This document provides information about various traditions and customs related to christenings and weddings in Cyprus. It discusses the traditions surrounding a baby's birth, naming, first churching, and choosing godparents in Cyprus. It also details the various stages and rituals involved in organizing and conducting a traditional Cypriot christening ceremony. Similarly, it outlines the history and mythology around Cypriot weddings from prehistory through various ruling periods in Cyprus up until modern times. It includes drawings and explanations of customs such as entering the bride's village on foot, prenuptial marriage agreements, and the engagement period.

1. Christenings
and
Weddings,
Traditions bring us
together.

2. INDEX
COUNTRY PAGE
Cyprus 1
Italy 75
Latvia 141
Lithuania 146
Poland 168
Slovakia 179
Spain 206
Turkey 219
1

3. CYPRUS
DIMOTIKO SCHOLEIO STROUMPIOU, Stroumbi
The baby’s birth
A girl was born on the
29th of May 2011!
1

4. The baby’s naming
According to Cypriot traditions, parents name their
children after the grandparents’ names. Therefore
Eleonora was named after her grandmother’s name.
2

5. The child’s first churching
40 days after her birth, Eleonora
is taken to the church for the
first time. This ritual survives
from Jesus Christs’ time.
According to history, He was
taken from his parents to the
church for the first time after a
40-days interval. The ritual is
known as «The Christ’s
Candlemas».
3

6. Choosing the child’s
Godparents
The next step is choosing the child’s
spiritual parents. The godfather is
supposed to spend quality time with his
godchild, and be responsible for his/her
instructing and care. Even though it’s
not obligatory, traditionally parents
assign the child’s christening to the
groomsman.
or the bridesmaid. In
Eleonora’s case, the parents
chose a good friend of them.
4

7. The necessity of being
christened
• A few months later, Eleonora’s
parents organize their daughter’s
christening.
• According to religious tradition,
christening exempts the newborn
from original sin, making its soul as
pure as snow.
5

8. Organizing the child’s
christening
Initially, parents have to choose the place
anddate of the ritual. In former times, the
ritual was executed forty days after the
child’s birth. Nowadays, children are being
christened sometime before they reach
their first year.
Usually, parents choose a chapel, which was
what Eleonora’s parents did.
Ayios Neophitos Chapel
6

9. Reception
The next step is choosing
the place where the
reception will be conducted.
Nowadays, parents choose a
restaurant or a hotel. In
older times, the ceremony
was conducted in the
parents’ home.
Eleonora’s parents chose to
follow the traditional custom
and do the ceremony in their
house.
Invitation
• The next step is composing the guests’ invitation.
In older days, the guests were being invited orally.
Nowadays, invitations are being written, and great
attention is given to the invitation’s styling. Parents
try to be as original as possible in composing the
invitation, choosing constructing-like styles.
7

10. The christening’s ‘theme’
• Usually parents and godparents choose a
theme according to which the christening will
be organized (invitations, cake, decor, guests’
gifts). Τhe expenses are supposed to be
covered by both parties. This habit was
established in recent years.
Τhe godfather’s obligations
Τhe christening cross is the first gift that the
godfather will give to his godchild. This cross will be
the child’s companion, protecting him/her for the rest
of his/her life.
Also, the godfather has to buy a sort of witnessing
gifts which are given to the christening’s attendees.
8

11. The godfather prepares a sort of box, in which the
parents store the child’s towels, clothes and accessories.
In older times, the godparents were choosing a white
suitcase for the purpose. Nowadays, they prefer buying a
chest, which is later used as a decoration item in the
child’s bedroom. According to religious traditions, the
child’s christening clothes need to be white. The white
colour symbolizes purity, and the Holy Spirit’s force
which protects the newborn.
The christening’s candle
is accordingly white. It
symbolizes Jesus Christ’s
light which will guide the
child and illuminate its life. A
few days before the ritual,
the godfather chooses a boy
or girl that will hold the
candle throughout the
christening. Eleonora’s little
cousin was chosen in this
christening.
9

12. Also, the godfather chooses the bonbon that will
be given to every family as a memorial gift. Usually,
godparents choose smart gifts such as teacups,
frames, money boxes, saltshakers etc.
The christening’s stages
Finally, the great day is here!
The parents hand over the child
to its to-be godparents.
According to Cypriot tradition,
the child’s parents aren’t
supposed to participate to the
ritual.
The godfather stands at the
chapel’s entrance, holding the
child in his hands. The priest
reads the appropriate
recommendations, and the
indoctrination of the ritual
begins. 10

