THE BED – BRIDAL BED CELEBRATION
The Greek weddings in Santorini take place usually on Sundays. On the Thursday before, all the girls of the village would gather to the bride’s house to break the almonds and make the sugar-plums. Friends and family bring things to decorate the bed, such as new linens, rose petals for the bride. Money or Golden jewelry is thrown on the bed which is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. A child should lie down on the bed for at least a minute, as well, as a symbol of fertility. At the end when they would make the bride’s bed they would throw rice on it so that the wedding is solid like rice and sugar-plums to make it sweet.
BRIDAL SHOES
In traditional Greek weddings the day of the wedding, the groom puts the shoes on the bride’s feet. Before he does, though, all the single bridesmaids write their names on the shoes. At the end of the night, whoever’s name has faded the least will be the next person to get married.
ENTRANCE OF THE BRIDE
The violists were getting ready to accompany the bride while a woman was going from door to door inviting the people to the wedding saying the same phrase: “come to the wedding“.
KOYFETA – GREEK FAVORS
Bombonieres with an odd number of sugared almonds are a traditional gift at weddings and are meant to symbolize the sweetness and bitterness of life. The odd number means that the couple cannot be divided and symbolizes five blessings for the married couple: happiness, health, fertility, longevity and wealth.
PEOPLE THROW RICE
As the bride and groom leave the church, it is the tradition for the guests to throw rice as a symbol of fertility. In our days they prefer to throw rose petals, or even blow bubbles as the bride and groom are exiting.
