Most wedding traditions come from the past and continue to this day. Below you can find the most famous customs and what they symbolize on your wedding day. In many areas of Greece, preparations for the wedding started very early as mothers prepared the dowry for their daughters which included sheets, towels and anything else useful for a household. The dowry often included money, house, land and assets. The wedding crowns, which are changed by the groomsmen three times in the wedding ceremony, symbolize the royal crowns, as the bride and groom will now be the king and queen in their household. You can read more about the crowns here. According to tradition, single girls take cupcakes from the tray and place them under the pillow so that they can dream of the man they will marry. Also, the bride writes the names of the single girls in pencil on the bottom of her shoe and the first name she crosses out will be the girl she marries first.
The sacrament of marriage
Another well-known custom is at the point where the cantor mentions “The bride should not fear the man” where the groom usually secretly steps on the bride’s foot a little, but usually the bride catches up and steps on the man first. It is a well-known commentary point as the guests at this point watch the couple’s feet to see who will first step on each other.During the sacrament, the priest will give the bride and groom to drink red wine, from the chalice. Once the sacrament is complete, the bride and groom will go out into the churchyard where all the guests will line up to say their blessings, and then go through to get the wedding favor. The wedding favors consist of coupons wrapped in tulle, and the number of coupons should be odd (usually 3 or 5). After the church service, there is usually a reception where the guests will go, and begin their meal, until the couple arrives and make their entrance into the center with their chosen song. There at the reception, the wedding cake will be cut, and the couple will feed each other some of the cake. There they will pop the champagne, and sip thanking the guests for attending with them on this unique day! Finally, the feast follows.
The candles
The two candles surrounding the holy table with the Gospel burn from the beginning to the end of the sacrament. They symbolize the fiery tongues of Pentecost, as well as the descent of the Holy Spirit who gives Divine Enlightenment to the newlyweds.
Wedding traditions and wedding rings
The rings symbolize eternity as the circle is a shape that has no beginning and no end.It is the symbol of eternal love and the union of man and woman. The rings are usually gold because gold as a material is indestructible and pure and unadulterated.
Wedding customs and the bridesmaids
The bridesmaids are the witnesses to the couple’s vow of love and devotion. They stand to the right and left of the couple and pray with them for God’s blessing on the marriage, and their position symbolizes that they will always stand by the couple and support them.
Wedding customs and the joining of hands
During the sacrament of marriage, the priest, praying “in one flesh”, symbolically joins the right hands of the bride and groom. The hands should remain joined throughout the sacrament as they symbolize the eternity of the union, and that they are now in harmony of soul and body.
Wedding traditions and the confections
The confections symbolize the joys and sorrows of marriage. They also symbolize fertility and the heirs the couple will have. The number of couplets is indivisible symbolizing that the couple will share everything and remain inseparable. These are the most well-known customs that are done at weddings. Of course there are many more, and depending on the region of Greece there are other local customs that are still alive today. Are you preparing for your wedding day and looking for wedding dresses in Thessaloniki? Make an appointment to find the most special wedding dress together. Wedding Dresses Thessaloniki Mon Amour. For an appointment call us at 698 111 9233 or fill out the contact form here.