13. The godfather is supposed to
read the Creed for three times.
Being the child’s representative,
the godfather rebukes Satan to
draw away from the child, and binds
himself with the principles of the
Orthodox Christian Church.
Soon after, the priest and the
godfather with the child move in the
centre of the chapel. There, they
stand next to the font, and the priest
reads further recommendations.
Right after, the godfather
undresses the child. The priest
uses holly oil to mark the child’s
ears, hands, feet, and head with
the sign of the cross..
The priest submerges the child
three times in the font.
The purpose of this procedure is
the symbolical death of the sinful
soul, and its replacement with a
new, Christian soul.
11

14. The godfather holds the
child in his hands, the priest
cuts off some of the child’s
hair, forming the sign of the
cross on its head.
Thencomes the child’s
anointment. The priest
suffuses the child with a
kind of holly essence.
The next step is dressing
the child with its
christening clothes which
have been sanctified
during the ritual. Also,
the godfather gives the
child its christening
cross.
12

15. godfather performs
three circles around the
font, holding the child in
his hands. They are
being followed by the
priest and the child
holding the candle.
Then, the child tastes the
Holy Communion for the
first time. The godfather
is supposed to escort the
child in church for the
following three Sundays.
The godfather hands
over the child to its
mother . The mother
kisses the godfather’s
hand showing in this
way, the appreciation
and respect she owns
to him.
After the ritual’s
completion, the guests
offer their wishes to
the parents and
godparents of the
child.
13

16. The feast
• The feast begins soon after the completion of the
ritual. Eleonora’s party takes place in her home
place. A food and drink supplier is responsible for
the party’s catering. In previous years, the child’s
parents and their relatives were responsible for
the preparation of the party.
Τν λνύζιμν ηνο μωξνύ
• Σύμθωμα με ηημ πξιζηιαμική παξάδνζη, ην μωξό
δεμ κάμει μπάμιν για 3 μέξεπ. Τημ ηξίηη μέξα ν
μνμόπ κάμει μπάμιν ην μωξό. Αοηό γίμεηαι γιαηί
αοηόπ πνο λαδώμει ην μωξό πξέπει μα ην
μελαδώζει. Ακνλνοθεί θαγνπόηι.
14

17. • From now on a special
bond will unite Eleonora
with her godparents.
• The most important
obligation of the
godfather is taking up
the child’s education in
religious matters.
• Additionally, gifts and
clothes are given to the
child from its
godparents in every
special occasion.
15

18. CYPRIOT
WEDDING
through history, mythology and
tradition
16

19. PREHISTORY
– CLASSICAL TIME
(10 thousand B.C. – 4th century A.D.)
Pygmalion and Galatea
According to the Greek
Mythology, Pygmalion was the
son of a king of Cyprus. He
was a great artist and created
a female sculpture which he
called Galatea. The sculpture
was so beautiful that he fell in
love with it. Aphrodite, the
goddess of love, felt sorry for
him and gave life to the
sculpture. Pygmalion then
married his darling Galatea.
They even had a daughter,
Pafos. A town was, in fact,
named after Pafos.
17

20. BYZANTINE ERA
(315 – 1192)
Akanthou
According to the tradition,
Saracen pirates, dressed like
natives, intruded during a
weddinginCyprus.
However, they got drunk
and they revealed the plan
they had to steal the bride,
called Anthousa. Then the
bride and groom hid in the
thorns until the Saracens
left. That’s where a new
village was built, called
Akanthou – after the name
of the bride and the thorns
(in Greek agkathia).
18

21. FRANKISH – VENETIAN RULE
(1192 - 1570)
Catherine Cornaro
James II, king of Cyprus was
convinced to marry Catherine
Cornaro from Venice. The king
sent a delegate in Venice to
ask for Catherine’s hand in
marriage. Venice endowed
Catherine and sent her in
Cyprus for the wedding. After
James II died, Cyprus, through
Catherine, was ruled by the
Venetians.
19

22. OTHOMAN RULE
(1570 - 1878)
Mastership and walk
The grooming of the bride
was usually the responsibility
of an old woman, the
masterwoman, that had a
specialty in this section. She
was grooming the bride
secretly in some inside room.
The Christians were not
allowed at the time to wander
around on horseback as the
‘masters’. So, if the groom was
not from the same village as
the bride, had to reach the
bride’s house on foot.
20

