gamla grekerna firade dagen som vårens första dag, medan den numera firas som sommarens första dag.

Men det är inte denna gamla tradition som gör att man är ledig. "Πρωτομαγιά δεν είναι αργία, είναι απεργία!" hör man sägas då och då. Det betyder "Första maj är inte en helgdag, det är strejk" och det rimmar på grekiska.

Picnic out in the nature and the binding of flower wreaths is an old custom originated from paganism. The ancient Greeks celebrated May 1st like the first day of spring, while it's celebrated like the first day of the summer nowadays.

This old custom is not the reason people aren't working this day though. "Πρωτομαγιά δεν είναι αργία, είναι απεργία!" meaning "May day is not a holiday, it's a strike!". In Greek it's rhyming.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

Maybe of interest:
Första maj i Grekland
May day in Greece

Credits:
Top pic from newslog.gr

Klidonas i Kaisariani - Klidonas in Kaisariani

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När jag skrev om Förstamajfirandet i förrgår kom jag ihåg att jag aldrig skrev om då vi var och tittade på Klidona-firandet i Kaisariani (en österförort till Aten)den 23 juni förra sommaren.

Kvinnor och en man i traditionella dräkter dansade runt elden av Förstamajkransar.

When I wrote about the May day celebration yesterday I remembered I never wrote about when we went to the "Skopeftirio" of Kaisairani (suburb east of Athens)June, 23rd last summer  to see the Klidona celebration.

Women and one man in traditional costumes were dancing around the fire made of the floral wreaths from the 1st of May.

Många hoppade över elden, enligt traditionen! Förr trodde man att man då blev av med loppor och löss...! Dessutom kunde (kan...?!) ogifta se ansiktet på deras framtida maka/make framträda i lågorna.

Many were jumping over the fire, as of the tradition! At old times people thought you got rid of fleas and lice by doing this. You could (can...?!)also see the face of your future husband/wife if you were unmarried.

Den förseglade lerkrukan med de unga, ogifta flickornas personliga saker. På den här festen var det små lappar med "mantinades" (små rim, oftast mycket träffande)i krukan.

The sealed ceramic pot which is supposed to be filled with the young, unmarried girls' personal things. At this festivity there were small notes with "mantinades" (short rhyming poems, most often very apposite)in the pot.

Allt till levande musik förstås! Helt självklart på grekiska fester!

Live music of course! A Greek "glenti" (γλέντι = festivity)without Live music doesn't exist!

Opa!

Klidonas - Greek midsummer
Klidonas - Grekisk midsommarafton

Första maj i Grekland - May day in Greece

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Valborgsmässoafton firas inte i Grekland, men det är klart att det är mycket uteliv eftersom folk är lediga dagen därpå.

Första maj firas! Här var det underbart väder, så det var människor överallt.

Alla kafeterior och tavernor jobbade för högtryck här i Glyfada.

Det är tradition med picknick Första maj, så även på stranden var det många med picknickkorg.




May day is celebrated in Greece, not only with demonstrations... People are going out in the nature having picnic and making floral wreaths.

We had wonderful weather yesterday so it was people everywhere. All cafeterias and restaurants in Glyfada were very busy.

En så'n här picknickkorg vill jag ha!!! Inte en ful väska..! :)
I want a picnic basket like this one!!! Not an ugly bag..!:)

Man går ut i naturen och myser och plockar blommor och gör kransar både till håret och till att hänga upp hemma vid dörren eller på balkongen.

The flower wreaths are sometimes worn on the head, but they will always be put up by the entrance door or on the balcony.

Några sålde kransar i parken för 2 €/st. Den här typen är den jag mest förknippar med Förstamajkrans i Grekland.

Some women were selling flower wreaths in the park for 2 €. This kind I associate the most with May 1st in Greece.

Underneath: Our flower wreath became like this! Now it's hanging by the door and there we will leave it until June, 23rd, following old traditions. Then Klidona is celebrated, an old custom when among other things a fire is made of the dried floral wreaths from May day. 

