Greek Culture - Hellenic Students Association (HSA) at Cornell, Greek Society

GREEK CULTURE

The Greek culture is rich in customs and traditions. Food full of spices, poetry full of vivid emotions, many Greek dances, several festivals and festivities throughout the year are only some features of the lively and warm Greek culture.

SPECIAL EVENTS / FESTIVALS

Greek Carnival: February or March, just before Lent, many traditional festivities.

Easter: The most important religious event in Greece, the Greek's celebrate the Resurrection more than Crucifixion. Customs include red eggs and lamb on the spit.

Independence Day: 25th March along with the Feast of the Annunciation. Celebration of the 1821 revolution and the liberation of Greece from Turkish occupation.

Ascent of Panagia (Virgin Mary): August 15, a very important religious holiday. The entire country is virtually shut down and many festivals are taking place all over the country.

Hellenic Festival: June-September, cultural events in the antique theatre.

"Ochi day": 28th October, celebration of the refusal of the Italian ultimatum in 1940. Military parade.

FOOD

Mediterranean specialities cooked in olive oil.

Moussaka - eggplant with tomato sauce.

Tomatoes Yemites me Rizi - tomatoes or pepper stuffed with rice.

Keftedes - meatballs mixed with herbs and spices.

Spanakopita - spinach pie with phyllo and feta

Feta - white cheese made from goat or sheep's milk.

Ouzo - national drink made from aniseed.
See more Greek recipes!
[Greek Easter]

GREEK DANCES

Dancing is one of the great Greek traditions, considered much fun and an opportunity for expression. However, the dance takes an additional meaning for Greeks as a unifying factor.
First, dancing unites Greeks to each other. The Greek dances enable beginners to dance together with experts, as no basic step is too complicated for anyone to learn with a little effort, while every dance has complex variations and elaborations.
Dancing unites also Greeks with their past and, one hopes, with their future. The circle dance has been danced in Greece since ancient times. and certain dances can be traced back hundreds or thousands of years.
Read more about Greek dancing!
HSA will be organizing a Greek dance group to perform at events. See more information

RADIO ITHAKI
Cornell HSA broadcasts its own webradio online. Click below to listen to the best Greek and Mediterranean music non-stop. Radio Ithaki is a modern radio with listeners from all over the world, join the community that loves music and have fun!