In Greece, the olive branch represents peace, tranquility, and friendship; the horseshoe is considered the most effective amulet; yellow, green, blue, and white are positive colors; a tilted neck means yes, a nod means no... After immigrating to Greece, understanding Greek etiquette and customs is a primary task. Below, we have summarized the etiquette regarding clothing, dining, hosting guests, and family life for those living in Greece after immigration.
Focus on Appearance and Modest Dress
Greeks are particular about their attire, especially the middle-aged and elderly, who prioritize dressing modestly and elegantly. They always dress up when going out, and elderly women enjoy wearing brightly colored clothing. At weddings, the bride usually chooses a white wedding dress, complete with a veil and wreath, while the groom wears a black or white suit. In social settings, men typically wear dark suits with a tie or bow tie; in summer, men's suit fabrics are lighter and the styles are conservative. In social activities, Greek men often place a handkerchief in the left pocket of their suit jacket, leaving a corner visible, and they often wave the handkerchief while dancing. Women's attire is not overly revealing; they love wearing long skirts and headscarves in bright colors. Priests wear black robes and top hats. Women must wear long clothes and skirts when entering a church, must not expose their arms, and cannot stand behind the altar. In the Macedonia region of Greece, women traditionally use the color of their bodice trim to indicate their "status": those wearing green-trimmed tight-fitting tops are unmarried girls; those wearing white-trimmed tops are brides; and those wearing light purple-trimmed tops are widows.
Diverse Diet and Emphasis on "Original Flavors"
Greek cuisine has a long history and a unique style. Modern Greeks love whole-wheat bread, and their meat consumption is primarily beef and lamb, with an emphasis on "original flavors." Mediterranean vegetables are also essential, such as tomatoes, green peppers, onions, eggplants, cucumbers, celery, garlic, as well as fresh seafood and cheese, all paired with olive oil, wine, and spices, forming the basic dietary profile of the Greeks. In Greece, they drink alcohol at both lunch and dinner, and they enjoy drinking ice water throughout all four seasons. White wine must be chilled, and they generally prefer strong coffee in the morning. Greeks have dinner quite late; for example, in Athens, it usually starts after 10:00 PM.
Generous and Hospitable
Greeks are generous, love to joke, and can sometimes be impatient or easily agitated when speaking, making arguments inevitable. However, these arguments subside easily, and once the matter is over, they act as if nothing happened. Greeks would rather suffer a loss themselves than lose face. When they treat guests to a meal, if the guest insists on paying, it will embarrass the host and may even ruin the friendship. As an ancient civilization, the Greek people are deeply proud of their long history and brilliant culture, and therefore have a favorable impression of the Chinese, who also possess an ancient civilization.
Greeks are warm and hospitable. A widely circulated proverb says: "Whether human or god, anyone who enters the home should be treated like a god." Therefore, even for unexpected guests, the host will treat them warmly. When entertaining guests, they usually bring out the best food in the house for them to taste, and sometimes they will invite guests to dance together. Gifts from guests are not opened in front of them; if they do not like the gift, they will not offer false thanks. When a Greek is speaking at length, the polite thing to do is to listen attentively and respond positively from time to time.
Tilted Neck yes Nod no
Greeks have a rich and unique set of gestures and body language. For example, nodding with a smile or placing the right hand over the heart signifies "gratitude"; shrugging or pouting means "I don't know" or "there's nothing I can do." Foreigners can generally understand these two, but giving a thumbs up, which can mean "enough" or "get out," is different from most countries. Furthermore, tilting the neck to the side means yes (affirmation), while tilting the head up or nodding means no (negation), which is the opposite of the habits in countries where "nodding means yes" and "shaking the head means no." Other gestures, such as waving, are considered insulting or contemptuous in Greece. Foreigners should be aware of all these in advance.
Respect for Elders and Favored Daughters
Greetings are mostly handshakes and hugs, and kissing is also popular. When addressing others, use their surname; acquaintances can be addressed by their first name. Elderly Greeks hold a high status in the family, and elders should be addressed with honorifics, similar to "uncle" or "aunt" in our country. Most Greek parents build houses for their daughters, but not for their sons, and the heirs to parental property are often the daughters.
National Tree: Olive, Symbolizing Peace
The national tree of Greece is the olive tree, which symbolizes peace and wisdom, while the olive branch is a symbol of peace and friendship. People like colors such as green, blue, and blue-and-white combinations, and avoid black. They worship snakes and wolves and view salt as a sacred object; when offering sacrifices to gods, salt is an absolutely essential offering. The horseshoe is considered the most effective amulet, a symbol of good luck, and possesses the magical power to ward off evil. From 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM is the Greek nap time, which should not be disturbed, but there is no need to worry about calling them at 10:00 PM, as their nightlife continues until midnight.