Read more: Klidona - Greek midsummer

Vår krans blidde så här! Den hänger nu vid entrén och där ska den hänga till den 23 juni enligt gamla seder. Då firas Klidona, en tradition som lite försvunnit men som är på väg tillbaka igen. Bl.a gör man då upp en liten eld med de torkade Förstamajkransarna.

Läs lite mer: Klidona - grekisk midsommarafton

Ha en fin dag! ☼ Have a good day! 

Credits:
Picture of picnic basket from: Pickipicki.se

Some VERY SPECIAL Easter traditions in Greece...!

(Läs det här inlägget på svenska: Några mycket speciella påsktraditioner I Grekland)

Yes, there are a few Easter traditions that are undeniably VERY special in this country...!

In the village Vrontados at the island of Chios they are having a rocket-war ( rouketopolemos )with thousands of rockets being shot between two "rival" churches! The two churches are located 400 meters from each other and it all comes down to trying to hit the clock tower of the other church...

The day after they're counting which church had the most hits, but they can never agree about who is the winner... It is determined that the winner will be appointed the next year... :)!

Rocketwar website

In the city Corfu at Corfu the people are throwing water-filled pots/jars/pitharia from the balconies at the Liston square!

This happening is in the morning of Easter Eve and this custom is supposed to keep anything bad at distance. To take a shard home brings good fortune.

At the lower square (Bellou-Dimokratias) in Agrinio (Αγρίνιο) there is show-time every Good Friday, after the mourning procession, with home-made explosive tubes being hold in the hands!

This custom started during the Turkish occupation to keep Muslims away from the mourning procession.

Easter in Agrinio: the custom of Chalkounia
About Chalkonia at Wikipedia: Χαλκούνια, in Greek only.
Picture from Κ.Α.Π.Α

In Leonidio in Arcadia (Peloponnese) hundreds of hot air balloons are released at all churches on Easter Eve, after resurrection.

Virtually every family is making their own hot air balloon using wooden sticks and paper.

This tradition excists in Leonidio since late 1800s. Probably returning sailors had seen it somewhere in Asia and brought the custom home. Must be very special to see!


Picture: Πάσχα στο Λεωνίδιο



Have a wonderful Easter Eve my friends!

Nationaldag igen! :) National day once again!

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Eftersom det är två nationaldagar i Grekland är det ju väldigt ofta nationaldag här...:)

Den 28 oktober är det Nationaldag och den dagen kallas även "Ochi-dagen" ("Nej-dagen") eftersom Grekland sade nej till italienarna 1940 - "Nej, vi kapitulerar inte!".

Den andra nationaldagen är idag, den 25 mars, och det är den officiella nationaldagen (ett land får bara ha en nationaldag). Den här dagen, år 1821, var början till friheten för Grekland efter mer än 400 år (!) under turkarna och det Osmanska riket.

Paraden i Glyfada har flyttats efter att det gamla Stadshuset renoverats (se bilden nedan)och hålls nu på strandvägen - "Diadochou Pavlou", nedanför Katrakiparken. Paraden börjar ca 11.20 och håller på i drygt en timme.

(Alla unga flickor har långt hår i Grekland!▼)

(All young girls in Greece have long hair!)

As there are two National days in Greece it's very often National day here...:)

October, 28th, is one of the two, also called the "Ochi day" ("No day") or the "Anniversiry of the no" - celebrating the no to the Italians 1940: "No, we don't give up!".

And then there's today, 25th of March, the official National day (every country is allowed to have only one National day) - the Greek Independence Day. This day, 1821, was the beginning of Greece's independence, after more than 400 years (!) under the Turks and the Ottoman Empire.

The parade in Glyfada moved in October 2013(after the renovation of the old Town Hall - can be seen on the first picture) and is now held on the beach road - "Diadochou Pavlou", below the Katraki square. 
It starts at 11.20 and lasts for about one hour.

Χρόνια Πολλά!
☮☮☮


Two photos also in my photo blog: Greece in my Heart

Sen Vassilopita... Delayed Vassilopita...:)

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Normala familjer i Grekland skär upp sin Vassilopita på nyårsnatten eller nyårsdagen, men här blev det av i förrgår... 

