"Kalo Mina!"

1st June today, and Greeks all over the world will be wishing each other "Kalo Mina" (Have a good month).

Such nationwide rituals - when it is practically rude NOT to make the wish - are a daily part of Greek life. There are many "wishes" in Greek, at least one for each important occasion and the regular exchange of them brings a feeling of comfort and normality. When you start using them yourself - and bemoaning the lack of them in English - then you have really arrived in Greece!

The subject came up over our breakfast table today, particularly because husband Periklis has just finished writing an article for the next issue of Island Magazine (due out in August) on the subject of Wishing in Greece. We had just finished wishing each other "Kalo Mina", followed by "Kali Kyriaki" (Happy Sunday) and then "Kali Orexi" (Good appetite) - all essential rites before beginning our own family Sunday ritual of coffee and croissants. The whole procedure has a feel-good effect and Browning's words sprang to mind "God's in his Heaven, all's Right with the World". (Here I must confess that, whilst I knew the poem, I had to Google it to find out it was Browning!)
Susan