Greece, known officially as the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. The capital city of Greece is Athens, and the current population of the country is nearly 11 million. The Mediterranean climate features mild, wet winters and hot, arid summers.
The majority of the population of Greece today speak Greek. There are numerous dialects, and some residents do still speak other traditional languages. It is common for students to learn English or French in school.
- The Greek name for the country is Elliniki Dimokratia. The people of Greece are called Ellines (or Hellenes). Women are Ellenides and men are Ellines. The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic. The country is located in southeastern Europe and is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
- The yo-yo toy was first seen in ancient Greece, over 3,000 years ago. The yo-yo is the world’s second oldest toy.
- Rather than celebrating their birth dates, Greeks celebrate their name days, the day when they received their given names. This celebration is close to a birthday celebration, but does not include a birthday cake.
- Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest peak, stands at 9,573 ft (2,918 m). In Greek mythology, the ancient Greek gods lived at the top of this mountain.
- The maritime fleet of Greece is the largest in the world today. It has about three thousand vessels, which accounts for more than fifteen percent of the total fleet capacity of the world. Greece also ranks first in dry bulk carriers and tankers.
- The Euro is used in Greece as the official currency, as Greece is a member of the European Union.
- The Olympic Games were first held in Ancient Greece, as far back as 776 BC, and the modern games have been held in modern Greece, too. Sports are very popular and relevant to the culture of the country.
- There are thousands of islands that make up the country of Greece, including Mykonos and Santorini. Many of these islands are very popular tourist destinations.