Merry Christmas, and Please Enjoy Listening to Χαρούλα Αλεξίου - Δημητρούλα Mου (HARIS ALEXIOU - Dimitroula Mou)

One of the most famous and exuberant songs of Greek Smyrna is Δημητρούλα Mου (Dimitroula Mou) sung in this version by the incomparable Greek chanteuse of Smyrna origin, Haris Alexiou. As with her other renditions of Greek Smyrna songs, Haris takes the listener into the world of the strong-willed, flighty Dimitroula, for whose favours men would give anything, such is her immense charm and affability. I hope you enjoy this song, and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year for 2014. Thank you for your support of my blog this year, and I shall bring you much more of Greek Smyrna in the New Year.

Pastitsio: A Divine Culinary Masterpiece which hails from Greek Smyrna

One of the most delicious foods to have emerged from the inspiring kitchens of Greek Smyrna is pastitsio, a family favourite for many years. A beautiful, creamy combination of pasta, mince, cheese, tomatoes and other delectable ingredients, it is a dish which is very filling, and a delight to the senses whilst it is cooking, and a joy to behold for the palate while it is being devoured. Please enjoy the accompanying video which details how to prepare pastitsio which I hope you find informative and interesting.

 

Georgos Dalaras' rendition of Η Προσφυγιά (I Prosfygia)

The plight of the refugees who fled war-torn Smyrna in 1922 have been well-documented in historical annals, and their immense sufferings touched the hearts of many worldwide. The song Η Προσφυγιά (I PROSFYGIA) sung by Georgos Dalaras, highlights the difficulties faced by the refugees of Greek Smyrna, their sense of displacement, and their concern about where they would live, and their lives in general, after the tragic events of 1922. It is a song rich in meaning in its own subtle manner, and leaves the listener to ponder the sacrifices made by the Greek refugees, and the life that they left behind forever, not of their own accord.

91st Year Commemoration of the Smyrna Greek Genocide, Great Fire of Smyrna, and the Asia Minor Catastrophe

Today marks the 91st year since the Smyrna Greek Genocide, Great Fire of Smyrna, and the Asia Minor Catastrophe. As with every year, we remember the Greek people of Smyrna who lost their lives, and the other Greek Smyrnaeans who escaped with their lives, and only the clothes on their backs, to establish new lives, and become acquainted with a new way of life in other countries. 
 

 

As the years pass by, I keep returning to the consensus that this horrific act could have been avoided by all parties involved in this conflict, and that things could have been very different if it never occurred. While it is always easy to reflect on matters in hindsight, it makes me think about how things would have been if these events never occurred.

 

Would Smyrna still have a burgeoning Greek community to this day, or, would a number of pogroms or other crimes have been committed to force the Greek citizens of Smyrna to leave their place of birth? If things never came to a head in this way, and Greek and Turkish people still lived together in Smyrna, how would Turkish people envision Greek people in the current day?

 

Unfortunately these are questions that will never be answered, but the current good relations between both countries is heartening, despite their tortured mutual histories. It is always mindful to remember that history cannot be re-written, and denials of what really happened in Smyrna in 1922 are not helpful, and this incident will appear at the most unexpected of times. Any which way, may God rest the souls of those who suffered in Smyrna, and may their relatives long cherish their spirit, and be mindful of the sacrifices they had to make.

Μια Σμυρνιά στο παραθύρι ( A Smyrna Woman in the Window)

One of the most beautiful songs dedicated to the Greek women of Smyrna is Μια Σμυρνιά στο παραθύρι (A Smyrna Woman in the Window). It is a tribute to these distinctive and resourceful women who were the backbone of Greek Smyrna, whose courage and utterly unflappable nature, in retrospect, is awe-inspiring, and an inspiration, and example for all to follow, in their understated, but elegant, way.

  

 

2nd Anniversary of Smyrna Greek Connection

It is hard to believe that two years have elapsed since the inception of SMYRNA GREEK CONNECTION, and I hope it has been an interesting journey for you into the lives of the Greek people of Smyrna. It is a topic, as you have well gathered, which has an inexhaustible supply of information and material to detail, and, while I have covered just some of these, there are, of course, many more to expand upon.

 

 



It is my intent to expound further upon these, and, as the blog is of a continuous nature, there is scope to explore these issues, such as cuisine, more musical tributes, and, explorations of what the Greek people of Smyrna encountered in their new lives in Greece. I thank you for your support, and if you have any comments to make, you are welcome to include these. To celebrate the blog's second year, please enjoy one of my favourite, and most evocative songs of Greek Smyrna, SALA SALA, sung in this video by famous Greek songstress Glykeria, and talented musician and singer Areti Ketime.

