Greece is a very beautiful, old country with a lot of history and rich culture, making it a perfect mix for developing various beliefs and Greek superstitions. Some are still believed and respected even today, so it’s important to learn as much as you can before you travel to The Island of the Winds this summer.
Ancient Greek Superstitions and Rituals Are a Vital Part of Greek Culture, and You Need to Become Accustomed to Them
This is one of the most welcoming and accepting summer destinations in the world, and people almost never have problems with any rules or restrictions during their travel. However, if you want to be a respectful guest and a good tourist, you should really get accustomed to some of the traditions this culture brings.
Greece is a very religious country with a rich history and culture, and its customs are extremely important to locals. So, here are some of the most important superstitions you should know before you visit Mykonos.
Greeks respect their traditions and superstitions very much, which is why you should familiarize yourself with the ones related to this island
Don’t Leave the Island Without Buying Something With an Evil Eye Motive – Mati Is Extremely Respected in Greece
The Matiasma (Mati) motive is something you can’t miss if you ever travel to Greece. It’s everywhere you look – on buildings, in the local shops, on dishes, clothes, beach bags, accessories – everywhere. You might even spot one as a part of the decoration in your luxury Mykonos villa rental. The bright blue eye is unavoidable, as it’s a symbol used to protect from evil.
The evil eye, also known as Matiasma is a symbol of envy and jealousy, and it is believed that if you catch the evil Mati spirit, you will feel terrible both in the mind and the body. The little blue-eyed charm is believed to warn off the evil Mati spirit and protect you, which is why you can find it no matter where you turn.
Anything with a Mati Motive Makes a Good Gift, So Don’t Leave This Greek Island Without Buying Your Loved Ones Some Trinket
Sometimes, the burden of getting everyone you care about back home a souvenir or a little gift can be very stressful and put a strain on your summer vacation. So, getting everyone something with a Mati motive is the perfect solution – it’s very easily accessible, and you can find it everywhere, and it’s also a great souvenir to bring home.
The evil eye motive can be found anywhere on the island
Tuesday the 13th Is Considered to Bring Bad Luck
Even though Friday the 13th is usually considered to be a bad day in most countries around the world, Greece decided that Tuesday the 13th would be their unlucky day. There really is no definite explanation for this superstition, but it’s a valuable thing to be aware of if your trip happens to fall on Tuesday the 13th.
Most people believe that the reason lies in the fact that bad situations throughout history always occurred on Tuesday 13th, ever since the fall of Constantinople on Tuesday the 13th, April 1204. The number 13 also follows the perfect number 12, which is clearly a bad sign.
Tuesday is Triti in Greek, which means the third, and incidents always come in threes, ergo, Tuesday the 13th brings misfortune. Not to mention that according to astrology, Tuesday is dominated by Mars (Ares) – the god of war.
Every Tuesday the 13th is considered to bring bad luck
Make Sure to Ftou if a Black Cat Crosses Your Way
Greece isn’t the only country in Europe where it is considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path. In fact, it’s a very common superstition that can be reversed with a simple Ftou to get your luck back on track. A Ftou sound mostly resembles a whistle, but it’s a bit more aggressive and loud, almost like spitting – you’ll recognize it once you hear it.
Try to avoid black cats crossing your way, and Ftou if they do
Piase Kokkino – The Superstition of Touching Red
This kind of superstition exists pretty much everywhere in the world, and it’s the one where you say the same thing simultaneously with someone else, and you need to do or say something in order to warn off bad luck.
In Greece, it’s Piase Kokkino – you and the other person are supposed to touch something red when you say something at the exact same time as the other person. If you don’t, it is believed that you will fight and argue in the foreseeable future.
Make sure to touch something red if you say something at the same time
Unwelcome Guests Are Easy to Get Rid of – Just Sprinkle Some Salt
This custom is more often used in smaller places like villages and Greek islands. If you have an unwelcome guest in your house that you would like to leave – take a pinch of salt and sprinkle it as they walk through your house.
The good news is that if your guest already knows about this tradition, they will take off as quickly as possible, and if they don’t, the salt will do its job anyway. However, this might not be an effective way to drive people away if you throw a fabulous party in one of the Mykonos villas for rental.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt as unwanted quests walk by
Coffee Isn’t Meant to Be Cheered With
Another thing that brings bad luck in Greece is cheering with a cup of coffee. The clinking of glasses is reserved only for other beverages, mostly alcoholic. So, if you’re in a coffee shop, you should know that any local will feel offended if you try to cheer when you’re drinking coffee, as it’s a sign you want them to have bad luck.
Cheering with coffee is frowned upon in Greece
If You Need to Warn Off Evil and Bad Spirits – Spitting Always Helps
If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone spits a little bit on you, in most countries in the world, it would be offensive, but in Greece – it’s a sign they wish you well. Greek tradition states that slightly spitting three times warns off any misfortune.
It’s like their version of knocking on wood – they spit in order to redirect the bad energy away from them. And don’t worry, it’s not actual spitting – it’s more sounding it out, but you’ll see for yourself when you notice a local on The Island of the Winds doing it in case:
- They hear bad news,
- A baby gets told they’re beautiful,
- Someone mentions a good thing that should happen in the future.
Now That You Know What Not to Do Contact The Ace VIP and Book One of Private Villas in Mykonos
Before you do your research and become familiar with all the interesting superstitions Greeks respect and honor in their daily lives, you need to book travel arrangements. Contact The Ace VIP and book one of the beautiful Mykonos luxury villas for your stay. Rent a car so you can get around easier and see everything on the island while you’re there. Treat yourself to a fabulous day of cruising on a Mykonos yacht rental, and don’t forget that you will have your Mykonos concierge available to help you out with anything you may need during your trip.
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