Eating, Drinking, and Fun in Chicago | Blue Romance in the Windy City of a Thousand Faces

From the United States to Greece, the straight-line distance is 9,415 kilometers.

The flight time is about 15 hours.

It seems like an unattainable geographical distance,

making many people hesitate.

But what if there is a Greek city in the United States...

Welcome to Greektown! Haha, you didn't read that wrong! Today, I'm going to introduce you to a "hidden corner" of Chicago, a global metropolis — Chicago Greektown (Greektown Chicago).

The History of Greektown You Didn't Know

Many friends may wonder, why is there a Greektown in Chicago when the two countries are completely unrelated? Well, this Greektown is no small thing — it is a precious Greek cultural heritage independent of Greece itself.

During the Industrial Revolution in 1840, large numbers of Jews, Italians, Slavs, and Greeks poured into industrialized cities. The first Greeks arrived in Chicago by ship and started a food business, gradually becoming restaurant owners. Around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Greek population increased and concentrated in the areas of Harrison, Blue Island, and Halsted. This area was then called Chicago Greektown.

In the 1960s, due to the construction of the expressway and the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Greektown was forced to move a few blocks north. In 1968, feta cheese was introduced to Chicago by the Greeks in this Greektown. From 1970 to 1990, many Greek-style restaurants opened, and many are still in operation today. At the 1996 Democratic National Convention, Chicago Greektown was recognized as a small town that contributed millions of dollars to Chicago's economy.

The Greek Festival You Didn't Know — "Oxi Day"

"Oxi" means "no" in Greek. "Oxi Day," also known as "Day Of No," is an important part of modern Greek history. On October 28, 1940, the Greek Prime Minister rejected the ultimatum of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini during World War II.

Due to its strategic geographical location, the Axis powers wanted to set up camp in Greece, giving Greece a chance to surrender without a fight. However, Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas stood his ground and said "oxi" to the dictator. Although his actions eventually led Greece into World War II, people around the world admired Greece's bravery. It gave hope to other countries to defeat the Axis powers.

Since then, Greece has regarded October 28 as its second National Day. Every year on October 28, a grand military parade is held at Syntagma Square in central Athens.

Traditionally, Oxi Day is celebrated with parades, decorating flags, and laying wreaths at various military memorials. Of course, you can also celebrate Oxi Day by having a traditional Greek meal at a Greek restaurant in Chicago Greektown, and take some time to remember when the Greeks said "no."

The Greek Festival You Didn't Know — "Greek independence Day"jQuery17107156784542133139_1611214846690

Although due to the pandemic, the Greek flag-raising ceremony and traditional Greek parade in Chicago have been cancelled this year, Greeks around the world still celebrate Greek Independence Day on March 25. This national holiday commemorates the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1453, until on March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the banner of revolution at the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese (the Morea peninsula in southern Greece). The revolutionary slogan became "Freedom or Death."

For many Greeks, this day also has a double meaning of celebration because the revolution is associated with an important celebration of the Greek Orthodox Church — the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

The Annunciation (Annunciation) is the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive the Son of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. The Bible records that this event occurred when Mary's relative Elizabeth was six months pregnant. Christmas and other festivals are also based on the Annunciation. March 25 is the Feast of the Incarnation, and 40 weeks later around that time should be Christmas.

The Greek tradition is to celebrate by gathering with family and friends and eating fish. Since this day is also a religious celebration, it always falls during the fasting period before Easter, so most Greeks do not eat meat. The traditional Greek dish for this day is called bakaliaros skordalia, a fried cod with garlic sauce. This is a very popular dish in the Greek restaurants of Greektown!

European Christmas You Must Want to Experience?

Plan a group trip to Greektown with your family, lover, and friends — come and experience the rich festive atmosphere! Start your day with a stroll through Greektown, where you have a chance to see hand-painted "Christmas Karavakia" boats? These boats will be displayed in restaurant windows from November 26 to January 16.

Next, stop by Elysian Field. After December 6, the Christmas tree there will be lighted and decorated. Little fairies (ladies) must go check in and take photos! After wandering around Greektown and immersing yourself in the festive joy, head to Artopolis for a traditional Greek coffee or hot chocolate, and a warm Greek pastry, such as the popular almond baklava.

Easter Red Eggs You've Never Seen

In Greece, the brightest symbol of Easter is the red egg?. Red symbolizes blood and Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and the egg symbolizes rebirth. The first egg dyed is considered the egg of the Virgin Mary, and it is kept at home to ward off the evil eye until a new "first egg" is dyed the next year. Dyeing eggs is part of many families' Easter traditions.

In some families, they are the first food after the fast?, while others enjoy them after dinner.

A kind Chicago resident, Katerina Mallios, created the website Follow Apollo, aiming to introduce Greek history, traditions, and customs to children in a fun and engaging way. Here you can also buy books and plush toys related to Greek Easter.

Everyday Phrases You Can Definitely Use

After listening to all this, are you itching to fly to Greece for a trip?

Throughout Greektown, you often hear a foreign language — that is their mother tongue, Greek. Want to have simple conversations in Greek with locals when visiting Greektown? Here are a few key everyday phrases that will definitely help you!

Hello – Xairete (HEH-reh-tay)

Goodbye – Antio (Ah-DIO)

How are you? – Ti kanis? (tee-KAH-nees?)

I'm fine, and you? – Eimai Kala. Kai Esu? (EE-may Kah-LAH. Kay eh-SEE?)

My name is... – Me lene… (meh LEH-neh)

Thank you – Efxaristo! (eff-hah-ree-STOE!)

Yes – Nai (neh)

No – Oxi (OH-hee)