Constantine II of Greece

What people wore

Handwoven Alatzas Fabric Clothing

In poor villages, women often wove their own clothes from cotton fabric called alatzas, with the previous year's festive outfit becoming the current year's work clothing.

Getting around

Leisurely train stops and socialization

Trains stopped frequently at every station for up to ten minutes, during which passengers would socialize, buy goods from hawkers, and listen to the guard's penny trumpet signal departure.

At the table

Scavenging weeds and scraps for survival

Desperate families scavenged for edible weeds like dandelions and vlita, which were boiled or fried into balls. In extreme cases, residents searched rubbish bins for scraps like onion leaves or lemon rinds to satisfy their hunger.

Music

Wedding Celebrations and Folk Musicians

In village wedding celebrations, the sousta was a primary dance, though young people who migrated to cities often lost knowledge of it. Musicians at these festivals were often non-professionals who had regular jobs, playing for whatever donations guests chose to give.

Daily life

Difficult school commutes and assistance

Children in rural areas often walked for one or two hours each way to reach school, sometimes tucking newspapers inside their clothing for warmth on rainy days. To support poor students, some schools distributed basic supplies like sturdy leather shoes and smocks.

What it cost

Cost of a suit in 1945

In 1945, a good suit cost 70,000 drachmas, which was equivalent to seven months of pay for a higher-paid worker.