It is very common to hear Greeks offering good wishes to each other ~ every occasion has an appropriate wish or good word and is a way to express love, joy, and sympathy.

“Χρόνια πολλά!” [chronia polla] “Many years!” is the most common wish that fits almost all joyful events. You can be sure that saying this greeting for almost every (happy) occassion is just perfect! Apart from this one, however, below you will discover a variety of wishes, for different occasions.

Να ζήσεις! [Na ziseis] – May you live! May you live many and good years!

Να τα εκατοστήσεις! [Na ta ekatostisis] May you live up to a hundred!

Να τα χιλιάσεις! [Na ta chiliasis] – May you become one thousand years old!

Ό,τι επιθυμείς! [Oti epithimis] – Whatever you wish! May you have whatever you want and dream.

Και του χρόνου! [ke tou chronou] – “And next year!”
 May you be well this year as well as next year!

Να χαίρεσαι το όνομά σου! [Na cherese to onoma sou]- May you rejoice your name!


Καλά Χριστούγεννα! [Kala Christougenna] – Merry Christmas!


Καλή Σαρακοστή! [Kali Sarakosti]- Good Lent! 
Usually we say this on Ash Monday, and the days after, when the period of fasting for Easter begins (“Sarakosti” < “saranta” = forty)


Καλό Πάσχα! [Kalo Pascha] – Happy Easter! 
You will hear this wish during the Holy Week, namely the week before Easter.


Καλή Ανάσταση! [Kali Anastasi]- Happy Resurrection! 



Καλό Δεκαπενταύγουστο! [Kalo Dekapentavgousto] – Happy 15th of August! 


These wishes are used before the actual holiday, on the day of the feast, the wish used is the popular Χρόνια πολλά! “Many years”.

Περαστικά! [Perastika] – Get Well! May your illness pass quickly!

Σιδερένιος! [Siderenios] – “Iron!” May you be strong as iron again!

Καλή ανάρρωση! [Kali anarosi] – Get well!


Καλή εβδομάδα! [Kali evdomada] – (Have a) Good Week! 
Every Monday
Καλό μήνα! [Kalo mina] – (Have a) Good month! 
1st of every month.
Καλό σαββατοκύριακο! Kalo sabbatokirako : Enjoy your weekend

Καλή χρονιά! [Kali chronia] – Happy New Year! 
1st of January and for several days before and after


Καλό καλοκαίρι! [Kalo kalokeri] – Enjoy your summer! 



Καλό χειμώνα! [Kalo chimona] – (Have a) Good winter! 



Η ώρα η καλή [I ora I kali] – “May your time be good” 
May the time of marriage be good and lucky. This is said before the marriage to wish the couple well.

 

To the newly married couple, we wish:


Να ζήσετε! [Na zisete] – May you live! To live together and enjoy.


Καλούς απογόνους! [Kalous apogonous] – “Good offspring!” 
May you have good children.

If you are not married and you find yourself at a wedding celebration, you will probably hear the wish:


Και στα δικά σου! [Kai sta dika sou] – “And to yours!” 
May we get together at your wedding! 


Also the koumbaro and koumbara receives wishes:

Πάντα άξιος! [Panta aksios] – Always to have such achievements! 



To the parents and grandparents of the newborn we wish:


Να σας ζήσει! [Na sas zisi] – “May he/she live you!” 
May your child live a healthy life!


Να είναι τυχερός/-ή! [Na ine ticheros/i] – May he/she be lucky!


Γερό και δυνατό! [Gero ke dinato] – Healthy and strong baby!


For someone travelling or ready to leave, you can wish him the following:


Καλό δρόμο!/ Στο καλό! [Kalo dromo!/Sto kalo!] – “Have a safe trip/journey"

Καλό ταξίδι! [Kalo taksidi] – “Have a nice trip!” 
= Travel by any means of transport.


Καλή αντάμωση! [Kali antamosi] – “Until we meet again!” 
May we meet again.


Καλές διακοπές! [Kales diakopes] – Enjoy your Holidays!


Even if someone is buying something, Greeks also use wishes:


Με γεια! [Me gia] – With good health! Enjoy your new acquisition. Usually for clothes and shoes..Also used when you had a haircut!!


Καλορίζικο! [Kaloriziko] – Good luck! 
= Used when people buy bigger property (houses, shops), or move to another house.


Καλοτάξιδο! [Kalotaksido] – “Travel well!” =
 Similar to the previous, but for means of transport (cars, motorbikes,…).

As in every culture, it is a part of life, with the necessary wishes for relatives of the deceased.


Συλλυπητήρια! [Silipitiria] – Condolences!


Ζωή σε σας! [Zoi se sas] – Life to you!


Να ζήσετε να τον/την θυμάστε! [Na zisete na ton/tin thimaste] – May you live and remember him / her!


Καλή όρεξη! [Kali oreksi] – Enjoy your meal! 
Before each meal.