23. ENGLISH RULE
(1878 - 1959)
Dowry agreement
Dowry agreement was
some kind of contract that
was signed before the
wedding,amongthe
parents of the bride and
groom. This determined in
details what was offered by
each side to the bride-
groom to be: land, animals,
trees, linen, cloths and
house utensils. The contract
was accepted by everyone
and it was very difficult for
someone to break it.
21

24. REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
(1960 - today)
Modern weddings
Weddings nowadays take
place on a more modern
line. Often, bachelor and
hen parties precede the
wedding for men and
women respectively. The
bride throws the bouquet to
indicate who is the next girl
to get married. The
reception usually takes
place at some hotel with
nice flowers and live music.
Many even choose to get
married with a civil wedding
at the ministry.
22

25. 2012 CALENDAR
TRADITIONAL CYPRIOT WEDDING
Stroumbi Primary School
23

26. INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Our school has participated in a school project within the frame-
work of the Comenius European Programme. We cooperated with
schools from different European countries (Lithuania, Slovakia, Turkey,
Italy, Spain, Poland, Latvia). The topic we focused on was "Back to our
Roots: Traditions and Customs bring us together". In specific, we
had to give an oral presentation of a project regarding our wedding tra-
ditions and customs in Cyprus.
On our effort to deliver the project at its best, we, the pupils of the
Stroumbi Primary School, created our own 2012 Calendar entitled
"Traditional Cypriot Wedding". Having studied everything related to
the Cypriot wedding, we divided the customs in 12 stages, as many as
the months in a year. We wrote a few comments for each custom and
painted our own drawings to accompany the text. Finally, we put each
stage in a logical chronological order. Here is our Calendar!
The pupils at the Stroumbi Primary School
24

27. January 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
The Custom of entering the village on foot
30 31
In the case that the groom was from a village other than
the bride's, he would have to go the bride's village along
with his guests, usually on an animal like a donkey. In
order to show respect and submissiveness to the new
community he had to enter the village on foot.
25

28. February 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
T 27 28 29
The Prenuptial marriage agreement
The Prenuptial marriage agreement was a type of contract
that was signed before the wedding, between the bride's
and groom's parents. This agreement determined what
each side would give to the future newlyweds.
26

29. March 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
The Engagement 26 27 28 29 30 31
The engagement would last three to four years so
that the house and the dowry would be prepared.
The bride and the groom would stay separately,
each at their parents' places. The engaged couple
would only meet under the supervision of their
mother-in-law.
27

30. April 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
The Invitation Process 30
The couple's parents would go along the village with the
aim of inviting villagers to the wedding. To invite them,
they used to give a candle to each guest and spray them
with cologne.
28

31. May 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
The Dowry Dance
While the bride was being prepared at her parents' house,
her friends and relatives would dance in so that they would 28 29 30 31
show the dowry the bride would later take to her own
house.
29

32. June 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
The wedding mattress
While the dowry was shown, seven women who had been
married once initiated to sew the wedding mattress, filling
it in with wool or cotton. The bride's brother would then 25 26 27 28 29 30
take the mattress on his shoulder and dance with it.
30

33. July 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Handing Over the Bride
Once the bride was ready, relatives and friends would
accompany her to the church where the bride's father
would formally "hand her over" to her future husband.
30 31
31

34. August 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
The Wedding
The day would begin with the bridal grooming process at the
bride's house as well as the bridegroom's shaving at the groom's
place. Both preparations were done with musical instruments 27 28 29 30 31
playing traditional songs for them. As soon as the bride and
groom were ready, they would set off to the church, each with
their own relatives and friends
32

35. September 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
After the Wedding Ceremony
Before the wedding dinner, the bride had to say a dirty
word in order to indicate that she has now joined the mar-
ried people's club. Right after the ceremony, the couple's 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
parents would visit the groom's house to give their best
wishes.
33

36. October 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
The In-Laws Dance
The parents in-law used to dance together: the groom's
father would dance with the bride's father; while the
groom's mother would dance the so called 'sirtos' with the 29 30 31
bride's mother. This dance showed to the guests that the
two families were happy and respected each other.
34

