Hailed as one of the early centers of civilisation, it is no wonder that there are so many interesting facts about Greece for kids. The country, with its long history stretching back to ancient times, has a plenty of stories and tales that will captivate and entice.
Whether looking to learn about Greece’s past, its present day culture or geography, there are plenty of interesting facts about Greece that kids can learn.
Here are some fascinating Greece facts for kids.
Interesting Facts About Greece for Kids
Geography
1. Greece’s capital city is Athens, home to the famous Acropolis, a symbol of ancient Greek civilisation.
2. Greece has a total land area of around 131,957 square kilometres, making it the 97th largest country in the world.
3. Greece is located in southeastern Europe and shares borders with the countries of Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east. To the west, Greece is bordered by the Ionian Sea, and to the south, by the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
4. Greece has over 2,000 islands, but only 227 are inhabited. These islands are popular tourist destinations for their natural beauty, stunning beaches, and rich history.
5. Greece has one of the highest sunshine rates in Europe, with more than 250 days of sunshine per year in some parts of the country.
Greek History & Culture
6. The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece, where they were held every four years to honour the god Zeus. The ancient Olympic Games took place from the 8 BC to 4 AD. The games featured various sporting events, and winning athletes were revered as heroes in their respective cities.
7. As a tribute to the ancient Olympic Games, the first modern Olympic Games, which was held in 1896, was conducted in Athens, Greece.
8. Greek is the language spoken in Greece and is one of the oldest in the world.
9. The Greek alphabet has 24 letters and is influenced the Cyrillic alphabet used in Russia.
10. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, is considered one of the most influential thinkers in history.
11. The fustanella is a skirt-like garment Greek men wear during special occasions and celebrations.
12. Greece is home to many famous landmarks, including the ancient theater of Epidaurus, the Meteora monasteries, and the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete.
13. Greek mythology has stories about gods and goddesses like Zeus, Athena, and Apollo.
14. Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country worldwide, making it a popular destination for history enthusiasts. There are more than 100 archeological museums in Greece.
15. The Greek Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian denominations in the world and has significantly impacted Greek culture and society.
16. The Marathon originated from ancient Greece.
Fun Facts about Greece in Modern Times
17. There is not country officially known as Greece. Instead, the official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic.
18. Greece is a member of the European Union and has been using the Euro as its official currency since January 1, 2001.
19. The official currency of Greece before the introduction of the Euro was the Greek drachma. The drachma and the Euro both coexisted for a period of time before the Greek drachma was phased out on 28 February 2002.
20. The Greek national anthem is called “Hymn to Liberty” and was written during the Greek War of Independence. It became the national anthem of Greece in 1865. Listen to the Greek national anthem.
Greek Food
21. Moussaka is a famous Greek food that is made from meat cooked between layers of eggplant.
22. Another famous Greek food is papoutsakia, a dish made from stuffed eggplants.
23. Located in such close proximity to the sea, Greece is also known for its seafood dishes. Some of the famous seafood in Greece include octopus, squid and shrimp.
24. A traditional Greek salad is made up only of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, feta cheese and onions. It does not have any lettuce.
25. Greek food normally has very little meat. If there is meat, it is usually lamb or seafood. This is in part because it is hard to raise cows in hilly Greece.
26. Olive oil is an important part of Greek cooking.
27. Traditionally, Greeks had the custom of smashing plates. Nowadays, they mainly throw flowers instead.
28. Feta cheese has been made in Greece since ancient times.
29. Masticha is a natural gum that oozes out from trees that are only found in Chios, a Greek island.
30. A Greek New Year’s cake known as Vasilopita is baked with a coin hidden inside. It is said that whoever finds the coin will receive good luck.
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