Opa!!!

There are a lot of annual events that I miss since moving out of New Hampshire. One of them is Glendi  – a Greek festival put on by St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, NH. I grew up going to this festival, and even volunteering at it in my high school years. Mediterranean cuisine is one of my favorites, and the classic Greek delicacies such as pastichio, a Greek-style lasagna with béchamel sauce, and loukoumades, deep fried dough balls soaked in syrup or honey and dusted with cinnamon, are a must-try! I also grew up eating at the Puritan Backroom ever since I can remember and working there for over a decade. They are a Greek-American restaurant, so Greek food has been a staple in my life.

I discovered that south Florida hosts multiple Greek festivals, so Abby, Barbara, and I went to check out the one hosted by St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton, FL. Abby, Carol, and I spent many years attending Glendi together. To our surprise, this Greek festival was much larger, but had the same rooted cultural feel as Glendi always has. There were so many delicious options to choose from to eat. Abby and I split some Greek fries, which had Greek seasonings and were sprinkled with crumbled feta cheese. We each ate a chicken souvlaki gyro too. Barbara ate a Mediterranean sampler dish, which had such a variety on the platter.

We watched such beautiful cultural dance performances put on by kids of all grade levels, who dressed up in attire deriving from their heritage. They welcomed anyone from the audience to join them after each performance to dance their famous circle dance. People of all ages joined hands and followed along with learning the steps as they went or knew it perfectly. Dollar bills and flower petals were being thrown to all the young children with such praise who danced. Abby and I were in such awe of the pride and joy that emulated from each person who sung along and danced in such unison. You could just feel the delight radiating from them. We both looked at each other choked up afterwards because it was so special to witness many generations come together and share their culture with the world.

Abby, Barbara, and I walked around the festival, shopped at the homemade jewelry stands, and played some carnival games, which Abby won a prize for. Below is a photo of Abby, Barbara, and I, and the prize Abby won. Abby's competitive and determined spirit led her to victory! We were also led on a tour by a wonderful man named Alexander, who guided us throughout the church and pointed out various facts and highlights of the artwork and the Greek Orthodox practices. This church was absolutely stunning with many murals and mosaics throughout. We were filled with such peace during the tour. My favorite line Alexander mentioned was as we were about to enter the worship space of the church from the narthex (the lobby area outside of the worship space), he said, "Welcome to paradise." I got chills because it is so true! To be in God's presence is a paradise unlike no other!

We wrapped up our evening by taking some desserts to go. I discovered my new favorite Greek treat: bougatsa – a crispy phyllo dough pastry filled with custard and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. It is delectable! Everyone who volunteered at this Boca Greek Festival were such joyous and friendly humans. They were so proud to showcase their heritage to the local community. We had such a fantastic time, and cannot wait to go back next year. I am so genuinely happy I found an annual event that reminds me of home! This is a reminder to be proud of who you are, embrace your background, and where you come from. Now I am getting more and more excited for my upcoming trip to Greece this summer!

Remember to stay humble and kind, always!

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xo –Jess