Guide: all countries » Greece » Kos Island » Traditions and festivals

Colors of Kos Island - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

When you are on a holiday on the island of Kos, it is worth remembering some features of the local mentality. For example, the world-famous gesture of consent in the form of a nod here, as in the rest of Greece, means denial. And the locals nod their heads from the top down, they tut quietly to emphasize the skeptical attitude. You also shouldn’t direct a flat hand at a person you are talking to. The gesture, which is often used as a fencing or "stop, wait" signal, can be a great insult for a local.
Family holidays with kids in Kos Island. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.
Kos Island is a good place to relax with children of any age. There is everything to diversify the pastime of both a child and an adult: two water parks, several beautiful beaches with clean … Open
Note that on the island it is accepted to greet everyone presenting in the room when you enter, whether it's a tavern, a cafe, a store or a bank. This greeting is also accepted to be answered even by a complete stranger. The handshake is usually welcomed only at the first acquaintance, in the future, the Greeks kiss their close friends on the cheeks when they meet. If you were not asked, then do not call a local resident by name, call him by his last name. By the way, it won’t harm to learn at least a few words in Greek, for example, "yasas", which means "hello".
The Greeks communicate very emotionally, gesticulating actively. Sometimes it may seem that the conversation will soon go become a fight, but it won’t. It's just natural here to show your emotions. By the way, do not be surprised that the locals can talk about you or someone else in the third person during a conversation, here it is not something uncivilized. Remember that the shortest way to disagreements with the locals is indecent behavior when you are drunk. The islanders themselves, although they like to drink, are very disrespectful to those who lose control over themselves while drinking. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Cuisine of Kos Island for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe
On the island of Kos, there are enough old taverns that started functioning long before the tourists came down here, as well as new modern cafes and restaurants that take into account the … Open
You should better not wear provocative clothes on the streets of the remote villages. Though in large cities everyone is used to changing morals, in the suburbs such a look can cause disapproval of the locals. They do not like to hurry here, therefore, sometimes you will have to wait for your order, especially in taverns. What is interesting is that the locals love money, but they are not ready to spend much energy on earning it. And the funds themselves are more often used here to roll up the gorgeous festivities, to splurge and then continue to live rather modestly. At the table, the Greeks behave very freely, not carrying much for the laws of etiquette.
On the Kos island all the church holidays are celebrated on a large scale. The most large-scale festivities are Christmas, Epiphany day, Orthodox Easter, the holiday of St. George, and the day of the Assumption of the Virgin in August. At this time you can safely go to one of the remote villages of the island. The Greeks are hospitable and will gladly show and tell the travelers everything about their customs and, more often than not, will allow them to join the celebration. The same can be said about the weddings, which here are still celebrated according to all the traditions, and the days of the patron saint of someplace – a tourist has good chances to participate in the festivities if he shows enough tact.
Excursion over cultural sights of Kos Island - 'must visit' points of interest
Asklepion is, perhaps, one of the central attractions of the island. The ruins of the temple and the hospital, where the suffering people went, still look majestic. Often a person striving … Open
Be sure to take part in the Carnival, which is traditionally held in February. By the way, for Christmas here they have their own way of entertainment and earning – Kalanta, and therefore it is common to give singing boys and girls a reward for the diligence. There are also unique, special festivals and holidays on the island. For example, in July, several days in a row are dedicated to Hippocrates. During the celebrations, not only the souvenirs with the Hippocratic Oath, which are one of the symbols of Kos, are massively sold and bought, but people also sing, dance, and even play on stage. In August, gourmets will be able to participate in the Festival of Wine on the island. In winter, local people organize the Winter Festival.
Kos Island - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

National traditions of Greece

The Greeks are very hospitable. The country has a huge number of foreigners, and they are treated in a very liberal manner. The Greek invitation is quite specific. It does not mean that you will eat together. If the Greek did not ask to be called by the first name, it’s better to use the last name. When communicating with a stranger, it is better to keep some distance. In this country, the links between generations are appreciated. Women have a great influence on the life of the family. As a rule, they are the leaders. For a man, the best meal is that his mother cooks. Husbands, although they do not admit this, often give the reins to the hands of their wives. Greece has a siesta, which is a break for a daytime nap. It usually lasts from 1pm to 4-5pm. … Open

Traditions and festivals in cities around Kos Island

Kos
The most popular memorable gift to travelers is the Hippocratic Oath, you can buy it in every souvenir shop. Oath is written on small scrolls, to which the world-famous plane tree leaf is attached. It is also worth mentioning that you can find oath written literally in ... Open »
Kalymnos Island
Some of the gestures have a different meaning in Greece and on Kalymnos. When Greek people signal to somebody to join them, they extend their arms with their palms facing downwards. Then they open and close their fists, their fingers moving up and down. When they ... Open »
Bodrum
By the way, Herodotus, the "father of history" was born here (formerly the city was called Halicarnassus). No guide will fail to mention it during the tour, as local residents are very proud of this fact. Speaking of their mindset, it is worth noting that it's quite ... Open »
Leros Island
From here also follows the easiest way to earn a Greek's sympathy – to praise his native land. Only sincerely, because local people do not lie and do not like hypocrisy from the others. You can tell about some common points of the historical path of Greece and your ... Open »
Tilos Island
Tilos inhabitants are rather religious. The majority of them belong to the Greek Orthodox Christianity, so all the significant religious dates are celebrated in a big way here. Such celebrations as Christmas, the Baptism of Jesus (young men and women not just dive ... Open »
Patmos Island
This is also beside the fact that there are a lot of state holiday days off. Not too busy schedule, is it? In many respects it is connected with the Greek mentality – here it is simply not acceptable to put a lot of efforts into earning money. And in general, the ... Open »
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