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Combining fashion and history: Meet the designer behind the Greek brand ‘MagnaDi’

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Combining fashion and history: Meet the designer behind the Greek brand ‘MagnaDi’

The founder and designer of ‘MagnaDi’, Margianna Dragoumanou from Nafplio, talks to The Greek Herald about the history of her brand, the collection of silk scarves on the Greek Revolution and her ties with Australia.

The word ‘magnadi’ in ancient Greek means scarf (μαντήλι) and is interwoven with the myth of the goddess of the waves Leukothea, who appeared to the castaways, wrapped them with her ‘magnadi’ and guided them to safe land.

Inspired by this myth and because of her desire to learn more about the history and mythology of her country, Margianna started the company ‘MagnaDi’ six years ago, which deals with the design of scarves printed in high quality silk from Soufli, an area in Greece also known as the ‘silk town.’

“Studying and living in England for a few years, I realised that the groups I was associated with, knew aspects of Greek history and mythology that I was unaware of. This saddened me so I decided to make something entirely Greek on the one hand to learn by creating, and on the other hand to honour my country,” Margianna tells The Greek Herald.

Margianna’s mother painting on silk and (L) the ‘1821’ Silk Collection

Her studies in economics and marketing were defeated by her love for drawing in Greek colours and patterns and her mother’s painting-on-silk skills were also an important factor in her decision to deal with this art form.

“I create the designs and then the digital printing is done in Soufli, in the same factory that silk is made. Hem and stitching are usually done by hand from Pomak women who live in the area,” says Margianna.

The collections of ‘MagnaDi’ are inspired by ancient Greece, history and mythology while the new silk collection entitled ‘2021’ features key revolutionary personalities such as Laskarina Bouboulina, Theodoros Kolokotronis and Yannis Makriyiannis and aims to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence.

“Women have had scarves for various uses for thousands of years. I hope that one of my designs will stay in someone’s closet and seeing it, they will remember something from our history,” says the designer, explaining that the majority of her customers are people with Greek heritage living in the US, England and France as well as tourists who buy the scarves as souvenirs.

During its six years of operation, the Greek business has also collaborated with the British Museum and the Natural History Museum of Chicago. Margianna now hopes that her scarves will also reach Australia, where she has family.

“One of my mother’s uncles – with the surname Houdalas – emigrated to Melbourne in 1922,” she says, speaking enthusiastically about the visit she made to the country in 2015, in order to meet her relatives.

England, Nafplio, Soufli, Australia.

The world is indeed small and the stories told by the motifs on Margianna’s scarves must remain unchanged, because they are the ones that reveal the identity of every Greek wherever in the world she or he may be.

READ MORE: ‘A phenomenon’: Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis on his ancestor naval commander Bouboulina

Cypriots across Australia honour those who lost their lives in the EOKA struggle

Andriana Simos
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Cypriots across Australia honour those who lost their lives in the EOKA struggle

Cypriot communities across Australia have honoured the heroes and heroines of the EOKA (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) struggle against British colonial rule with a number of church services and wreath laying ceremonies.

On Sunday, April 4, Sydney’s Cypriot community gathered at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern to attend a memorial service, presided over by His Grace Bishop Emilianos, for all those who lost their lives during the struggle. This was followed by the laying of wreaths and a number of short speeches.

  • Memorial service held at the Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern. Photos: Facebook.
  • Wreath laying ceremony in Sydney.

In attendance were a number of prominent members of Greek and Cypriot community organisations including, but not limited to, the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the President of the Cyprus-Hellene Club, Panicos Achileos, and the President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Spiros Constantinou.

A number of similar events were also occurring at the same time in the cities of Melbourne and Adelaide, where wreaths were laid on behalf of Mrs Mavrommatis.

  • Adelaide’s Cypriot community marked the anniversary of the EOKA struggle. Photos: Facebook.

A few days earlier on March 28 in Brisbane, the EOKA struggle was marked with another Divine Liturgy and memorial service at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

Some prominent members of the Greek and Cypriot community who laid wreaths at the event were the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the President of the Cyprus Community of Queensland, Stathis Zambas, and other representatives of the Honorary Consulate General of Greece in Brisbane, among many others.

