Essay Sample about Greece
One of the most beautiful countries in the world is Greece. Many people around the world cherish and love Greece alongside the people of Greece. Countless qualities make Greece a beautiful country; however, some of the unique qualities that make Greece one of the most beautiful countries in the world is its religion, distinctive culture, and its stunning locations.
One of Greece’s unique qualities is its religion. Religion plays a large role in the population’s lifestyle. Julia Waterlow states in Greece (1992, Page 14):, “Almost everyone in Greece belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. This is part of the Christian religion.” Greek orthodoxy is one of the most bewitching religions in existence. The religion consists of beautiful services and ceremonies but it differs from Protestantism since Greek Orthodoxy has a firm position on tradition compared to Protestantism who believe in salvation by faith alone. The services are held by a priest and consist of songs, prayers, and communion.
Another unique quality that Greece has is its distinctive culture. The most important religious services are held during special holidays since almost every holiday holds a religious value. Greek holidays hold significant importance in Greece’s distinctive culture and is also what makes the culture unique. One of the most valued holidays in Greece is Easter. Greek Easter falls on a different date compared to regular Easter because Greek Orthodoxy follows the Julian Calendar while regular Easter falls on the Gregorian Calendar. Waterlow states in Greece (1992, Page 16): “Most festivals in Greece are religious. The biggest in the year is Easter. There are carnivals before Easter, and on Easter day bells ring out and fireworks shoot into the sky.” Another popular holiday is Names Day. Each saint in in Orthodox church history has its own day of celebration. Waterlow states in Greece (1992, Page 16):, “Every child, too has a celebration on the day of the saint he or she is named after, called a “name day.” It is like a birthday.” Although these holidays are a few of the most popular holidays in Greece, there are still many different cherished holidays that are celebrated throughout Greece.
Any person in Greece will claim that their cuisine is the ultimate edition to holidays. During easter, roasted lamb is the most popular choice and is still enjoyed even outside of holidays. In areas with a great deal of tourism, some popular dishes would be fresh gyros off of a spit, spanakopotia or can also be known in English as “spinach pie” and a great favorite of many, chicken or pork souvlaki. In the more rural areas of Greece, cuisine well known to tourist is not as common as it is in is certain villages. Dorothy Johnson states in Greece, Wonderland of the Past and Present (1964, Page 28): that “Greek peasants only eat meat a few times a year. Their staple foods are olives, cheese, fruit, and bread, with fish, of course, if they live near the sea. Honey is their sweetening and olive oil is used for cooking almost anything.”
The last unique quality that makes Greece one of the most beautiful countries in the world are its stunning locations. The locations range from beaches, islands, and popular cities. Greece contains more then 2000 islands which attracts many tourists to come visit for a paradise vacation. Waterlow states in Greece (1992, Page 6):, “One of the biggest industries in Greece is tourism. About nine million tourists visit every year – nearly as many as the whole Greek population!” Not only is Greece popular with tourist for its islands but also for its cities. Athens is one of the largest cities that attracts the most tourism. Although there are ruins and ancient monuments the city of Athens has become very modernized and developed and does not have the classic Greek aesthetic as does the rest of Greece. There is still so much that could be elaborated on Greece.
Greece’s religion, culture, and location are what make Greece a beautiful and unique country. The religion of Greek Orthodoxy, the culture of holidays and good food, and the stunning locations of the Greek islands and Athens are only a few aspects that make Greece such a beautiful country. One can say that visiting Greece at least once in a lifetime would be a very worthwhile experience.