Barba Giannakaki sung by Haris Alexiou: ΧΑΡΙΣ ΑΛΕΞΙΟΥ-ΜΠΑΡΜΠΑΓΙΑΝΝΑΚΑΚΗΣ

The Greek people of Smyrna were a people who placed tremendous importance upon their families, especially being protective of their wives, and female children. The virtue of the Greek women of Smyrna was something which was much cherished, and continues to be discussed to this day.  The song Barba Giannakaki (ΜΠΑΡΜΠΑΓΙΑΝΝΑΚΑΚΗΣ) is notable for a number of reasons. This rousing song is an examination of two men, who each seek something different from the song's heroine, Marikaki.

 

Marikaki's father, Barba Giannakaki, is a man who is fiercely protective of his daughter, and sees his daughter's prospective husband as a threat to both his daughter's, and his own, welfare. He doles out threats to him, saying in no uncertain terms that he does not deserve his daughter. On the other hand, Marikaki's beau, while not as openly hostile as his prospective father-in-law, is not himself totally scrupulous; even though he seems to love her, it is implied that his intentions may not be totally honourable, as he has his eye on Marikaki's dowry. The song is an entertaining tug of war between the two men, each putting their side of the matter to the listener, but a situation which is largely without a resolution of any sort. It allows the listener to make up their own minds as to the validity of each man's claim, and presents both sides with equal aplomb.

The song is brilliantly brought to life by the famous Greek singer Haris Alexiou, herself of Greek Smyrna family origin. It is so vividly sung that the listener forgets their current time and place, and becomes immersed in a world much different to now, but which also seems very modern. The song deals beautifully with the universal themes of family and relationships which were a hallmark of Greek Smyrna music, and with an earthy, realistic, but very sympathetic edge to its characters.

 

Musical Tribute to the songs of Greek Smyrna by the Volos School of Music - Mουσικό Σχολείο Βόλου (Αφιέρωμα-Σμύρνη)

Please enjoy this musical tribute to Greek Smyrna on ΣΤΗΝ ΥΓΕΙΑ ΜΑΣ, a program broadcast worldwide on the excellent ERT Channel, complete with renditions of classic Greek Smyrnaean songs by the talented singers of the Volos School of Music (Mουσικό Σχολείο Βόλου).

Happy Easter 2013 from Smyrna Greek Connection

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter for 2013, and thank you for following my blog. I hope has been an inspiration for those who are, like myself, of Smyrna Asia Minor descent, and, those who are interested in the Greek people of Smyrna, and their great contributions to Hellenism. May the memory of the Greek people of Smyrna be blessed, and always remembered. Happy Easter to all.

Souvenirs of Greek Smyrna by Giannis Adrimis

This is a fascinating collection of carte postale images of Greek Smyrna which speak volumes about, and cast a further spotlight upon, the life of the Greek people who lived there, with comparisons to modern-day Izmir interspersed to place the images within an historical context.

 

Smyrna, Izmir, In Memory of cosmopolitical Smyrna - More Unforgettable Images

This is another wonderful video which highlights more of the inimitable sights, images and unforgettable distinguishing features which made Greek Smyrna such a memorable city in history.

Ελληνική Σμύρνη GREEK SMYRNA

In the second part of our exploration of Greek Smyrna, this video enters into more detail about the institutions and customs which defined Greek Smyrna, and set it apart from other cities. It describes how Greek Smyrna was a very well-organised, and balanced city in terms of having facilities which were world-class, and very advanced for their time. As a small barometer of its achievements, Greek Smyrna boasted 9 hospitals, with specialists who were leaders in their fields, 387 schools, with 1944 teachers, and 63,000 male and female students.

 

Smyrna was also proud to have the Evangelical School (H Ευαγγελική Σχολή), a prestigious institution amongst whose graduates included Adamantios Korais, Manolis Kalomiris, and Aristotle Onassis, to name just a few famous alumni. The video also includes privileged snapshots of the life of Greek Smyrna citizens, ranging from the hospitals, theatre, entertainment district, and many other revealing photos and facts. I hope you enjoy this journey into a fascinating era which exemplified the sheer excellence, and high standards which the Greek people of Smyrna upheld so well, with their characteristic grace, and serene disposition.