Immediately after the wreath laying, a luncheon was held to mark the occassion, with speeches, poems and traditional Cypriot dancing.

Wreath laying ceremony in Brisbane. Photos: Facebook.

What is the EOKA struggle?

EOKA was an underground nationalist movement of Greek Cypriots dedicated to ending British colonial rule in Cyprus (achieved in 1960) and to achieving the eventual union (Greek enosis) of Cyprus with Greece.

EOKA was organised by Colonel Georgios Grivas, an officer in the Greek army, with the support of Makarios III, Orthodox archbishop of Cyprus.

Its armed campaign, begun early in 1955 and reached a climax in 1956, with the exile of Makarios to the Seychelles and the temporary depletion of British forces in the island because of the Suez Crisis.

  • The EOKA struggle was also commemorated in Brisbane. Photos: Facebook.

By early 1957, however, a reinforced British army renewed attacks on the mountain hideouts of the considerably outnumbered EOKA. Violence subsided after Makarios’ release from detention in exile in March 1957, though there were increased hostilities leading up to mid-1958, when EOKA clashed with Turkish Cypriot guerrillas.

In 1958, Makarios announced he would accept independence for Cyprus rather than enosis. In February 1959, a compromise agreement was concluded between Turkish and Greek representatives at Zürich and endorsed by the Cypriot communities in London. The next month, EOKA disbanded.

On This Day in 1957: Aristotle Onassis officially launched Olympic Airways

The Greek Herald
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On This Day in 1957: Aristotle Onassis officially launched Olympic Airways

By Ilektra Takuridu.

On April 6, 1957, Aristotle Onassis renamed TAE Greek National Airlines (TAE) to Olympic Airways, thus propelling the golden era of Greek aviation.

The business started off humbly with only domestic flights and grew to become one of the largest airline companies linking Greece to the rest of the world.

Before Aristotle bought TAE, the Greek aviation industry was facing difficulties. In 1951, the three main airline companies operating in Greece merged together to form TAE – this was a decision made by the Greek state to try and save the industry.

Four years later, the government initiative did not work and they were forced to sell TAE due to financial problems. The state could not successfully find a buyer for the airline and repurchased it.

Aristotle Onassis bought Olympic Airways in 1956.

Finally, in 1956, they reached an agreement with Aristotle Onassis to buy the airline. However, it was not until 1957 when Aristotle decided to change the company name and the historic Olympic Airways was launched.

READ MORE: Olympic Airways museum to be built inside Hellinikon Development Project.

Who was the man that saved Greek Aviation?

Aristotle Onassis, or ‘Ari’ as known to the public, was a Greek shipping entrepreneur who owned the world’s largest privately-owned shipping fleet and was one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential persons of his time.

Onassis was born in Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey), in 1906 and fled to Greece in 1922 with his family, after the Great Fire of Smyrna. At only 17, Ari moved to Argentina and made a fortune as a tobacco trader and shipping owner during the second world war. His business dealings led him around the world and eventually back to his Greek roots when he purchased TAE and created Olympic Airways.

READ MORE: On This Day: Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, passed away.

Aristotle Onassis was also a shipping tycoon.

The company was already in a poor financial state when Aristotle bought it, not only because the people of Greece had little interest in flying, but also because of the negative opinions of airlines.

To make Greeks start trusting air transport, Onassis launched “aviation days of 1957 scheme” giving out short flights for free, this engaged the Greek population in flying. The next step he took was to buy the most cutting edge technology to change the stigma around flights being unsafe. Under Onassis’ management, the company developed a reputation as luxurious and elegant.

The cabin crew wore uniforms designed by the famous Pierre-Cardin, and the passengers could eat with golden cutlery specially made for the company. This was a crucial and historic moment because this had never happened in any other aviation company.  

Another iconic moment for Olympic Airways under Onassis was 1971 when he formed a subsidiary airline, the Olympic Aviation. He invested in smaller planes which helped aviation to smaller airports, making flying to the islands more efficient and economical.

The iconic cabin crew uniforms of Olympic Airways.

A huge moment for the company’s international recognition was in 1972 when Olympic Airways launched flights from Greece to Australia. The flight route was exactly from Athens to Melbourne and was twice a week via Bangkok and Singapore.  

In 1973, Onassis’ influence in the Greek aviation world was suddenly stopped after his son tragically died in a plane crash. He soon sold the company’s shares and its future was left in the hands of the Greek state. Unfortunately, the company faced many problems and eventually ceased operations in 2009.

Aristotle’s management of the company successfully changed Greek people’s views of flying, which greatly helped the Greek economy, tourism and connecting Greek people around the world. His involvement in aviation and time at Olympic Airways has had such impact on the aviation industry in Greece and his influence has been felt until today. 

Australian MP for Veterans’ Affairs marks 80 years since Allied campaigns in Greece and Crete

Andriana Simos
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Australian MP for Veterans’ Affairs marks 80 years since Allied campaigns in Greece and Crete

Today marks 80 years since German forces invaded Greece along the Greek-Bulgarian border on April 6, 1941. At the same time, German planes bombed Piraeus and the coasts up to Salamis Naval Base, causing human casualties and huge damage. One month later, the Greek island of Crete was also attacked.

To mark the occasion, Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester, has released a statement recognising the strong ties between the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and Greece during WWII.

“In 1941, Australian and New Zealand troops, the ANZAC Corps, along with British armoured and artillery units, were sent to assist in the defence of Greece following the collapse of the main Greek defensive line,” Mr Chester said in his statement.

Today marks 80 years since German forces invaded Greece.

The Australian Minister then went on to give a short summary of events following the German invasion, saying the Allies were “inadequately prepared to resist the German attack” and by April 20, when it became clear that “all they could do was disrupt and slow the German advance,” the Greek Government “agreed for the force to be evacuated.”

“Over the following five nights, more than 50,000 troops were evacuated from Greece. They left behind some 320 Australians who were killed and some 2,065 who became prisoners of war,” Mr Chester continued.

Later in his statement, Mr Chester turns to the Battle of Crete and stressed the bravery of the Allied forces in their efforts towards securing the Greek island.

The German attack on Crete in May 1941. Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images.

“In May 1941, an airborne operation codenamed Merkur (Mercury) saw some 9,500 German paratroopers land on Crete. While initially suffering heavy losses, the Germans managed to gain control of one of the airfields allowing further German troops to be flown in,” Mr Chester said.

“Allied evacuations began shortly after, with around 16,500 troops successfully removed from the island. Sadly though, the British Commonwealth losses numbered more than 1,700 killed, over 2,220 wounded, and around 11,370 taken as prisoners of war.

“The service and sacrifice of these brave men will never be forgotten, and we also pay a special thank you to the locals who helped many of our troops survive.”

New Museum of Philhellenism opens its doors in Athens

The Greek Herald
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New Museum of Philhellenism opens its doors in Athens

A new museum has opened its doors in Athens to honour the foreigners and Philhellenes who supported the Greek War of Independence and helped end 400 years of Ottoman rule.

Founder of the Philhellenism Museum, Constantinos Velentzas, says the museum will tell the story of the birth and evolution of the Philhellenism movement and the critical role it played in the struggle for Greece’s liberation.

The Philhellenism movement, derived from the Greek words philos (friend) and Hellas (Greece), refers to an intellectual movement which was particularly strong in the 19th century among the Greek diaspora and the intelligentsia in Europe and America, who wanted to support Greece as it took up arms against the Ottomans.

A new Philhellenism Museum has opened its doors in Athens. Photo: Lefteris Partsalis / Xinhua.

“We know about 1,500 Philhellenes from all over the world who came to Greece to join the Greek forces and combat side by side with the Greeks for the liberation of Greece,” Mr Velentzas said.

“They were students, intellectuals or experienced military officers, veterans of the Napoleonic wars, from the Scandinavian countries to Spain and from Britain and France to the United States of America, all of whom united by their love for Greece and ancient Greece.”

Mr Velentzas says visitors at the Philhellenism Museum will be able to learn the story of Philhellenism from the Renaissance up to the beginning of the 20th century through thousands of art objects, books, letters and personal objects of famous Philhellenes.

During 2021, the focus of the museum is the actions of Philhellenes to support the Greek War of Independence in celebration of the bicentenary of the beginning of the war.

The exhibits include paintings of the Greek War of Independence by European painters of the early nineteenth century, as well as bronze, porcelain, fabric, wood and paper artifacts, weapons from the War, more than 250 first-edition Philhellenic books, scores of Philhellenic music, and letters written by Greek fighters and Philhellenes.

