Ηappy bicentennial Anniversary My Greece ! An exhibition of local costumes

Ηappy bicentennial Anniversary My Greece !

An exhibition of local costumes

Today is the celebration of the 200 years anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire. All over the world, famous monuments and buildings are either dressed or illuminated in the colours of the Greek flag, blue and white.

 Are you eager to admire the local costumes from various parts of Greece, that played a significant role in the Greek Revolution for Independence in 1821?

Greece 1821 -2021
Lyceum Club of Greek Women
Psara
Chios
Crete
Peloponnese
Spetses
Central Greece
Athens
Manneken Greek Celebration Hospitality Stories

Greece 1821 -2021

Today is the celebration of the 200 years anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire. All over the world, famous monuments and buildings are either dressed or illuminated in the colours of the Greek flag, blue and white. Among others the Sydney Opera, the Colosseum in Rome, Town Halls in various cities like Vancouver, Canada, San Francisco and Boston, United States. The famous Manneken Pis in Belgium is dressed as Evzonas. The Evzones (or Evzonoi, as they are called today), are the members of the Presidential Guard, a ceremonial army unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens. Needless to mention, that even the smallest Greek village appears in Blue and White livery, the colours of the Greek National flag!

Lyceum Club of Greek Women

Lyceum Club of Greek Women, is considered being the joy and pride of Greek culture and heritage. Founded in Athens in 1911 by feminist Kalliroi Parren, it is the first organized women association in Greece, still active today with 51 branches, including 16 abroad, preserving and promoting the Greek culture and heritage. Most importantly, all its members, all over the world, are VOLUNTEERS! Lyceum Club of Greek Women owns an impressive collection of various traditional costumes, originating from all over Greece. Are you eager to admire the local costumes from various parts of Greece, that played a significant role in the Greek Revolution for Independence in 1821?

Greek Traditional Dancers - Foustaneles Hospitality Stories

The island of Psara

Psara is a small Greek island in the North Aegean Sea, part of Chios regional unit. Psara joined the Greek Revolution for independence on April 10th, 1821. Psara are known for the massacre of their inhabitants by the Ottoman Army in June 1824. A well known native naval leader, born in Psara, Constantinos Kanaris, became later Greek Prime Minister. Psara, Hydra and Spetses were the three strongest nautical islands, during the Greek Revolution in 1821.

This costume is a woman’s outfit from Psara and is part of the Collection of Lyceum of Greek Women. The dress is a donation of Despina Kl. Manea & Totoula Manea - Chlorakioti and is part of the digital exhibition of MYRIA OSA (stitched in cloth 1821-2021).

Traditional Psara Dress Hospitality Stories Photo credits: Studio Kominis
Traditional Chios Dress Hospitality Stories Photo credits: Chara Dendia

The island of Chios

Chios is the fifth largest Greek island in the North Aegean Sea. Chios joined the rest of independent Greece only after the First Balkan War (1912). The Greek Navy liberated Chios in November 1912 in a hard-fought, but brief amphibious operation. The Ottoman Empire recognized Greece's annexation of Chios and the other Aegean islands in the Treaty of London (1913). The famous Chios Massacre (1822) is a painting of the French painter Eugene Delacroix. It is inspired by the massacre of tens of thousands of Greeks in Chios by the Ottoman army, during the second year of the Greek Revolution.

The costumes are women’ outfit from Chios.

The island of Crete

I don’t think that there is anyone who doesn’t know what Crete stands for! The largest and one of the most popular Greek islands! The Greek Revolution in Crete was the revolution of the enslaved Greeks of Crete against the Ottoman conquerors, which began in April 1821 and lasted until 1830. Despite the victories of the Cretans against the Ottomans, Crete did not become part of the newly established Greek State after the end of the Greek Revolution war.

Τhe costumes shown are traditional Cretan outfits from the Lyceum Club of Greek Women collection.

Traditional Cretan costumes and dance Hospitality Stories

Peloponnese

Peloponnese is the largest Greek peninsula in southern Greece, one of the most idyllic Greek mainland destinations. Τhe Greek revolution started and was established in Peloponnese. Significant personalities- heroes of the Greek Revolution like Theodoros Kolokotronis and Emmanouil Papaphlessas, were born in Peloponnese.

The costumes shown are traditional outfits from Leonidio of Peloponnese. 

Traditional Peloponnesean costumes and dance Hospitality Stories Photo credits: Chara Dendia
Traditional costumes and dances from Spetses Hospitality Stories Photo credits: Studio Kominis

The island of Spetses

Spetses is one of the majestic Saronic islands. Spetses was the first of the Greek islands to raise the flag of Revolution in the morning of April 3rd, 1821. Spetses, which played a pivotal role in the Greek Independence War of 1821, was homeland of the celebrated war heroine Laskarina Bouboulina, whose life-sized statue can be seen in Spetses main square.

Τhe costumes shown are traditional Spetses outfits from the Lyceum Club of Greek Women collection.

Central Greece

Central Greece, known also as Roumeli, played an important role in the Greek Revolution of 1821. A number of famous heroes of the Greek Revolution like Georgios Karaiskakis, Odysseas Androutsos and Athanassios Diakos were born in Roumeli.

Τhe costumes shown are traditional Roumeli outfits from the Lyceum Club of Greek Women collection.

Traditional costumes and dance from Roumeli  Hospitality Stories

Athens

Last but not least, the capital of Greece, Athens! Αt that time Athens was a small town, not the Greek capital. Actually, Athens became the third capital of the newly established independent Greek State, after Egina (being the first capital), and Nafplion.

Τhe costumes shown are traditional Athenian outfits from the Lyceum Club of Greek Women collection as well as the Presidential guard outfits.

Traditional Athenean outfits Hospitality Stories