37. November 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Dancing next to each other
26 27 28 29 30
At every social event, men and women acted separately.
Even while celebrating, men and women were not allowed
to dance together. Mixed dances were forbidden, thus
males would dance together with males; so would fe-
males.
35

38. December 2012
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
2
1
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Monday's Celebrations
The night after the wedding day, 'Monday's Wedding' 31
would take place. The guests brought their own food
(called 'kassini') and the newlyweds danced a special kind
of dance during which the guests pinned paper money on
their clothes as wedding gift.
36

39. Ο ΚΣΠΡΙΑΚΟ΢ ΓΑΜΟ΢:
ΗΘΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΘΙΜΑ ΑΠΟ ΢Ο
ΠΑΡΕΛΘΟΝ
THE CYPRIOT WEDDING: CUSTOMS
AND TRADITIONS FROM THE PAST
37

40. ΢Α ΠΡΟΞΕΝΙΑ
 The majority of
weddings were not the
result of people falling
The matchmaking in love and were usually
arranged by parents.
 Σεει θεγάηε ελπν πηεελοεζία Being older and wiser
λε γάθλε δει γίιλιεαι από they were considered to
έμζεα, αηηά ζαιλιίδλιεαι know the best choice for
από ελπν γλιείν, δπιήδζν their children. If a
ξζμίν ια δεεεδεί ε γιώθε εζι young man was
θεηηλιύθζζι, αζλύ απελί interested in a young
δαι πελ ώμεθλε δα ήκεμαι woman or if his family
ζαηύεεμα πελ δα ήεαι ελ agreed that a young girl
δπθζέμλι εζι παεδεώι ελπν. was a good bride to be
Αι ηλεπόι ζάπλελν ιέλν for their son, they
ειδεαζεμόεαι γεα ζάπλεα should send a message
ζλπέηα ή αι λε γλιείν ελπ asking her to be their
πίδεεπαι πζν θεα ζλπέηα δα son’s wife (“proxenia”).
ήεαι ζαηή γεα απεόι έπμεπε A woman in each
ια δεείηεε «πμλκέιεα». village (called
Υπεύδπιε γεα απεό δπιήδζν “proxenitra”) was
ήεαι ε πμλκειήεμα (πλπ responsible to take this
ππήμξε δε ζάδε ξζμεό) ε message to the girl’s
λπλία θεεέζεμε εα ιέα δεει family and tried to
λεζλγέιεεα εεν ζλπέηαν, point out all the good
ζμλιείδλιεαν ια παειέοεε ελι reasons why they
ππλοήζελ γαθπμό. should accept.
38

41. ΢Ο ΠΡΟΙΚΟ΢ΣΜΤΩΝΟ
The dowry
 Tλ πμλεζλδύθζζιλ, ήεαι έια είδλν
δπθβληαίλπ ελ λπλίλ ζαδόμεδε εα
πεμελπδεαζά δελεξεία εα λπλία δα
έδειαι δελπν θεηηόιπθζλπν λε γλιείν
ελπν. Φζμάζεα, δπίεε, δώα, δέιεμα,
δειεόιεα, μλύξα ζαε λεζεαζά δζεύε.
Τα πεμεδδόεεμα εα έδειαι λε γλιείν  The dowry given to the couple was determined
εεν ιύζεν. Καεά εε δπθζζιία by a special kind of contract (called
έπμεπε απαμαεεήεζν ια είιαε παμώι “prikosimfono”). Any property or real estate
- εζεόν από ελπν δπθπεδέμλπν - λ
should be written down in details on the
εεμέαν εεν ζλειόεεεαν, λ ζλειλεάμξεν
ζαε ζάπλελν γμαθθαεεδλύθειλν, contract (even the number of clothes, sheets,
δπιήδζν λ δάδζαηλν. Μεμεζέν ζλμέν utensils, and farm animals). Most of the dowry
γίιλιεαι δζηεμά παδάμεα θεεακύ εζι was given by the parents of the bride to be.
δπθπεδέμζι, ζαε όεαι εεηεζά When coming to an agreement, the contract
δπθζζιλύδαι έθπαειαι ππλγμαζέν was signed by parents of both sides as well as
ζαε δζμαγεδόεαι ζαε από ελι by the community authorities and always in
ζλειλεάμξε. Τλ πμλεζλδύθζζιλ the presence of the priest, the mayor and the
ζπηαδδόεαι δεει εζζηεδία εεν teacher of the community. The contract was
ζλειόεεεαν ειώ λ εεμέαν δεαδμαθάεεδε kept in the church by the priest who would also
μόηλ δεαζαιλιεδεή δε πεμίπεζδε mediate in any case of disagreement or
δεαζζιίαν .
misunderstanding.
39

