I will be in Greece by the end of October, which means I'll spend my first Halloween there, and I'm very glad someone asked about Greek traditions as I had no idea of what to expect..
Do you have any recommendations on what to do? Aside from the worldwild celebration, I mean. I wish to experience Greece like the Greeks, and going there after the touristic season already feels like a good start. (Ξέρεις πόσο αγαπώ τη χώρα σου.. ❤️
Να είσαι καλά!
Hello! Before getting to the rec part, I must clarify that these folk tales and traditions mentioned in these posts are not associated with Halloween. Greece does not celebrate Halloween, it is just a fitting period to talk about spooky stuff just because spooky is trending now that so many countries are in Halloween mode. Customs that refer to dark folklore take place in various dates across the country but most of them take place around February and early March, when it's the Carnival season, which is what Greece traditionally celebrates (and it is really interesting IMO). Some other customs might be celebrated around Christmas season too (i.e shooing the goblins). However, if you are in either of the two biggest cities (Athens or Thessaloniki), you will certainly find cafes and other establishments having Halloween themed parties on October 31st. You could ask your hotel receptionist or maybe a Greek you know, to learn more about what parties are available.
Depending on where in Greece you are heading, the experience may vary significantly especially in such a transitional month as October. In the far south, it will likely feel like mild summer while in the far north it is going to be the beginning of winter. Here are some general recommendations though:
If you are in Greece by October 28th, it is a great opportunity to participate in the Anniversary of No celebrations! The Anniversary of No is one of our national days (we have 2 and a half national days... long story). On this day, rural areas and folk associations have festivals with traditional dances and food but what certainly happens everywhere around the country is the parade. We have both a school and an army parade. Because of their big size, Athens and Thessaloniki switch between school and army parade in every national day. On October 28th, the army parade takes place in Thessaloniki. In other, smaller places the parades are usually mixed. In very very small places, where a military camp might not be nearby, the parades might be only school parades. Regardless of what the parade is, all of them almost always feature some representation by the traditional costumes associations. And obviously, the army parades are way more interesting than the school parades. It should be noted that there are some minor school or army representation even when the parade is of the army or the school respectively. In short, this is going to be best if you are in a big urban region or in Northern Greece, in Thessaloniki on that day. If so, don't miss the chance. Again, ask your hotel receptionist or a Greek where and when the parade will take place.
If you go to the south / southeast or the islands there, take your swimming suit with you if you want. You might find temperatures to be quite tolerable. However, don't skip on a proper jacket, long sleeves and long trousers, boots and an umbrella. I heard this October is going to be mild but you don't want unpleasant surprises.
I've said it before, I feel strongly about this. Since you want to experience Greece like a Greek, definitely consider adopting a Greek sense of time for the days you are here. Wake up around 9.30 - 10 am, take breakfast around 10-11 am. Have lunch at 2 - 3 pm. Relax a bit. Have an afternoon drink / dessert / snack around 6-7.30 pm. Take dinner after 9 - 9.30 pm. Go to a bar or a club after 11.30pm - 12am . Make sure to take your time while eating or drinking your coffee. Bring a book with you. Some cafes have board games you can play with your company. Don't worry that you are taking up space or anything, that's how it works here. You will see how much livelier your experience will be as all Greeks will be out and about at these hours. It looks so sad to see tourists eating a salad for dinner all alone in a desolate place while we head at home to take our afternoon nap LOL (Unless of course your day is full of things to do or places to visit, obviously. In these cases, you will have to plan your schedule accordingly.)
Also the sun sets early that time of year. After the timezone change which will happen on the last Sunday of October, the sun will be setting around 5.30 pm. This will sure feel very different from summer XD (You will have to set your watch one hour back on that Sunday a little after midnight.) Our time scheduling is not affected by the early sunset, we still do everything late but maybe a little less late if they start the Covid restrictions again. Be on the lookout for that, although I'm pretty sure it's not gonna be as restrictive as the two previous years.
Speaking of COVID, do have a bunch of masks with you (easily available in pharmacies), just in case, because the state might enforce them inside buildings when the weather gets cold. But even aside from the state, Greeks themselves took Covid a little more seriously than West Europe. I mean, there are always antis around too, but still.
Shopping hours are roughly 8 am - 2 pm and on some workdays also 5.30 pm - 8.30 pm. On Saturday shops are only open in the morning hours (except for chains and supermarkets which are open until the evening) and on Sunday everything is closed. State services are only in the morning hours and only on workdays. Certain pharmacies (always) and very few mini markets (occasionally) have extended shifts that cover the nights, Saturday evenings and the entire Sundays too. Of course, the more remote the place, the better prepared you need to be anyway. To find the pharmacies that have extended shifts, you can google "εφημερεύοντα φαρμακεία σήμερα" (= pharmacies on duty today) + the place you are in.
Always check tripadvisor or ask locals where it's good to eat. Don't always feed on the Greek salad or souvlaki, you will be missing out! You can ask the waiter for any specialties too or what is the freshest dish they have at that moment.
I see you are learning Greek. Make use of that knowledge, Greeks love it!
If you are unsure of how to make the best of your travel, visit a kiosk or a big magazine & newspaper shop. They usually sell maps and tourist guides for their respective regions.
Unless you are part of an organized group, instead of trying to visit too many places across the country at once, stick to one or two regions (islands or mainland prefectures) and explore them thoroughly. Greece is not easily navigable and it has many places to see. If your plan is ambitious, you will end up exhausted and with only a very superficial impression.
Definitely explore beyond archaeological museums and ancient sites. Visit Byzantine and Modern sites and museums as well as churches and monasteries, which are a huge part of Greek culture. It doesn't matter if you are not religious or your faith is different. Only thing to care about is to be dressed a little modestly (covered shoulders, skirts for women in the monasteries). I think you can take photos (except when it's explicitly forbidden) but not when there is a service taking place (although I have done it LOL it was a cool church okay?). If you are a Christian of any dogma, I think you can do the two standard things Greeks (and all Orthodox people) do at the church. As you enter, there is a stand with candles and a coin slit. Throw a few cents in the coin slit and take a candle. There is a special candelabra nearby, usually with sand, where you can light your candle and place it there. Next, you can kiss the hagiographies close to the entrance and on the right and left corridors of the church (not the ones in the chancel). Again, only if you are a Christian and feel comfortable doing it. I'm just recommending this because I genuinely believe that no matter what dogma a Christian belongs to, it's still the same God and the same saints and I find it really weird when they are competitive with each other.
Always keep some cash on you, especially when you visit more remote or rural areas.
To be honest, late October is a good time to visit the mainland, the north and the mountains everywhere in the country. Check out hiking options and mountain villages close to where you'll go.
That's all I can think of now. Hope that helped any!
Ελπίζω να περάσεις υπέροχα και το ταξίδι σου να είναι γεμάτο αυθεντικές εμπειρίες, όπως το ονειρεύεσαι!!!
