XpatAthens
Friday, 12 August 2022 07:00
Name Days & Name Day Customs In Greece
Name days are celebrated in many European countries. The tradition stems from the Christian church where specific days are dedicated to a saint's 'feast day.' In Greece, name days are widely celebrated, and traditionally they are more important than a birthday, particularly as people get older.
How Name Days Are Celebrated In Greece
Traditionally, name days are celebrated as an 'open house' where close friends and relatives drop by to give their wishes, offer a small gift, and receive the traditional 'kerasma' (food, sweets, coffee, and drinks). In recent years the 'open house' tradition has changed and name days are celebrated by invitation.
It is customary to call and offer wishes and congratulate someone on their name day – it's now also acceptable to send your wishes on social media too!! If a friend has a name day, then you wish them 'Chronia Polla' (Many Years) – a wish for good health and prosperity.
Name Giving Traditions In Greece
Naming conventions in Greece are still followed quite strictly, with the result that certain names are used for many individuals in a generation. In each generation, the eldest grandson in each family will be named after the grandfather, and the eldest granddaughter will be named after the grandmother. If someone had three children, and they all produce a male grandchild, all three of those cousins will have the same name. To top it all off, all those with the same first name will celebrate the same saint's Name Day.
Never Miss A Greek Nameday
XpatAthens has a name day widget at the bottom of our homepage. This widget is updated automatically with the names that are celebrated each day.
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Greek Traditions
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Tuesday, 22 December 2015 11:20
Christmas Full Moon - First In 40 Years
Not since 1977 has a full moon dawned in the skies on Christmas. This year a bright full moon will be an added gift for the holidays. The last of 2015, December's full moon is called the Full Cold Moon because it occurs during the beginning of winter.
In the future, Christmas will coincide with a full moon every 19 years. This rare event won't happen again until 2034 (then in 2053 and 2072) so be sure to look up to the skies on Christmas Day!
Source: ScienceDaily
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Local News
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Tuesday, 26 April 2016 07:00
TripAdvisor Names Santorini #1 Island In Europe
Santorini ranked as the best island in Europe and second best in the world in the TripAdvisor 2016 Travelers’ Choice awards for Islands, announced recently this year.
“Even if you’ve never been to this Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea, you’d still recognize it immediately – candy-colored houses carved into cliffs, sapphire waters, gleaming white buildings topped with half-spheres the color of a stormy sky”, TripAdvisor says about Santorini, while giving special mention to Imerovigli village and adding that Oia is world famous for its sunsets.
Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Islands – Europe
1. Santorini, Cyclades
2. Majorca, Balearic Islands
3. Madeira, Madeira Islands
4. Crete, Greece
5. Tenerife, Canary Islands
6. Rhodes, Dodecanese
7. Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
8. Corsica, France
9. Jersey, Channel Islands
10. Island of Capri, Province of Naples
Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Islands – Greece
1. Santorini, Cyclades
2. Crete, Greece
3. Rhodes, Dodecaneses
4. Mykonos, Cyclades
5. Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
6. Corfu, Ionian Islands
7. Kefallonia, Ionian Islands
8. Naxos, Cyclades
9. Skiathos, Sporades
10. Milos, Cyclades
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Image Credit: Santorini Walking Tours
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Image Credit: Santorini Walking Tours
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Greece In The News
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Wednesday, 05 October 2016 03:38
September 20 - Greek Flavours
Get all the details about XpatAthens’ new collaboration with E-table, discover the top cocktail bars in Athens, and learn about a few of Greece’s staples, olive oil and ouzo!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
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Newsletters
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Tuesday, 26 September 2017 09:39
Greek Wines, Vines And Vineyards Of Athens And Attica
The season of Autumn is the perfect time of year to visit vineyards in Greece and taste the unique and flavourful wine selections. Why Athens takes us around Athens and Attica to some of the best wineries in the area!
“Many may not know that Athens is surrounded by small historical vineyards that are dotted around the city’s landscape, which you can see from an aeroplane as close to the airport itself. Dionysus god of wine and fertility was worshipped and celebrated in ancient times and is said to have given the knowledge of viticulture to Icarius of Athens, more than 3,000 years ago. The Attica region has been cultivated ever since and flourished during Byzantine times and through the reign of the Ottomans.”
