Nobody sings in suburbia: 1 last tirade against assimilation

on Greek festivals, Italian saint processions, and the treasure of spontaneity

Just when you thought I was done with my tirade against assimilation and upward mobility, here are some thoughts about how these phenomena alter ethnic religious festivals. 

Greek festivals, a staple at nearly every Greek Orthodox parish outside of Greece, are modeled after panygiria. In Greece, these celebrations are held in honor of a saint’s feast day, and feature lots of food, locally-made wine, cigarettes, live music, and dancing until sunrise. Greek festivals lack the spontaneity and vibrancy of the panygiria, and are often dull and contrived. Attending such revelations in Greece are a spiritual experience, evoking scenes from the Odyssey or mythological Dionysian revelry. The tame, calculated “fun” of the Greek festival fails to measure up.