Στην υγειά σου! / Γεια μας! [Stin igia sou / Gia mas] – Cheers!


Καλή διασκέδαση! [Kali diaskedasi] – Have fun! For someone who is preparing to go to a party, theater, cinema etc.


Καλή τύχη!/Καλή επιτυχία! [Kali tichi!/Kali epitichia] – Good luck! 
For someone that will do something difficult and important, eg examinations, competition etc.

Καλές δουλειές! [Kales doulies] – “Have a Good Business” 
For someone starting a new business, opening a shop…

Athens is the capital and the largest city in Greece. It is one of the most ancient cities in the world, and its documented history spans over 3400 years.
 

Athens was initially called "Akti or Aktiki" from Aktaeus, the first King of Athens, and later it was called "Cecropia," a name derived from King Cecrops.

Cecrops succeeded King Aktaeus after marrying his daughter. According to Greek mythology, the lower part of his body was the same as that of a dragon. During Cecrops' reign, Athena and Poseidon competed for the protection of the city, each offering gifts.

Poseidon struck his trident on the rock of the Acropolis to reveal a spring of saltwater and a horse ready to serve the Athenian people; Athena, on the other hand, offered an olive tree.

According to legend, Athenian men voted for the gifts of Poseidon, and the women voted for the gift of Athena. Because there was one woman more than there were men, the goddess Athena was preferred, and from that day onwards, the city has been known as Athens.

Originally posted on: e-istoria.com

Since it started in the late 1980’s and escalated when the financial crisis hit, graffiti in Athens has popped up everywhere as a way to express widespread unrest. As the Independent reports, “the capital of Greece might be known for the Acropolis, but as you drive into Athens what really hits you is the graffiti.”

There’s hardly a place that hasn’t been tagged by spray paint. Vans, walls, street signs, dumpsters, and even the ancient rocks have paint on them.

Street artist and tour guide Nikolas Tongas says, “Athens is always inspiring people to create... the financial crisis was a huge inspiration for artists who wanted to show from their own perspective an artistic representation of the current economic situation.”

To read this article in full, please visit: Independent

Held at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron Mousikis), Athens had the pleasure of launching the first European Cultural Heritage celebration with the event 'Rebetiko Meets Flamenco and Fados." The event was organized by the Greek Culture Ministry and marked the official start of festivities of the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

2018 will be the year to encourage Europeans to discover and engage with their history, identity, and traditions through a series of events across the continent. It is an initiative of the European Commission with major themes this year in research and innovation and efforts to make cultural heritage more accessible to people across Europe.

The Athens concert showcased three urban popular traditions, which were born and developed in the ports of the Mediterranean. One in particular was the Greek rebetiko genre, which was listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in December 2017. What is Rebetiko? Click HERE to learn more!

 

Source: Greek Travel Pages

Nothing is more important than family, especially if you combine it with summer holidays! That's why we present you a list of the best Greek islands and cleanest beaches to visit with you loved ones, as well as how you can altogether contribute to the fight against plastic pollution.

Last week the Acropolis in Athens was among the landmarks that went dark during Earth Hour in an effort to call for action on climate change.

 

Alexandros Maragos, a Greek filmmaker and award winning photographer, captured Earth Hour in Athens in a beautiful time-lapse video.

 

Lights were also switched off at the Athens City Hall, Lycabettus Hill, the Greek Parliament, and various landmarks across the country, while many citizens supported the initiative by turning their home lights off.

 

Earth Hour first took place in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and since then, more than 180 countries have joined in, including Greece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of Athens’ architectural emblems – the old Public Tobacco Factory  –  is to be reborn in 2021 with a new cultural identity and well-timed artistic purpose.

Completed in 1930, the Tobacco Factory, with its distinctive bright façade, was forged in the spirit of modernism to serve the country’s booming cigarette manufacturing industry. Once a symbol of Greece’s industrialisation and progress, the historic venue will now provide a “profoundly resonant” incubator for Greek contemporary art, according to Madeleine Grynsztejn, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, who will co-curate Portals with NEON director Elina Kountouri. The Tobacco Factory exhibition and €1 million conversion project is prompted by the bicentennial celebrations of Greece’s War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821 which led to the creation of the Modern Greek State. 

The pioneering Greek art foundation NEON, backed by the billionaire Greek art philanthropist Dimitris Daskalopoulos, will renovate one half of the listed monument on Lenorman Street in order to stage an international exhibition called “Portals” from June to December, before giving the landmark space back to the Greek state as a new culture hub. The other half of the sprawling site, which spans an entire block, is home to the Hellenic Parliament Library and Printing House. 

“This particular moment in history takes us through a ‘portal’. When we emerge on the other side, we will need to reaffirm - for the sake of future generations - our commitment to certain values: the rule of law, human rights and democracy.” ~ NEON Director Elina Kountouri

To learn more about this project visit: thisisathens.org
Photo courtesy of: NEON

 

The Authentic Marathon Swim is approaching and expects to gather participations of amateur and professional swimmers from Greece and abroad for the 2nd consecutive year, on July 2-4, 2021, at Pefki, Evia of the Municipality of Istiea- Edipsos.