Among the vast collection, there will be some personal belongings of Lord Byron, the beloved British romantic poet who died in Greece in 1824 after fighting for the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire.

Source: Athens Insider.

Greece makes fresh WWII reparation claims from Germany

The Greek Herald
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Greece makes fresh WWII reparation claims from Germany

The Greek government has renewed its calls for talks with Germany on wartime reparations on the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Greece by German troops in World War II.

“The question remains open until our demands are met. These demands are valid and active, and they will be asserted by any means,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Alexandros Papaioannou, told the German news agency DPA.

Greece last made an official call for negotiations in 2019, under leftist Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras. But the government of current conservative Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said in January 2020 that Athens still considered the issue an open one, although it had so far refrained from pressuring Berlin on the matter.

READ MORE: Manolis Glezos: Greek WWII resistance hero’s spark of hope during German occupation.

Nazi Germany caused much death and great destruction in Greece during World War II. Photo: DPA.

Billions in damage:

The cost of the damage caused by Nazi Germany in Greece during the war has been estimated at €289 billion ($339 billion) by a Greek parliamentary commission. That amount includes a loan that Greece was forced to grant the German central bank.

After invading Greece on April 6, 1941, German armed forces went on to carry out numerous massacres in the country, with tens of thousands of civilians dying during the conflict.

READ MORE: Creforce: Untold Anzac stories of World War II based on events on the Greek island of Crete.

Germany has said it considers the issue to have been resolved by the so-called Two Plus Four Agreement signed in 1990, which allowed the united Germany to become fully sovereign the following year. The signatories to the treaty were the former East and West Germanies and the former occupying powers of France, the US, Britain and the Soviet Union.

Nazi Germany launched its invasion of Greece from Bulgaria. Photo: DPA.

Reparations were not explicitly mentioned in the document. Countries such as Greece and Poland, that had been invaded by Germany in the war, were not included in the negotiations for the treaty.

A Bundestag report in 2019 found that Greece’s claims did have legal weight, calling the German government’s position “acceptable” but “by no means compulsory” under international law.

The German government says that, rather than paying reparations, it wants to promote reconciliation with Greece by means of commemorative and educational projects. 

READ MORE: On This Day: The end of the German occupation in Athens.

Source: DW.

Foreign Ministers of Greece, Serbia and Cyprus hold first trilateral meeting in Belgrade

The Greek Herald
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Foreign Ministers of Greece, Serbia and Cyprus hold first trilateral meeting in Belgrade

The foreign ministers of Greece, Serbia and Cyprus held their first trilateral meeting in Belgrade on Monday, affirming their commitment to collaboration in the Balkans and the Mediterranean region.

During a press conference, Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, thanked his Serbian counterpart, Nicola Selakovic, for welcoming the Greece-Albania initiative to resolve the two countries’ maritime zones issue in the framework of International Law, adding that the East Mediterranean must become a sea of collaboration, not a sea to practice the outdated policy of warships.

“We build our friendships on the framework of International Law,” Dendias said.

He also reiterated Greece’s support for Serbia’s accession to the EU, while noting the importance of continuing talks on the issue of Kosovo.

The foreign ministers of Greece, Serbia and Cyprus held their first trilateral meeting in Belgrade on Monday.

Dendias also said Greece supports the natural gas interconnection of Serbia with Bulgaria, which will eventually be connected to the Greece-Bulgaria pipeline and later to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Greece also attaches great significance to the Pan-European Transport Corridor X (10), which will connect Thessaloniki with Salzburg, via North Macedonia and Serbia, he added. The route from Piraeus and Thessaloniki to the north will provide faster transportation and economic benefits. 

Dendias also raised the issue of Greece and Cyprus being migration frontline countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and of Turkey’s obligation to control migratory flows from its territory, and to accpet returns from the EU.

“I think that Turkey needs to strengthen its border control and fully comply with its 2016 agreement with the EU,” he said. 

Cypriot Foreign Minister, Nicos Christodoulides, underlined that a solution to the Cyprus issue must be pursued on the basis of establishing a bizonal, bicommunal federation, without external interventions. 

