In Israel, pork is still considered taboo, but its still available. It can only be made when a pregnant animal is killed. Customary foods are a lamb and Tsoureki Paschalino, a sweet Easter dessert bread. About the Portal. I noticed that there is a taverna culture of "gaming". It is taboo for the husband to stay at home and watch the kids while his wife works. So my collaboration post with other travel writers and bloggers about Cultural faux pas around the world may interest you too. The word "taboo" (also spelled "tabu") is Polynesian and means 'sacred' or 'forbidden'; it has a quasi-magical or religious overtone. Cultures such as the Tongans, French, Brazilians, and Native Americans all have their own taboos. Im glad you pointed out about taking your time and enjoying your drink. Many practicing Jews abstain from non-kosher diets; Islamic. Machines to buy them have languages in Greek, English, German, French and Russian. Took me a while to come around to the frappe. WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology. After all, this is a country that dates back to ancient times.Etiquette in Greece Artefacts inside the Athens metro, Its very clean and worth using. Can you tell me what the temperatures and weather is like in November? Do take your time over coffee theres no rush. And to be honest, if I saw an american man being shirtless I wouldnt give a shit, but only if they did it out of need, not if they knew its rude and still did it. Omgosh! Worldwide Greeks is a free online forum for people to discuss the Greek culture. Thanks Zeta. Food taboos exist everywhere in the world. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Are jeans acceptable? Zeta Xekalaki February 1, 2018 At 13:15 . First of all, covering up shoulders is only for the ladies and only in monasteries. Shark fin soup is still considered a delicacy in China and Hong Kong, and shark meat is consumed in other parts of Asia (including India and Japan), Australia, Iceland, and some regions in Africa. Thanks so much for the great tips! The early Greeks personalized every aspect of their world, natural and cultural, and their experiences in it. Im glad you engaged with and enjoyed the post. I realize you dont want to scare people from coming, but it also happened to others in the tour group I was with on other occasions. Does anyone have an y books to recommend? Your email address will not be published. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Its illegal to eat in many countries and international sale is banned. They stayed with me for a bit a few years ago and brought some wine from Greece. The other three are mores, laws, and folkways. Beef is pretty controversial in India. Shellfish isnt kosher, so Jews refrain from eating lobster, mussels, shrimp, and crab. To hand-signal the number 5, be sure face your palm inwards towards yourself. Greece tends to be a little humid as its by the coast, especially the islands so bring trousers and a long sleeved cardigan. Its very important for us! And its such a healthy outlook to life too. Its almost impossible that the backpacker you met in the center of Athens was Greek. They have to learn taboos that are often not explicitly taught or discussed, making it difficult to know what is and is not considered appropriate within their new society. A list of why:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'lifebeyondbordersblog_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-lifebeyondbordersblog_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Some customs and etiquette in Greece tips for Driving and Public Transport: Do wait an extra few seconds before crossing the road after your man has turned green to allow cars to actually acknowledge theyre required to stop. Usually, people make kutti pi using a goat fetus. Millions of products were withdrawn from countries across Europe, including the UK, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. You are using an out of date browser. So beggers is a relative concept. Never imply that the Greek people somehow deserved the financial crisis or that they caused their own economic demise. Kosher rules state: According to the laws of the Torah, the only types of meat that may be eaten are cattle and game that have cloven hooves and chew the cud. If an animal species fulfills only one of these conditions (for example the pig, which has split hooves but does not chew the cud, or the camel, which chews the cud, but does not have split hooves), then its meat may not be eaten.. Shellfish isnt kosher, so Jews refrain from eating lobster, mussels, shrimp, and crab. I wouldnt keep everything in one place and usually travel with a hidden money belt that you can put under your clothes.I also wait to travel on less crowded metros so if the one coming is pretty jam packed, I wait for the next metro. We do not sell or share user data and will not use any photos or content that users post to our website for any other purpose. In Italy, France, Germany, China, and Japan, horse meat is a delicacy used to make many dishes. Your email address will not be published. They didn't have to do that but was happy they made the gesture. It is a tavern turned into a quaint restaurant. You might also have mentioned the serious issue with pickpockets in the metro. The Greek name Apokries means abstention from meat (apo-kreas). person's face the more offensive it's considered. Brazils Buzios Island has a taboo on turtle meat for conservation purposes. Thankfully, I had put a copy of my passport in my suitcase which made it so much easier in getting it replaced at the embassy. Taboos may be prohibited explicitly, for example within a legal system or religion, or implicitly, for . Show sympathy and solidarity if conversation turns to Greeces economic situation. This is essential to fostering good relationships. You recommend the metro, I have heard there are a lot of pick pockets on the metro, is this true? But note: some churches especially monasteries, dont like women to show their shoulders, and especially not their legs. I really enjoyed reading your