Religion and being Greek

I know religion is such a hot topic most of the time.  Recently I was home with the little one on a Sunday morning and two kind individuals took the time to come knock on my door and want to invite me to Jesus’ funeral.  They had a paper invitation and everything.  Now as a woman who spent 12 years in Catholic School, 4 years in a Jesuit College, countless years as a Sunday School student and teacher and a lifetime at Sunday Mass, I’m not one to shy away from a conversation around religion.   While I thanked the individuals for stopping by and their invitation I let them know I’d happily invite them to come to my church the week after their ‘funeral’ (I am Greek Orthodox after all) and see a funeral done properly.  One that includes flowers, an Ἐπιτάφιο, chanting, etc.  I also told them I’d happily host them on Holy Saturday night for midnight mass and they can be part of the amazing service where the church lights and candles are all turned off/put out and the priest comes out with the Αγιο Φος (Holy Light) to represent Jesus’ resurrection.  Needless to say the individuals left and took their invitation with them as they had no desire to speak about religion but rather just wanted to tell me about their religion.

This got me thinking about all of the wonderful traditions that we’re about to embark on with the little lady for the first time.  Not only are we about to celebrate του Ευαγγελισμου and Greek Independence Day tomorrow but also the important Easter traditions that will be coming soon after that.  As a Greek it is special because I know that I’ll be passing down traditions that have been passed down from generations.  From Palm Sunday Mass to dying red Easter eggs on Holy Thursday, to making κουλουρακια with γιαγια, I can’t wait to see the excitement in her eyes.

I was able to find this site of Greek Poems which brought me back to my Greek School days and the events that we’d have.  Dressed up in our Vasilissa Amalia outfits and the boys as τσολιαδες, standing in front of the community and reciting poems that our parents recited before us.  Remembering the struggles and just having an overall sense of pride.  My father served as an Evzone in the Greek Army.  He stood at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and represented Greece abroad.  He did his part for his country.  I can only hope that one day my daughter understands what this meant.  This will be done by more than just standing on a parade route and shouting Ζητο!  This will be done by living our Greekness.

A friend once said that he didn’t want to be a plate breaking, τιροπιτα eating Greek.  I say bring that on because it is part of who we are, but don’t stop there.  Let’s teach the next generation about the history of then and the history that is taking shape in Greece today.  Let’s remind them that Greece is more than φραππεδες and beautiful beaches.  Let’s do our job and raise the next generation of ελληνακια right!

For my friends celebrating in Toronto you can find parade information here.  For my friends celebrating in Boston you can find parade information here.

1 greek flag (Small)

 

Ζητο η 25η Μαρτιου!  Ζητο η Ελευθερία!
Η Ελλαδα ποτε δεν πεθενει!

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Roula

A little ditty about Jack and Diane...no really in all seriousness I'm a daughter, sister, wife and mother. I'm a Greek-American, who has transplanted in Canada. As a first time mom I'm sharing some things as I go along.

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And we’re off…

Sorry of not writing last week.  The little one was sick and as most moms know once that happens nothing else matters.  We’ve been transitioning from an infant to a toddler.  Not that it happened overnight but really I guess now I’m letting myself admit to that I don’t have an infant anymore.  As my friend said don’t worry the day after her first birthday she’s still your baby.  Of course there is no denying that, it just seems as though my little baby is turning into a determined toddler.  We had two days of cuddles which brought me back to the early days when I could just leave her down for a minute and do something.  The days that were spent her sitting in her chair are now long gone.  Today we’re crawling round, couch surfing or using our pet elephant to walk around the house.  It is amazing as a parent to see all of these firsts through their eyes.  As a parent it is scary as all hell to see your tiny baby taking on their own personality and becoming a determined (also known as stubborn) toddler.  As a parent it is scary to see them open to so many people and not be afraid of anything.  As a parent it is our job to not put the kabosh on this.  It is our job to not let our fears enter their world yet. It is our job to protect them, not in the sake of having them live in a bubble, but in the sake of letting them explore, learn and turn into the amazing little boys and girls that will take on the world.

If you want to take a peek at some of the little lady’s first steps check out our walking video.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t wish my kid brother a very Happy Birthday!  May you have an amazing day!!! And of course to all of you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  StPatricksDayFree

 

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Roula

A little ditty about Jack and Diane...no really in all seriousness I'm a daughter, sister, wife and mother. I'm a Greek-American, who has transplanted in Canada. As a first time mom I'm sharing some things as I go along.

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Pintrest Moms

Okay so this is going to come across like a rant but finally the Pintrest moms have hit too close to home.  With a little one getting online time isn’t easy.  It happens in spurts and when the opportunity arises.  It was amazing when I opened Facebook the other night and saw in my friend Greg’s post that he was on a flight to London with a Pintrest mom on-board.  You’re probably saying, Roula I’m sure there were 30 moms on the flight and probably 20 have Pintrest what is the big deal?  The big deal is he actually got a package.  A package with a photo of the children who would be on-board apologizing in advance as this was their first trip.  It included chocolates, earplugs and other goodies.  This mom went through the trouble to make these packages for everyone on-board the transatlantic flight.

AGHHHHHHH!!! This drives me crazy!! Okay let me preface this with I have done my fair share of traveling.  I have done the transatlantic flights where all you want to do is sleep and you end up sitting next to the screaming baby (before I was a mom).  I’ve done the domestic flights every other week for work where you end up with the vacationing family that has multiple kids and too much stuff and you’re praying you’re not stuck in the same row.  I took a trip to Greece when my brother was a little over a year old and to this day I STILL remember it, it was that traumatic.  I get it people.

Though, now that I am a mom, there are some things that I don’t understand.  I don’t understand why you, sir or madam, think that you are more important than I?  I don’t understand why you think the ticket that you paid which costs the same as my ticket but less than the ticket for me and my child combined makes you more important?  I don’t understand why you feel as though you are being put out because my child may or may not cry.  Trust me if my kid is crying, there is a reason. They either are in pain or uncomfortable.  We’re not at the stage of crying for attention.

I dread our first plane ride for this reason.  The looks, the attitude and the glimmer in the eyes of the people who are hoping, just hoping, you’re not on their flight.  You’ll probably see me carrying a bag, pushing a stroller and trying to rock my kid to sleep so that she won’t disturb you on the flight.  You’ll see me having paid the extra money for my child’s seat so she can be safe in her car seat and you’ll wish you’re not ‘stuck’ next to us.  I have enough anxiety already about doing this, maybe you can show some compassion. Maybe for once we can get out of our comfort zone and realize we are just one piece of the pie in this great amazing universe and for once maybe it isn’t about us.

BTW I do love Pintrest and I am a Pintrest mom.  Maybe by the time my kid is 5 I’ll be able to use some things I posted for her first birthday!!

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Roula

A little ditty about Jack and Diane...no really in all seriousness I'm a daughter, sister, wife and mother. I'm a Greek-American, who has transplanted in Canada. As a first time mom I'm sharing some things as I go along.

More Posts