Celebrating International Mother Language Day with Speak Greek

On Friday, 21st February, Speak Greek proudly took part in the International Mother Language Day celebrations, hosted by Manchester City Council at the Manchester Central Library. It was an afternoon filled with cultural exchange, fun activities, and a celebration of the richness of languages.

Our stall on the Ground Floor attracted visitors of all ages who were eager to explore the Greek language and culture. The atmosphere was lively and engaging as families, students, and language enthusiasts joined us for a variety of hands-on activities:

• Greek alphabet writing: Visitors had the chance to write their name in Greek, discovering the beauty of its letters and sounds. Download the sheet so you can give it a try.
• Colouring fun: Kids and adults alike enjoyed colouring three specially designed sketches by the talented Vivi Markatos, inspired by Greek themes. Download the colouring page 1, page 2 and page 3.
• Badge making: Creativity was at its peak as visitors designed and created their own badges—a perfect souvenir from the day!
• Promotional goodies: Our free pens, pencils, badges, and bookmarks were a hit, allowing guests to take a piece of Speak Greek home with them.
• Traditional costume display: A stunning traditional girls’ costume drew attention, sparking conversations about Greek traditions and heritage.
• Tasty treat: Everyone loved sampling honey sesame bars (pasteli), a delicious taste of Greece, complete with an ingredient list for those who wanted to try making them at home. Download the list of ingredients.

A special highlight of the day was our storytelling session at the Children's Library on the Lower Ground Floor, where we read Aesop’s classic fable “The Fox and the Grapes”. The children listened intently, enjoying the timeless story while learning a few Greek words along the way. It was a magical moment that brought Greek storytelling to life! Listen to the bilingual fable and download the leaflet we designed.

The event was a fantastic opportunity to share our love for the Greek language and culture with the vibrant Manchester community. We loved meeting everyone who stopped by our stall, participated in the activities, and shared their own stories about learning languages.

A huge thank you to Manchester City Council for organizing such an inspiring event and to everyone who joined us - we can’t wait to see you again next year!