Interesting facts about life on Crete.

Why are the tree-trunks painted white?

The reason for this is to prevent the trunks from getting corroded by bacteria and vermin. Nowadays it’s also done as decoration, especially around terraces and churches, but originally it was done to protect the tree.

Does a cypress tree always have the same shape?

No because there are two different types of cypress trees.
The one type is tall, slim and majestic, the other type is wilder and broader. The branches, leaves and needles are the same on both types.

Were the pillars in the Minoan palaces made of stone, or even a kind of concrete?

The concrete pillars in the palace of Knossos for example, were put there by Arthur Evans, the archaeologist that reconstructed Knossos. The original pillars were made of the cypress trees that were mentioned earlier. They were used upside down, so that the broader part of the tree, the bottom, got to carry the roof construction.

Did Crete always have so little forest?

In the past Crete used to have a lot of forrest. Nowadays it is said that only 10% is left. Cause for it is the usage of wood to build the palaces, but also for the construction of ships. Also wood was a very important export product.

Why is it that everybody has the same first name?

It is tradition to name a newborn child after the grandparents. When it is a boy he will be named after the father of the father, his grandfather from father’s side. When it is a girl she will be baptized with the name of the mother of the mother, her grandmother from mother’s side. It derives more and more from the first name, but it is about the Christian name.

Do a simple ‘first name’ quiz, to see if you comprehend the above completely.

Is Christmas on Crete also the most important religious celebration?

No, the most important religious celebration is Easter. A celebration with fireworks and the holy flame from Jerusalem, with which one makes a cross above the entrance door to keep the evil spirits out. A celebration preceded by a Lent of 40 days, in which it is not allowed to eat anything that has a blood circulation. In Easter, people eat roasted lamb with their family and drink a lot of wine.

During the celebration Judas is symbolically hung and burnt, after the bible story that he betrayed Jesus and hung himself. Maybe this is where the rule of the church comes from that somebody that committed suicide is not allowed to be buried on the graveyard.