One thing I love about writing is the chance to learn about other cultures! Here’s a few fun things to know about Greek weddings, as we gear up for a Happily Ever After in Greece!
Your Other Left: Greek wedding rings are worn on the right! The right hand is thought to represent virtue.
The Baby Roll & Marital Bed: The families decorate the bed in the bridal couple’s home, with elegant linens, flower petals, rice, and money. Just in case the rice isn’t enough to guarantee fertility, a baby is rolled across the bed.
“Kidnapping” of the Bride: The day before the wedding, the groom’s family “kidnaps” the bride, taking her for a day out. These days it’s in fun, but it hearkens back to a time when this sometimes happened!
Stomping on the Groom’s Foot: During the ceremony, the priest instructs the husband to love his wife, and the bride to respect her husband, but since in Greek, the same word is used for “fear,” the bride will immediately step on his foot, to show she won’t be cowed!.
Stefana or wedding crowns: These are two beautiful hoops made from flowers, foliage or even precious metals, and joined together by a strand of ribbon. They symbolize the union of two people into a single couple. The crows are swapped back and forth by the koumbaro, or best man, three times and the couple wear them as they walk around the altar three times to represent their journey through life together.
Lots of Luck: Placing a lump of sugar inside the bride’s glove is said to ensure a sweet life and adding a gold coin inside her shoe will bring good financial fortune. Iron is said to ward off evil spirits throughout the day. So the groom should put a piece in his pocket! Couples invite an odd number of guests and invite an odd number of attendants to stand beside them as odd numbers are considered good luck. Odd numbers cannot be divided! The number three represents the holy Trinity, as well.
After a compliment or during a happy event, people make spitting noises to scare away any jealous evil spirits tempted to intervene. Thus, sometimes brides walk down the aisle to a chorus of “ptoo!”
If the shoe fits: The groom gives the bride her wedding shoes as a gift. The koumbaro delivers them to her while she is getting ready. The bride insists that they are too big. The koumbaro lines the shoes with money to make them fit her until she is satisfied. Finally, all of the unmarried bridesmaids write their names on the sole of her right shoe. At the end of the wedding day, the names worn off the shoes are going to be married soon.
Shaving of the groom: the day of the wedding, the koumbaro shaves the groom, which signifies trust.
Cold Feet: The bride may arrive last to the church, and drive around and around while the attendees watch to see if she will overcome her cold feet and show up for her own wedding, or drive away.
Money dances: In some villages, there is an old tradition of pinning money to the bride’s dress at the reception during a special dance. In America, this tradition is more of a “showering” of a gift. When the couple dances near, the guests will toss a whole wad of bills at them. At some weddings, there’s enough money it must be swept up with a broom!
Koufeta: Sugar-coated almonds, or koufeta, are given as favors at the reception. The white of the almond symbolizes purity; the egg shape represents fertility. The almond’s hardness personifies the endurance of the marriage, while the sweet taste represents the joy of married life.
What are your favorite wedding traditions?
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