“Today, Attica is the largest wine region in Greece with 16,000 acres of vineyards. Many of the wineries can be reached within a 30 minute drive from the centre of Athens.”
“Two years ago, Wines of Athens was established in an effort for wineries in the region to collectively promote the vineyards and merits of wines in Attica. A dynamic and diverse team of wineries make up the initiative, including Papagiannakos, Mylonas, Anastasia Frangos, Markou Vineyards and Kokotou Estate. They all produce top quality savatiano wines along with other varieties.”
To read this article in full, please visit: Why Athens
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City Discovery
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Monday, 19 March 2018 07:00
Wanderlust Greece - 72 Hours In Athens
Wanderlust Greece is back for Season 2 and this time they are getting up close and personal with their home city. After uncovering the best of the Peloponnese, it’s all about Athens on the Digital Travel Show that broadcasts live on Discover Greece’s social media channels.
The guest presenter will spend six weeks living and breathing everything that’s great about Athens, tapping right into the city’s incredible urban vibe.
Discover the people, the neighbourhoods, the architecture that make Athens one of the most exciting city break destinations in the world. Athens is a great mix of modern cultural highlights and ancient classics.
Share the WANDERLUST by using the #WanderlustGr hashtag on your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook posts from Greece, and join the travel show on the Discover Greece Social Media feed.
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Videos
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Monday, 03 September 2018 07:00
Athens A Finalist For The 2018 European Capital Of Innovation Award
It was recently announced that Athens, Greece is a finalist amongst 12 cities for the 2018 European Capital of Innovation Award. The award is an annual prize awarded to the European city that is best able to demonstrate innovation that improves the lives of its citizens.
Cities that are able to contribute to open dynamic innovation ecosystems, involve citizens in governance and decision-making, and use innovation to improve the resiliency and sustainability of their cities are given consideration for the award. The city that is named the European Innovation Capital of the Year will receive 1 million euros, while the five runner-up cities will receive 100,000 euros.
The Mayor of Athens, Giorgos Kaminis, explained that Athens being nominated for this award began with a variety of innovation programs in Athens, such as renovating old abandoned buildings and opening them to local communities.
The Mayor of Athens, Giorgos Kaminis, explained that Athens being nominated for this award began with a variety of innovation programs in Athens, such as renovating old abandoned buildings and opening them to local communities.
The other cities in running with Athens are Aarhus, Antwerp, Bristol, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Leuven, Lisbon, Madrid, Toulouse, Umeå, and Vienna.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
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Local News
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Monday, 18 January 2021 07:00
Where To Enjoy The Most Amazing Views In Athens
When you set off to discover Athens, you will be surprised by the amount of amazing vantage points the city has to offer. Due to its unique geography, Athens offers a number of places to visit and take-in the extraordinary views over the city and all the way to the sea! Get ready to feel on the top of the world at one of our favorite viewpoints in Athens.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis, Athens’ eternal landmark, offers some of the most extraordinary views in the city. Standing proudly on a high hill, the Acropolis is the most visited landmark in Athens-not only for its historical importance but also for the bird’s eye views to the city below. The Acropolis may be a rather predictable choice, however, it is the most stunning location in Athens if not in the whole of Greece.
The Acropolis, Athens’ eternal landmark, offers some of the most extraordinary views in the city. Standing proudly on a high hill, the Acropolis is the most visited landmark in Athens-not only for its historical importance but also for the bird’s eye views to the city below. The Acropolis may be a rather predictable choice, however, it is the most stunning location in Athens if not in the whole of Greece.
Mount Lycabettus
Lycabettus is the highest peak in Athens and an iconic landmark of the city. At 300 meters above sea level it offers unsurpassed views of the city; on a clear day, you can see the island of Aegina shimmering in the horizon. The top of the hill can be reached by foot, but the easiest way to get there is via the cable car that runs every half hour from the station on Aristippou street. Mount Lycabettus is home to the picturesque chapel of St. George, a restaurant, and an open air theater. The views from the hill are particularly amazing at night time!
