GREEK TRIVIAL PURSUIT

      I thought I should do justice to my blog's name 'The Greek Housewife' by honoring the "Greek" part. So I decided I should have regular posts giving my dear readers little bits of information about Greece or being Greek! They will be numbered random Greek facts that I will put under a category (perhaps a page) named 'Greek Trivial Pursuit'! I hope you will like reading them and get to know me better in the process!

So here goes 'Random Greek Fact #1' :

      Knitting, crochet and embroidery are time-honored traditions in Greece. Needlework was always a traditional activity for the women in Greece. The skills are handed down from generation to generation. The women learn the needlework from their mothers and grandmothers. It was a major component of household handicrafts. In the old days since she was young, a girl had to be initiated into the art of needlework in order to sew her dowry (pillows, towels, doilies, tablecloths, aprons, sheets, curtains, and whatever else could adorn her clothes and house. Many of the embroidery images were symbolic, originating in nature, history and legend.             

      Today most women have abandoned this tradition and don't do any needlepoint except for necessary mending of the clothes! I happen to be one of them! Except for really big works of cross-stitching, that I did when I was much younger, I don't know how to do anything else. I didn't learn it from my mom when I was younger and I'm really sceptical about starting now!

      My mom on the other hand is really talented and hasn't given up on it. It's her hobby! Lately she has taken upon it to crochet a queen sized blanket for each of her 4 grandkids! WOW! Mom! What a project!

      I have posted photos of her fascinating work and I have a lot more to show you in the future. Here are some samples:

For more photos of my mom's masterpieces check out my posts Mommy's Doilies Part 1  and  Part 2!!!