Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark

What people wore

Traditional footwear choices

Men's footwear included tsarouchia, red leather shoes with upturned, tasseled points, while some people preferred walking barefoot even in cold weather to avoid the inconvenience of footwear.

Getting around

Mule Transport and Wayside Inns

Mules and ponies were essential for difficult mountain terrain, with animals expertly navigating rocky paths at steep angles while carrying loads of 2 or 3 cwt. Travelers frequently sought shelter in wayside inns called chania, which were simple, single-room buildings used for eating, sleeping, and housing animals.

At the table

Frugal diet of bread, olives, and cheese

Ordinary Greek families relied on a frugal diet centered on bread, olives, and cheese, with meat consumed rarely, typically only on major festivals.

Music

Private family music ensembles

Small musical groups called kompanies, typically consisting of violin, santouri (dulcimer), guitar, or oud, played for private family celebrations like weddings and engagements.

Daily life

Democratic and free public education access

Education was highly valued and free for all Greeks, with children from diverse backgrounds, such as a cabdriver's daughter and the child of a Secretary of State, learning together in the same schools. Attendance was eager, contrasting with the listless air observers found in their own countries.

What it cost

Cost of basic foods

In the early 1900s, an oka (1,282 grams) of bread cost 30–40 lepta, while goat meat cost 80 lepta to 1 drachma and lamb cost 1 to 1.40 drachmas.