Cretan MarriageThe weddings in Crete are surrounded by such pomp that it takes the form of a rite and is accompanied by many symbolic elements which are rooted in old beliefs or superstitions.
The importance given to it comes from the
historic role played by the institution in
the existence and perpetuation of
society.
The modern Cretan continues to
maintain the traditions of marriage unaltered.
Match-making proceeds the celebration
of a marriage - that is, the intervention of a
go-between to bring about the agreement
between bride and groom.
At the beginning, discussions take place
between the go-between and the parents
of the interested parties, since an essential
prerequisite for the marriage is the
consent of the parents.
If acquiescence is
obtained, there then follows a meeting
between the prospective parents-in-law
and then between the young people
themselves.
After agreement, the parents-
in-law decided upon the date of the
engagement.
If the go-between achieves the match, he receives a gift as a memento of his success.
If however the young people love each other but the parents cannot agree to the marriage, there is the other solution – kidnapping.
The young man kidnaps his chosen bride,
and then the parents have to agree to the
marriage of necessity.
The engagement takes place at the
bride s house close relatives and friends
are invited, as well as the go-between.
During the ceremony, the priest blesses
the young couple and gives them their
rings, then gifts are exchanged and a kind
of verbal agreement about the dowry is
made between the parents-in-law.
A sumptuous banquet and party follows
until the early hours of the morning.
Immediately after the engagement the
preparations for the wedding begin. One week before the event the invitation is
announced to all the village, and two days
beforehand all the girls of the village
gather together at the bride s house to
open her dowry chests.
On the eve of the wedding the dowry is taken to the new house accompanied by music and singing.
The nuptial bed is prepared with
great care, and decorated with sugared
almonds, while the appropriate
mantinades (Cretan couplets) are sung.
The frills and edgings on your dowry
linens o bride of mine
Show that cleverness and goodness of
heart are thine.
The celebrations begin on the eve of the
wedding, when the relations gather at the
houses of the parents-in-law and celebrate through the night until the morning.
They also bring the
kaniski, which is a basket full of wedding bread rolls, meat, macaroni etc.
The celebration begins to reach its climax at noon on the day of the
wedding, when the bride and groom are
dressed for the ceremony.
Today the sky glows, it is a brilliant day,
Today the eagle weds the dove.
When all is ready for the ceremony, the
groom and his followers move off to
collect the bride from her house, accompanied by music and the appropriate mantinades.
Some of the young people go
on ahead of the procession to give the
good tidings to the bride, and she
presents them with a
zevre
This is a scarf together with a special bread roll, a
gamokouloura which they hang around their waists.
When the groom arrives he
finds the door closed and begins asking
for permission to enter, along with his
companions.
Mantinades follow one after
the other until the door is opened. Soon
afterwards, more mantinades prepare the
way for the bride and groom to
leave
Get up, little partridge, and spread your
wings
Give your mother the keys and come and
find what is yours.
The procession then moves on to the
church where the wedding takes place.
When they leave the church the bride s
dance begins in the forecourt
Start the dance, bride and make this
place
Shine like the sun amongst the human
race.
Arriving at her new home, the bride takes
the key and after making a cross in honey
on the door, she crushes and scatters a
pomegranate, so that her offsprings will
be as many as its seeds she then enters
the house, taking care to put her right foot
first over the threshold.
Then her friends enter the house and scatter rice, rose petals and money over the bridal bed, symbolising good luck. The festivities continue for three days, while the dowry is displayed on the day after the wedding.
Handsome the groom, beautiful the
bride
Who embellishes the house with such a
dowry
One of the oldest customs surrounding a
Cretan marriage is the bride s
pastos.
On the day when the dowry is displayed
the bedroom is decorated with branches
of climbing plants, so that it soon
resembles a bower fit for a queen. Then the bride is required to sit amidst the
decorations, while the best singer begins
the
pastos song, accompanied on the lyra and the rest of those invited sing
refrains.
This song extols the virtues of
the bride and gives her advice on how to
be a good housewife and partner.
Gainer together beautiful rosy maidens
Lets sing a paean to the bride
That shell blossom and flower
And be her husband s pride
15:41
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