Exhibition of Folk Art and Culture

All who were present on the afternoon of Sunday 4 March 2012 at the speech of well known filologist - reasearcher Mrs Anastasia Anastasiadou-Diasakou, in the elegant and spacious hall of Zarax, in the suburb of Enfield, Sydney, on the theme of Greek Folk Tradition , enjoyed not only a wonderful presentation but also viewed the objects exhibited inside the hall. The event was organized by the Board of Directors of the Association of the Vorion Dimon Spartis in the context of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Sydney expatriate organisation.

The packed hall was attended by several Laconians and other Greek fellow residents, like the president of the association of Zarax NSW Mr Angelo Doukas, the ex-mayor of Burwood and member of the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of Saint Nektarios, Mr. Christos Christogeorgis, the president of the Pan-Laconic Association of NSW, Ms. Mary Petroleka, the president of the Karyos Association, Mr. Aristotelis Zafirakos, and members of the Boards of Directors, of the Vatikiotes, Mr. Panagiotis Tsigounis, of Mystras, Ms. Panagiota Poulakis and of Asopos, Ms. Linda Lega, as well as other Peloponnesian associations and others.

The speaker was introduced by Ms. Maria Gleka, president of the association, who thanked her heartily by offering her a bouquet of chocolates... and an embroidered handmade bookmark as a gift from Ms. Eugenia Papailiou at the end of the event.

Ms. Anastasiadou-Diasakou focused her attention on the importance of Greek tradition and how inextricably linked it is to the Greek way of life, especially that outside of cities. The objects on display were donated by fellow residents of the northern municipalities, and included handicrafts, embroidery, traditional costumes, irons, lamps, worry beads and much more.

The speaker spoke about each of these, focusing on their usefulness and place in the Greek way of life, but also on the effort you make to preserve the traditional way of life as a historical legacy of Hellenism. It was the first time that, in addition to a traditional exhibition of Greek objects in Sydney, there was also an explanation of the items and their place in the Greek home.

Along with the presentation of the extremely interesting topic, the Association offered those present almost unlimited hot dishes and drinks, while a discussion followed between the older ones about their own traditional objects when they were growing up in their respective homelands, while the younger ones imagined the life of Greeks in the past.