In a traditional Greek wedding, the bride and groom visit a priest three times for counseling. The number three is significant for it symbolizes the Holy Trinity. Only after the counseling can a couple be married.
The groom performs an engagement tradition. He goes to the bride’s house to meet her family. Once the bride’s father agrees to the marriage, the best man will lead the couple to the church.
The bride wears a traditional red and yellow wedding veil. The colors symbolize fire and also serve to protect her from evil spirits. The bride also carries a lump of sugar and ivy. The lump of sugar symbolizes sweet life while the ivy symbolizes endless love.
The wedding starts when the best man puts crowns on the bride and groom. A ribbon joins the crowns together. Also, the crowns are switched three times on the couple’s heads. On their wedding day, the couple is treated as king and queen.
The couple walks around a table three times and then the priest chants and blesses the couple. The couple then drinks from a cup, signifying their communion. As a symbol of their everlasting relationship, the bride and groom exchange rings.
A reception is a must in Greece at a wedding, and it can last until the next morning. There is dinner, feasting and dancing. Everyone in the party performs the Greek circle dance as well as gets a turn to dance with the bride. It’s also customary to break dishes for good luck and throw money at the musicians. The cutting of the cake and throwing of rice is also performed. A Bom Bom Yara (almond candies covered in white chocolate) is given to the guests as party favors. The Bom Bom Yara has to be packed in odd numbers according to tradition.
Copyright 2005, Andrea R Britt. All rights reserved
