Sunday, October 4, 2009

It's all Greek to me



Up until this weekend just about everything I knew about the Greek Orthodox religion and Culture I learned from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. ~ Love that movie.



But this weekend I asked Buster to take us to the Greek Festival in Houston. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Houston, Texas hosted it's 43 Greek Festival. This is a four day event and thousands come. They claim it is the original Greek Festival in the United States.

This Houston Greek Orthodox community began with a handful of Greek immigrants back in 1917.
We had a great time watching the Folk Dancers, eating Greek food, touring the Cathedral and shopping in the Greek market.

Here are some pictures from our afternoon enjoying all things Greek.



Inside the Cathedral...


A member of the church gave us a brief history of the Greek Orthodox Faith. It was so interesting. She was so knowledgeable of early Church history. I would love to talk with her more.

Beautiful stained glass:





Looking up you see this:


The Greek Folk Dancers:






The non-Greek food eaters having pizza:




Mine and Buster's Gyro's: Yum Yum!



My purchase from the Greek market... This apron was only .99. I love aprons anyway and when I saw this one for 99 cents I couldn't pass it up. It has some olive brand advertisement on it. It's all written in Greek, but I thought it was fun.



We heard lots of OPA's!!! and had lots Fun!
Buster even missed an afternoon of College Football on TV to go. He wasn't real happy about that. But we went to Pappa's Burger on our way home after the festival and the Houston Texan's cheerleaders were there. So that made up for it I guess haha.
Trust me he wouldn't have been shouting "Opa" if he stayed home and watched his team play. Let's just say the Georgia Bulldogs were........the ηττημένος. *

* loser

22 comments:

Betty W said...

hahaha, that last word, sure made it clear! :)
That festival looked like so much fun! Great weather too!

Sandra said...

How funny!!!
I think it was Wit and Whimsy that recently went to a Greek festival too.
Loved the pictures too!!

Sandra

Joanna Jenkins said...

You had me at Gyros! The festival looks great and so does the food!
Have a great week.
xo

Givinya De Elba said...

That looks like it was heaps of fun! And the food looked awesome too.

Brenda said...

Looks like fun! My brother in law is Greek, and Greek Orthodox. They have some fun, interesting customs and yummy food!

Cicero Sings said...

Looked like a really fun festival. I love that kind of folk dancing. Love gyros too. Your girls sure are cuties. In the picture of you in an apron, you remind me so much of a gal I knew from the Vancouver area. I like aprons too ... very handy.

Diana Ferguson said...

Oh yes, I loved the Tampa area, Tarpon Springs, those sponges...... I just wish we had more time!

It's a beautiful area. How long have you been gone from there?

By the way, I've enjoyed the Greek festival post.

My email is on the home page if you want to go that route.

Susan said...

Our dear friends in Albuquerque were Greek and we always enjoyed the yearly event of the Greek festival. They have a small one here in Tulsa but we've never made it to it.

Love the apron, too!!
Susan

Tracy P. said...

Oh, Lee and Ben were watching that game. Ben was excited because the Tigers (LSU) won, of course. ;-)

That festival looks like a blast! I would love the dancing, and I could live on Greek food. Yum! Pass the baklava!

C. JoyBell C. said...

Joooooyyyy....you know I'm Greek, don't you???? Is this post secretly just for meeeeee???? teee heeeeeee!!!! :) :)

I loved reading this! OPA! :) :)

Brenda said...

What a fun experience that had to be.
Too funny, on your Greek word!! :)
Have a great week.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

How interesting, Joy. I remember Houston having LOTS of cultural festivals throughout the year. I never got to any--but always wanted to. The Greek one sounds like loads of fun!!!!

That cathedral is gorgeous. You know me---I love visiting churches.

Sorry about GA... They'll win next week. None of my teams are winning much of anything this year. Oh Well.

Hugs,
Betsy

Karin said...

Good fun, good food and good fellowship! Looks like a lot of fun! Enjoyed your pictures - especially the inside of the church. OPA - that's our German word for grandpa!

Melody said...

"What do you mean you don't eat no meat? That's okay, I'll make lamb." hahaha! Love that movie too!

It looks like you had a wonderful time! What a fun time! I, too, love trying another culture's food. And those stained glass windows are gorgeous!

Barbara said...

Joy, I am so sorry I missed this Festival...I have a very dear friend that is married to Greek and they took me to a Monastary and a Greek Festival, but we couldn't make this one. I posted about the Monastary a short while ago.
Well, next year for sure.

Shell in your Pocket said...

Ah..looks like a lot of fun!!!

sandy toe

Lisa said...

wow! I've lived in TX my entire life and never knew about this festival! how neat!
I could go for a gyro about now!
yep, my big fat greek wedding, one of my favs too! :o)
have a good week!

Unseen India Tours said...

Hi Joy !! These are some really beautiful and lovely shots !! Nice post..Thanks for sharing..Unseen Rajasthan

Ronnica said...

I love learning about other cultures, and there's no better way than to experience it!

Tricia said...

sounds like a lot of fun.

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Joy..
Oh I love that movie too lol, We just had a Greek festival here in Hawaii. I did not have a chance to go, but on the commercial advertising it , it sure looked like a lot of fun and the food looked good as well.

Hugz Lorie

Gombojav Tribe said...

LOVE IT!!! I would go with you and eat Greek food all the live-long day! :-) When my husband finished his Greek language intense a few years ago I threw a party for his whole class and made LOADS of Greek food.

I think that's what they serve in heaven.