‘Allamata’
13:30 Denni’s ‘Allamata’
15:00 Marina’s ‘Allamata’
[Location]
(Mylou 33, Anthoupolis, Lakatamia, Nicosia)
- Allamata translates to ‘changing’ but don’t worry, we are not exchanging the groom nor the bride for somebody else. They will change into their clothes and prepare for the wedding. (We promise it is not a reverse striptease situation, it’s suitable for kids.) This little event takes place right before the ceremony, usually at the house of the bride and the groom.
- For the bride we are going to go to Marina’s house which is within walking distance to the church (40 metres).
- At the bride’s house, in the presence of her close relatives and friends, the custom of ‘Allamata’ begins, accompanied by traditional songs with lute and violin. A few friends of the bride take turns to dance with a big wide basket that contains the bride’s jewellery, the veil, the shoes and her perfume. The maid of honour helps the bride to put on everything. The song actually gives the instructions to the maid of honour on what to do. Then close families do the ‘zosimo’ which is done with a red piece of long cloth. This is a special and sacred moment, as the parents say goodbye to their child and wish them to have a good life with their mate. They form the cross with the red cloth on the chest of the bride or on the head. Then they pass the red scarf around the waist three times, fastening it lightly, without tying a knot and leave the scarf on the bride’s shoulder for the next member of the family. They also use a smoker with a few coals in it on which olive leaves are burned and the parents form three circles over the head of the groom or the bride. Sometimes they are sprinkled with rose water at the same time. This is supposed to prevent them from evil.
- At the groom’s house a similar procedure goes on. Allamata begins with shaving the groom and then the best man helps him to put on his shirt, vest, tie, cufflinks and jacket. The ceremony finishes with ‘zosimo’ and ‘smoking’. The groom’s “allamata” takes place before the bride’s so he will have time to get to the church first and wait for his bride.
- When the allamata finishes snacks will be served at both brides’ and grooms’ house. Then we are going to walk the bride to the nearby church. If you prefer you can go beforehand and wait for the bride with the groom.
Wedding Church
17:00 Saint Neophytos Church
[Location]
- In the Greek Orthodox Tradition, the father and mother accompanies the bride to the entrance of the church, where the groom awaits with her bouquet. (So guests sometimes want to wait outside with the groom). The groom offers the bouquet to her, and takes her right hand after her father.
- Guests get in the church. You don’t have to pick sides (bride or groom) so you can sit wherever you want. (Depending on the covid precautions that will be applied at the time you may have to leave a seat between each other. At the moment face masks are obligatory both indoors and outdoors)
- Bride and groom then walk together down the aisle, the groom on the right side of the bride. There they are awaited for by the koumbaro (best man) and koumpara (maid of honour), who will exchange the wedding rings and the wedding crowns (they look like rings you put on your head so don’t imagine a king’s crown).
- There is no ‘till death do us part’ in orthodox weddings, so… this is forever!
- We don’t exchange vows in orthodox weddings and nobody is asked if they object. (We just don’t care if you do.)
- If you want to learn more about the ceremony, the procedure and meaning then this website gives great explanations: http://web.mit.edu/manoli/www/wedding/ceremony.html
Wedding party
19:00 Ktima Oasis
[Location]
After the wedding we are going to head to the party which is about a 20 minutes’ drive. You may want to turn on your GPS or download the map beforehand because there are a few turns here and there.
At the entrance you can get a drink to clink your glasses with Dennis and Marina and give them your wishes. We usually shake hands or give hugs and kisses but since Covid-19 we try to keep it safe. Parents of the couple typically are standing by the couple and also get congratulated (I guess for finally getting rid of them). To wish in Greek we say “Sigxaritiria” and to the parents and best man and maid of honour “Na sas zisoun” (Or you can stick to “Congratulations” of course). This is when we give the gifts to the Groom and Bride.
Before Covid19 we had no problem to invite to Greek weddings a thousand people but now we try to keep in the hundreds. In the entrance you will find the sitting arrangement.
There will be a buffet serving so the waiters are going to invite the guests to go to the buffet when the food is ready.
We don’t have a toastman or toastwoman. The couple (or let’s be honest, the bride) knows the flow of the wedding and plans for it.
Enjoy the food and the music and have fun! [This is a video of an instructor teaching you “Hasaposerviko”. Don’t worry most of our friends don’t know the steps either so just have fun with it. We are probably end up doing the makarena anyways… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tefoe9_UEFE ]
Day after the wedding
11:00 Marina’s House
[Location]
(Mylou 33, Anthoupolis, Lakatamia, Nicosia)
For whoever still has the energy “pittes” will be served at the bride’s house. Pittes is when people gather the next day after the wedding to make pittes which is basically dough shaped in thin circles that is fried in oil and topped with honey. (Not to be confused with “Egina pitta” which means “I got hammered” since they won’t provide enough alcohol for that!)