Traditional wedding custioms in Viotia area

1. Capitalizing on Local Intangible Cultural Heritage around
Europe
Project: 2018-1-EL01-KA201-047861

2. A social –cultural event ,
a traditional institution of Greeks

3.  For Greeks the wedding was one of the most substantial moments of their
lives , in addition it was a social fact in which should participate all the
community .
 As an action taken part according to a ritual with << magic>> content , in
which traditional habits , prejudices and symbolisms had a substantial
position .

4. THE MACHMAKING
The beginning for a good marriage!
They were carried out by prominent members
of the community who knew the candidates
and their families.
Depending on the difficulty of the case, it
lasted from a few weeks to a year.
This was not attended by the stakeholders
especially the girl . The role of the men , the
groom’s father and the father of the bride or
brother or someone else , when the father
was not exist, was determinant.

5. «FINISHES» - «WEDDING
REASON»
 The final conversation was made from men officially and was
completed when the two fathers «made the deal».
 Then they were notified their decision to the immediate stakeholders
and the «wedding reason» followed
 At pride’s house, usually, was made a small spree with the
participation from close relatives of both families and by that they
notarize the wedding.
 Often the official accompanying from rifles shot by relatives at the
air.

6. «DOWRY»
 «I have a son and I have the pleasure of becoming a mother-in-law.
I have a daughter and I have bitterness, that she will search from me
dowry» (folk song)
 The dowry was a mandatory rule for completing the agreement.
The family of the bride had to give a dowry to the man who would
marry her.
 The dowry was agreed during the consensus and in the agreement
the role of the groom’s father was decisive, who demanded as much
as he could.

7.  The dowry in earlier time were some estates or animals that were given by
the bride’s family to the groom but also the clothing that the bride
brought to her new home.
 The dowry was wrote down in detail in the «dowry contracts» and often
these were validated by lawyers.
 The default of the promises or the failure to keeping the commitments,
was the reason for the dissolution of the marriage even if the preparation
of the wedding has proceeded.

8. Engagement
 “O logos” , the speech - the promise of marriage , was the beginning
for the couple talking to each other, but always with the presence of
another person.
 The engagement was following soon.
 The stuff which were going to be bought was the ring, the wedding ring
and some other jewelry offered by the groom’s family to the bride’s
and from the bride’s family to the groom’s one.

9.  The ceremony usually took place on a Sunday morning at the bride’s
house.
 They exchanged the wedding rings which were in a plate with some
rise and an icon.
 The groom’s father or the priest or the best man exchanged the
wedding rings. The person who would do that was selected by the
groom.
 They were often exchanged gifts , he bride offered gifts to the groom’s
close relatives and the groom offered gifts to the bride’s close relatives
respectively.

10. WEDDING
The wedding day was set a short time after the
engagement , when the groom’s family was ready to
cover all the expences and the bride’s family had the
dowry provided.
 The wedding ceremony took place on Sundays noon.
 People chose the most convenient season for the
families works. Though weddings didn’t happen during
Lent’s period, in May and almost never in a leap year.
 It was usually took place in bride’s village
 It lasted for almost a week

11. Monday -“Calesmata”
 “Calesmata” , meaning invitation , were made by the relatives of
groom and bride. At places were happening in different ways in an era
when invitations were unknown
 First, the priest and the best man had to be invited.
 In some places the best man’s invitation was accompanied by a basket
full of flowers whereas in some villages on the mount Elikonas the
invitation was accompanied by a spit with meat and wine.

12. Tuesday – “Kouloures”
 On Tuesday they were fermeting a round bread named “coulura”,
at the groom’s house and at the bride’s house too
 Those breads exchanged by the two families before bride leaves
for the church.
 But they were cut in small pieces and were given to the guests.

14. WEDNESDAY- the trousseau
wash
 The trousseau were washed at the bride’s home.
 They were washed by unmarried women, bride’s friends or relatives
 Then lighted big fires, then put the pots above the fire and they washed in
thetubs that were put in order.
 They washed all the white coloured clothes by hand and then they put
them into «kofes» with «alysiva».

16.  The «kofes» were big baskets that were supported on planks and under
them there were tubs so the remaining dishwater could go away.
 They put the clothes in the basket, they covere them with a harsh fabric,
known as «stahopani», and above it then threw ash, «alysiva», so clothes
can become white.
 They decorated the «kofes» with flowers and pomegranate and they
danced around it.
 Groom’s relatives came together and mother-in-law had a very significant
role. They «silvered» the trousseau, then threw coins in the tubs and then
treated sweets.

20. Thursday – the exhibition of
bride’s clothing
At the next day the
girls ironed the
clothes and they
hang them in the
walls of the bride’s
house. This was the
“exhibition of the
bride’s clothing”.

22.  All the residents of the village visited Τhe exhibition and they
dropped flowers and rice and also money on the clothes.
 At Friday usually the groom's relatives visited the exhibition to
sift the clothes.
 In all these cases in the house there were abundant treats and
wine
 Immediately after the clothes gathered to be transferred to the
groom's house

23. Saturday
 The transfer of the bride’s clothing to the groom's house
was carried out.
 Initially the transfer made with horses all white or brown
not black, trimmed
 When they arrived at the house of the groom, they
hanged on the horses with white handkerchiefs and
covered their muse
 Then they got rid of them and the groom took care to
make a feast for those who had helped

24. Sunday : the wedding day
 Sunday at the groom's house: All the relatives and close friends
gathered to “dress” the groom
 With songs and treats they would “dress” the groom in a suit which
was a gift from the bride's parents
 The preparation would end with the “shaving of the groom”

25.  Meanwhile at the bride’s house her friends and relatives have gathered
to prepare her
 The bride’s dressing was an important moment and it was
accompanied by the appropriate songs
 At older ages the bride used to wear the traditional suit which was
made with great care for the wedding. Later on the white dress was
established
 When the dressing was completed the best man or some friends of the
groom came to put the shoes on the bride
 Then the bride kissed her father’s and her mother’s hand and left her
home.

27. “PATINADA”
 Then the groom and everyone attending the ceremony
would go to the bride's house, to accompany her to the
church.
 The bride would be accompanied to church by her parents
and guests. The procession was led by folk musicians who
played happy wedding songs and the guests often sang and
danced to the music.

28. “WEDDING CEREMONY”
 In the past the wedding ceremony took place at the bride's
house.
 Later the ceremony took place at the church

29. AFTER CEREMONY….
 Then the mother in law welcomed the couple at the house.
 She was given them honey . The bride was stepped on an iron
object and the mother in law was pulled the couple with a white
scarf in the house .

30.  After they were having feast . The dance with “ Kouloures” was the
beginning of the feast. Girls were holding the “Kouloures” and
given one to each other while they were dancing .

31. “ GYRISMATA”
 Εleven days after the wedding, the groom, the bride and
close relatives, about 15 people, had to go to the
“girismata”, like they were named , in the bride’s former
house,
 where about 20-30 other relatives and visitors where
waiting for the couple.
 Then, a big spree and a symposium were following, and that
was the end of the event