The national May Day Holiday (or Protomagia in Greek) celebrated on May 1st 2016 will be moved to Tuesday May 3rd 2016 due to it coinciding with Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday.

This was a decision authorized and signed by Labour Minister George Katrougalos.

What the law says about working on this day:*
Business operation and employing employees is prohibited, except those who are legal to operate on Sundays and public holidays, such as companies in the health sector, tourism, transportation, food & beverage, factories with continuous hours, etc.

Employees who are paid by a wage, but who will not work on the May Day public holiday are entitled to receive their paid wages without any deduction. For employees paid by wage who will work on May 1, they are entitled to receive their wage with an increase of 75% which will be calculated at the statutory hourly rate for any hours worked.

If you are paid a monthly salary, and the company typically does operate on Sundays and public holidays then you are entitled to receive an increase of 75% calculated at the statutory hourly rate for any hours worked on this day. If you are employed with a company that typically does not work on Sundays and public holidays then you are entitled to receive an increase of 75% calculated at the statutory hourly rate for any hours worked on this day.

Source: Paidorama

* Please note, the information outlined is based on a report that has been translated from Greek and should be confirmed with your employer and local employment offices.

What archaeologists found at the ancient Cemetery of Phaleron in Athens were at least 80 skeletons with their wrists clamped together in iron shackles.

 

Archaeologists have speculated and suggested that the skeletons appear to be the victims of a mass execution, but their crime still remains to be unknown.

What archaeologists are now saying with a new theory is that the skeletons came from the ‘Cylonian Affair’ from 632 BC, the earliest reliably dated event in Athenian history.

The event refers to a failed coup attempt led by aristocratic Cylon, who once plotted to overthrow the Athenian elites with the help of his tyrannical father-in-law. This was during a time of civil unrest in the ancient society.

The grave site of the Phaleron Delta necropolis is thought to date back between 8th and 5th centuries BC and is from a time of great social turmoil.

To test this theory, Dr. Stella Chryssoulaki who is head of excavations, said that more research is needed to confirm if the skeletons are the remnants of Cylon’s failed coup attempt. DNA tests could confirm this theory.

Over 1,500 bodies were buried in the Phaleron Cemetery, but unlike the renowned occupants of the Kerameikos cemetery where many elite Greeks were buried, the Phaleron Delta necropolis appears to be the final resting place of Athens’ everyday inhabitants from ordinary backgrounds.

Article Source: Euro News

Writer and blogger Marissa Tejada from Travel Greece Travel Europe discusses the perks of being in Athens for Christmas! In recent years, Athens has been coined as an emerging European city break destination. That holds true for the curious Christmas traveler. Traveling during the winter season here is great. Why? Less crowds, for one. You’ll experience Greece outside of its summer skin and see the way Greeks celebrate one of their favorite holidays.

The heart of the city is Syntagma Square and it’s where the city’s Christmas tree is lit. The square’s trees are strung with blue and white lights (the holiday colors of Greece) or with decorations such as karavakia (small Christmas ships). The municipality also schedules a series of free concerts during the month of December.

With a mild Mediterranean winter you can enjoy a scenic and sunny walk to some of the best panoramic spots of the city. Here are some photos from last winter when I took a Christmas day walk around Lycabettus Hill in Kolonaki.

While not as fancy or glamorous as other European Christmas markets, Athens has a few markets known as bazaars. Local artisans sell everything from handmade soaps, traditional Greek products to jewelry. Some bazaars are located in the metro stations (including Syntagma).

Without any crowds to push through or lines to wait on, Christmas holidays in Athens are a great time to explore. Visit the best museums in Greece including the National Archaeological Museum of Athens or the Acropolis Museum.

During Christmas holidays in Athens, head into any bakery and be tempted by traditional treats like kourabiedes (sugar cookies) and melomakarona (honey cookies). You’ll find both types of cookies displayed side by side.

To read this article in full, please visit: Travel Greece Travel Europe

Athens once more is preparing to host the Athens Pride Festival, which will take place at central Syntagma Square this year. The 2017 festival will take place on June 10 under the motto “It’s Education”, aiming to raise awareness on the issues that concern the LGBTQI community in Greece, mainly the legal recognition of gender identity.

The first Athens Pride took place in June 2005 and marked the first Pride Parade through the city center and past the Hellenic Parliament during daylight hours. Since then, the Athens Pride festival has grown and in June 2014 included 20,000 people of all ages.

By delivering the message, “It’s Education”, the organizers wish to focus on the Greek word “Παιδεία” (education) and its broad meaning, which encompasses the concepts of schooling, upbringing, learning and culture cultivation.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Doing research on how economic inequality threatens democracy and if America was really at risk of becoming an oligarchy, a journalist for The Guardian opened a book about Classical Greek Oligarchy. While reading, he learns about the ancient Greek world, the division of oligarchs, and the development of institutions.

