Everything on this island revolves around warm hospitality, traditional cuisine, local festivals, and music. Cretan locals know how to celebrate with drinks and dancing. You are welcome to join them and have an enchanting experience!
Cretan Hospitality
Life in a Cretan village moves at its own unhurried pace. Locals take their time to cherish their everyday life. The community is tight-knit, with familiar faces all around, with a genius spirit of cooperation. They love going for walks on the cobblestoned streets and treating their neighbors like family. Gatherings at local tavernas or kafenio, traditional coffee shops, are a common daily occurrence where people enjoy conversation over a cup of Greek coffee or a glass of raki. They take pleasure in tending to their farms or local shops, where they all sell their products. Their various products include cheese, fruits and vegetables, meat, olive oil, raki, and wine. Visitors are welcome with open arms; Cretans are willing to invite you to their courtyard, cook for you, share interesting conversations with you, and treat you to their homemade delights.
Traditional Food
While visiting the villages of Crete, one thing you’re bound to enjoy is the local cuisine. The local housewives have passed down traditional recipes over generations. Their dishes consist of pure ingredients that are either gathered from their farms or produced by themselves. You should try traditional pitta with spinach and homemade mizithra cheese, the dakos salad with feta cheese and local olive oil, and delicious kalitsounia, small pastries with cheese, often sweet or savory. You have the option to immerse yourself in Cretan cuisine by joining a local at one of the traditional, stone-built houses and cooking together. Cretans love to share their culinary secrets and offer glimpses into their agricultural life; shepherds are willing to share their experience on their farms, let you meet their goat animals, and give you information on how cheese is made. Every village on this island is inviting and warm-hearted, making guests feel honored anywhere they choose to dine.
Cretan Customs
Another thing Cretans are known for is their tendency to have fun and enjoy themselves. In every village, locals have a saint protector and their church or monastery is dedicated to them. According to their religion, they celebrate the day their saint died once a year to honor their name. This celebration occurs as a feast for the locals, and they usually organize large gatherings called panigiri. At these feasts, people sing traditional songs and dance to their music, sometimes even with traditional attire. A type of their song might be a mantinada, a short rhythmical poem the singer improvises at the moment. They usually play the lyra, a Cretan string instrument, or the lute, but their musical instruments are plenty. Their music is an integral part of the Cretan culture and you will surely enjoy it. The most popular Cretan dance is the pentozali, among others; it’s a vivid and fast-paced dance everyone loves watching and performing. At these feasts, food is the star of the show and could never excluded. Needless to say, Cretans warmly celebrate weddings and baptisms as well. If you find yourself invited to any of these gatherings, savor every bite, enjoy the music, and enhance your cultural experience by pairing your meal with raki or wine; there will be plenty of it!
When you visit Crete, you can be certain that you will encounter the most welcoming and helpful locals, who are more than happy to guide you through their unique culture and way of life. Grab your chance to immerse yourself in their cuisine and customs and create unforgettable memories to take home!