Greek Weddings

Greek Weddings: are full of customs and traditions both old and new. The Greek’s place a huge emphasis on family, the extended family and maintaining their culture/heritage.

For a hilarious introduction never has this been better illustrated than by the film, (set in the USA), “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” starting Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. This also demonstrates some of the prejudices to be overcome by an interfaith marriage.

Ancient Grecian Customs:

- in ancient Greece a girl was married around her 14th birthday to ensure virginity
- her husband would be around 30 (having completed his military service)
- the girl’s kyrios, (male guardian), arranged her marriage
- marriages could be to a family member to preserve wealth
- there were different types of marriages depending upon the girls circumstances, e.g., a young virgin, widowed, or of a poor or wealthy family. They are based on the following elements, (i) “engue” (pledge), (ii) “ekdosis” (transfer), and (iii) “proix” (dowry). The “gamos” (wedding), took placed during the ekdosis over a three day period. The type of marriage would also depend upon (iv) if the girls father was alive or dead, (v) if the girl had brothers or male relatives, (vi) if there was enough money to provide a dowry, and (vii) whether the girl could find her own benefactor, or if she could be sold by her family for money.

Modern Greek Weddings:

Today weddings come under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Church. The groom would give his bride-to-be a gold band to wear on her left hand. After the marriage the ring would be worn on the right hand. A Greek wedding would progress as follows:

- starting with exchanging the rings three times
- the candles; the light symbolic of purity in their lives
- the joining of hands; the couple hold hands symbolic of their union as one
- the crowning; two crowns joined by a ribbon is symbolic of the joining of two souls (they are swapped back and forth three times on the couples heads)
- the bible reading; the priest chants bible verses on the topic of marriage
- the common cup; the couple drink three times from a single cup of wine
- the Dance of Isaiah; the couple walk round the altar three times

Traditions Associated With Greek Weddings:

- veils of yellow of red were worn, nowadays white is worn
- the bride carries a sugar lump to ensure she has a sweet life
- the bride has ivy in her bouquet symbolic of endless love
- dishes are smashed on the floor after the banquet for good luck
- favours called “Bom Bom Yara”, candy coated almonds, are given, always an odd number to signify that the couple can not be divided

Ideas For Greek Weddings:

It is possible to have an authentic wedding away from ones homeland. Alternatively you may wish to have a mixture of Western and Greek culture. Consider:

- hiring Greek musicians
- playing a CD of traditional Greek music
- having a Greek menu, click link for: Greek Wedding Feast
- hiring traditional Greek dancers
- ask guests to wear their national costume
- ask wait staff to the dressed in the Grecian way
- have “Ancient Greece” as your wedding theme
- serve Greek wine and aperitifs
- design your own “taverna” setting

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