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Rookie Mom

Kids can get taste of Greece here

By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH
Published January 1, 2006

Flying the family to Greece for the weekend is not in the travel budget for most of us. But if you drive less than an hour north and take your kids to Tarpon Springs on Friday or Saturday, you can give them a real taste of the islands for a lot less trouble and money.

This Greek village is hosting its annual Epiphany celebration to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ. Since this is the 100th year the celebration has been held in Tarpon Springs, organizers are doing it up right.

His All Holiness Bartholomew, who is to the Greek Orthodox Church what the pope is to the Catholic Church, will fly in from Turkey for the celebration.

On Friday, 50 Greek-American young men between 16 and 18 years old, will take part in the traditional diving for the cross in the cold waters of Spring Bayou. The young man who retrieves it receives a special blessing and a trophy. Thousands of people are expected to turn out to see the ceremony that starts at 12:30 p.m. You should try to get there about 10:30 a.m. to stake out a spot with a good view.

Since most families with small kids don't want to wait two hours, you may want to try the street festival known as the Epiphany Glendi, or "happy party," scheduled for Friday after the cross diving that lasts until midnight and on Saturday from noon to midnight.

On any day, Tarpon Springs' waterfront downtown has a host of Greek restaurants, bakeries and gift shops loaded with kid-friendly merchandise like bamboo back scratchers, seashell pocketbooks, carved monkeys and plastic spiders. But on Saturday, the street will also be filled with Greek dancers, live music and booths selling Greek foods.

In case you need a refresher course, Greek foods include souvlaki, a lamb sandwich; spanitokopita, a spinach pie; tiropita, a feta cheese pie; and baklava, that sticky dessert made with phyllo pastry, nuts and honey. And then there's the pita bread, hummus and hot gyros. If you have picky kids, they will certainly find a tempting cookie or ice cream along the way.

Organizers promise you'll feel like you're being transported to a seaside Mediterranean village between the music and aromas and dancing.

Now, you don't usually picture the Budweiser Clydesdales in a little Mediterranean village, but it turns out they are big fans of baklava. Or if not that, they just like a big crowd.

In any case, a team of the trademark horses with the shaggy feet are scheduled to appear at the street party Friday at 2 p.m. and during the day Saturday as well.

Event organizers estimate 30,000 to 50,000 people will turn out both days to take part in the festivities. So expect a crowd. Free shuttle services are offered at staggered times from Greek Orthodox Churches in the area. Log onto www.Epiphany100.org for a schedule and plenty more information about the activities.

You can reach Katherine Snow Smith by e-mail at snowsmith@verizon.net or write Rookie Mom, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:28:15]