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A few days before a traditional Greek wedding is to take place, the bride and groom hold what is know as a ‘Krevati’ in their soon to be marital home. Krevati is a pre-wedding celebration with traditional Greek food, drink and music for the friends and relatives of the couple.
It is customary for those present to place money and young children on the bed of the couple about to be married, this is thought to bring the couple prosperity and fertility.
On the day of the wedding the groom visit’s his bride family home to request her hand in marriage, once her Father has agreed and given the couple his blessing, the best man, known as the ‘koumbaros’ leads the bride and the groom to the church. Traditionally the appointed koumbaros will be the god-father of the groom, but in modern times, many grooms choose a close male relative or male friend.
After the couple exchange bouquets of flowers the wedding ceremony begins and the koumbaros puts the wedding crowns on the bride and groom. Traditionally the crowns are fashioned from orange blossoms or twigs and are wrapped in silver and gold. They are attached by a ribbon and switched on the marrying couples head three times.
This symbolises that the marriage is noble and that the bride and groom are beginning a new life together, and is representative of the Christian belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The koumbaros then summons the couple to walk together around altar table, again three times, whilst the koumbaros, the bride’s maid of honour and the marital priest encircle the altar table, and the priest begins his traditional Greek prayers to bless the couple
Lastly the couple exchange their wedding rings - again three times.
Tags: Greek wedding customs, koumbaros, krevati, wedding crowns
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