42. Ο ΑΡΡΑΒΩΝΑ΢
The engagement
 Ο αμμαβώιαν γειόεαι θε θεα
δύιελθε εεηεεή από ελι εεμέα
δελ δπίεε δπιήδζν εεν
θέηηλπδαν ιύζεν. Παμόιεεν
ήεαι θόιλ λε γλιείν ζαε
ζάπλελε πληύ δεειλί
δπγγειείν. Σε όηε εει
δεάμζεεα ελπ αμμαβώια πλπ
θπλμλύδε ια ζμαεήδεε έζν
 The engagement was a small ceremony
ζαε εμία θε εέδδεμα ξμόιεα-
θέξμεν όελπ εελεθαδελύι εα performed by the priest of the community
πμλεζεά ζαε ελ δπίεε- λε and usually took place in the house of the
αμμαβζιεαδθέιλε δει έθειαι bride to be, in the presence of parents and
θαδί, αηηά δεα παεμεζά ελπν few close relatives. During the engagement,
δπίεεα. Μπλμλύδαι όθζν ια that could last up to three or four years
δπθθεεέξλπι θαδί δε (until the house and the dowry were ready),
λεζλγειεεαζέν δπγζειεμώδεεν, the couple would live separately. They could
δε γελμεέν ή δε δεάζλμεν attend family gatherings or community
δλπηεεέν δεα ξζμάζεα, αηηά festivitiestogether,butalways
πάιεα ππό εει επεεήμεδε accompanied by their parents.
εζι γλιεώι ελπν.
40

43. ΢Ο ΚΑΛΕ΢ΜΑ
The invitation
 Τλ ζάηεδθα δελ γάθλ γειόεαι
θεμεζέν θέμεν πμει, δπιήδζν
από ελπν γλιείν λε λπλίλε
γύμεδαι από γεεελιεά δε
γεεελιεά ζαε θλίμαδαι από έια
ζεμί δελι ζάδε ξζμεαιό,
μαιείδλιεάν ελπν θε ζληόιεα
από έια δλξείλ (εε
«θεμμέξα») ζαε ζαηώιεαν
ελπν δεεν ξαμέν εζι παεδεώι
 The invitation to the wedding took place few
ελπν. Κάπλεεν ζλμέν θαδί θε
ελ ζεμί έδειαι ζαε έια είδλν days before the wedding day. The parents
ζλπηλπμελύ, εε «γηπδεαμζά» would go from door to door and give each
ή «γπμεδεαμζά» ή έια είδλν fellow villager a candle while sprinkling them
οζθελύ, εει «ζλπθλπηεά» ή with a special cologne from a vessel called
εα «ζλύθλπηηα». Απεό “merrecha”. Often they would treat them with
δήθαειε πζν ελ δπγζεζμεθέιλ
a special kind of crispy round bread roll called
άελθλ ζαε ε λεζλγέιεεά ελπ
ήεαι ζαηεδθέιλε δελ γάθλ. “glistarka” or “giristarka” or a type of bread
called “koumoulia”. This meant that a certain
person and his/her family were invited to the
wedding.
41

44. Προετοιμασίες για το γάμο
Wedding preparations
Το Σάββατο, την προηγούμενη
μέρα του γάμου -που γινόταν

