The tragedies of Aeschlus, Sophocles and Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes are classics of the theatre. The oldest music still in day to day use in Greece are the religious chants of Byzantine origins. Popular Greek music shows a very heavy Eastern influence. The bouzouki is the instrument most people think of in connection with Greek music. As with most countries, football is the most popular sport.
Basketball also has a large following.
The Greek coastline and Mediterranean climate attract many water sports enthusiasts for sailing, windsurfing, water skiing and scuba-diving. The country's main contribution to sport has, of course, been the establishment of the Olympic games and the main athletics' disciplines such as discus, javelin, long jump and footraces. The first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in Athens in 1896. The Greek Orthodox calendar contains many saints days. There are many cultural and arts festivals.