Greek Texans
Greek Texans highlights religious traditions, foods, and the language
of Greek Texans .
Food for Thou ght (pgs . 84-89)
Social Studies- group influences, skills: recalling details, classifying, analyzing,
and discussing information, drawing conclusions; Language Arts
Read about Spiro and Mary . What activities do they participate
in that are part of their heritage? They learn Greek dances and learn
the Greek language. They attend the Greek Orthodox Church, eat Greek
foods, and carry on traditions like baking a cake with a coin in it for
St. Basil's Day. What are some foods Spiro and Mary eat? Chicken
soup, dolmathes , feta cheese, salads with olive oil and Greek olives,
and pastries like baklava. They also eat lamb at Easter .
Why do you think Spiro wants to go to the Blessing of the Waters?
Probably to be with other people who have the same heritage he does,
to take part in a traditional event, to retrieve the white cross and receive
the blessing of the bishop .
What special traditions do you have in your family? Do you eat
special foods? Do you participate in certain religious services and
celebrations? Do you have favorite dances? Do you know another
language?
Write a story about your family and y our traditions .
Learn about the Greek Alphabet (pg. 85)
Social Studies - group influences, skills: gathering and analyzing information,
drawing conclusions; Languages
The names "Spiro" and "Mary" are written in Greek. The Greek
alphabet looks like this .
ABrdE ZHE>I KAM N
SOITP~
TY<PX WO
Find Greek letters that are like letters in our alphabet . Some of the
letters we use in English came from the old Greek alphabet.
Each letter in the Greek alphabet has a name. In fact, the word
alphabet comes from the words alpha and beta, the names of the first
two letters in the old Greek alphabet.
Delta County in Texas was named after the fourth letter in the
Greek alphabet. Why do you think it is called Delta? If you are not
sure, check in the Texas Almanac.
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The last letter in the Greek alphabet is omega. People say "alpha
and omega." What do you think they mean? The beginning and the end.
Ask your parents if they know the names of any Greek letters. See
if you can find out other names.
Discover Greek Foods (pg. 86)
Social Studies- group influences, geography, skills: interpreting visuals,
problem-solving; Health
Look and Learn (pg. 88)
Social Studies- group influences, skills: interpreting and discussing visuals,
drawing conclusions, recalling details, organizing information, writing;
Language Arts; Fine Arts
Look at the pictures of the Blessing of the Waters. What is different
about the two boys? One is wearing a wet suit. Why? Because it is January and the water is probably quite cold. What does the cross look
like? It is large and white. What do you think it is made of? Probably
wood or styrofoam. Why do you think it was made this way? So that
it could float and be easily seen by the boys.
Why is the priest dressed as he is? He is a bishop, a leader in the
Greek Orthodox Church, and is dressed in clothing that bishops wear
for religious services. Do you think a large crowd is watching the ceremony? How do you know? Because there is a microphone so everyone
can hear. Why are so many people there? Because the Blessing of the
Waters is an important ceremony for Greek Orthodox people all over
the world. The bishop came from Denver, Colorado, and many people
came from other parts of Texas for the ceremony.
Describe some special ceremony you have attended.
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Light Up the Church (pg. 89)
Social Studies- group influences, skills: problem-solving; Math
During the midnight Easter service at St. Sophia Church, the lights
in the church are extinguished. Then the priest lights one candle. The
flame is passed from person to person. How long do you think it takes
for the church to fill with light? If it takes three seconds to light one
candle, how many candles can be lighted in a minute? 20. If there are
400 people in church, how long will it take to light all the candles? About
20 minutes.
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Play the Easter Egg Game (pg. 89)
Social Studies- group influences, skills: modeling cultural behavior;
Physical Education
Try Some Easter Egg Crafts
Social Studies - grou p influences, skills: gathering information, constructing
visuals (artifacts), modeling cultural behavior; Fine Arts
People of many cultures make things with egg shells. (See Mexican
Texans, page 38, and Czech Texans, page 58 .) Think of different ways
you can use egg shells to make toys, pictures, ornaments, and decorations. Make some of these things.
Visit the Ukrainian, Czech, and Polish b ooths at the Texas Folklife
Festival and learn how to decorate eggs in several different ways. Find
cascarones at a Mexican booth.
FOR FUN
Play a Wishbone Game
Social Studies- group influences, skills: modeling cultural behavior; Physical
Education
After their mother makes chicken soup, Mary and Spiro like to play
a game with the wishbone. You can play it too .
Hold one end of a wishbone while a friend holds the other and
say "Yiandes" (pronounced ee YAHN dez). Then both of you break it .
Sometime afterwards each player has to hand an object to the other
player . It might be a pencil or a book or an apple. You say "Yiandes"
again when you receive the obj ect. If you forget, you are the loser.
Spiro tricked Mary by handing her a glass of milk . She forgot to
say "Yiandes," so she lost the game .
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Make a Greek Salad
Social Studies - gr oup influences, skills: modeling cultural behavior; Math;
Science; Health
SALATA (Salad)
1 clove garlic, halved
1 head lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
Vz cup chopped celery
3 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 small scallion, ch opped fine
Vz green pepper, sliced
5 radishes, sliced
Dressing
% cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
calamata olives
% cup crumbled feta cheese
Rub wooden salad bowl with garlic . Wash vegetables and mix together in the bowl. Mix the seasonings together with the oil and vinegar.
Add to the vegetables and toss. Garnish with calamata olives and feta
cheese. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
What makes this a Greek salad? Olive oil, Greek olives, feta cheese,
and oregano . You can find most of these foods in a supermarket.
However, you may have to look for a market that sells Italian or Greek
goods for the oliv es. They are worth hunting for .
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