After the tripartite meeting, Dendias was received by Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic. He also met with Serbian Parliament President, Ivica Dacic, and with the new Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Porphyrios.

The next meeting of the three foreign ministers will reportedly be held in Thessaloniki.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Detective Senior Constable, Angela Vergopoulos: “I continue to challenge myself and gender bias”

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Detective Senior Constable, Angela Vergopoulos: “I continue to challenge myself and gender bias”

A wife, a mother, a daughter but also a dedicated police officer of Greek background who, at the age of 42, decided to obliterate the boundaries her environment had set for her and pursue the career path she always dreamt of.

Angela Vergopoulos, a Detective Senior Constable, Criminal Investigation at Burwood Police Area Command (PAC) in NSW, talks to the Greek Herald about her journey, women in policing and breaks some misconceptions about police officers. 

Detective Senior Constable Angela Vergopoulos (second from right). Photo: FB/Burwood Police Area Command

Q: Ms Vergopoulos, you are a Detective Senior Constable in the Criminal Investigation Unit in Burwood, NSW. Tell us about your background.

A: It was a childhood dream of mine to be a police officer but my Greek, old fashioned parents disapproved. I was conditioned to believe that my boundaries could extend no further than being a wife and mother. So, being a good daughter, I followed their wishes and married a Greek boy and we had two children.

At the age of 42, and with the support and encouragement of my husband and children, I applied to join the NSW Police Force (NSWPF). My parents were horrified. I spent eight months at the Police Academy in Goulburn. I found both the academic and physical training difficult, especially keeping up with people half my age. I worked hard, stayed focused and graduated. 

It’s been 10 years since I joined and I am as proud and honoured to be working for the NSWPF today, as I was on the day I graduated. It was also a very proud moment for me when in 2013 I won the Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Award in Field Operations.

Q: Are there many women in similar positions as yours in the Force?

A: In 2015, NSW Police Force celebrated 100 years of Women in Policing and 50 years since women were officially ‘sworn in’ as Constables and given the full powers of a police officer.  Female officers currently represent 27% of the organisation.  

The advancement of women into leadership roles remains a priority for the organisation, creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. I am inspired by the evolving changes and opportunities for women and I continue to challenge myself and challenge gender bias and inequality.

Q: Has your diverse background helped you in your job at all?

A: Within the Burwood Command, Greek is the fourth largest cultural group. The NSWPF is committed to delivering accessible policing services to the diverse community and utilise employees with language skills to provide immediate language assistance when required. 

I have been called upon many times to translate for Greek speaking members within the Burwood PAC. The Greek School lessons I begrudgingly attended when I was young have now come into good use.

Q: What are 3 common misconceptions about police officers you’ve come across and would you like to set the record straight for us?

A: The public perception of police is sometimes skewed by media coverage given to events which portray police officers in a negative way. Three misconceptions of policing I’ve experienced:

  • Police are racist – Unfortunately, it appears that the actions of a few police officers have stained the entire profession. Early in my career I was called “racist” because I issued an infringement notice to someone for dangerous driving causing an accident. Police respond to a person’s actions, not their race.
  • Police spend most of their time fighting crime: A general duties shift is usually 12 hrs long. Most of this time is spent attending to noncriminal issues like paperwork, patrols, phone and counter enquiries, noise complaints, neighbour disputes, motor vehicle accidents and traffic matters, to name a few. I once attended a job whereby a lady left her door open and a bird flew inside the house. The lady was too scared to go back inside so she called the police. My partner and I chased the bird throughout the house until we caught it and released it back outside.
  • Police are not approachable – During my ten years in this job, I found the majority of police officers are community minded people whose prime motivation for entering the police force is for public service and a desire to help. Police see so much negativity in their workday, so next time you see a police officer take a moment to smile or offer an expression of thanks, that can make their day.

Q: What is your advice to younger people from the Greek Community who would like to join the NSW Police Force?

Firstly, you don’t have to be ‘young’ to join. Regardless of your age, gender, height or cultural heritage, the NSWPF guarantees equal employment opportunity for all.

Whilst some people may be motivated by the prestige of the uniform or perhaps from childhood dreams born from watching police shows, such are the rigours of the job that unless you have a deep-rooted sense of duty and community service, your chances of a long career in this profession diminish.

