Here are some definitions of words you might hear or traditions you might witness at our wedding & reception!
Agapi - Love!
Aravones - Engagement
Boubounieres - Wedding favors filled with koufetta (see below). Odd numbers of koufetta are used in the favors because odd numbers are indivisible, symbolizing how the newlyweds stand as one and share everything.
Koufetta - Jordan almonds. Traditionally, they are placed on the wedding tray along with the wedding stefana and used in boubounieres. The Jordan almond signifies that the fresh almonds have a bittersweet taste, which represents life. The sugarcoating is added with the hope that the married couple's life will be more sweet than bitter. Another Greek tradition/superstition says that if an unmarried woman places the koufetta from the wedding tray under her pillow, she'll dream of her future husband. (This is quite obviously a lie perpetrated by grandmothers, mothers & aunts who want to fill their daughters' heads with nonsense).
Koumbaro & Koumbara - We are blessed to have a Koumbaro in Nick Begakis, and a Koumbara in Anastasia Sotiropulos, two of our dearest friends. In traditional Greek weddings, the koumbaro & koumbara's role is highly symbolic, and their duties are many. They serve as the couple's religious sponsors. For example, during the crowning ceremony, they must place the crowns on the bride's and groom's heads, then switch the crowns back and forth three times, uniting and binding the couple. As well as exchanging the engagement rings three times.
Lambades - large candles that the bride & groom hold during the ceremony which symbolize that Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, will light the way of their new life together.
Na Zisete! - A congratulatory exclamation which generally translates to "May you live well!"
Nifi & Gambro - Bride & Groom
Pethera & Pethero - Mother-in-Law & Father-in-Law
Prika - Dowry. Greek brides were often equated to a certain number of livestock, acres of arable land or money. Here's a great way to quantify it: When A Thousand Goats is Not Enough.
Simbethera/Simbethero - The term used by the parents of the bride or groom to refer to the parents of their son-in-law or daughter-in-law. Nick's parents and Andriana's parents will be 'simbetheri'.
Stefana - The crowns worn by the bride and groom during the ceremony, which symbolize that they are now the king and queen of their new household.
The two crowns stephana are linked together by a ribbon and they have several rich symbolisms for the Orthodox Wedding Ceremony. They express the joining of the two souls and the creation of a new household, a "kingdom" which they are charged to rule wisely and with full responsibility to each other and to God.
The stefana also represent martyrdom, sacrifice and steadfast devotion. In marriage, the couple must deny themselves and take up their cross as they relate to their spouses in building up the marriage and to commit themselves as responsible parents to their children.
