This document summarizes the traditional wedding customs in the villages of Viotia, Greece. It describes the various stages and rituals of a traditional Greek wedding over the course of a week, including matchmaking, engagement ceremonies, exchanging of gifts, dressing of the bride and groom, processions to the church, celebrations after the ceremony, and return visits after the wedding. However, many of these customs are becoming endangered as younger generations are less interested in traditional weddings and prefer more modern styles of marriage ceremonies. Efforts are needed to preserve the cultural traditions and customs associated with Greek weddings.

1. Inventory for Local ICH: TRADITIONAL WEDDING
1. Name of the ICH Traditional wedding.
A social –cultural event, a traditional institution of Greeks.
2. People
(individuals,communities,agents,
transmitters, institutions,states)
For Greeksthe weddingwas asocial fact inwhichall the communityshouldparticipate.
3. Language involved Greek.
4.Location(s) Area of Viotia , specially the villages of Elikona’s mountain [ Zeriki , Kiriaki ] and the village Dionysos.
5.Characteristics of the
expression/tradition
The weddingisanaction performedaccordingtoa ritual with<< magic>> content,in whichtraditional habits,prejudices
and symbolismshadasubstantial position.
The matchmakingwasthe beginningfora goodmarriage! It wascarriedout by prominentmembersof the communitywho
knewthe candidatesandtheirfamilies.The finalconversationwasofficially made by menandwascompletedwhenthe two
fathers«made the deal». Thentheynotifiedtheirdecisiontothe immediate stakeholdersandfollowingthe «wedding
reason».A small spree wasusually made at the pride’shouse withthe close relativesof bothfamilies.Inthiswaythe
weddingwasnotarized.
The dowrywas a mandatoryrule for completingthe agreement.The familyof the bride hadtogive a dowryto the man who
wouldmarryher. The dowrywas writtendownindetail inthe «dowrycontracts» , which often validatedbylawyers.The
dowry inearliertime wassome estatesoranimalsthatwere givenbythe bride’sfamilytothe groombut alsothe clothing
that the bride broughtto hernewhome.
The couple startedto be meetingandtakingtoeach other, alwayswiththe presence of anotherperson. The engagement
followedsoon.The ceremonyusuallytook place a Sundaymorning,at the bride ’shouse.The couple exchanged the
weddingringswhichwere inaplate with some rice anda Christianicon.

2. The weddingdaywas set a shorttime afterthe engagement. The weddingceremony tookplace onSundaysnoon.
Weddingsdidn’thappenduringLent’speriod,inMayand almostneverin a leapyear. It was usuallytook place inbride’s
village anditlastedalmostaweek
Monday: “Kalamata”,meaninginvitations ,were made bythe relativesof the groomandthe bride. Atsome placesit
happeningin a differentway inanera wheninvitationswere unknown .Fistthe priestandthe bestmanhad to be invited.
Tuesday : “ Kouloures”.Theywere fermeting around breadnamed “coulura”at the bride’s house [the same breadwas on
Wednesday at the groom’ s house ] . Those breadsexchangedbythe twofamiliesbeforebride leavesforthe church.But
theywere cut insmall piecesandwere giventothe guests.
Wednesday:the trousseauwere washed by unmarriedwomen,bride’sfriendsorrelatives ,atbride’shome . They
decoratedthe «kofes» withflowersandpomegranate andtheydancedaroundit.
Thursday :The “ exhibition of bride’sclothing”.They hangthe washedclothes inthe wallsof the bride’shouse andthey
decoratedthem. The whole village visitedthe exhibitionandtheydrankthe clotheswithflowers andrice,butalsowith
money.
Friday : the groom’smotherwith the groom's relativesvisitedthe exhibitiontosiftthe clothing. Immediatelyafterthe
clothes were gatheredtobe transferredtothe groom's house.
Saturday :
Sunday : the weddingday.
At the groom'shouse:All the relativesandclose friendsgatheredto“dress”the groom. The preparationwould endwith
the “shavingof the groom”.
Meanwhile atthe bride’shouse herfriendsandrelativeshave gatheredtoprepare her. At olderagesthe bride usedto
wearthe traditional suitwhichwasmade withgreatcare for the wedding.Lateronthe white dresswasestablished.
All these momentswere accompaniedbythe appropriate songs.
Thenthe groom and everyone attendingthe ceremonywouldgoto the bride'shouse,toaccompanyher tothe church.
The processionwasledbyfolkmusicianswhoplayedhappyweddingsongsandthe guestsoftensanganddancedto the
music.
In the past the weddingceremonytookplace at the bride’shouse, but laterthe ceremony took place at the church.
Afterthe ceremony the motherinlawwelcomedthe coupleatthe house. She fedthemwithhoney.The bride stepped
on an ironobjectand the motherinlaw pulled the couple withawhite scarf inthe house.
After they had feast. The dance with“Kouloures”wasthe beginningof the feast.

3. Εlevendaysafterthe wedding,the groom,the bride andclose relatives,about15 people,hadtogo to the “girismata”,
(goingback) at the bride’sformerhouse where about20-30 otherrelativesandvisitorswhere waitingforthe couple.Then,
a big spree anda symposiumfollowed,andthatwasthe endof the event.
6.Associatedtangible elements(if
any)
NO
7. Availabilityofassociated
tangible elements
NO
8.Performedat what occasion(s)? When young people are going to get married.
9. Performedbywhom
(age/gender/name)?
Key Transmitters
Probably by everyone.
10. How transmitted? Oral tradition
11.Viability,or level of
endangerment;
The level of endangerment is great as younger generations don’t care about this kind of tradition. However, in
some villages the traditional songs and the wedding dances are preserved more than inthe city.

4. 12.Threats (ifany); With the passage of time, details are confused and forgotten.
The new generations, because of the change in the rhythm of life, use modern ways in wedding. In this way the
customs of the marriage are lost in time.
Family, school, society and the state should transmit the customs of marriage in order not to be lost.
The preservation of the customs of the wedding can be also made by the folklore museums and the traditional
music and dance groups.
13. Safeguarding- local and
international strategiesused
No
14.Relevant local organisations
(NGOsand others) (ifany);
Νο
15. Reference to
literature/discography,
audiovisual material/
internet?
Reference is made to literary works and songs on the subject of traditional marriage.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciVpA55J9Q
DancingFolkGroup of Levadia.Songsand eventsof marriage.
16. Communityexplicitlyagreeing
to listingin UNESCO?
Yes

5. 17. Connectionto the past/
present/future
Some customs have their roots in ancient times. In ancient Greek times, the bride's father was the one who decided
to marry his daughter and cared for the dowry that the girl would give to the bridegroom. What is to be noted is
that marriage as a ceremony was not a religious character, and therefore the union of man and woman was not
made in a temple but in the house of the bride.
18. Type of research
(interview, field research, focus
group interview)
Interview
Research on the internet
19.Information collectedby? Students of A1/A2/B1/B3/C2/C3 class of 3rd Gymnasium of Levadia