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7 Common Greek Wedding Traditions & Customs

Since, it was usually the bride that would leave her house to live with her husband and her inlaws, the dowry was very important, however, this tradition has died out in most parts of Greece. Nowadays a more traditional engagement ceremony, is not so popular among young couples. In close societies and rural areas, however, the tradition of engagement still exists. For our wedding, the priest followed the service with something very unusual. He also spoke in English to the guests, explaining some of the imagery of the ceremony, and sharing very kind words for our guests. Bronzed women with fun personalities are what people expect with Greece mail order brides.

  • The night after the wedding, the groom has to strip the bed 3 times for the wishes to come true.
  • Placing a lump of sugar inside the bride’s glove is said to ensure a sweet life, and adding a gold coin to the inside of her shoe will bring good financial fortune.
  • The bride and groom are given a single cup, called the Common Cup, to both drink three times from as a symbol of a new shared life.
  • A wedding feast at the home of the father of the bride would be attended by both families.

It is also likely that Spartan women were not married as young as Athenian women, as Spartans wanted a bride to be in her prime with a developed body, not of a slight or immature frame. In the average marriage Spartan brides were most likely around 18, grooms around 25. There is no evidence to suggest if the consent of the families was obtained before this type of marriage, but as far as sources suggest it was accepted by all Spartans. In ancient Athens, marriages were arranged between the groom and the guardian of the bride. The kyrios would announce that he was allowing his daughter to marry.

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These sponsors were traditionally responsible for gifting the couple the silver tray on the wedding table that holds the bride and groom’s crowns and rings. Today many couples don’t wish to collect silver, so the silver tray may not be present. The crowns, rings and two decorated white candles are required to be on the wedding table. The crowning is followed by a reading of the Gospel, which tells of the marriage of Cana at Galilee.

7 Common Greek Wedding Traditions & Customs

Spartan wives could not work to earn money, and were expected to support themselves from the land assigned to them that was worked by slaves or lower class workers. It is not certain if women were assigned land themselves, or oversaw the land assigned to their husbands. Spartan women would not mourn the deaths of husbands or sons who died in war, but rather take pride in their brave acts and heroic death. The most important part was the marriage procession; a chariot driven by the groom bringing the still-veiled bride to his, and now her, home.

Though the marriages were not legally recognized in Athens, wealthy metics would be considered married by those around them if they followed the same procedures and ceremonies. The Greek wedding ceremony is very formal, but the receptions are boisterous. Today’s receptions lead with the couple dancing to a waltz or perhaps a tango.

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  • The husband simply had to send his wife back to her father to end the marriage.
  • The dress code is usually formal so you shouldn’t be surprised to see people dressed for a red-carpet event.
  • An abundance of food, live music, and dancing all night unite the bride and groom with their families and friends.
  • Through the crowns, the Christ establishes the couple as the King and Queen of their home, which they rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity.
  • “In our tradition, when the newlywed couple dances, family and friends throw money on them to signify good fortune and prosperity.

Before the ceremony, all of the bride’s single friends will write their names on the bottom of the bride’s shoes. The bride will then wear these shoes throughout the ceremony and reception. At the end of the day, any names that have been worn off will be getting married soon. 6 Beautiful Irish Wedding Traditions & What They Mean Bring a little luck to your wedding ceremony or reception with these meaningful Irish wedding traditions. A tradition dating back to ancient times is to spit after offering congratulations or compliments to the couple.

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7 Common Greek Wedding Traditions & Customs

The crowns used in the Orthodox wedding ceremony also refer to the crown of martyrdom, since every true marriage involves self-sacrifice on both sides. After petitions are offered on behalf of the bride, groom and wedding company, three prayers are read which ascribe to God the institution of marriage and the preservation of His people through the ages. These prayers portray humanity as one continuous fabric, in which is interwoven everyone from the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, to the present generation of believers. The bride and groom enter into this fabric with the reading of the third prayer. Waiting of the brideIn the Greek Orthodox Tradition, the father accompanies the bride to the entrance of the church, where the groom awaits with her bouquet. The groom offers the bouquet to her, and takes her right hand after her father.

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From traditional dances to contemporary music, the night will be filled with dancing and fun. Rest assured that you will be invited to join, well scratch that, dragged in at some point.

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The proaulia was the time when the bride would spend her last days with her mother, female relatives, and friends preparing for her wedding. The proaulia was usually a feast held at the bride’s father’s house.

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This act represents that by sharing all of life, their happiness will double and their sorrows will be only half as sad. Even though Greek receptions are lively, the ceremony is solemn and respectful. You may be given a detailed ceremony program or follow the crowd for cues on when to stand and sit. It’s no surprise most single men are a bit skeptical about meeting Greek brides online. At the same time, this is the only reasonable solution you have given the distance between you and your potential match. So, should you ever decide to find a Greek wife, going online is the best option.

It was such a pleasure being able to work with them and hear the story of their relationship. Attending a Cretan wedding that you were not officially invited in, is a unique and incredibly fun experience you should feel lucky to become a part of. Wearing white was quickly adopted by fashionable brides in Britain and Europe and was thought to symbolise purity and virginity. Wedding dresses were chosen to present the bride’s family in the best light, in terms of wealth and social status. It was expected for them to carry all these symbols and messages through decorations, layering, colours and fabrics.

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