Lycabettus is the highest peak in Athens and an iconic landmark of the city. At 300 meters above sea level it offers unsurpassed views of the city; on a clear day, you can see the island of Aegina shimmering in the horizon. The top of the hill can be reached by foot, but the easiest way to get there is via the cable car that runs every half hour from the station on Aristippou street. Mount Lycabettus is home to the picturesque chapel of St. George, a restaurant, and an open air theater. The views from the hill are particularly amazing at night time!
Philopappou Hill
Named after the monument of Philoppapos that was discovered in the area, this hill captures Greek history, ancient and modern in a single image. Walking up the marble paved path and you will pass the tiny church of St. Dimitrios Loumbardiaris and The Shrine of the Muses which is cut into the rock just below the hill’s summit. From the top of the you’ll be able to take some amazing pictures of the Parthenon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Acropolis Museum, and the Athens Observatory. The hill is surrounded by a beautiful park and is a favorite kite drifting spot on the Greek Kathara Deytera - Clean Monday holiday.
Named after the monument of Philoppapos that was discovered in the area, this hill captures Greek history, ancient and modern in a single image. Walking up the marble paved path and you will pass the tiny church of St. Dimitrios Loumbardiaris and The Shrine of the Muses which is cut into the rock just below the hill’s summit. From the top of the you’ll be able to take some amazing pictures of the Parthenon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Acropolis Museum, and the Athens Observatory. The hill is surrounded by a beautiful park and is a favorite kite drifting spot on the Greek Kathara Deytera - Clean Monday holiday.
Other excellent places to savor awe-inspiring views of central Athens are: Strefi Hill near Exarhia, the Athens National Observatory on Nymphon Hill, and Areopagus Hill near the Acropolis. If you have some extra time on your hands we highly recommend taking the short trip to the floodlit Temple of Poseidon in Sounion to watch the sun set into the Saronic Gulf and the moon rising up over the sea!
This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab
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City Discovery
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Thursday, 02 May 2019 07:00
Athens & Epidaurus Festival 2019 Ticket Pre-Sale Has Begun
The Athens & Epidaurus Festival 2019 ticket pre-sale has begun. Tickets are available for purchase at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, Peiraios 260, and other venues hosting this year’s Festival productions. Tickets can also be purchased by telephone, online, and at Public.gr stores.
More Specifically
Call Center: 210 8938112 Monday to Sunday 09:00-21:00
Online Purchase: www.greekfestival.gr & www.ticketmaster.gr
For groups (20+ persons): 210 3222720 & tickets@greekfestival.gr
For persons with disabilities: 210 3221897 & tameia@greekfestival.gr
Athens & Epidaurus Festival Box Offices:
Panepistimiou 39 (Stoa Pesmazoglou) Monday to Friday 10:00-16:00, Saturday 10:00-15:00
Odeon of Herodes Atticus: Monday to Sunday 10:00-14:00 & 18:00-21:00 on performance days
Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus: Monday to Thursday 10:00-13:00 & Friday to Saturday 10:30-21:30
For more information about this year's events, please visit: Athens & Epidaurus Festival
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Local News
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Monday, 20 July 2020 14:40
Epidaurus Theater To Globally Live-Stream Ancient Play For The First Time
Aeschylus' ancient Greek play "The Persians," is the first ancient Greek drama production to be live-streamed to a global audience. The performance will be presented in remembrance of the 25th centennial of the Battle of Salamis. "The Persians" dramatizes the naval battle of Salamis–one of the most critical battles in human history and is Aeschylus' most pacifist play.
The play will be streamed live on July 25 at 21.00 Athens time (GMT +2), in partnership with Google Greece, and will be available worldwide–except Greece–exclusively through YouTube. The screening is free of charge; however, donations are welcome. Proceeds and donations will go to the National Theatre and the Greek actors who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The play will be perfomed in Greek with English subtitles and will be available through livefromepidaurus.gr, the National Theatre of Greece, the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and the National Theatre of Greece's YouTube channel.
This content has been prepared by Codico Lab with information from amna.gr
This content has been prepared by Codico Lab with information from amna.gr
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Local News
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