Greece Cultural Blog
Is going to Greece one of your bucket lists? Do you understand their language? Here are some positive Greek body language and gestures that you should know when you visit Greece." It is simple but very important".
Greeks are very passionate and expressive in non-verbal communication. Therefore, body language in Greek culture is valued. Here a wide range of gestures are considered to be used during communication. Some of them are widely used throughout the world to this day, but others may have a different meaning, but this is unique to Greek culture.
Many hand gestures that we use on a daily basis come from Greek culture. For example, how we say OK by hand gesture. There are two popular hand gestures on how to express “OK.” ( Okei ) in Greece.
Another way to show the OK Gesture in Greece is to raise the hand with the palm facing up, the index finger and thumb curled into a circle. While the remaining three fingers are stretched or in other words like the number 3 symbol on our finger. As with Thumbs up, it also shows the same meaning. But in the Philippines, it is not used much and has a different meaning. As far as I know, when this gesture is done here in the Philippines it means "Money". However, for the Greeks, its use was easier.
Showing gratitude can be done without even speaking and it can be shown in different ways. By bowing, smiling, saluting, and so on. But in Greece it is different. This they show by tapping the chest two or three times. I often see it in basketball players when they shoot the ball, they tap their chest and point up, which means "thanking the lord". This is a unique gesture that shows gratitude and insight.
When a Greek touches their bottom lip with their index finger, it signifies they want to tell you something without anybody else hearing it but you. It might be something essential or secret, and they normally prefer to express it in private. This gesture is misinterpreted as having a negative connotation since it also implies "Don't speak." It's intriguing to assume that this is what it signifies. I assumed that making such a motion implied flirting or asking for a kiss. However, Greeks behave differently, and you must understand this so that you are prepared when you visit Greece.
The gesture's origins may be traced back to ancient times when it was employed as a curse. It is reported that it was used to supplement vocal curses against evil powers even during the Eleusinian Mysteries. The old word (faskéloma), along with its variation o (fáskelo), is still used as a synonym today.
Greece has a culture that I just learned about and some familiar ones too. I can say that these gestures will help us especially the people who want to go to Greece. Because we know that we have different languages and we don't understand each other, that's why it will help a lot so that we can have good communication. For me, we must have these methods not only in the Philippines but also in the whole world. Because I believe that this is one of the reasons for our understanding. Communication is not just about what comes out of our mouths, but it is about how we understand each other even in simple ways.
In general, understanding and using gestures can be a lifesaver and provide greater communication, especially if you don't know how to speak another language. It is not required to use this because it is better to communicate with words, but using it is a sign of respect for Greek culture.
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