This information has been provided by the AFK website under approval of The Castellorizan Ladies' Auxiliary of NSW.

A Kastellorizian Wedding: Apo Ta Votania

This is a YouTube hosted video of a traditional Kastellorizian Wedding with music.

Feature Articles:

Kazzie Traditions by Beryl Georgakopoulos (nee Nitties) : What is Housafi?

NAMES AND NAMEDAYS

Dionysius ("Wine"). In Greek mythology, the God of wine and revelry and one of the twelve Olympians. The saint converted and achieved sainthood by St Paul in Athens

Name day: 3rd October

Masculine: Dionysius, Dennis, Dean

Feminine: Denise, Dionysia

Elizabeth ("oath of god"). Wife of Zacarias and mother of John the Baptist and relative of Theotkos.

Name day: 5th September

Feminine: Elizabthe, Liz

Emmanuel ("God is with us"). The name applied to child Jesus.

Name day: Many celebrate at Christmas and also on the 2Oth of March

Masculine: Emmanuel, Manolis

Feminine: Emmanuela

Evegnia ("evegis" manners , fortunate, well born). Daughter of a Roman prefect. Learned of Christianity and was converted and entered a convent. She converted her father and siblings to Christianity. Suffered martyrdom.

Name day: 24 December

Masculine: Eugene

Feminine: Evgenia, Eugenia

Eustatios ("healthy, strong"). He is honoured with his wife Theopistia and two children Theopitios and Agapios.

Name day: 20th September

Masculine: Eustatios/Stathis

Feminine: Eustathia

Gregory ("watchful, vigilant") Theologian and one of the patron saints of education. Unified the Church

Name day: 25th January

Masculine: Gregory, Greg

Julia ("Soft hair, fair complexion" ). Christian

martyr to whom St Paul sent greetings

Name day: 18th May

Masculine: Julius

Feminine: Julia/Julie

Kyriaki (the Lords Day, Sunday) Customary for children born on Sunday to be named this. In Latin the name is Dominic, and Dominica. The saint had professed her faith to God rather than pagan Gods and gave her life for Christ

Name day: 7 July

Masculine: Kyriakos, Jack

Feminine: Kyriaki, Sunday

Daniel – December 17

"God is my judge"

Daniel in the Old Testament is the principle character in the Chapter. He was the wise minister to the Babylonian Kings and renowned faithful to the Jews

David – December 26

"Beloved" , Hebrew translation

Was a great worrier, author of many Psalms. Built and empire for his son Solomon and Fiounder of a famous line of Kings.

Lazarus – Sunday prior to Palm Sunday

"Helper of God"

Brother of Mary and Martha who Christ restored to life

Marina – July 17

"Pearl"

The Great Martyr "Megalomartyr" in Exoghi in town of Ithaca and numerous celebrations are held in Greece to honour her nameday.

Joakin – September 9

"The Lord is my Judge" Hebrew translation

Father of Theotokos

Xenia – January 24

"Hospitable"

Odysseus- King of Ithaca, married Penelope and father of Telemanchus. The leading hero of the Trojan war. His accomplishments and Misfortunes are recorded in the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey".

PROVERBS AND SAYINGS

Prota o Theos - First be to God

Iskyia bednni- One understands quickly

Then kutallavenni - One doesn't understand

Inei Ioikos - One is sensible and logical

Usti thouyia bethemenni -Leave the tricky situation as it is

Thosxa dto Theo - Righteous with God

Kunei kalo nuth dti kalo

Do good, so good will come

Oti inei dto txhero

Whatever is meant to be

Yirise o tetsiras kai vrike dto kapaki

The pot rolled until it found it's lid or that person found it's match

Hpe o gharathos tin betino kefala

Look who's talking or speak for yourself

I kalimera apt avgi fenete

A fine day from dawn shows itself

O kalos filos stin anarnghi fenetei

A true friend shows himself when needed

Dto krasi kai ta bethyia lene tin alithyia

Wine and children speak the turth

Liyga kai kala

Moderation is best

Mukriyia kai agapimena

Healthy distance and loving

COMMON GREEK EXPRESSIONS

The following Greek expressions and names

are commonly used and easily learned.

Some examples are particularly inspiring:-

At a Baptism or birth or 40 day blessing say:

"Na sas zisi" (May he/she live for you)

"Na zisi" ( May he/she live)

"Na mas zisi" ( May he/she live for us – note

this only said among family)

At Birthdays say:

"Chronia polla" (many years)

"Ke tou chronou" (and to the next year)

"Na ta ekatostisis" (may you live to be 100)

Bon Appetite:

"Kali orexi" (Good appetite/eating)

Christmas Greeting:

"Kala Christogena" (Good Christmas)

At a death or funeral say:

"Zoi se mas" ( Life to us – note this only said

among family)

"Syllypitiria" (condolences)

"O Theos na ton/tin sychoresi" (God forgive

him/her)

"O Theos na ton/tin anapafsi" (God rest

his/her soul)

Easter Greetings:

"Kalo Pascha" (Happy Easter – note this said before Easter)

"Kali Anastasi" (Good Resurrection – note

this said after Good Friday Service)

