Greece

The Block

Evie Catevatis designed the Greek block to include two clearly recognizable elements of Greek heritage. The centre features an ionic column and olive branches embroidered by Antigoni Pitsos. Ionic columns are used extensively in Greek architecture and are distinguished from other column styles by the spiral-scroll volutes on the capital (upper part), the narrow, fluted shaft and the embellished necking. Olive branches have historically been a symbol of peace and were once given to Olympic champions as a token of honour. Greece is famous for its olive trees and is among the world’s leading producers of olives.

With threads of gold and blue (the national colour), Helen Catevatis created a decorative design to frame the elements using a variety of surface-embroidery stitches. Continuously connected Greek Keys (symbol of eternity and long life dating back centuries) are worked in cross-stitched embroidery to form the border, which is outlined in gold-work. This pattern is widely used on items such as household linens, clothing, and glassware. Examples of it have been found on pottery pieces dating back to 900 BC.

Cultural Profile

Greece, one of the world’s oldest nations, has a rich history. It includes more than 2,000 scattered islands (known as the ‘Pearls of the Aegean Sea’) and has one of the longest coastlines on the European continent, extending over 15,000 km. Ancient Greeks held the first Olympics in 776 B.C., as part of a festival dedicated to the god Zeus, who according to legend lived on Mount Olympus, the country’s tallest peak. Greece also held the first official marathon race at the Olympics in 1896. Runners retraced the path from Marathon to Athens, a run which had been done non-stop many centuries ago by a messenger bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Greek, which has been spoken for more than 3,000 years, is the official language. The word ‘alphabet’ is derived from the names of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, alpha and beta, and some of its characters, such as pi and sigma, are used as mathematical symbols around the world.

Greeks call themselves ‘Hellenes,’ their country ‘Hellas,’ and their language ‘Hellenic.’ They have strong ties to their native villages, districts or provinces, and their daily lives are influenced by philotimo, an important cultural value that involves generosity, hospitality and respect for others, especially elders. The vast majority of Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox faith. Mass attendance and religious holidays are staples of Greek culture. Music and dancing are also an integral part of the culture. Hundreds of Greek dances exist, including such traditional ones as kalamatianós, tsámiko, sirtó and zembékiko. Traditional costumes vary greatly from one part of the country to another. For women, it usually includes a white cotton chemise, an ankle-length dress, a sleeveless vest and a headdress, though colours, details, jewellery and embroidery change from region to region. The men’s costume is the fustanella, which include a pleated skirt, a white shirt with wide sleeves, a woolen vest, a woolen sash and the tsarouhia, emblematic shoes with pompoms. Details of the men’s costume also vary from one region to another.

^{Greek architecture, painting and sculpture have been influential throughout the world. Movements such as neoclassical architecture made a lasting imprint in the Western world during the 19th and 20th century. The poetry of Homer, Hesiod and Sappho, the philosophies of Socrates and Plato, or the theatre of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides are also part of school curriculums around the world.}

Greece’s textiles arts are millenniums old. In The Odyssey, believed to have been written in the 8th century BC., Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, is mentioned as weaving a shroud for her husband by day and unravelling it at night. Indeed, the textile arts are often mentioned in Greek mythology and ancient literature. The large variety of traditional costumes and the wide variety of needlework techniques bears witness to a long and proud history of excellence in the textile arts.

The island of Crete, for example, is renowned for its embroidery and weaving. Every household once had a loom to weave locally produced linen, silk and cotton. Embroidery was done in thick bands which were attached to costumes and could be transferred to another garment when the first one wore out. This led to the preservation of embroidered pieces for generations. Lace from the island of Lefkada is also known for its exceptional quality. The town of Arahova, at the foot of Mount Parnassus, is famous for its hand-woven wool flokati rugs. The town of Soufli is known as the Greek silk capital, where silk production was at its heyday in the 19th century and where a revival is currently under way. Embroidered table linens can be seen in virtually every household in the country.

The first recorded instance of a Greek presence in Canada was in 1592 when Ioánnis Phokás, better known under the Spanish name Juan de Fuca, surveyed the British Columbia coast and the Olympic Peninsula in the United States in the service of the Spanish monarch. It was only during the nineteenth century however, that Greeks began immigrating to Canada in greater numbers. They helped develop the country’s railway lines.

In the twentieth century, immigration increased considerably as many people left their homeland because of poverty, war and political upheaval. Most settled in Québec and Ontario, finding employment in factories, restaurants and maintenance. Others established their own small businesses, while those with professional backgrounds worked as engineers, lawyers, doctors, professors and civil servants. Cultural and patriotic associations were created, and the establishment of the first Greek Orthodox churches in Montréal and Toronto marked the beginning of Greek parish communities in Canada. Today, Greeks are active participants in the Canadian fabric as evidenced by the number of newspapers, Greek-language schools, restaurants, coffeehouses, pastry shops, green groceries, travel agencies, social clubs and professional offices located throughout the country. Numbering over 252,000, they continue to make important contributions to the economic and cultural growth of Canadian society.

Sponsor: Hellenic Canadian Congress