Figure 1.--The Greek Cubs were photogrphed about 2000. Note their traditional caps. |
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Greece was one of the first countries to form a Scouting troop. The first Scout group was organized in 1910. Scouting was disbanded by a Greek nationlist government (1939), but revived after World War II. Greek Scouts are considered very traditional (old fashioned) and close to the principles laid by Baden Powell. Their uniforms have changed a little since the 1940s and all boys of all ages wear khaki shorts and shirt and brown knee socks. Sometimes even adult scouts (as old as 50) wear shorts.
The Greek boy scout movement was founded in 1910. For the first two decades most of the Greek boy scouts were somewhat older youths than was common in Britain where theScouts were founded. Mist early Scouts were young men in their early 20s or in some cases teenagers. The Greek word for boy scout is "Proskopos" and this word does not have anything to do with the word boy ("agori" in modern Greek). The Boy Scouts became very popular during the 1930s in Greece. Younger boys began joining. A Cub section for the youngest boys was formed and named the Apprentice Scouts. Thousands of boys joined. The Ethniki Organosi Neolaias (EON--National Organization of Youth), Fascist youth group in 1936 began recruiting Boy Scouts for their movement. The Government in 1939 finaly disbanded the Scouts. Greece after fendng off an Italian attack was invaded by the Germans in 1941 and swiftly occupied despite assistance from the British. The Germans and Italians were also opposed to Scouting. The Greek Boy Scout movement was founded again after World War II and started to
operate again. Boy scouts became very popular during the 1950s and 60s in Greece. The 1963
world jamboree was held in Marathon, Greece--site of the ancient battle between Persians and Greeks. In the larger cities middle class families could afford better clothing for
the children, thousants of boys aged 8 to 17 joined the movement. The Boy Scout movement somewhat declined in the 1970s but the interest has remewed since 1984. For the past three decades, Boy Scout troops have operate in every small or big city in Greece.
The scouting movement reached it's peak in the 1960s and started
to fade in the 70s. The official numbers on Boy scout membership in Greece: 1910: 11 members; 1939 (just before World War II and the the Government's banning of the movement): 18,300 members; 1948-1950 (at the end of the civil war): 37,700 members; early 1960s: 42,080 members; 1980: 27,465 members; 1995: a bit more than 24,000 members. As in America, membership declined after the 1960s because many other recreational oportunities and activities developed for young people.
The modern organization of scouts in Greece is the following:
"Lykopoula" (ie wolf cubs): Ages 8-11
"Proskopoi": Ages 12-15
"Anichneftes" (ie scouts): Ages 16-19
New scouting organizations appeared too. The Air Scouts are now very popular since
Greece is famous for its Air Force. The Sea Scouts are popular in coastal cities and islands. Greece also has Forest Scouts.
Greek Scouts have destinctive uniforms for the different levels. We have some information on the modern uniform. We have information on the current Greek Scout uniforms. Lykopoula or Cubs wear yellow shirts, khaki shorts, kneesocks, neckerchief, and traditional green peaked caps. We have noted different shade of yellow shirts. Some Cubs wear yellow flashes on their kneesocks matching the yellow shirts. Proskopoi or Scouts wear shirts, khaki shorts, knee socks, neckerchief, and beret. Anichneftes or ??? wear shirts, khaki shorts or longs, knee socks, neckerchief, and hats.
There are also several special groups. Aeroproskopoi (Air scouts) wear blue. Naftoproskopoi (Sea scouts) wear red. There are also Dasoproskopoi (Forest scouts), but I have no information on their uniforms.
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Created: April 27, 2002
Last updated: 4:28 AM 1/29/2007