The absolutely successful organization of the Authentic Marathon Swim last year, led the event to the top of the Tourism Awards with 5 awards in total. More specifically, it was distinguished with 2 Silver awards for the strategy implemented for the “Guest - Staff Protection” during the Covid-19 pandemic and its “Integrated Communications Campaign” while receiving 3 Bronze awards at the “Sports Tourism”, “Interconnection of tourism with other sectors of the Greek economy” and “Technology enhanced experience” categories for the technology solutions used to improve the travel experience.

Register Today For The Races & Acquire The Richest Participation Kits
Participants will swim with safety in the impressive 10km route (over the shipwrecks of the Naval Battle of Artemision that took place in 480 B.C.), the 3km, the 1.5km as well as the new and unique 5km route. Respectively, the younger fans of the sea will have the opportunity to test their swimming skills in the 800m children’s race. The 5km, 3km, 1.5km and 800m. routes will have Pefki beach as their starting and finishing point. Registration for the 800m children’s race is free. The event also offers a special discount on group registrations of more than 10 people. All citizens of Istiea- Edipsos will have the opportunity to take part in the 5km, 3km and 1.5km routes as well as the 800m. children’s race, completely free of charge.

 

Accommodation Packages At The Municipality Of Istiea-Edipsos
The Authentic Marathon Swim already collaborates with more than 35 hotels in the region, with the aim of revitalizing the sports tourism industry of Northern Evia and strengthening the Greek tourism product. Up to this point, this year’s event is enormously supported with special prices starting from 40 euros, by the following hospitality sponsors: Maria Louiza Apartments, Altamar Hotel, Villa Anastasia, Ellaeon Throesma, Kochili Apartments, Pefki Seascape Rooms, Hydna Studios, Aktaion Hotel, Arethousa Hotel, Galini Hotel Edipsos, Island, Ilios Studios, Irene Studios, Meliti Studios, Mirtia Hotel, Prigkipessa Studios, Aenaon Studios, Aidipsos Hotel, Alex Spa Hotel, Anesis, Apolonio, Artemis Rooms Pefki, Artemision Hotel, Asimina Rooms, Avli, Evia Dream, Kerasiotis Apartments, Konstantinos Hotel, Lito Hotel, Maria Studios, Melikari Studios, Oversea Rooms & Villas, Posidonio Studios, Rodon Hotel, Sunset Pefki, Thalassa Hotel, Viki Studios.

NP Insurance and Philosofish are the event’s Official Sponsors.
Natural Mineral Water Vikos is the Official Water. Luanvi is the event’s Official Clothing Partner.
Avance is the Official Car Rental Partner.
Target Security is the Security Partner.
Schoretsanitis Cheese Factory, Nivea Sun, Syconia and The Norman Farm are the event’s Partners.
Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Leandros, Swimmingclub.gr, LA Elite Fitness, APS TRIAS and Kallithea Open Water Team are the Authentic Marathon Swim’s Athletic Partners.

The event will be held in accordance with FINA regulations and the health protocol approved by the Greek General Secretariat of Sports’ Health Scientific Committee and established by the experienced team of ActiveMedia Group, in order to ensure the health of athletes and attendees.

The Authentic Marathon Swim will be held with the permission of the General Directorate of Tourism Policy of the Regional Tourism Service of Central Greece, under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization. The event is co- organized by the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos, the Region of Central Greece, the Organization of Cultural Development for Central Greece (O.P.A.S.T.E.), the Central Union of Municipalities in Greece (KEDE) and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece. ActiveMedia Group is responsible for its sports production. The race has joined the swimming community of Global Swim Series (GSS).

Photo Credit: Angelos Zymaras

Share your exciting moments and memories from the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the event using the official hashtag #authenticmarathonswim

 

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XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of  The Authentic Marathon Swim

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United Airlines resumed its daily nonstop seasonal service between Athens International Airport (AIA) and New York/Newark.

Flight UA125 departs Athens Airport daily at 12:15 pm, arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport at 4:15 pm the same day. The return flight, UA124, departs Newark daily at 5:15 pm, arriving in Athens at 10:10 am the following day (all times local).

United’s service from Athens to New York/Newark is currently operated with Boeing 767-400 aircraft and as of May 7, the route will be operated with Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.

The service is planned to operate until October 29 and will be joined next month by United’s daily nonstop seasonal service from Athens to Washington D.C., set to start on May 7.

Seasonal service between Athens and Washington D.C.

Flight UA983 will depart Athens daily at 11:50 am, arriving at Washington Dulles at 3:15 pm the same day. The return flight, UA982, will depart Washington daily at 5:10 pm, arriving in Athens at 9:55 am the following day (all times local).

United’s service from Athens to Washington Dulles will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr