One Monday in late November 2015, a big charity event took place in Manhattan, New York.  Spiros Menegatos, a young Greek-American entrepreneur and owner of the famous Nerai Restaurant undertook an initiative to support children suffering from cancer in Greece.  His selfless effort employed a unique approach.  He brought together people from different social and economic backgrounds to combine forces around one single goal; to build awareness that as Greece plummers deeper into the stagnant waters of recession and misery and public sector funds dry up, the people must step in to provide aid to social groups that require it.

Although he has created great success in the U.S, Spiros Menegatos never forgot his motherland, Greece.  His decision to open a Greek restaurant in Manhatten was just the first step he made towards remaining connected with the modern culture of Greece. But that, for him, was not enough.

To read more, please visit: Huffington Post

Some good reportage about Greece for a change!

The OECDreleased a list that ranks countries based on the highest number of scientists per capita in fields such as mathematics, physics, technology and engineering. As it turns out Greece was placed among the 10 “smartest” countries in the world.

The first place was occupied by South Korea with 32% of students in the country studying in a scientific field, according to data from 2012. The country showed a significant drop in numbers since 2002 when percentage was 39%.

Germany came second with 31% and Sweden placed third with 28%. Sweden also placed second, after Norway, in regards to the widespread use of computers in the workplace. Finland came fourth with 28% as well, while according to the OECD most students in the country specialize in the research and production of medicine.

To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter

by

Ioanna Zikakou

Authorities at the Greek island of Alonnisos have made some innovative decisions in order to increase the tourism rate on the island in the coming summer season. The actions they have prepared focus on diving and hiking tourism, as well as on original events, such as underwater weddings.

Their main goal is to expand the touristic season on the island through alternative actions and proposals, which are inherent in the flora, the fauna and the natural beauty of the island and to highlight the regions advantages.

Alonissos’ touristic promotion program was created in cooperation with the tourism consultant of the municipality, MTC Group. The program will explore pioneering low-cost methods to attract tourists to the island.

To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter
by
Ioanna Zikakou

The story says that Saint Nicholas was born on March 15, 270 AD and died on December 6, 343 AD. He lost both of his parents as a young man and reportedly used his inheritance to help the poor and sick. A devout Christian, he later became a famous 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra, which was in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). Because of the many miracles attributed to him, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him.

How Saint Nicholas Is celebrated In Greece 
According to Christmas traditions in Greece, the patron saint of the holiday is Saint Nicholas, who is also the protector of sailors. For this reason, you will often see boats decorated with many sparkling lights, rather than the traditional Christmas trees. The Christmas season in Greece begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicholas Day and ends on January 6th with the Feast of the Epiphany (Theophania). The Greek Navy pays tribute to the patron saint of sailors with a special ceremony at the Hellenic Naval Academy.

The Dutch continued to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas on December 6 and it was a common practice for children to put out their shoes the night before. In the morning, they would discover the gifts that St. Nicholas had left there for them. It is said that Dutch immigrants brought St. Nicholas, known to them as Sint Nikolaas or by his nickname Sinter Klaas, and his gift-giving ways to America in the 1700s.

In America, St. Nicholas went through several transformations and eventually, Sinter Klaas became Santa Claus and instead of giving gifts on December 6, he became a part of the Christmas holiday. In the 1820 poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, he is described as a jolly, heavy man who comes down the chimney to leave presents for deserving children and drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. The cartoonist Thomas Nast added to the St. Nicholas legend with an 1881 drawing of Santa as wearing a red suit with white fur trim. Once a kind, charitable bishop, St. Nicholas had become the Santa Claus we know today.

It's Christmas time! Melomakarona (Greek honey cookies) are one of the most popular treats throughout Greece during the Christmas holidays, and their intense homely smell makes every house smell like Christmas. These sweet little Greek honey cookies (melomakarona) are quick to bake, so much fun to make, and highly addictive to eat. Consider yourself warned.

This easy-to-follow traditional Greek melomakarona recipe makes 60 delicious festive cookies, plenty for everyone to try.  Serve with a hot cup of coffee, and you have a match made in heaven! Let the smell of freshly baked cookies, orange, and cinnamon remind you it’s Christmas. Enjoy!

Ingredients for the Melomakarona

    •    150g thin semolina (5.3 ounces)
    •    500g flour (soft) (17.6 ounces)
    •    1/2 tbsp baking powder
    •    100g orange juice (3.5 ounces)
    •    3 tbsps cognac
    •    100g sugar (3.5 ounces)
    •    1 flat tbsp powdered cinnamon
    •    1/3 tsp nutmeg (powder)
    •    1/3 tsp clove (powder)
    •    1 tsp vanilla extract
    •    1/2 tbsp baking soda
    •    90g water (3.2 ounces)
    •    125g olive oil (4.4 ounces)
    •    125g vegetable oil (4.4 ounces)
    •    50g honey (1.8 ounces)
    •    zest of 1 orange

Ingredients for the Syrup

    •    500g water (2 cups)
    •    1 kg sugar (35.27 ounces)
    •    150g glucose (5.3 ounces)
    •    1 cinnamon stick
    •    some orange peel
    •    500g honey (17.64 ounces)

For the Garnish

    •    200g chopped walnuts (7 ounces)
    •    powdered cinnamon (optional)
    •    powdered clove (optional)

To see the full recipe and preparation instructions, please visit: My Greek Dish

Rhodes is officially in the running for the title of European Cultural Capital 2021, after municipal authorities submitted the Dodecanese island’s bid.

Rhodes Mayor Fotis Chatzidiakos described the bid as a “journey that has just set off from its first port”.

“This is the result of painstaking work done over many months… Rhodes aims to establish itself as an influential destination historically, one of intellectual development in the sciences and the arts, and as a center of dissemination of European ideals,” the mayor added.

“At the moment, the world is observing Greece and Europe as a whole struggling with massive issues: immigration, refugees, religious dogmatism and extremism, conflicts and economies of different speeds. It is vital that Europe regain its credibility as a strong economic center and one of compassion,” Mr Chatzidiakos said.

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Greek homeowners can now rent out their houses for temporary use without being required to obtain a special operations label following an amendment made to the law last month abolishing rental terms.

Under the third bailout plan the Greek government agreed to with its creditors earlier this year, Greek property owners can now rent their homes through popular online platforms such as Airbnb, or through private rental contracts, without holding the special operations label awarded by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

- Born in Smyrna, Asia Minor on November 18, 1906 – Died on October 2, 1988 

- Greek designer of cars, known as the "Greek God" and for creating the Mini, which was launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959.

- In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T, and ahead of the Citroen DS and the Volkswagen Beetle.

To read more about the designer of the Mini Car, please visit: Greek Gateway

The Hellenic Children’s Museum (HCM) is a non-profit organization of public welfare, legally established in Athens, Greece in 1987 by a group of young professionals.  The Children's Museum of Athens itself was established in 1994 as the result of the collaboration between the Cultural Organization of the City of Athens and the HCM.

 

Our Purpose is to help children develop all aspects of their personality in order to become citizens who respect their own individuality and to obtain a social conscience.  

The Museum is for all children, without exception, families, school communities and everyone who is interested in the multilateral development of children or is directly or indirectly related to children.
 

Our Mission is to encourage every child to discover, to understnad, to learn, to enjoy and to shape the world in which (s)he lives with a respect for individuality and an emphasis on team work.

Hours:
TUES-FRI:   10:00-14:00
SAT & SUN: 10:00-15:00 

Entrance is Free!

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…