Big Fat Cypriot Wedding

Cyprus has been famous as the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Every year, lovers come from different parts of the world to exchange their golden rings and swear an eternal love. The Cypriots, like the Greeks, like to celebrate life. Every celebration is filled with joy, fun and traditions, which are passed from generation to generation.

Engagement

Traditionally, relatives and fiancees gather in a brides home where they are blessed by parents . The groom's parents traditional pastry with sesame seeds (glistarkes) on that occasion, which will be distributed as an invitation to the wedding.

Wedding day

Everything starts at the bride's home. Bride is dressed first. The whole ceremony is accompanied by traditional music and songs. Parents bless the bride again. A red scarf, which symbolises virginity, is tied and untied 3 times on the brides head and waist.

At the same time, grooms friends and family are preparing him for wedding. The best man shaves the groom and helps him to dress. The whole process is accompanied by music and songs. The grooms waist is also tied a red scarf that symbolises fertility. Then the groom travels with the whole family to pick up the bride.

Ceremony in the church

Then the bridesmaid of honour puts a crown on bride's head, which is traditionally made of lemon leaves, olives or grape twigs, or gold and precious stones, depending on the family's social status, which symbolises God's blessing. The best man puts this or similar crown on the groom's head. Most often, the couple saves the crowns and hangs at home in the most visible place, as symbol of their union.Before putting the wedding rings on an unnamed finger on the right hand, the young people exchange the rings three times. Then the priest holds the cross and while singing takes the couple around the table three times, and the bridesmaid of honour and best man follows the couple. The priest blesses the newlyweds, wishing for a long and happy life together, removes the crowns and separates them, thus showing that only God can separate them apart.

Sweet Almonds

When the couple leaves the church, guests are given a "koufete" egg shape sugared almonds. An egg shape that symbolises fertility and a new life starting with this marriage, and their solid texture symbolises the strength of a marriage, white sugar means the purity and sweetness of the future life. Almonds are also offered in odd numbers, symbolising the indivisibility of the new union. Unmarried girls save the received almonds , later on they will put them under their pillow , in hope to dream their future husband. Eventually, newlyweds are sprinkled with rice or rose petals to give them happiness, wealth and many children. After the official part, all move towards the place of the celebration.

Reception

At the beginning of the celebration, the young people and their parents receive congratulations from both friends and relatives and from the local villagers. Depending on the financial situation of the family, guests number can range from 3,000 to 6,000 people. Everyone is invited to the wedding without exception. Every guest is traditionally served with a cookie stuffed with almonds 'loukoumia'. During the celebration, guests can enjoy traditional dishes and dancing until the morning.

Wedding Spell

The married girls will write their names on the bride's shoe sole and at the end of the evening, whose name will remain on the pad, will be the next, which will get married.