information here. Do you walk around topless (males) in your home city in the summer?What_Not_to_do_in _Greeceif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'lifebeyondbordersblog_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',360,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-lifebeyondbordersblog_com-banner-1-0'); Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding clothing: Do show a modicum of decency and use your common sense. Most of the species avoided for the ill include species high on the food chain. But if thats the actual local norms, I think Greece would actually suit me much much better than I thought! Required fields are marked *, This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on February 17, 2023 by Chris Drew, PhD. While some taboos are legally enforceable, others are simply considered to be poor taste. For western members of the Left-Hand Path, breaking taboos is liberating and reinforces one's individuality rather than being confined by social conformity. An act may be taboo in one culture and not in another. Many of these prohibitions constitute taboos. The issue is even more of a concern during humanitarian crises, when food supplies are at a critically low level and. Food taboos still have a role to play when clearly linked to adverse effects on a consumer's health. (Shark finning is the practice of catching sharks, removing their fins while theyre alive, and releasing them back into the oceana cruel act that ends up with sharks ultimately getting eaten by other fish or sinking. All Ive ever seen on the internet is about holidaymaking in Greece which gave me the total opposite impression of your first two tips! Compliments are always welcomed when you first meet a Greek. My bestie and I are just now planning a 2 week trip there for this September. Definitely feel a very strong connection to the Greeks. Avoided food items by pregnant mothers were linseed, coffee, tea, cabbage, porridge, wheat bread, banana, pimento, groundnut, salty diet, nug, sugarcane, pumpkin, and coca drinks. Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding clothing: Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding drinking: Some customs and etiquette in Greece tips for Driving and Public Transport: Download my Travel App to Greece. Great youre trying a few phrases. Strabo, in a manner common among Greek . Cultural and religious food taboos often ban the eating of certain . Despite this though, many cultures and societies engage in preferences and taboos of which restrict their dietary range. Traditionally, this Greek dish is either served with rice, chip potatoes, hilopittes (egg pasta), or orzo/kritharaki pasta. So much to do in both Athens and Santorini, but it will be very hot, so bring plenty of high sunscreen, especially for the children.I wouldnt try to climb up to the Acropolis from midday onwards make sure you aim to do it early morning or later in the early evening, its too hot.Most of all, enjoy your travels! Such prohibitions are present in virtually all societies. All year round, they live underground and saw the tree of the year. I know of incidences in Barcelona, Lisbon, a lot of European cities. If so, what should I give? Ill just add one point when in Greece, dont just stick to gyros, souvlaki and moussaka. They become psychologically effective by conditioning. We are not responsible for any information that you choose to share in your public user profile. https://helpfulprofessor.com/taboo-examples-cultural-religious-food/. The They will likely ask you personal questions during casual discussion (i.e. Although, again sadly, I cannot get the frappe Nescaf mix so I use the kind we get here. A unified, searchable interface answering your questions on the world's cultures and religions. Does anyone have any advice on how to make that happen this year? My wife and I love sitting at a cafe and people watching. What to wear throughout day totour city while chilly and be able to visit a religious site or church dressed appropriately?Appreciate any advice ..always wish to respect local etiquette and learn from locals. maybe when they grow up !! Greece is a globalised . Are you thinking about having children?) in an effort to get to know you. Many believe it is important to marry a Greek to keep the culture and bloodline going strong. plural taboos also tabus. Clean and easy to use, The ticket system is easy to use with re-chargable Electronic Cards (paper tickets, so dont get confused and think it should be a plastic card), that you can buy for varying amounts, each allowing a certain amount of journeys. Driving in Athens, and Greece in general, can be a little hair raising! In fact, most taboos are enforced not by governments but by subtle social signals that demonstrate disapproval of taboo behaviors. Thanks for the helpful tips. Great Article! I had an experience back in the summer that made me think of penning this post: Quite happily minding my own business in an Athens coffee shop in the heat, a male backpacker plonks himself down at an outside table opposite me, takes of his backpack and his shirtleaving himself topless in the middle of a busy Athenian street. Food taboos in Buddhism and Hinduism; Basic theology of the Eucharist; concept of the feast in Christianity; fasting an abstinence; Underlying concept of the spirituality of the body (if relevant to course content) Teacher resource: Food and Faith in Christian Culture, edited by Ken Albana and Trudy Eden (New York: Columbia, 2011). I mean, actually no since Im not male, but yes, 8/10 times the North American custom is to allow males to not wear a shirt outside. T-shirts are even fine its just so long as you have your shoulders covered so no sleeveless t-shirts.Women can always grab a little sarong to throw over their shoulders thats what I do. Greeks almost never back pack and those who do usually go to the islands and never hitchhike. LOL. Registered users that ignore this policy will have their accounts and posts removed from the Worldwide Greeks website. