Culture in a box

A Comenius Project

Your flag?

The Greek flag is based on nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross;

The cross symbolises Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the people of Greece.

According to popular tradition, the nine stripes represent the nine syllables of the phrase "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος" ("Freedom or Death", " E-lef-the-ri-a i Tha-na-tos"), the five blue stripes for the syllables "Έλευθερία" and the four white stripes "ή Θάνατος".

A symbol of your country

This is an amphora, which represents our country through its ancient history. This object was used widely during antiquity serving daily needs.

Where are you?

How’s the climate?

In Greece the climate is characterized as Alpine (in the mountainous areas of Northwestern Greece), Temperate (in the Northeastern Greece) and Mediterranean (in the islands and South Greece), which means that summer is hot and winter is soft. The temperature in summer can be up to 40°C and in winter up to -15°C.

How’s the climate?

Capital / population

The capital of Greece is Athens, which is located in the middle of our country with a population of 3.761.810 citizens.

The population of whole

Greece is estimated to be: 11.170.957 inhabitants.

The Parthenon: The symbol of Athens

Greetings in your language

Good morning = Καλημέρα (kalimera)Good afternoon = Καλησπέρα (kalispera)Good night = Καληνύχτα (kalinihta)How are you? = Τι κάνεις; (ti kanis?)

A landscape that you love

My favourite Greek landscapes are the beaches, like this one. Greek people love the sea, as long as it’s an inseparable element of our country and culture.

A favorite poem of yours

A product of your country

Olive oil is a precious gift, Greek land has to offer to the world!The Greek olive oil is the basis of the Mediterranean Diet as it is considered to be the healthiest product of the Mother Nature.Greece produces more than 430.000 tons of olive oil annually, and more than 75% of that, is Extra virgin olive oil, which is the best type of olive oil.The Greek olive oil is exported throughout the world.

A recipe from your country

1/2 kg aubergines (large or/and elongated variety) ½ Kg potatoes vegetable oil (about 1 teacup) 1 large onion, finely sliced 450 gr. minced beef 1 glass white wine (not retsina, but aretsinoto) 350 gr. fresh tornatoes, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground allspice salt and black pepper 1 teaspoon oregano 25 gr. grated parmesan or kefalotiri some chopped parsley

Bechamel Sauce 80 gr. butter 80 gr. flour 600 ml warm milk salt and white pepper 30 gr. grated Parmesan or Gruyere cheese 2 egg yolks

Greek Moussaka INGREDIENTS

A recipe from your country

GREEK MOUSSAKA - METHOD

Cut the aubergines lengthways in thick slices and immerse them in salted water, for 30 minutes. Take them out, squeeze gently, dry and fry in hot vegetable oil.

Cut the potatoes lengthways in thick slices and slighlty fry them in hot vegetable oil.Prepare the minced meat sauce. Sautee the sliced onion in hot vegetable oil. Add the meat and sautee together.

Pour in the wine, add tomatoes, sliced finely, the spices, salt and pepper and the oregano. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.Then mix in the grated cheese and parsley.

Bechamel SauceMelt the butter and, away from the heat, gradually add the flour and stir to amalgamate. Return to the heat and gradually add the milk and seasoning, stirring continuously. Simmer for 9-10 minutes, stirring. Withdraw the pan from the heat, let it stand briefly, then add the cheese and the egg yolks.

Start making the moussaka. Add first a layer of potatoes. Then place half of the aubergines. Spread the minced

meat sauce and then add a layer of the remaining aubergines. Spread the bechamel sauce over the moussaka and spread also the grated cheese. Finally, bake the moussaka.

A proverb that you like

“Αγαπάει ο Θεός τον κλέφτη, αγαπάει και το νοικοκύρη”, which is translated as: “God loves the thief, he loves the householder, too”.

This proverb means that if someone does something wrong at the expenses of someone else, the first one will be punished some day by the other one.

A few… famous Greek persons

ArchimedesA famous inventor

El Greco (Dominikos Theotokopoulos)A famous painter

HippocratesThe founder of medicine

Georgios PapanikolaouA famous doctor

He invented the pap-test

Konstaninos KaratheodorisA famous mathematician

He was Albert Einstein teacher

A famous person

As the whole Europe knows, this is Helena Paparizou, one of the most famous singers of Greece, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005.