Contemporary Greek culture and traditions are very rich and diverse, reflecting Greece’s location at the crossing point where the West meets the East and the country’s great and turbulent history.
The culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years - dating from the Paleolithic era and the birth of the great Minoan, (2600-1500 BC), Mycenaean (1500-1150 BC) and Cycladic civilizations through the Classical Period (6th - 4th centuries BC) - the Golden Age, reaching great levels of prosperity that resulted in an unprecedented cultural boom, expressed in architecture, drama, science and philosophy, and nurtured in Athens under a democratic environment, through the sequence of invasions and domination: by the Macedonians, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire and the 400 years of Ottoman rule.
During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, Greece saw monarchies and ousting of royalty, fierce political fights, assassinations, and dictatorships, wars that added neighboring territories and new population, but also brought economic devastation and poverty. After the defeat of Germany and the end of World War II, Greece joined NATO in 1952 and experienced a bitter civil war between communist and anticommunist forces.
...
“Greeks define their natural and ethnic belonging through their culture and tradition. Anyone who has seen the movie “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” knows this. Traditions, religion, music, language, food and drinks are the pillars of contemporary Greek culture and lifestyle, making the country an attracting point to visitors from all over the world.”
Like to point out that the movie “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” was written, directed and produced by a Canadian Immigrant. It does show the resilience of the ethnic communities in the milieu of a country practicing multiculturalism. It does not add to the attraction of Greece to visitors from all over the world for it depicts Greek Canadians and as such it is more of an advertising and invitation to people to come and see a tolerant, fun loving immigrants copping with life /unique situations in Canada, imo.
Last summer a musical was staged in Toronto: “My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding”. The similarities with the above title are undeniable as well as the distinctiveness of the Canadian social environment. Only in Canada! :-)
Very interesting and informative article. Thanks!
http://www.amazon.com/Caf%C3%A9-Blue-Danube-Radka-Yakimov/dp/0595476724
Th Bulgarian Canadians, if I may....:-)
The sequel to MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING is called MY LOVE IN RUINS and is filmed in Greece.
By the way, one of the most important Greek contributions is the invention of lying. Greeks lie like no body's business. A tribe of swindlers.
tubo
Dream on, baby! You can barely "bend over" a Chinese lady! lol
tubo
You better hit the gym, pork chop!
Where is my BFF Bill? Maybe he took a trip somewhere.
A lot of 'my big fat Greek wedding' came from Greek Australian theatre.
The movie was certainly unoriginal it depicted more of a Greek Australia family than a Greek Canadian/American one.
Mavro how do you know what the movie depicts ?
Nelllie easy on the name calling . Or I will take u on a grand slam date.
In Australia you're suppose to not know how to speak English very well.
Unlike in the US and Canada where you're expected to assimilate as soon as you get off the ship. The movie depicted the father of the bride as being more like a Greek Australian than an Greek American in the way that he couldn't speak English very well and just made a fool of himself.
tubo
"Nelllie easy on the name calling . Or I will take u on a grand slam date."
Yeah? But are you going to be able to score? You know--complete the pass? lol
“Unlike in the US and Canada where you're expected to assimilate as soon as you get off the ship.”
Mavro,
You couldn’t be more wrong as far as Canada is concerned. Multiculturalism was introduced and accepted as the official policy of the country by Pierre Trudeau’s government in the late1960s or early 1970s. Melting pot refers to the American idea of social and cultural assimilation.
DP
" Melting pot refers to the American idea of social and cultural assimilation."
Some melting pot! The demented Hispanics are living in their little sub-world and not even pretending to assimilate or learn English! they EXPECT everything to be conducted in Spanish! Because they are too dumb to learn English.
Nellie,
One thing is the Melting Pot idea and another thing is what is practice or reality.
50% more Chinese Tourists in Bulgaria
Potentially Defective Aluminum was used by All Car Manufacturers in Japan