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, inauspicious words cannot be spoken. At junctions you often wait for a sign but in the end nothing happens and they turn or go straight on with no indication whatsoever. Ive travelled pretty widely in the US and live in a major suburb of Washington, DC. Cultural Clues, Do's and Taboos for Greece A Series of Cultural Tips for Countries from A to Z Cultural Clues & Communication Guidelines for Greece It's easy for business travelers to think that even when they travel, business is going to. As such, understanding local pregnancy food taboos is an important public health goal, especially in . Click on the image below, Things to know before travelling to Greece, Syntagma Metro Station Archaeological Collection, Hynes Eagle 40L Review The Best Carry-On Backpack to Avoid Paying Airline Baggage Fees, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/cultural-faux-pas-around-the-world/, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/greek-dishes-top-things-eat-drink-athens-greece/, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/greek-island-all-round-packing-list/, https://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com/privacy-policy/, https://www.touchscreentravels.com/apps/greeces-best/, Paris Food Tour an alternative way to experience the city, Begpacking in Europe. Greek food offers up most of . From Christmas until the Epiphany Day (January 6th), they come up to the world and tease people with many pranks. What can be seen as strange to outsiders is quite normal in Greece. Its all there for you to help with your travel planning. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. Do remember in a way, you are an Ambassador for your country whenever you go away, so dont do anything to give your fellow countrymen a bad name. Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. I think I mentioned it in this post already, but check out Scottavest. You must log in or register to reply here. So, I would suggest trousers that are maybe a cotton mix as they absorb any sweat (should it be hot) and keep you cool.Im not endorsing their products and am on no commission (as I have never actually tried them) but I have read that Scottevest is a good travelling product for both men and womens clothing. It is taboo for the husband to stay at home and watch the kids while his wife works. Its pretty darn close! But people do not eat kutti pi often. A number of surviving laws are cited, attesting to the contamination . I actually have no idea so I looked up etiquette and thought this link looked pretty good - hopefully someone will chime in to set us straight! The reason for food consumption being outlawed is usually for either cultural or religious reasons. Second of all, especially you who is a female you wouldnt go to egypt without covering up or else the locals would try to fondle you best case scenario ( b e s t). Avoid drawing on ideas of ancient Greece to inform your assumptions of contemporary Greek culture. As a result, there's a rather long list of food taboos for pregnant women, including banana, watermelon, pineapple, and mango. I was lucky in that one of my ,,would be hosts on Aegina explained it to me.I connected with Greece in Nov last year and fell in love with the country. LOL! It is always good to know and understand the culture of where you visit. Greece's climate is perfect growing for olive and lemon trees, producing two of the most important elements of Greek cooking. Whatever it is that makes something . Don't Eat Beef. Although I was taken back by this, I am quite used to it now. The nutritional status of women before and during pregnancy can be determined by maternal knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards certain foods. These taboos are not created equal. American "talk to hand" gesture. Ill be visiting Greece soon so this is indeed very helpful, Great! And if so, what is the best way to protect yourself from them. I mean its nice to know a countries preferences but when your economy relies mostly on tourism, just suck it up. Promotional threads are not allowed to promote any business, event or non-profit on our website as well. Copyright 2005 - 2023 Worldwide Greeks. You can download a App called Beat and link it to your credit card and order taxis from that. Observing Jews and Muslims both dont eat pork, even though they consume other meats. Interesting observation Sarah. . The Greeks appreciate the good things about life, and thats a good coffee with good company, maybe playing tavli.Photo by Tilemahos Efthimiadis, What the Greeks dont do is binge drink.Photo by The Lakelander, And this is why I love Greek culture. Its illegal to eat in many countries and international sale is banned. Dont show your bare legs or shoulders in a church, especially not a monastery, and men: please keep that singlet on. Youll see young people drinking coffee at 11pm with their friends, playing tavli (see my British vs Greek culture post for an in depth look at these cultural differences). . All rights reserved. Are knee length dresses acceptable to wear in churches as long as arms are covered, or should I bring a maxi dress? My hubby is Aussie Greek, we visited in 2017 and I loved the place the people, everything! I have a friend who tries to go to church if there is a service. Taboos are technically defined as a practice "proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable." But what makes something taboo isn't as concrete. The food taboo is a prohibition against consuming certain foods. And the great thing is, you are using an actual taxi driver and here in Greece, to be a taxi driver is a huge investment in the car, licensing, etc so its not a profession thats taken lightly.Just keep valuables hidden and be aware of your surroundings, but I will repeat again: I found travelling around Europe much safer than the U.S. P.S. Our family will be visiting Athens and Santorini next week and we are so excited! The Cultural Atlas team acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands throughout Australia on whose country we have the privilege to live and work.