The Greek diaspora is spread across more than 140 countries with an estimated 5 million people claiming Greek heritage globally. For many second-generation immigrants, embracing Greek traditions is a way of preserving their family’s identity and for them to feel closer to their culture. Understanding your cultural heritage can help you connect with older generations of your family and have a stronger sense of identity.
At MyHeritage, we’ll help with the search for your Greek ancestry, from accessing city directories to navigating Greek marriage records and census documents. In this article, we’re exploring the Greek traditions that are being kept alive across the world by immigrant families and how you can trace your Greek roots with MyHeritage.
Greek Home and Family Life
Like many European countries, Greece has what’s known as a “kitchen table” culture where families come together to share meals. The kitchen table is more than just somewhere to eat, it’s the social hub of the family home. Within Greek families, including for immigrants abroad, the grandmother (yiayia) and grandfather (pappou) are actively involved in day-to-day life.
If you’re a second-generation Greek, you’ll be accustomed to traditional Greek food. Cooking is a love language, spoken just as fluently as Greek itself. Dishes like baklava, moussaka, souvlaki, and stifado are commonly found at a Greek dinner table. Greek immigrants often continue to practice their family recipes, passing them down to the next generation.
Faith and Festivities in Greece
The Greek Orthodox Church plays just as big a role in the lives of the Greek diaspora as those living within Greece. It often serves as a community center, acting as a cultural anchor, helping immigrants connect. Easter is a major holiday within the Orthodox Church with many Greek immigrant families attending midnight mass and celebrating together on Easter Sunday.
Within Greek culture, ‘name days’ are just as popular as birthdays. It’s a reflection of how many Greeks, including second-generation immigrants, are named after saints. Other religious traditions from Greece are continued by those living abroad, including having godparents and a crowning during Greek weddings, known as ‘stefana’.
The Tastes and Sounds of Greece
Although most of Greece is now made up of urban areas, older immigrants likely came from villages. Within these small towns and villages, storytelling and meeting together regularly was a crucial part of daily life. It’s a sense of community Greek immigrants often try to recreate in their new homes.
Traditional Greek music and dancing are common at weddings and parties with many dances being designed for groups, bringing different generations together. Folk songs often pay homage to Greek history and the land itself.
“Parea” is an important part of Greek culture when people gather in laughter and conversation. During these gatherings, recipes are handed down like heirlooms, along with oral family histories that are rarely written down. If you’re looking to connect with your Greek heritage, documenting and digitalizing these stories and recipes is the perfect place to start.
Reconnecting with Your Greek Heritage Through Genealogy
At MyHeritage, we give you the tools and records to unlock your heritage and better understand Greek culture. Learn about Greek surnames, historical events like the Greek War of Independence, and explore our Greece immigration record index.
Start your family tree by working one generation at a time, interviewing older family members for clues. Don’t be surprised if you see the same names coming up repeatedly. It’s common in Greek culture to name children after family members, so you’ll want to use your MyHeritage family tree to keep track of everyone.
Greek Orthodox church records are a great place to start your search with birth, marriage, and death certificates giving you crucial insights into your family tree. MyHeritage helps you discover your past and connect with your Greek heritage through photographs, newspaper archives, and even DNA testing.
Celebrate Greek Traditions and Discover Your Family Roots with MyHeritage
Greek traditions are celebrated all over the world, whether it’s at a kitchen table or in a Greek Orthodox church. Tracing your family tree and discovering your Greek heritage can help you connect with these traditions and preserve them for the next generation. Sign up for a free trial today and discover your Greek roots with MyHeritage.
The post Being Greek: Traditions and Genealogy appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage