Introduction Comments

Tales from Papou and Yiayia
© 2004



By Basil Douros





Copyright © 2004 by Basil Douros. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission, except in the case
of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.





































INTRODUCTION


The Greeks call grandparents Papou and Yiayia; the Germans call them Opah and Oma; the Americans say Grandpa and Grandma; the French Grandpere and Grandmere; and the Italians refer to them as Nono and Nonna. This book is dedicated to all of these very special people.
Grandfathers tend to share their knowledge with grandchildren and tell them stories that are remembered and retold many times over. The message of this work is more than just one grandfather’s contribution. In this book, Papou becomes a wonderful, wise, and lovely person—bigger that any individual grandfather—who has many sayings that help explain the complicated world we live in.
Yiayias, too, are especially resourceful because they hold the family together, cook ethnic food, takes the children to church, and above all talk constantly to their grandchildren. Papou and Yiayia are not always perfect (in fact, they’re never perfect!), but are always special. That’s what makes their philosophy of life, as told in these sayings and stories, a treasure we cannot afford to lose.
Papou and Yiayia would often share their tidbits of wisdom and recipes in the Greek language. The translations, though not always precise, carry the basic intent of the old sayings, and he wisdom passed down from one to yet another generation. The words in this book are an effort to document the philosophy and way of life of many papous and yiayias.