"JOIN US IN GREECE"

BRAVO !!!   BRAVO !!!

New York avenues filled with ads about  Greece ...

inviting everybody to visit Greece!

ANNUNCIATION AND GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

     On the 25th of March of every year we celebrate the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary  (or Evangelismos tes Theotokou in Greek). It is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church and one of many feasts celebrating the Virgin Mary. Also on the same day Greeks celebrate Greek Independence Day.  (There are two Independence days in the year one in October about WWII and this one of the revolution and freedom from the Ottoman Empire).

     According to the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she would conceive and bear a son, the son of God even though she "knew no man." 

     This date was selected by the Church Fathers to be exactly nine months ahead of the Nativity of Our Lord (or vice-versa?), indicating that Christ was conceived in perfection at that time "of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary," as stated in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (Immaculate Conception).

     Many men and women in Greece are named for this event and celebrate their name day on this date.

BEAN SOUP - FASSOLATHA

     In Greek: φασολάδα, say: fah-soh-LAH-thah

     Fassolatha has been around since ancient Greek times. and it is the national dish of Greece. It is usually cooked with tomato even though it tastes good without it, too. It is served with bread, feta cheese (except during Lent and periods of fasting), and black olives.
Some people accompany it with a few slices of raw onion!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of dried beans (Great Northern work well)
• water
• 1 cup of olive oil
• ground black pepper
• 2/3 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2-3 stalks of celery chopped
• 1-2 small hot red peppers to taste (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/3 cup tomato sauce
• 1 medium onion diced

LENTEN DISHES

     During Lent (our 40-day before Easter fasting period), the Greek Orthodox abstain from foods that are derived from animals with blood. This includes beef, poultry and many types of fish. Also restricted are eggs and dairy products. The foods we can eat during Lent may be restricting (that is if you're fasting), but that doesn't mean that Lenten dishes are boring and bland. The meals are mainly vegetarian but they don't lack in taste. These are just a representation of the many tasty and delicious Lenten dishes available:


1. Fassolatha - Classic Bean Soup

A staple of the Lenten season and not only, it is eaten throughout the year and is considered our "national" dish. It is hearty, nutritious, and delicious. (See recipe for Bean soup - Fassolatha)

2. Horta Vrasta - Boiled Leafy Greens

These are easy to prepare. Just plain boil them in plenty of water and then after draining them we dress with a bit of olive oil and lemon. Clean, pure taste and very nutritious.

LENT

     Lent contributes to the spiritual empowerment of Christians and to good health.

     The Greek Orthodox Easter (Pasha) season starts with The Great Lent, beginning on Clean Monday seven weeks before Easter Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent lasts forty days because, according to biblical accounts, Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days of fasting, meditation and reflection before beginning his ministry. The Greek Orthodox faith follows a modified Julian calendar to establish the date of Easter each year and it does not always or often coincide with the date of Easter in other faiths.
(This year Greek Orthodox Easter is on 15th April)

I AM GREEK !

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

            

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

     Well, Happy St. Patrick's Day indeed to all of you around the globe who celebrate it!


     No, we do not celebrate it in Greece, we don't have a St. Patrick-it is a catholic holiday- but I happen to know all about St. Patrick's day due to the fact that I spent about ten years in the USA as a student and working. I remember wearing green clothes and eating green candy and of course drinking plenty of green beer that made our tongues green, too.


    I'll tell you what I know about St. Patrick in case some of you who read me are not familiar with the holiday (as I probably wouldn't if I hadn't lived in the USA).

SPRING IS COMING

SPRING IS COMING !!!

The grass is getting greener and the sun is shining more often! These photos were taken 2 weeks ago at my in-laws' place (they live about an hour's drive outside of Athens). You can see there's still snow on Therphe, the mountain on Evia Island in the background.

 

Another view of Mt. Therphe. The blue water you see is not a lake, it's the sea and that is Evia island.

RICE FIELDS IN JAPAN

AMAZING

I am awed by the creative mind of humankind all over the world....

Patience….

INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY

          

   International women's day is celebrated every year on 8 March, in remembrance of a large protest event which took place on 8 March 1857 by textile workers in New York, which called for better working conditions.


    International women's day 8 March 2012 and today on this occasion, we must highlight and put in practice everything that comprises the contemporary female presence. Nowadays, the women conquer more and more important positions in the world of work, knowledge and social contribution.

BREATHTAKING ATHENS FILM

                    ATHENS, GREECE



New and old combine, live togeher harmoniously!

THE CENTURY OF "LESS"

The Century of 'LESS'

It is true...in the 21st Century:

Our communication - Wireless

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Our telephone - Cordless

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Our cooking - Fireless

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Our youth - Jobless

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Our Ladies - Topless

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Our food - Fatless

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Our labour - Effortless

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Our conduct - Worthless

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Our relation - Loveless

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Our attitude - Careless

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Our feelings - Heartless

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Our politics - Shameless

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Our education - Valueless

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Our follies - Countless

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Our arguments - Baseless

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Our boss - Brainless

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Our Job - Thankless

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Our Salary - Less and less