The Common Hand Gesture Tourists Will Want To Avoid Doing In Greece

The Greeks are known for their hospitality and warmth. They take pride in their culture, a rich and beautiful heritage with customs and traditions dating back thousands of years. It is believed that their generosity and hospitality are time-old traditions, dating back centuries, to the Ancient Greeks, who believed they should treat each guest at their doorstep with kindness, as they may be a god in disguise. The Greeks are known to take this belief very seriously, respecting the ancient story that Zeus would sometimes disguise himself as a mortal beggar and punish those who were judged to be inhospitable.

These beliefs have evolved into a code of conduct many Greeks will subconsciously adhere to. Their acts of kindness are still believed to bring prosperity and favor in the eyes of the gods. However, while this may lead you to believe that the Greeks will overlook certain social faux pas, it is still respectful to return their generosity by following particular cultural codes of conduct to avoid being an 'ugly tourist.' The first thing to remember is that in Greece, the thumbs up, or "okay" sign, doesn't mean the same thing as it does for Americans, and can be quite insulting.

Hand gestures vary from place to place, with even simple things like counting methods being significantly different in Asian cultures to that of Western cultures (in Japan the thumb represents the number five instead of the number one). Likewise, gestures we take for granted, such as the frequently used "thumbs up" have completely different connotations in some parts of Europe, and you may notice Europeans take offense when you try and show encouragement by offering your thumb. Greece is not alone in finding this gesture offensive, with some Middle Eastern cultures also reading the gesture to mean "up yours!" or "sit on it." Similarly, the "a-okay" gesture of putting your forefinger and thumb together is considered obscene, so refrain from the common gestures of encouragement you're used to.

Funnily enough, it was the Greeks who invented the middle finger, around 2,500 years ago, perhaps one of the world's most universally understood hand gestures. It is believed the Ancient Greeks developed this hand sign as an insulting phallic gesture, which was then later adopted by the Romans, who called it the "digitus impudicus," which translates as "the indecent digit." It is still highly advised not to use this hand gesture in Greece, or anywhere else for that matter, unless you intend to offend, as it is one of the few very successful hand gestures that has retained its meaning over the centuries and traversed the globe with great success.

With this in mind, the Greeks have other popular European gestures which have not been translated overseas.  The "moutza," perhaps the most regionally specific, is an open palm facing someone, somewhat like a stop sign, or a gesture you'd make as if to say "talk to the hand." It's considered the Greek equivalent of receiving the middle finger. This dates all the way back to the Byzantine era, when criminals were paraded through town and covered in cinder (moútzos) and other unsavory substances by the crowds. So try not to show the Greeks your palm when counting, or maybe just consider keeping your hands to yourself.

Other than these gestures, the standard rules of courtesy apply. Be friendly, learn some Greek phrases to show you're making an effort to integrate with the locals, dress modestly when visiting sacred sites or religious places, and try to immerse yourself in Greek culture. If you are offered food, make sure to accept it! There is nothing more rude than denying a Greek's cooking, as it shows distrust in their culinary skills. There is no better way to say "efharisto" or "thank you" than by treating Greeks in a godly manner.