Traditionally Greek families tend to be very close, and there usually exists strong bonds between all members of the near family and the extended family.  Greeks place a very high respect on elders and younger children will often call elders "Aunt" or "Uncle" who are not blood relatives out of respect.

Parents have an even greater respect placed upon them.  It is customary for Greek children to ask the blessing of the parents, for example in marriage as to not have it is considered dangerous.

The Greek Orthodox church places a great value in parents, and in the up bring of their children into a Christian life.  In such, it is believed that disrespect towards a parent that has done a great deal for the child is considered shameful.  

Each man or woman is considered to have two fathers the physical father, and God.  The same can be said indirectly that each man or woman has two mothers one being the patron saint of Mothers the Virgin Mary and your mother. Therefore disrespect of your physical parent is thought to transcend to disrespect towards God.

This is where the superstition falls in.  It is believed by some that a curse of a parent will take effect as it will fall on the ears of God, who will pull his protection away from the disrespectful child.  This is called in Greek a "Parahorisi".  

There are two forms of Parahorisis one is for the Good as is the case with gifts from God such as being able to see Prophesy (St. John the Evangelist), smell myrrh (Jacob) etc.  The other form of Parahorisis is the feared form which can result in the worst case Possession.  

next page

 

Directly Related:

Take a look at a Greek Folk Tale which warns you to avoid the curse of a mother:  The Good Bee.  (A tale about how a mother's curse should be feared, and her praise most wanted.) 
A Parent's curse · This is a Greeks saying associated with losing a parent's blessing what could possibly be worse!