Colors of Ithaka Island - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

While communicating with Greeks, remember that some of the common gestures have a different meaning in Greece. For example, if you want to show neglect to a person, just pretend that you are brushing off the dust of the lapel of the jacket. Greeks touch or pat the lower lip with the index finger not in order to send a kiss to you, it means that they want to say something. Ithaka inhabitants nod with the right hand on the heart to say «thank you». If a Greek person signals to somebody to join him, he extends his arms with the palms facing downwards.

Locals are very emotional and they behave freely. It is not strange here to interrupt each other and raise voice. During a conversation, Greek people touch the person they talk to without any embarrassment. It is customed to shake hands only at the first meeting. Then, people greet each other with a kiss on the cheeks. If a Greek doesn’t want to be called by name, you should call him by the second name. It is customed on Ithaka to greet everyone entering a public place such as a bank or a tavern.

Taverns are very important for the Greek people. The thing is that they love to spend evenings with family and friends in taverns, chatting, eating and drinking local alcohol under folk music. You will hardly find a free table in the tavern at 9 o’clock. Locals like to cook and there is also a couple of culinary clubs on Ithaka, but a meeting with friends in a tavern with a bottle of local retsina or ouzo is the national tradition and a perfect end of a working day. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Despite the fact that locals drink alcohol, you will hardly meet drunk people on the streets. This is because invariable behaviour is a disgrace for Greeks and people who come to the country. They believe that drunk people are ridiculous and miserable. So if you don’t want to be condemned by locals, try to control yourself. Most of the Greeks are Orthodox Christians. They are conservative people, especially those who live in remote villages. So, try to look appropriate if you visit small distant villages.

The most important thing for Greeks is to get pleasure from life. They will never work hard and get money at all costs. Locals can easily spend a large sum of money on an unnecessary useless thing or an evening in a tavern. Moreover, they don’t try to save money. They believe that there is no need for money if they don’t make you happy.

Local inhabitants are great patriots, but they like to criticize the government. If you want to be respected by Greeks, just say something pleasant about Ithaka or Greece in general. Don’t do the same if you want to become friends with a Greek person. Try to address locals in Greek, even if you don’t speak it well. Don’t plan anything in the period between 2 and 5 o’clock. Locals have siesta which is a very important ritual for them. They usually sleep at home or lie on a beach during this time. People on Ithaka know how to spend time with pleasure, they celebrate holidays in a big way. There are huge festivals on Christmas, Easter, Epiphany and Panigiri. Be sure to visit February Carnival, Theather Festival in Vathy and Marida festival.