Greece: Etiquette

When traveling to Greece, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind regarding your etiquette. It is always a good idea to be on your best behavior while traveling abroad not only for your safety, but also out of courtesy to the country in which you are traveling.

Here are a few pointers in particular to keep in mind when traveling to Greece specifically:

When greeting a Greek:

• When meeting for the first time, it is appropriate to shake hands.
• When meeting a familiar Greek face, it is appropriate for women to kiss on the cheek and embrace. Men usually pat each other on the shoulder. *Remember although Greeks are extremely warm and hospitable people, this is the greeting of friends.

Dining:

• The oldest person at the table is always served first.
• It is appropriate to hold your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right hand.
• Meals are considered a socializing time so start your motor… mouth that is!
• It is actually considered polite to soak up gravy or sauce with a piece of bread, so dip away!
• Tipping is considered optional as service fees are included in the price of the food. 16% is usually standard. However, people usually add a small addition of money to the bill to round off the total and make it even. EX: 18,60E bill could be paid with 20E to make it a nice easy number. Waiters and waitresses rely on these bits of change so a little extra is always nice. It can be considered offensive to tip using the traditional U.S. tipping methods, so try to avoid tipping 10%-20% like you might be used to.

Gestures:

• The “okay” symbol commonly signed in the U.S. as the forefinger and thumb making an “O” shape is considered a vulgar gesture in Greece so DO NOT use this symbol. Instead give the thumbs to signal “okay”.
• Nodding your head to mean “yes” or “no” is different in Greece as well. A slight downward nod means “yes” while a slight upward nod means “no”.
• The gesture known as “moutza” in Greek is the most traditional gesture of insult in Greece. It is when you show the palm of your hand with your fingers spread, almost like the “talk to the hand” gesture in the U.S. and is usually followed with a spoken “va” meaning “take that!” This gesture dates back to the time of the Byzantine Empire. Criminals were paraded around the streets of Greece with their faces painted black. If they were lucky it was simply coal that was used to blacken the face, if they were unlucky, it was something much, much worse that was used…

As you can see, very simple, everyday, non-verbal communication in your home country can mean very different things in another. Even if fitting in like a local is not on your list of priorities, your safety should be reason enough to check the appropriate etiquette. For more helpful hints on traveling smart and safe, check out The Safe Travel Book by Peter Savage, available at all Passport Health locations.

Was there an experience abroad where you found etiquette or communicating with the locals difficult? Tell us about it!