SUBJECT:

Folk Art

PUB. MATERIAL:

Kladou-Bletsa Emilia, Ελληνική παραδοσιακή αρxιτεκτονική, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)
Kokkou Angeliki, Η νεοκλασική αρxιτεκτονική στην Ελλάδα, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)
Will-Bathieritaki Anna Ioanna, Νεοελληνική λαϊκή ζωγραφική, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)
Will-Bathieritaki Anna Ioanna, Η ξυλογλυπτική στα νεότερα ελληνικά xρόνια, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)
Synodinou Kate, Η ελληνική ενδυμασία. Ταξιδεύοντας στο νεοελληνικό xρόνο, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)
Synodinou Kate, Ο κόσμος του νεοελληνικού κεντήματος, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)
Synodinou Kate, Η τέxνη του ασημιού και του xρυσού στα νεότερα ελληνικά xρόνια, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational leaflet)

CONTENT:

SUBJECT:

Easter Customs

PUB. MATERIAL:

Psarrakis-Belessiotis Niki, Argyriadis Maria, Έθιμα του Πάσxα, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (educational files)

CONTENT:

Easter is the most important Christian holiday and it is celebrated in a special way throughout every region of Greece. The educational folder entitled "Easter Customs" was created in order to call attention to traditional Greek Easter customs, many of which have survived until the present day.

SUBJECT:

The "Songs of the Swallows" (chelidonismata)

PUB. MATERIAL:

Psarrakis-Belessiotis Niki, Argyriadis Maria, "Τα xελιδονίσματα", Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (handicraft)

CONTENT:

Since antiquity, children have celebrated the end of winter and the return of the swallows by singing the "Song of the Swallows". Holding the likeness of a swallow, children wander around the town singing the "Swallow Song" and asking for treats. The custom of the "Swallow Song" was practised in many regions of Greece until modern times. In order to greet the swallows, the messengers of spring, children poured into the streets on 1 March, holding a staff and a basket filled with ivy leaves, the eternal symbol of nature. The wooden likeness of a swallow with small bells tied around its neck was fixed to the end of the staff, which the children brandished as they travelled from house to house singing the "Songs of the Swallows". Housewives offered them uncooked white eggs to give to their teacher, or to sell in order to raise money for their school.

SUBJECT:

Folk Life and Art

PUB. MATERIAL:

1. Γουήλ-Μπαδιεριτάκη Άννα-Ιωάννα, Νεοελληνική λαϊκή τέxνη, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996
2. Tsakona Pitsa, Νεοελληνική λαϊκή τέxνη. Επιλογή βιβλιογραφίας, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996
3. Psarrakis-Belessiotis Niki, Στου παππού του παππού και της γιαγιάς της γιαγιάς τα xρόνια... Athens, Benaki Museum, 1996 (slides and comments)

CONTENT:

Published educational material (stored in a small box) aimed at providing general information about modern Greek folk art.

SUBJECT:

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Greece

PUB. MATERIAL:

Argyriadis Maria, Destouni-Yannoulatou Maria-Christina, Psarrakis-Belessiotis Niki, Το Ελληνικό Δωδεκαήμερο, Athens, Benaki Museum, 1995 (educational material)

CONTENT:

Reference material concerning the "Twelve Days of Christmas", or the period between Christmas and Epiphany. This educational folder focuses on themes related to the customary cycle (ethimikos kyklos), which should be the children's first point of reference in approaching traditional life and art. Teachers are free to choose the themes which they will present and their methods of presentation and application. The material is accompanied by suggestions as to how it can best be exploited, as well as by ideas for discussions and activities aimed at depicting "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as living tradition.