Greek Culture

1 Pages 360 Words

Greek Culture

Most Greeks wear Western clothing, although traditional clothing continues to be worn in some rural areas. There are two types of traditional clothing for men: on the mainland men wear a foustanela (skirt), while a type of baggy trousers called a vraka is worn on the Aegean Islands and Crete. The traditional clothing for women consists of a kavadi (a dress of thick, often gold-woven, silk brocade) worn over a poukamiso (chemise); a kondogouni (tightly fitted velvet jacket) is worn over the poukamiso and a fessi (tasseled cap) completes the outfit. Popular foods include avgolimono (egg-lemon soup), moussaka (eggplant casserole), souvlakia (skewered meat), and baklava (nut-filled pastry). Greeks enjoy retsina wine and ouzo, a strong aperitif made from grape stems and flavored with anise. Traditional houses have whitewashed walls, long, narrow windows, and tiled roofs. Urban housing includes tall apartment buildings. The country’s favorite sports are soccer, basketball, and track-and-field events. Among the arts and crafts are ceramics, embroidery, jewelry-making, and leather goods.
The culture of ancient Greece had a major influence on the development of Western civilization. For information on Greek culture, see Drama and Dramatic Arts; Greek Art and Architecture; Greek Literature; Greek Music; Greek Philosophy; Greek Mythology; Olympian Games.
About 98 percent of the people are followers of the Orthodox Church of Greece. The remaining 2 percent of the population includes Muslims, Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Jews.
The great majority of the people of Greece speak Modern Greek (see Greek Language). The vernacular Modern Greek and language of popular literature is Demotike, as opposed to Katharevousa, a more formal modern Greek or purist Greek. Demotike became the official language of Greece by an act of parliament in 1976. It is used by the government, the newspapers, and educational institutions. Great diff...