Key Takeaways
- The family institution is deeply valued in Greek culture, with the tradition of the Sunday dinner table bringing generations together.
- Greeks bond over traditional dishes and lively discussions during Sunday gatherings, fostering closer family ties.
- The Sunday dinner tradition is informal but carries significant importance, surviving even among Greek immigrants in other countries.
- Food plays a central role in these gatherings, and no amount of it is considered "too much" as it symbolizes love, unity, and generosity.
‘Blood can’t be turned into water,’ a Greek saying suggests that the relationship between family members is sacred.
The family institution is an integral part of Greek culture, one that has been a point of reference for the rest of the world and one that has been depicted in movies time and time again -‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ is closer to the truth than any Greek would like to admit.
If Greece were a picture, it’d be a family around a table too small for all the homemade Greek goodies made by the family's cook, chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
In other words, it’d be a picture of one of Greece's most iconic and fulfilling family traditions, the Sunday dinner table tradition.
Let’s be honest; it comes as no surprise that Greeks have built family traditions around their ultimate motivator: food.
Regardless of your age, if you’ve moved out of your family home, or whether you’re busy or not, every Sunday around lunchtime, the whole family -grandparents included, of course- gathers around the table and feasts on traditional Greek food while discussing their week.
It’s an inside joke that no Sunday dinner is complete without a heated argument of some kind. Greeks are temperamental and quick to argue but don’t worry, no one holds grudges, and the argument will be forgotten as soon as dessert is served.
This bonding Greek Sunday tradition has been a part of the locals’ lives for hundreds of years and has been preserved to this day due to the prized values it communicates.
During family get-togethers, people eat, share thoughts and concerns, and discuss the country's politics, with the last topic including a disappointed manner and acidic humor as a rule. This way, the bond between family members grows tighter while the Greek culinary tradition is perpetuated.
Some of the most common dishes of Greek cuisine prepared for the Sunday dinner table include moussaka, pastitsio, roasted lamb or chicken with potatoes, dolmades, and gemista, which are Greek summer dishes, tzatziki, and, of course, the world-renowned Greek salad.
Apart from the delectable dishes, however, the drinks are also an important part of the gathering. Whether it is beer, Greek wine, ouzo, or any other Greek spirit, the food is accompanied by copious amounts of alcohol, ensuring the lifted spirits of all attendants.
If the mood strikes, it’s not uncommon for families to start dancing to the beat of Greek folk music -we sure love a good party!
A Greek dessert is a must after the Sunday family meal, which may include traditional halva or, if the kids are lucky, loukoumades drizzled with honey or chocolate sauce. If the adults don’t go to sleep right afterward, they will surely drink some Greek coffee and share some local gossip.
Final Thoughts
Although Sunday dinner is an informal custom, its importance is highlighted by the fact that it survives beyond the borders of Greece. Greek immigrants carry the Sunday dinner tradition to their host countries, spreading the message of family, love, and union.
From cooking to laying the table and cleaning up afterward, everyone gets involved in the making of the feast. Sharing responsibilities is only one of the vital life lessons the Sunday dinner table offers.
If you are visiting Greece and want to experience the country through its culinary scene, then join us on our Athens for foodies tour or our Athens by night food tour!
Alternatively, our culinary tours spread to various locations in Greece, such as Crete or Corfu, so that they can introduce you to the local cuisine or even teach you to cook like a local in Heraklion!
Let love and food unite us all!
Fun facts
- No amount of food can be described as “too much”
- Don’t you dare say you're on a diet; the Sunday dinner tradition follows the diet of love: calories don’t count. Pinky promise.
- If you don’t compliment the cook repeatedly after every bite you take, make sure to see yourself out; ungratefulness isn’t tolerated inside a Greek home.
- Keep some room for dessert. Greek families don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, so don’t even try denying dessert. Just don’t do it.