"Christos Anesti" (Christ has risen – note this said after the Anastasi service) and the response :

"AliTHos anseti (Truly he is risen) or "AliThos o Kirios" (Truly the Lord)

At an Engagement say:

"Kala Stephana" ( Good crowning)

"Sycharitiria" (Congratulations)

To ward of the Evil Eye say:

"Ptou Ptou" (Verbal substitute for spitting)

To wish one "Good Luck" say:

"Kali Tichi" (Good Luck)

Greetings:

"Yai Sou" (Hello/goodbye – informal)

"Cherete" (Hello/goodbye – formal)

Independence Day

"Zito Ellas" ( Long Live Greece)

"Zito I elefteria" (Long live liberty)

During Lent say:

"Kali Sarakosti" (Good Lent)

At a Marriage say:

"Na zisete eftychismeni" (Live happily)

"Na zisete" (Long life)

"Na mas zisete" (May they live for us - note

this said among family)

"Sycharitiria" (Congratulations)

"Ke sta thika sou" (and to yours (wedding) –

said to single women and men)

"Ke sta pethia sou/sas" (May your children

get married and to theirs)

At a Memorial Service or Saturday of Souls say:

"Eonia I mnimi" (External be his/her memory)

See also "death"

When a misfortune occurs:

"Esti itan grumeno" (that's the way it is written)

A Nameday say:

Chronia polla" (many years)

"Ke tou chronou" (and to the next year)

During New Year say:

Chronia polla" (many years)

"Ke tou chronou" (and to the next year)

To a pregnant woman say:

"Kali leftheria" ( Safe delivery)

When someone sneezes say:

"Yia Sou" (To your health – formal/informal)

So-so

"Etsi ketsi"

For toasts say one of the following:

""Yia Sou" (To your health – formal/informal)

"Is iyian" (To your health)

"Yia chara" (Health and joy)

To avoid a problem say:

"Hitpa Xsilo" (Knock on wood)

"Fayi kripsei, thougyra min kripsis"

"Kayrei aygra para potei"

Translates as "better late than never"

"Kali nikokyra, blin pinusi mayieuri"

Means the good housewife before hunger she cooks

"To ema, neor then yinete"

Blood cannot become water as blood is thicker than water.

"Yaitrepse ta pathi sou, ke ystera ta thika mou"

Means mend your own faults, and then look at mine.

"Apo to stoma sou, stin theou to afti"

Translates as "from your mouth to God's ears".

Bon Voyage say:

"Kalo Taksidi"

Expression of joy say:

"Opa" (Yippee!!!!!!)

THE "RED EGG" EASTER TRADITION

Easter time is also a time when all the family can participate in the preparations and festivities and I have included some hints and ideas on how to decorate the dyed eggs that you can also involve your children or Grandchildren. Although Greek Orthodox followers do not generally dye their eggs colours other than red, many other Eastern Orthodox faiths do. Why not dye eggs in different colours?

Check the manufactures instructions. Add a decorative pattern on your eggs. After colouring your eggs, add some stickers. Dyes which also come in green, blue and yellow. For recipe follow the commercial

dye recipe and check the packet for lighter colour, allow the dye to dry. Apply sticky dots or magic tape and dye again in a darker colour. Remove the tape when the eggs are cooled and expose the pattern in

the lighter colour. Make sure you reduce the cooking time to 7 to 10 minutes in each different colour dye to avoid overcooking the eggs. Or use a traditional "decorative" approach. This method was given to me by a Greek Cypriot friend. Place a small leaf or pressed flower on the egg shell. Put the egg in a nylon stocking tie a knot tightly at each end so the leaf or flower does not move. Place the stocking with eggs into the dye and follow either recipe provided. When eggs are cooked, allow to cool before removing from stocking and polish.

"Kalo Pashka"

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER

Easter is the most revered and celebrated of all the spiritual rituals of the Greek Orthodox Calender. In some parts of Greece, the Sunday before Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) there is a custom to eat an egg at the end of the meal, following which the accompanying phrase is said "With an egg I close my mouth and with an egg I shall open my mouth once again". The closure of one's mouth represents the six week period of "Great Lent" and the egg which breaks the fast is the egg refers to the dyed red which is broken to celebrate Christ's resurrection following Anastasi. One of the many things that help to make Easter special is the tradition of breaking the "Red Egg". Every Kazzie home, as is the case in most Greek households, baskets are filled with dyed Red eggs which are offered to newly arrived guests to select and partake in the egg cracking ritual with their hosts.

Preparation of the dyed eggs traditional is carried out on Holy Thursday or "Kokkinopempti" (Red Thursday). Eggs can also be dyed on Holy Saturday or any other day of Lent with the exception of Good Friday. Traditionally the eggs are dyed red to symbolize the blood that Christ shed on the cross at the crucifixion. The cracking of the egg symbolises the opening of the Tomb and the resurrection of Christ.

The most religious of Greek Orthodox followers will place the first red egg dyed (also known as the egg of Virgin Mary) or the one collected from the "Anastasi" or the midnight mass service held on Holy Saturday evening, at the household's ikonostasi to protect the family from the "evil eye". Red eggs are also used to decorate Easter Tsoureki and "avgoules" or large Koulorakia.