SDLP 110: Cultural Post 6

Time is an approximate calculation, or better put an estimation in Greece. It is common for people to be a few minutes late to appointments and meetings, while set times for leisurely activities like dates and parties are regarded as a suggestion. In such occasions it is not uncommon for people to show up an hour after the proposed time.

An interesting aspect of time in Greece is how it is described. When the clock shows that the time is 1:10 you would say "the time is one and ten" to describe the time. This of course is normal. When time shows 1:55 the normal inclination of any logical human being is to say "the time is one and fifty-five" based on the previous rule, but this is not the case. When the minute-hand passes the thirty minute mark time is reported in respect of the next hour. So 1:55 would be stated as "the time is five before two o'clock." Also, anytime the minute hand is on the thirty minute mark time is reported as "a half." So 1:30 is "one and a half" in Greek.

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