Greek Wedding and Baptism

7/30/2019 Greek Wedding and Baptism

1/34


2/34


3/34


4/34

Dowry. Although the idea of a dowry may seemobsolete to some people, it is still a Greek tradition. Themother of the bride usually spends years collecting a

variety of things from sheets to towels and otherhousehold items for her daughter's marriage. The dowryenables the bride to set up housekeeping.


5/34

The shoe is narrow

The custom was the best man who wants to go get the bride from her

home, trying to put the shoes, they are closely linked. And while all that

shouting does not enter the shoe, the only way to eventually hold the

money that will put the best man at the bottom of the shoe. This

picturesque scene is over there that can afford the best man.

When the bride dresses, the unmarried girls attending the wedding in

pencil write their names on the soles of shoes of the bride. Tradition

says that no matter what the names will be erased first married. Usually,

of course, after so many hours standing, after photographing the

wedding dance at the reception, they have erased everything.


6/34

Two or three days before the wedding, the coupleorganizes a celebration called Krevati (Greek forbed) in

their new home.In Krevati, friends and relatives of the couple put moneyand young children on the couple's new bed for prosperityand fertility in their life. After the custom, they usually havea party with food and music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed


7/34

The Koumbaros is an honored guest that participates in thewedding ceremony. Traditionally, the Koumbaros is thegrooms godfather.Today, he is usually the best man. He assists with the

crowning of the couple and the exchange of the rings threetimes between the bride and groom before it is placed onthe bride and grooms third fingers.


8/34


9/34

The crowning is the focal point of the marriage ceremony. The

bride and groom are crowned with thin crowns, called stefana,

which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by

the priest.

The crowns symbolize the glory and honor that is beingbestowed on them by God, and the ribbon symbolizes their

unity. The Koumbaro then exchanges the crowns between the

heads of the couple, three times.


10/34

The marriage crowns are extremely important to aGreek couple, and will be saved after the wedding,and often placed on display in their new home...Traditionally, the crowns were made of materialsranging from lemon leaves to vines to gold and jewels.


11/34

Ceremonial Walk: After the bride and groom areadorned with the wedding crowns, they will walkaround the church altar for three times. This ceremonialwalk is important in a Greek wedding, as it symbolizesthe first steps of life as a married couple.


12/34


13/34

The couple drink red wine from the same glass . This is not"communion" in the formal religious sense, but aboutsharing the cup of life.

At the end of the wedding ceremony, as the newlywedded pair leave the church, the guests throw rice andflowers for fertility and felicity.


14/34

After the ceremony, usually the couple hold a greatwedding party in some place with plenty of food, drinks,music and dance, usually until next morning.

Candied almonds are distributed in odd numbers amongthe guests. The odd number signifies that the couple areunited henceforth as one and cannot be separated.


15/34

A typical Greek wedding will usually have more than 100invited people (but usually 250-500) who are friends,siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, first or secondcousins, neighbors and colleagues. It is common to have

guests whom the couple has never met before.


16/34


17/34


18/34

Greek wedding receptions are festive and includesavory foods, plenty of wine, singing and dancing.Traditional Greek dishes such as dolmathes, kapama,

moussaka, spetsiota, and spanakopita may be served.Ouzo, and wine are the drinks of choice. Diples, friedpastries made of honey and nuts are usually displayedon the same table as the wedding cake

Th f K l ti Ci l d


19/34

. The famous Kaslamantiano or Circle dance,

involves two circles that form around the bride

while guests throw money at the musicians and

break dishes for good luck.


20/34


21/34


22/34

Opa!A final important custom which everyone should know about

Greek weddings is the exuberant shouting ofOpa!at frequent

intervals is the ultimate expression of joy and happiness. It ishooray, wonderful, and cheers all rolled into one excited shout. A

statement of euphoria, wishes for a great happiness, and an all-

around toast to life, Opa!is the perfect expression of the

atmosphere of merriment and celebration which surround all

Greek weddings.


23/34


24/34

During a Greekbaptism the child is

provided with a name of Christian origin

and then presented to the Church as ananointed child of God.

A G eek baptism in the Ch istian O thodo Ch ch is a


25/34

A Greek baptism in the Christian Orthodox Church is amajor event in the life of any family. Because of thenumerous rites which accompany it, many of which goback to the earliest centuries of Christianity, the

baptismal service is a complicated one.


26/34

EXORCISM - The first stepbegins with the entranceto the church. This is to

show that the one beingreceived is not yet amember of the Church.The priest calls upon the

godfather to renounceSatan . The renouncing ofSatan is done facing thewest, it is where the sunsets, the place where theancient Greeks believed tobe the location of Hades,the gates of Hell.


27/34

THE TRIPLE IMMERSION - We believe that Christ diedfor our sins. The full immersion in water symbolizesdeath. Through baptism we share mysteriously in

Christ's death. The baptized infant rises out of thewater as a new person, cleansed of every sin andpromising the surrender of his life to Christ, his Savior.

The baby is immersed in water three times while the


28/34

The baby is immersed in water three times, while thepriest recites the formula 'The servant of God ..(name)is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son andof the Holy Spirit.' The new Christian life of the baby is

symbolized by the lighting of a white candle. The baby isclothed in white and carried three times around the font.


29/34


30/34

Confirmation, called'anointing' or 'sealing',takes place immediately

after Baptism. The priesttakes the chrism, orconsecrated oil, and anointsthe baptized person with

the sign of the cross on theforehead, eyes, nostrils,mouth and ears.The god parents then anointthe entire body of the child

with the oil


31/34

The new clothes signify the entirely

new life that we receive after we

are baptise. The white robesymbolizes the purity of the sole

cleansed from sin.


32/34

A procession around the baptism font by the priestand godparent holding the child is believed to be areflection of the celebration of angels dancing andexpressing their joy that a new soul has beenregistered in the Book of Souls

Sweets are distributed to the guests and the family and


33/34

Sweets are distributed to the guests, and the family andfriends then enjoy a large meal, either at home or in ataverna.


34/34

Greek Wedding and Baptism

Documents

Transcript of Greek Wedding and Baptism