The People
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The Cretan population of 600,000 has retained its very distinctive values and traditions throughout a long, long history of many different outside influences as well as retaining a warmth to visitors and a willingness to change. Some years ago, the Catholic Archbishop of Athens, L. Petit, described the inhabitants of Crete in the following way. "A truly admirable people, that despite 4000 years of turbulence, has kept its national identity and pure language, displaying courage mixed with a sense of independence which borders on stubborness, supreme liveliness, fertile imagination, colourful and descriptive language, great spontaneity and a laid back approach to life, a love of adventure, a fierce need for freedom along with an enduring desire to express their individualism. As there are no natural mineral resources, there is no industry on Crete worth mentioning. More than half the population are farmers, who work the land or breed sheep, goats, pigs and fowl. Tourism on the other hand creates the largest source of employment and offers the best opportunities for personal initiative. When you visit Crete you may well want to join one of the many festivals, beloved by Cretans who love to get together to celebrate with traditional music and dance and to which guests are always welcome. Christenings and weddings are still big events, and sometimes the joyful enthusiasm of the gathering reaches such proportions that the men fire their shotguns into the air. The wine harvest is in the early autumn and followed by spontaneous celebrations at the many family distilleries, because the production of the local firewater, raki, offers a good opportunity for a party. Christmas, Easter and Marias Ascension Day on the 15th August, are very important days in the calendar, as the people still care deeply for their religious traditions. In the summertime there are plenty of celebrations, as well as rural festivals in various villages during harvest time.
Cretan Idiosincrasies
The more you eat out in Crete, particularly in the company of Cretans, you will notice when it comes to paying that bills are not individually split, Cretans find this splitting down of bills to be a deplorable habit and the Greeks have nicknamed this Going German (in the UK, we call this Going Dutch).
In contrast, however, small tips are most welcome such as for the old lady in the village who goes and fetches the key to the church, or for the priest who is proud to show you around his church. You should in this latter instance never give money directly into the hand, but rather leave it at the entrance of the church in an appropriate receptacle.
As casually as the Greeks may like to dress in the daytime, when they go to church they put great emphasis on decent attire, Moral codes are tightly observed. For anyone visiting churches, sleeveless blouses, shorts and beach clothes are definitely out. In many monasteries and churches, you will not be allowed entrance if you are not properly dressed. It is advisable, at least, to wear long trousers a pullover or a wrap to cover the shoulders if you are on a sightseeing tour which will take in visits to churches. With dress codes in mind, if you are invited to a private home in Crete, dont turn up in shorts or sandals, as Cretans like to dress up. It is the same if you go out together with Cretans in the evening. Cretans have, like all the Greeks, a very different attitude to time. If you have agreed to meet in the afternoon, the earliest meant by this will be 6.00 p.m. For Cretans, the evening meal begins no earlier than 9.00 p.m. Also no one will think anything of it if you telephone at 10.00 p.m. in the evening. However, siesta time, between 3.00 p.m. and 5 p.m. is held as sacred. During the siesta it is just as unpopular to disturb someone, as it is too German .
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