To some, Greek soldier costumes may look silly. The men wear something that looks like a pleated skirt with tights and a pom-pom on the shoe. However, silliness aside, this traditional uniform is still worn during special events and at the palace in Athens whose changing of the guard ceremony still captivates tourists and Greeks alike.
For a Greek-American male, wearing this uniform at some point of their life is almost inevitable especially if they attend a Greek Orthodox Church or during other Greek Independence Day celebrations, such as annual parades and other functions. To some, Greek soldier costumes represent the Greek victory. To some, it represents the 400 years that Greece was ruled by the Turks.
In an area where there are a lot of Greeks, it is possible to find traditional Greek soldier costumes both for purchase and to borrow. If you need a soldier costume, you may want to check with Greek friends or neighbors, or if you are Greek chances are one of your relatives has a costume you can borrow.
Some of the costumes have been handed down through the generations. And it seems that most of them are designed for little children. It's as if the parents want to instill in their sons a sense of where they came from. A sense of what their relatives had to live with and deal with under the rule of the Turks. Of course, different families have entirely different motives when deciding to dress their children in these costumes.
Perhaps you have a traditional Greek dance troupe. Maybe you need the costume for Greek Independence Day or for a Summer Festival. You can even wear this traditional uniform during costume parties and other occasions.
Well, keep in mind that these costumes don't come cheap. These days, most of the new costumes are hand made. That's why they are often passed down through the generations, and that is also why they are only worn on special occasions. If you do have a need to wear one of these costumes, where it with pride. To some, Greek soldier costumes are one of those inevitable ingredients to being Greek. |
