From Greece to the Caribbean: The Traditions That Keep Us Together

I did not expect a reflection about Greece to bring me back to my own Caribbean upbringing. But that is exactly what happened when I read Sofia Skleida’s contribution to The Best of My Country. She describes her grandmother lighting a candle before the icons, the sound of church bells, and neighbors gathering at Easter. I found myself thinking about the older people in our communities and the lessons we learned simply by watching them. It made me curious about the traditions we carry without always stopping to ask why they matter.

My point of reference is the Virgin Islands, and I know our history is not Greece’s history. Our islands have their own mixture of faiths, customs, and cultural influences. Still, two things in Sofia’s writing felt familiar to me: the way faith passes from one generation to another, and the way a community comes together around the moments that matter.

Faith as a living inheritance

Skleida remembers a grandmother whose daily prayer filled the home with peace. In many Caribbean households, faith is also learned through the example of elders. It may be heard in a grandparent’s prayer, felt during a Sunday service, or expressed in the way a family gathers during Easter.

Greek Orthodox worship has its own history and practices. The Caribbean, meanwhile, includes many Christian denominations and other religious traditions. I do not want to erase those differences. What connects the experiences for me is the way one generation passes on values through everyday actions. Before we fully understand a tradition, we may already have absorbed its lessons about hope, patience, and responsibility.

Community as a shared responsibility

Skleida describes neighbors holding candles and sharing food and warm wishes after Easter worship. That image brought to mind Caribbean gatherings where celebrations extend beyond one household. People prepare meals, visit relatives and neighbors, and offer help without needing an elaborate invitation.

These customs vary across islands, families, and faiths. Still, the gathering itself often carries meaning. It says that a significant moment is not always ours to experience alone.

What I learned from Sofia’s reflection

What I learned was not a new date or a historical fact about Greece. It was something more personal: how Greek Orthodox Easter can live in the memory of a family through a grandmother’s candle, a prayer, and neighbors standing together. Sofia gave me a glimpse of that experience through her own eyes. I value that because it reminds me how much of a country’s identity is carried in ordinary moments.

It also prompted a question about Caribbean heritage: what do we preserve beyond the festivals, music, and familiar foods? Perhaps the most enduring traditions are the small practices that teach the next generation how to care for others.

We do not need identical histories to recognize something meaningful in one another. For me, cultural exchange begins when we acknowledge the differences and remain curious about the human experiences we share.

Reflection by Nelly Vee

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FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR · GREECE

Meet Sofia Skleida

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Sofia Skleida is a poet, educator, and literary scholar from Athens, Greece. She studied at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a master’s degree in pedagogy and a doctorate in comparative pedagogy. Her academic background also includes postdoctoral research in theology and certification in Braille.

Alongside her work in secondary education, she has published poetry and scholarly writing, participated in literary events, and received recognition in literary competitions. Her poetry has appeared in translation in several languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, Albanian, and Romanian. Her published works include Dreams of Oasis, Neologisms, and Melismos.

In her contribution to The Best of My Country, she turns from academic and literary achievements to the traditions of everyday life, reflecting on Greek Orthodox faith, family memory, and Easter gatherings.

Biographical sources: Iliaktida Editions · BookPoint author profile · Kouros Books

References and further reading

Greek Easter customs: Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Customs: Easter in Greece, official cultural overview.

Religious background: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha in the Orthodox Church.

Visitor and cultural context: Greek National Tourism Organisation, Easter in Greece.

Primary source: Skleida, Sofia. (2026). The Best of My Country. Original literary contribution submitted to Krafty Page ChronicleS, KVI Network Creations.

Author information: BookPoint author profile.

Related publication: Krafty Page ChronicleS, Issue 3.