πάντα τις Κυριακές– κατέφθαναν
οι μουσικοί και κατευθύνονταν
στο πατρικό σπίτι της νύφης. Εκεί
ακολουθούσε το ράψιμο ή
γέμισμα του στρώματος του On Saturday (a day previous the wedding which
κρεβατιού και η επίδειξη των  was always taking place on Sundays) musicians
προικιών. Η όλη διαδικασία ήταν and relatives of the bride would go to her house,
σωστή ιεροτελεστία.Επτά where the stuffing and the sewing of the couples’
γυναίκες έραβαν το νυφικό first mattress took place. This was a kind of ritual
κρεβάτι προσθέτοντας στις having to do with the fertility of the couple. The
γωνιές του τέσσερις σταυρούς με bride also used to show off the trousseaus given
to
κόκκινη κορδέλα. Όταν
her by her family. The mattress would be stuffed
τελείωναν το ράψιμο, κυλούσαν
with well cleaned sheep wool and then sewed by
στο κρεβάτι ένα μικρό παιδάκι, seven women. Four crosses with red ribbon – one
συνήθως αγόρι, για να είναι το in each corner of the bed-would complete the
αντρόγυνο καρπερό αλλά και το procedure that was accompanied by songs and
πρώτο τους παιδί να είναι αγόρι. cheering. When the mattress was ready a young
Στη συνέχεια οι κουμπάρες και child (usually a boy) would be thrown on it,
συγγενείς της νύφης έπαιρναν το symbolizing fertility. In the end, bridesmaids and
κρεβάτι στους ώμους τους και με 42
relatives of the bride used to lift the mattress upon
τη συνοδεία μουσικής χόρευαν. their shoulders and dance around the room.

45. Προετοιμασίες για το γάμο
Wedding preparations
Τλ Σάββαελ πμει από ελ

γάθλ γίιλιεαι ζαε λε
πμλεελεθαδίεν πλπ
αζλμλύδαι δελ ζαγεεό πλπ
δα πμλδζεμόεαι δελπν
ζαηεδθέιλπν. Εζεόν από ελ
λζεό ζαε εεν παεάεεν πλπ
οήιλιεαι δεα ζλπμιεά,
εελίθαδαι ζαε έια εεδεζό
πεηάζε θε ζλεόπλπηλ ή ζμέαν
ζαε δπαδθέιλ δεεάμε πλπ
λιλθαδόεαι «μέδε». Επίδεν The day before the wedding the food for the
δει ήεαι δπάιελ λε 
guests should be prepared. This included baked
πμλδζεζηεθέιλε ια έμξλιεαε meat (called “ofto kleftiko”), potatoes and a
δελ γηέιεε ζέμιλιεαν λ special pilaf made of boiled meat and smashed
ζαδέιαν εα ζαγεεά ελπ, «ελ wheat grains (called “resi”). Often the guests
ζαιίδδει» όπζν ελ έηεγαι, would contribute to the expenses, by bringing
βλεδώιεαν θε απεό ελι their own prepared food on the day of the
εμόπλ δελ ια θει wedding. This food brought as a present to the
επεβαμπιδλύι λεζλιλθεζά λε newlyweds was called “kanishin”.
ιεόιπθζλε.
43

46. Η ΜΕΡΑ ΢ΟΣ ΓΑΜΟΣ
The wedding day
 Η θέμα κεζειλύδε θε ελ δεόηεδθα εεν
ιύθζεν, ελ κύμεδθα ζαε ιεύδεθλ ελπ
γαθπμλύ, πάιεα θε εε δπιλδεία
θλπδεζήν – βεληί ζαε ηαγλύελ. Μεεά
ιεύδεθλ ζαε ελ δεόηεδθα έιαν έιαν λε
γλιείν ζαε λε πληύ δεειλί δπγγειείν εεν
ιύζεν (άηηα ζαε ελπ γαθπμλύ
κεξζμεδεά) ελπν ζάπιεδαι θε εηεά ζαε
ελπν έδζιαι θε έια ζόζζειλ θαιεήηε 
γύμζ από εε θέδε γεα ια είιαε πάιεα On the day of the wedding, the bride was dressed
επηλγεθέιλε ζαε γόιεθλε. Σεε δπιέξεεα, and prepared by the bridesmaids and the groom
λε θεηηόιπθζλε δε δπλ ξζμεδεέν was shaved by his friends, always with the escort
πλθπέν, από εα παεμεζά ελπν δπίεεα
κεζειλύδαι γεα εει εζζηεδία θε εε
of music. After that the parents and few very close
δπιλδεία εζι γλιεώι, δπγγειώι ζαε relatives of each the bride and the groom would
ζίηζι. Μεεά ελ θπδεήμελ, αιεμόγπιλ use a censer with olive leaves to chase away all
πεα, θε ελι εεμέα ελπ ξζμελύ bad spirits and tied a red scarf around their waste
επεζεζαηήν, ζειλύδαι όηλε θαδί γεα ελ
δπεεεζό πλπ δα δεέγαδε ελπν that symbolizes fertility. After that in two separate
ιεόιπθζλπν δεε ιέα ελπν ζλειή δζή. groups, parents, relatives and friends used to
Σελ ζαεώζηε ελπ δπεεελύ λ γαθπμόν escort the bride and the groom to the church.
έδπαγε, μίξιλιεαν δελι ελίξλ, έια μόδε.
Η ειέμγεεα απεή είξε δπθβληεζό
After the ceremony, the newlyweds accompanied
ξαμαζεήμα. Είξαι εει πεπλίδεδε πζν by the priest used to go to their new house, on the
έεδε εκαδζάηεδαι εει επηλγία, εε doorstep of which the groom crushed a
γλιεθόεεεα ζαε εει αζδλιία αγαδώι. 44
pomegranate as a symbolic action for good luck
and abundance of goods.

