Opa! Celebrate your heritage!

by cruzanheart 21 Replies latest jw friends

  • cruzanheart
    cruzanheart

    This weekend is the annual Greek Food Festival, sponsored by our local Greek Orthodox Church, and for the first time I'M GOING!!! Mom, who is Greek, and Dad never let me go because to participate would be giving money to Bad Old Babylon the Great, and I followed that stupid rule after I got married too. Well, no more -- we're going to the Food Festival!

    My grandfather was a Greek Orthodox priest, and here are a couple of photographs of him after performing two baptisms.

    As you look at the open gate, my mom is the little girl with the bow in her hair. Uncle Spero is the blur on her left, Uncle George is the little guy, Uncle Paul is next to him, and my grandmother is behind them. My grandfather is on Uncle Spero's (the blur) left, looking appropriately serious.

    This one shows Grandfather in full traditional Greek priest outfit:

    Way in the back in the right of the picture, there's a young man holding onto a pole -- that's Uncle George. Uncle Paul is next to him. Mom and Uncle Spero managed to ditch the proceedings that time (they hated the rituals).

    Cool, huh? Jennie used these pictures as part of her school project to do a travel brochure on another country. She's proud of her 1/8 Greekness, and I do see a lot of Mom in her. SOMETIMES it's cute.

    Nina

  • shamus
    shamus

    Cruzin,

    That is sooo cooolll!

  • calamityjane
    calamityjane

    Nina have a wonderful time and eat lots for me too. I love greek food. One of my childhood friends' is of greek descent on her dad's side, that's how I was initiated at a young age to greek food. Yum Yum.

    love

    cj

  • arrowstar
    arrowstar

    Nina -

    How fun!! I love the pictures. How very cool!!

    With any luck, we'll see you there. Maybe I can talk Kevin into it.

    Lisa

  • jschwehm
    jschwehm

    Have you ever been to a Greek Orthodox Mass? It is a full sensory experience between the music, incense and the beautiful icons. If you get a chance to go to one, I would go to one. The one I went to was awesome.

    Jeff S.

  • cruzanheart
    cruzanheart

    I'd really like to go, Jeff, but haven't had the chance yet. (TRANSLATION: I'm still savoring the decadence of sleeping in on Sundays.)

    Nina

  • cruzanheart
    cruzanheart

    Lisa, that would be great! They open at 11:30 on Sunday, just in time for lunch! Maybe a few other of the Dallas Apostates will come too (hint, hint).

    Nina

  • Country Girl
    Country Girl

    Nina:

    You will regret NOT going. I have been to lots of Greek Orthodox stuff and it's so fun that I can't find a way to explain it. Your family will be enriched to know that they come from such a rich heritage. Our heritage is rich with music, dance, and food. What a wonderful way to celebrate life! If you go, you will have so much fun. The Greek people are so hospitable and warm, and welcoming and friendly. What better way to be happy than to dance, laugh, eat and socialize. We are social animals, and we shoudl engage in that as much as possible!

    Have fun!

    cg

  • Garnet
    Garnet

    Cruzan, that is way cool! I am from a proud line of Italian's - giving up all the traditions when I became a witness was so hard. I had everything, I used to even carry a pendant of St. Anthony (oh crap..may have been Christopher) around with me...knew all the dancing, cooked all the foodm etc... I havent been to the feast in YEARS. I hope you have a good time and eat lots of yummy food for me! I feel like I am starting to come close to my heritage again, I am sure you can relate, don't you feel "at home" and proud of your blood line when you go to events/gatherings like a feast?

    Garnet

  • obiwan
    obiwan

    OPA!!! I just love to hear that!

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit