Winding Our Way Through Greek Culture Quiz

Answer: No

Ohi Day is known as the 'Anniversary of No' and is celebrated on the 28th of October. It commemorates the then Greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas' refusal to give in to the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's ultimatum on the 28th of October 1940. Mussolini threatened to attack Greece if the country did not allow the Axis troops to enter and occupy certain unnamed strategic locations. Metaxas allegedly replied with a 'No' ('Ohi') which led to Greece entering the World War II. Parades are held every year on this day and government buildings are decorated with the Greek flag.

Answer: Bagpipes

The gaida is a type of bagpipe and is similar to other such instruments found in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe. The bag is typically made of goat or sheep hide while the pipe, called the chanter, is made of boxwood or plumwood, though other varieties of fruitwood are also used.

While the gaida can be played by itself, it is usually also accompanied by drums, the type of which differs based on the region.

Answer: Blue and white

The Greek national flag is also commonly called the 'blue-white'. The upper corner near the hoist has a blue canton with a white cross. The rest of the flag is covered with nine horizontal bands of equal width, alternating in blue and white. The cross is representative of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the main religion followed in Greece.

The blue and white colours are traditionally believed to symbolize the Greek sky and waters of the sea.

Answer: Spit

There are various superstitions surrounding the act of spitting in Greece. Spitting is believed to chase misfortune or the devil away. It is common for a person to spit three times after hearing some bad news afflicting another to prevent the same from happening to themselves. Greeks also spit after giving a compliment so that it doesn't result in the evil eye plaguing the recipient.

Answer: Koine Greek

Koine Greek was the dialect of Athens and was the initiation of a common language throughout the region. Christian Apostles used the language to spread their messages, hence the language also being referred to as "New Testament Greek" or "Biblical Greek". Linear A was the first known written Greek language and was found on baked mud tablets in Crete. Medieval Greek was an extension of Koine Greek and used throughout the Byzantine Empire (also called "Byzantine Greek") and eventually transformed into Modern Greek, which is used today.

Answer: Russia

Over 75% of Russians and 98% of Greeks follow the Christian Orthodox faith. The Christian religion was split in 1054 AD into an Eastern and Western Church - Orthodox and Catholic. One reason for the split was the issue of celibate clergy, with Orthodox priests being able to marry before being ordained.

The religion stems from before Byzantine times and was spread throughout both the Byzantine and Romans empires, and beyond. The Church is often referred to as the "Greek Orthodox Church" or "Eastern Orthodox Church", however the official name is the "Orthodox Catholic Church".

Answer: Yoghurt

Whilst tzatziki has olive oil as one of its ingredients, its base is strained yoghurt usually from sheep or goat milk. Other ingredients include cucumbers, salt, garlic, but may include extras such as lemon juice, dill, mint or parsley. Tzatziki is usually served alongside grilled meats or with other dishes and is designed as a dipping sauce.

It is a simple dish to make if you have the time, but can also be purchased from the refrigerated section of a local supermarket.

Answer: Colour

Most Cycladic islands show an expanse of white buildings designed to reflect the summer sun. Walls and roofs were well insulated due to the building materials used, however buildings were originally coated in asbestos to achieve the white colour before paint was mass produced and readily available. During the late 1960s and early 1970s laws dictated that houses must be painted white, although some other light colours have been allowed in more recent times.

Many church domes are painted blue, with the white and blue colouring representing the sky and the ocean waves.

Answer: Sheep or goat

Feta cheese is a white cheese and generally made from sheep milk, or a combination of both sheep and goat milk. It is a "brined" cheese and can be quite salty and sour to taste, and comes in both hard and soft varieties. Feta is made in blocks and can easily be crumbled or cut, making an excellent addition to salad, pizza or stuffing. Feta-style cheeses are made throughout the world however only feta cheese produced within the European Union can be named as true "feta".

Answer: Easter

Easter celebrations start seven weeks prior to Easter Sunday and culminate in Holy Week, with major celebrations occurring as midnight turns from Good Saturday to Easter Sunday. Holy Week commemorates the events leading up to the demise of Jesus, including his arrest, execution and resurrection.

However the Orthodox Easter doesn't always coincide with "normal" Christian Easter due to the Orthodox Catholic Church using the Julian calendar and not the Gregorian calendar used by other Christian churches.