MONIKA HILM
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Hospitality Thoughts

Hospitality roots from Greece

20/9/2017

5 Comments

 

A short passage out of my book PUT YOUR PEOPLE FIRST.
This is taken out of Chapter 14 Where do we come from?

Going back in time, there are interesting stories from Greek and Norse mythology explaining the original purpose of hospitality.
 
In ancient Greece, the cradle of European intellect, Zeus was often called “Zeus Xenia”, the protector of the traveler. Philoxenia is the Greek word for hospitality. Philo means “I am fond of/I love” and Xenia means “the unknown guest”.
 
Philoxenia consists of two basic rules:
 
  • The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide them with food and drink and a bath, if required. It is not polite to ask questions until the guest has stated their needs.
  • The respect from guest to host. The guest must be courteous to the host and not be a burden. 
Xenia was considered to be particularly important in ancient times when people thought gods mingled among them. If someone had played host poorly, there was the risk of incurring the wrath of a god disguised as a stranger.
 
As a fond lover of the Greek style of hospitality (and their food), I find that even today these two rules apply. The Greeks are famous for their hospitality and temperament, right? I have experienced, as a Greek island hopper, invitations to weddings, feasts or even overnight stays in Greek homes. As long as you treat the Greeks with respect and honor, you will be treated as royalty. 

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28/12/2018 03:12:47 am

I never knew that the Greeks were afraid of the wrath of the gods and became hospitable because of this reason. It is kind of funny to know that we would only take action if we would receive punishment. I do admire the culture of Greece and its people. Maybe, now that being hospitable and has stuck with the culture of the Greeks, fear is not a necessarily needed for them to do so. I hope that I would get to see more posts regarding Greek mythology and their influence on modern Greece.

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3/11/2023 11:34:59 am

Hi greeat reading your blog

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    Monika Hilm

    My passions are managing and improving the results of hotels through employee centered processes. My motto: "Put your employees first and the rest will follow.  Don't just say it - show it through the actions that you take".
    I love discussions, debates and people with opinions.
    ​Email [email protected]
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