Every culture has members who maintain lifelong traditions of important life events, including weddings.
In Greek culture, ancient traditions are usually on full display during both ceremonies and receptions.
Whether you’re planning or attending a Greek wedding or just curious about traditions, read on to find out what makes this culture unique.
There are many customary traditions that make up a Greek wedding. (St. Petersburg)
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- candles during the ceremony
- Kumbaro and Kumbala
- wedding crown
- bridal shoes
- money dance
- Koufeta
- couple’s bed
1. Candles during the ceremony
At Greek weddings, the bride and groom each hold a candle called a lambata.
Each candle is lit to represent the couple’s willingness to accept Christ, according to Brides.com.
Couples also drink a drink known as the “common cup”. The common cup is filled with blessed wine. According to the site, the bride and groom drink three sips each from the same cup. Drinking from the same cup symbolizes the joys and sorrows of life that they share together.
After drinking the cup, the couple will be led around the marriage table three times by a priest, according to The Knot.
2. Kumbaro and Kumbala
According to Brides.com, the Cumbalos are sponsors of the wedding. Sources say the role of these individuals is to guide the couple through their marriage.
The role is given to Orthodox Christians. They traditionally serve as attendants and chaperones.
Another job of Kumbaro is the exchange of rings. After the bride and groom put the rings on the tips of her fingers, Kumbharou exchanges her rings three times. The priest then blesses the ring three times.
A lot of things happen in threes at a Greek wedding. Odd numbers are considered auspicious because they are not divisible. The number 3 also represents the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
One of the kumbaro’s tasks at a Greek wedding is to exchange rings three times. (St. Petersburg)
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3. Wedding Crown
Wearing a wedding crown is very common at Greek weddings. According to Wedding Wire, the conjugal crown, or stefana, is said to have originated in his 11th century and continues to be used today.
During the ceremony, the priest places crowns on the heads of the bride and groom. According to sources, the kumbaros entwine the crown three times and tie it with a ribbon. The crown symbolizes unity.
4. Bridal shoes
At many weddings, it is said that the single woman who receives the bride’s bouquet is the next person to get married. According to The Knot, similar gestures occur at Greek weddings, including the bride’s shoes.
On the wedding day, the bride writes the names of all her single friends on the sole of her shoe. It is said that at the end of the night, the name that is rubbed off the shoe is the one most likely to be married next.
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In Greek tradition, a bride should write the name of a single friend on the sole of her shoe, and it is said that the friend who scuffs will be the next to get married. (Bastian Parschau/Getty Images)
5. Money Dance
There are several traditional wedding dances commonly seen at Greek weddings. One of them is called the money dance. The groom and his wife dance together, and the guests throw money.
According to The Knot, this ancient custom originated in Greek villages, where guests would pin money to the bride while she danced.
6. Koufeta
Koufeta is an almond coated with sugar. These are often given as party favors at Greek weddings.
Almonds are an odd number that cannot be divided evenly, so they are always given in groups of five. According to sources, the five almonds represent five wishes: health, wealth, happiness, family and longevity.
7. Marital bed
The klevati (marital bed) is where the couple relaxes at the end of a day full of wedding celebrations. A couple’s wedding bed is decorated by family and friends before their big day.
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Common items in the marital bed of Greek couples include rose petals, jewelry, glitter, money, and rice. According to The Knot, the money was added to symbolize the couple’s wealth, and the rice symbolizes the couple putting down roots.