Part of what we experience from day to day take a substantial mental, emotional and physical toll, be it domestic violence, assaults, robberies and deceased’s, to name a few.It’s important not to get worn down by the cynicism and content of the work.

I still love this job and find the work rewarding. I believe my age and life experiences helped me acknowledge the burden of the work and find ways to rationalise, remain resilient and bounce back from various incidents. 

Hellenic Art Theatre’s production, ‘Papaflessas,’ perfectly celebrates the Revolution Bicentennial

Andriana Simos
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Hellenic Art Theatre’s production, ‘Papaflessas,’ perfectly celebrates the Revolution Bicentennial

The Hellenic Art Theatre opened to huge applause on April 2 due to their incredible performance of historical drama, Papaflessas, at the The Greek Theatre – Mantouridion in Marrickville.

Based on a play written by Spyros Melas and adapted and directed by Stavros Economidis, Papaflessas is the Hellenic Art Theatre’s biggest ever production in Australia to mark the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

With over 60 characters, played by 14 different people dressed in specially-made costumes to reflect the era, the play focuses on the complex character of Papaflessas, a priest who joined the Filiki Etaireia, as he navigates his way through the Greek Revolution.

Papaflessas by the Hellenic Art Theatre. Photos: Facebook / Georgia Wright.

“There’s lying and cheating, romance and passion because Papaflessas was a dynamic personality. He was no saint with plenty of flaws,” Kosta Vertzayias, an actor in Papaflessas, tells The Greek Herald.

This three-hour psychological interpretation of Papaflessas as a hero and man was a crowd favourite, with many attendees, both young and old, mesmerised by the performances on stage and assisted by English surtitles.

“A show not to be missed,” writes one attendee on Facebook, with another calling the acting on stage “outstanding” and “sensational.”

The production was enjoyed by all. Photos: Facebook / Georgia Wright.

If you’re just as excited to enjoy the sensational performance of Papaflessas, there’s still a few performances coming up until April 25. You can find out more details here.

Synopsis:

Papaflessas was a historical character, a priest who went to Constantinople to study but instead joined the “Friendly Society” (“Filiki Etaireia”), which was recruiting followers and gathering supplies for a revolution against the Ottoman Empire.

In early 1821, he was in the Peloponnese inspiring Greeks with the will to fight for their long-awaited freedom. He took part personally in the fighting, and in 1823 became a minister in the government of Alexandros Mavrokordatos, but was killed in battle in 1825. Passionate and fearless, he was nonetheless a difficult and controversial character, a sinner as well as a saint.

Adopt a Chios Mastiha tree as part of a new regeneration project in Greece

Andriana Simos
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Adopt a Chios Mastiha tree as part of a new regeneration project in Greece

The mastiha tree is a trademark of Chios and the main source of income for many residents on the Greek island. Its cultivation started in ancient times as the trees produce a rare resin in the shape of teardrops, which is largely exported around the world.

But today, some old or abandoned mastiha trees on the island need a regeneration. This is where the new environmental project, ‘Adopt a Chios Mastiha tree,’ comes into the picture.

Mastiha trees on Chios island release rare resin in the shape of teardrops. Source: Adopt A Chios Mastiha Tree.

Launched in 2019 by Chios local, Lenia Ziglaki, the project aims to help Greek diaspora connect with the traditional process of mastiha cultivation, as well as ensure the future growth of the tree.

“The cultivation of Mastiha has been included by UNESCO in its list of the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’,” the website reads.

Founder of the project, Lenia Ziglaki (right), cleans the mastiha resin during the cultivation process. Source: Adopt A Chios Mastiha Tree.

“By adopting a Chios Mastiha Tree, you will enter a world full of aroma, tastes, but also of hard work.”

Once someone adopts a Chios Mastiha tree, they will receive: (1) an Adoption Certificate, (2) 50 grams of natural Chios Mastiha, and (3) a photograph of their tree with a characteristic sign-board on it, specially designed for the adoptee.

And fear not, if you are unable to visit your tree, know that it will be well looked after by the project volunteers who work day and night to complete the cultivation process of soil spreading, vein carving, sifting, washing and cleaning.

Only the best for a mastiha tree which remains iconic to the island of Chios.

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