47. Η ΜΕΡΑ ΢ΟΣ ΓΑΜΟΣ
The wedding day
Μεεά εει εεηεεή

αζληλπδλύδε γηέιεε θε
θλπδεζή ζαε ξλμό. Οε
άιεμεν δπιήδεδαι ια
ζάδλιεαε δε κεξζμεδεά
εμαπέδεα από εεν γπιαίζεν.
Φόμεπαι λε ζλπθπάμλε, λε
δπθπέδεμλε, λε δπγγειείν
ζαε λε ζίηλε. Επίδεν  After the ceremony there was a big
εμαγλπδλύδαι, έζαιαι celebration escorted by music and dancing.
δεαγζιεδθλύν εδεαεεεδεώι Men and women used to sit at separate
ζαε δεαδζέδαδαι θέξμε εεν tables. Friends, relatives and in-laws were
πμζειέν ώμεν. eating, drinking, singing and dancing until
late. They also used to make contests where
many people improvised small rhyming
poems (called “tsiattista”).
45

48. Η ΕΠΟΜΕΝΗ ΜΕΡΑ
The day after the wedding
Τε
 Δεπεέμα θεεά ελ γάθλ ελ
γηέιεε δπιεξεδόεαι. Όδλε
παμεπμίδζλιεαι έζεμιαι ζαε
πάηε θεμεζά ζαγεεά ή δεάζλμα
άηηα δώμα δελ δεπγάμε όπζν
δειεόιεα ή μλύξα. Ή ιύζε
έβγαδε ελ ιπζεζό εεν ζαε έβαδε
έια άηηλ ζόμεθα δε δζλύμλ  The Monday following the wedding, the
δπιήδζν ξμώθα πλπ celebrations were continued. The guests
λιλθαδόεαι «δεπεεμζάεεζλ». would bring again food and presents for
the couple, such as sheets or clothes.
Τε θέμα απεή ζαεά εε δεάμζεεα The bride would wear a different dress
ελπ γηειεελύ ελ αιεμόγπιλ (which was called “defterkatiko”
ξόμεπε ζαε λε ζαηεδθέιλε ελπν meaning “the Monday dress”). On
«πηλύθεδαι» ελπν Monday the couple would dance a
ζαμζίεδζιαι δεηαδή special song and the guests would pin
ξαμελιλθίδθαεα πάιζ δεα money on the couple’s clothes as they
μλύξα ελπν ζν δώμλ γεα ελ dance to give them the best start to
ιέλ ελπν ζλειό κεζίιεθα. their life together.
46

49. Traditional Cypriot
Wedding:
Children s’ point of view
Authors
Pupils of grade E’ & St’ 47

50. 48

51. Maroulla’s and Antriko’s
secret diary
Every summer I use to visit my grandfathers’ and grandmother’s
house in the village. My latest exploration was an old diary.
In the first page, it was written the : “The secret diary of
Maroulla and Antrikos. Maroulla and Antrikos are my
grandparents, who are now about 70 years old.
I opened the secret diary and full of curiosity I started reading it.
In the following slides, we tried to paint what was the story
about.
Hope you enjoy it too!!!
49

52. The first meeting
Monday, 23 August 1962
When I first showed Maroulla, I knew that this girl would become
my wife one day. I met her on the traditional tab -fountain of the
village, while she was trying to fill her jug with water …
After waiting for a while, I took a flower and I gave it to her…
Antrikos
50