I Vassilopitan ("Kungspajen")är det ju ett lyckobringande mynt ingräddat, och i år hamnade myntet precis i mitten av 4 bitar! Kul, eller hur?! Det var "Hemmet", Alex, Marina och jag som får ett lite extra lyckosamt år i år...:) 

Önskar er oxå ett jättebra år i år mina vänner!

Läs lite mer om traditionen här om ni vill: Vassilopita - grekisk nyårskaka

All normal Greek families has a round "Vassilopita"("Kings pie", the Greek New Year cake) and they also cut it and share the pieces the 1st of January, but we are not normal... so we did it 2 days ago...:)

A small φλουρί ("flourí" - gold coin, not a real one nowadays...) is baked into the cake. You mark the whole cake into pieces and name them - one for the home, one for the year or whatever you like...but for sure each member in the family has one piece -  and then you cut it and share the pieces. The one who get the coin in his piece is the lucky one of course!

This year we were 4 lucky ones in our family as you can see...!

This is an old Greek tradition originated from Agios Vassilis (Saint Vassilis, which Santa Claus is called in Greece) who lived at 300 A.D.  This historical man was a king, but was called Agios Vassilis by the people because of his generosity. According to the sayings he had coins and gold baked into cakes and gave away to the people.

Wishing all of you a great year! 

Holy Saturday and Resurrection at Profiti Ilia, Ilioupolis

Read in Swedish: Påskafton och uppståndelsegudstjänst i Ilioupolis

Yesterday we went to the little church Profiti Ilia, on mountain Ymittos in Ilioupolis, to celebrate Christ's resurrection.

It's a beautiful place!

Such a view over Athens. I really recommend this place for Megali Savvato, but also for a visit any other day or evening.

 Christos Anesti!

People heading home with their holy flames to bless their homes...

...and to eat the Mageritsa soup combined with bread, mizithra/anthótiro, red eggs and more! The hunger is huge after 40 days of fasting...!
Actually many people are still fasting 40 days, but more common is to fast the Easter week and I would guess 95 % on Good Friday.

My small tzoureki breads! Not so beautiful maybe but quite tasty! Tzoureki is a sweet bread eaten all the year around, but especially at Easter.

Chronia Polla!

Greek Independence Day Parade in Glyfada, Athens March 25th

Read this post in Swedish: Greklands nationaldagsparad den 25 mars i Glyfada

The parade here in Glyfada starts between 11.30 and 12.00 (every year the 25th of March, the National Day of Greece) and lasts about two hours. Lots of schools, clubs and organizations are participating.

Awaiting the parade to begin...

First up was this war veteran who is now the only one left in this parade. A couple of years ago they were four...

Balloons, Greek flags and more were for sale of course...

The weather was wonderful, almost too warm...but I guess one shouldn't say such things after this cold winter!

I always have to take a picture of the Cretan Association here in Glyfada! I love their clothes!

Here it was quiet and peaceful. In the center of Athens(Syntagma) they were so afraid of troubles and riots so it was closed off everywhere and 4000 (!!!) policemen were placed out. Parents were not allowed to see their children walk in the parade! I think it should have been better if they had called it off. It's sad, but if so many precautions had to be done, there must also have been a risk to let children take part.

These donuts and bread bagels tasted very good I can tell you...

Lots of adorable children in beautiful traditional folklore costumes!

A dog was walking in the parade as well!

A day which 1821 was the beginning of the independence for Greece after more than 400 years under the Turks and the Ottoman Empire.

"Καλύτερα μιας ώρας ελεύθερη ζωή παρά σαράντα χρόνια σκλαβιά και φυλακή" (Better one hour in freedom than 40 years of slavery and jail) - celebrated words by Rigas Feraios (Ρήγας Φεραίος), one of the freedom fighters.

Here in a song performed by the Cretan (Anoghia) musician Nikos Xilouris.

Read more about the Greek Revolution at Wikipedia: Greek War of Independence