Three Generations of Greek Australians – What separates them?

·

Yiayia and papou, mother and father, son and daughter. These three generations of Greek Australians encapsulate all of what it means to be Greek, but how does each generation separate itself from the other? What additional knowledge does each generation bring to the table, and how can each generation learn from the other?

The all-knowing yiayia and papou

Your yiayia and papou’s knowledge is timeless. Brought together through years of struggle and hardship to bring the family to where they are now. For many of us, yiayia and papou are seen as the top tier of the family hierarchical chain. Whatever they say goes, and yes, most of the time even outranking your mum and dad. But that doesn’t mean the younger generations don’t bring anything to make their day that one step less difficult. Anything from setting up their electronics, to showing them how the internet works, to even showing them new food recipes (be careful with that one though). Despite what the younger generations bring however, the stories of their lives will always be seen as the greatest life tool. Various tales of encountering obstacle after obstacle to bring the family to where they are today, while still maintaining the core essence of Greek hospitality.

Halfway there: The mother and father

The experience of being raised by Greek-born parents partnered with being raised within an Australian community. Although moving to the other side of the world and learning a new language may be difficult, for some, being the child of an immigrant can be even harder. Being a child of a Greek immigrant means you bring everything from your parents’ culture and integrate it with the Australian lifestyle. This can be anything as simple as bringing souvlaki from home to work the next day, having to take Greek dancing lessons, or using elements of your Greek parents pastitsio recipe to make a lasagne. Being a child of Greek-born parents may sometimes have its challenges, possibly hiding your secret boyfriend from your parents or sacrificing much of your social life for work, but each mother and father of that generation will certainly carry down their parents hard working ethos and cultural identity.

The sons and daughters: Keeping traditions alive

Taking two generations of experience and Greek culture to use into their lives, the grandchildren of yiayia and papou are left to continue the Greek traditions to ensure their survivability. As time goes on, we see Greek-Australian children become dissociated with their heritage, and it is up to the younger generation of teenagers and twenty to thirty year-olds to make sure that these traditions don’t fade into obscurity. This ranges from lifelong traditions such holding feasts to celebrate name days, dancing the Zorba at weddings, and going to Greek school to preserve the ancient language. While this generation is tasked with carrying on these traditions, it is also vital to bring in new traditions that can be celebrated with the wider community. What brings all three generations together, apart from their love of Greek culture, is the knowingness that whatever we do in life, we remember the rich history of our Greek roots.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Alumni excellence celebrated in style at Oakleigh Grammar

Oakleigh Grammar has inducted two more former students into the prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame.

A pilgrimage to heroic Souli: Remembering the legacy of the Souliotes and Souliotises

Nestled in the rugged mountains of Epirus, Souli is more than just a historical site—it is a symbol of resilience and bravery.

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea: Defining Orthodoxy and preserving Hellenism

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine the Great, stands as a pivotal event in Christian history.

From PAK to PASOK: Sakis Gekas to lecture on anti-dictatorship resistance in Toronto

The talk will feature some of the key moments of the anti-dictatorship struggle and its manifestations in the public sphere.

US urges EU to abandon protections for feta and other regional products

The United States is ramping up pressure on the European Union to eliminate its system of geographical indications.

You May Also Like

SYRIZA party leader Alexis Tsipras resigns

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras announced his resignation on Thursday after the party suffered a crushing defeat in Greece's two elections.

Maria Sakkari knocked out of the French Open in shock upset

2021 French Open semi-finalist, Maria Sakkari, was knocked out of the grand slam in Wednesday's second round by Karolina Muchova.

Koraly Dimitriadis and Christos Tsiolkas challenge literary establishment at book launch

Koraly Dimitriadis and Christos Tsiolkas challenge literary establishment at the Melbourne launch of her new book.