53. The matchmaking
Friday, 27 August 1962
All those nights I can’t sleep…. All the time I am thinking of
Maroulla. Tonight is a big night because , after conversation
with my parents, wedecided to send to her parent sthe
matchmaker of the village to ask her hand. I hope that
everything will be ok.
…. Finally, the matchmaker came back and asked from my
parents to accompany her to Maroulla’s house because the answer
is positive. Most probably now the are signing the dowry contract.
Antrikos
51

54. Manufacturing process of resi
Friday, 27 October 1962
Today I get up early to write a few words because today
we have to wash the wheat and reach it out to drain.
More precisely, accompany with music we will go to the
traditional fountain of the village to wash the wheat.
After wards we will come back home and reached it to
drain. Finally, we will grind it with the quern.
Antrikos
52

55. Sewing the bridal mattress
Thursday 27 October 1962
From my window I am watching my friends preparing the layer
of the bridal bed, filling it with wool. I noticed that as the
women sewed the mattress, attendants threw bronze or silver
coins sewn into it.
Oh my Good, I still don’t believe it that in a few days I will get
married with handsome Antrikos!!! Maroulla
53

56. The dressing of the bride
Sunday 30 October 1962
Today I am very nervous and anxious. My bridesmaids will
come early at my home with the musicians and will dance
my clothes in a basket turning 3 times around me, symbol
of the Holy Trinity.
Maroulla
54

57. The dressing of the bride
Sunday 30 October 1962
…While my bridesmaids were making my make up and
fixing we hair, I closed my eyes and I was thinking that in
a few hours I would become Antriko’s wife.
Maroulla
55

58. The groom’s shaving
Sunday 30 October 1962
…I can’t wait meeting my dear Maroulla !!!Ouf… they will
finish shaving in order to start going to the church….
Antrikos
56

59. Isaih’s dance
Sunday 30 October 1962
…At the church I feel my heart beating quickly… I can’t
understand what is going on around me. I see roses and rice to
be thrown in the church. I just hold tightly the hand of
Antrikos and we together with the priest we are moving around
3 times.
Maroulla
57

60. The sewing of the bridal
mattress
Sunday 30 October 1962
…After the church, we went back home for the sewing of the
bridal mattress. There my bridesmaids started sewing four cross
at the four edges of the bed in order God to bless our wedding
and soon to have a lot of descendants. Some of our guests put
money on it…
Maroulla
58

61. Dancing the bridal mattress
Sunday 30 October 1962
…Afterwards my brother took the mattress and
danced it accompanied with the musicians.
Antrikos
59

62. The party
Sunday 30 October 1962
…Finally we started eating and drinking. Everybody was looking
satisfied. Our guests all the time were proposing to us. Also, during
the night were organized “song contests”. The best impromptu couplet
either for the our wedding either for us, won enthusiastic applause.
Antrikos
60

63. The newly married dance
Monday 31 October 1962
…We gathered again to celebrate our wedding. We ate and we
begin dancing with Antrikos. While we were dancing our
relatives hung us money as our weeding present.
Maroulla
61

64. The baptism
Sunday 30 June 1963
…Today is the most special day in our common life. Our
marriage is blessed by the birth of our daughter, Katerina,
who we baptized today. Katerina is the rewarding of our
life.
Antrikos
62

65. Traditions and customs
bring us together
Photo album of
our activities
63

66. Collecting photos from Weddings in the
past…
64

67. Writing down the authentic
recipe of ressi
65

68. Demonstration of the tools we need to
cook ressi
66

69. Ressi
Ingredient
• 2 1 / 2 pounds veal or lamb or pork or chicken, according to your preference [
• 3-4 kg wheat
• Salt
• water
Instructions:
• Wash well the meat, so no trace of blood or
and place in bottom of a deep pot.
• Wash the wheat that goes over the meat.
• Calculate n 'leave a distance of approximately 10 million
below the rim of the pot.
• Add water to cover materials.
• Place on low heat and some distance from the eye.
• Not mix, but add water periodically.
• Once cooked materials, start mixing
and add salt.
• If you need another water periodically add, one cup at a time.
It is to melt the material and make a thick porridge.
• Then remove from the heat and cover the pot in order to absorb any liquid and serve the
department until cool.
67

70. Cooking ressi
68

71. Cooking ressi
69

72. Testing ressi
70

73. Painting
Eva Maria
71

74. Painting
Konstantinos Savvas
Konstant
72

75. Painting
Agni Nicoletta
73

76. Painting
Peter George
74

77. 75