“One of the primary threats to oligarchy was that the oligarchs would become divided, and that one from their number would defect, take leadership of the people, and overthrow the oligarchy.”

“To prevent this occurrence, ancient Greek elites developed institutions and practices to keep themselves united. Among other things, they passed sumptuary laws, preventing extravagant displays of their wealth that might spark jealousy, and they used the secret ballot and consensus building practices to ensure that decisions didn’t lead to greater conflict within their cadre."

To read this article in full, please visit: The Guardian

Once again hotels King George and Grande Bretagne have brought the Christmas spirit in the most central part of Athens!

With a magnificent Christmas tree and festive decorations, we invite you to visit our renovated concept store ''GB Corner Gifts & Flavors'' at the Grande Bretagne, to discover amazing gift ideas and world famous sweets from our award winning pastry chef, Arnaud Lahrer.

Next door, at the entrance of King George, check out our ''KG Perfumery''. You will find top quality perfumes, ideal your friends and family.

At the ''Winter Garden'', the best lounge in town, a magnificent buffet of festive sweets will be waiting for you to enjoy them with your coffee, hot chocolate or our great variety of tea.

And of course, on Christmas and New Year's Eve visit our restaurants ''GB Roof Garden'' and ''Tudor Hall''. Our Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis has created a special menu for you and your loved ones to enjoy, all while admiring the view of a festive Athens.

Read our Christmas Festivities brochure HERE!

And don't forget to check out our Christmas package deals for an unforgetable stay at our hotels!

Eleonas is an exceptional example of an authentic Greek holiday accommodation and offers villas, cottages, apartments and studios clustered on the hillside overlooking the beach of Gialova in the Messinia region of the Peloponnese. It is a family run property that affords its guests with the famous open-handed hospitality of the Greek countryside.

The accommodations are well spread out on extensive grounds, surrounded by olive trees and all built with privacy in mind. A wonderful place for a holiday experience that combines the best in hospitality, unspoilt nature, magnificent landscape, a unique ecosystem, the ultimate climate, and some of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean Sea!

Five years have passed since the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in 2017 changed the lives of the residents of Athens and visitors to the Greek capital for the better. From then until today it is a favorite destination for cultural and sports activities but also an ideal entertainment destination for the young and old.

About the SNFCC

The SNFCC is an international, environmentally sustainable public space for expression, culture, and recreation. The creation of the SNFCC was initiated by SNF and executed with an exclusive grant from the Foundation and the cornerstone of the more than $750 million in support SNF has allocated to the project in total. It includes the facilities of the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO), as well as the 40-acre Stavros Niarchos Park.

From the inception of the idea for the creation of the SNFCC through the cultural institution’s fifth anniversary, SNF gave a total of $739 million toward the project through several grants. This amount primarily went to the construction of the SNFCC but also supported operational and programming costs for its first five years, following the commitment SNF made during the delivery of the SNFCC to the Greek state. In addition, SNF’s support has gone to programs for the development of the SNFCC and to infrastructure projects beyond the original design.

The idea for the SNFCC originated in 1998, with SNF’s decision to support the construction of new facilities for the NLG and the GNO. From these disparate plans and with the opportunities offered by the site allocated for the project in the Municipality of Kallithea came an exciting opportunity for a cultural, educational, and environmental “Triple Project.” This would include the new NLG and GNO facilities, as well as the creation of a major urban green space, Stavros Niarchos Park.

Stavros Spyrou Niarchos (Greek: Σταύρος Σπύρου Νιάρχος, 3 July 1909 – 15 April 1996) was a Greek billionaire shipping tycoon. Starting in 1952, he had the world’s biggest supertankers built for his fleet. Propelled by both the Suez Crisis and increasing demand for oil, he and rival Aristotle Onassis became giants in global petroleum shipping.

The video to celebrate its 5th anniversary 

On the occasion of this anniversary, a video was created, “My Face” written by Giannis Asteris, directed by Andreas Loukakos, and voiced by Harry Frangoulis. The video also stars Angel Martinez Sanchez, a dancer of the National Opera Ballet. The video was created in collaboration with the National Opera and the National Library of Greece and is in Greek. 

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

 

The Hotel Grande Bretagne has been included, one more time, on the top of the World’s Best List of the well-known Travel + Leisure magazine. The King George Hotel is also an honoree for the first time. 

 

Every year, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe and share their opinions on the top hotels, destinations, cruise ships, airlines and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value and as a result, Hotel Grande Bretagne was ranked as the best hotel in Athens while King George was placed third.  

Readers praised the hotels’ beauty, location and restaurants while T+L specifically mentions, “to stay at the Hotel Grande Bretagne is to sleep inside a small piece of Athens's history”.

 

Having received these important distinctions, Hotels Grande Bretagne and King George are committed to continue delivering exceptional, indigenous experiences for their guests. Both Hotels have the best location in the heart of Athens with spectacular views to the Acropolis and set a significant example in the international hotel industry, offering exceptional services and memorable experiences.