El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-06
Greek Wedding Customs Queer
Brides DOvYry Is Paid in Cash
to the Groom Before the
Ceremony Is Held.
BY Madison c. Peters.

TESTERN civilization has inIlu-
w onced the Greeks of the upper
classes and in the larger towns.
but i'm the smaller towns and villages
of the interior among the peasants
many old curious customs are still
observed. National etiquette requires
that the principals in a marriage
should take no part in the preliminary
arrangements, which are made by the
parent, assisted by a professional
matchmaker.
These settled, the brides dowry de-
cided and cinnamon eaten BY the
mother and matchmaker, the first be-
trothal is concluded. AS soon as this
is made known the young man, with
his relations pays a visit TO his be-
trothed family Great formality is
observed and the bride, affecting
humility and mode5ty, stands with
hands crossed on her~breast and eyes
downcast to receive the congratula-
lions of the guests, which custom has
given rise to the Greek saying, "as
affected as a bride"
The Brides DOTry.
Among Weu-tO-dO peasants the
brides dowry is from $3.50 to $500, a
rugs some furniture, and a best
dress" for Sundays and holidays. In
the towns among the middle classes
the dOwry ranges from $500 to s2,500.
while the trOusseau follows more
closely the European fashions
It is very hard to find a husband
for a dOWerless girl Therefore, the
fathers first duty is to save a dot"
for his daughter. And if the father
dies it becomes the duty OF the broth
eTs TO see their sisters settled before
they themselves marry.
DOWry Paid in Cash.
The ceremony begins with the ex-
change of the contracts which the
priest gives to the parents Of the
couple. and the dOWry is paid in cash
to the groom, some of whose friends
take it to his house.
The second engagement ceremony
now takes place, the brides father or
nearest male relative offering to the
corresponding relative Of the groom
some sweet besiI, saying three times-
Accept the betrothal Of my daugh-
| ter to your SON."
The same thing is done by the
/ bridegroOm's nearest of kin. a male
relative acting for the bride, then pre-
sents the groom with a glass Of wine,
a ring shaped cake and spoon. After
/ drinking the wine, he drops some
coins into the glass for the bride, eats
half the cake and gives the other half
l to the best man.
IL is now LnE u4AE VI TIE DE1L man
/ to put the shoes provided by the
/ groom, on the brides feet.
Gaudy in all her finery, her cheeks
rOuged and spangled and partly hidden,
/ by a gauze veil, she now walks forth
I into the street stepping through
water poured by her mother. The
wedding march is played and songs
are Chanted as the procession walks
/ slowly to the church, At the door Of
which her future mOtherinlaW greets
/ her with the question:
Bride. hast thou shOes?'
Religious Ceremony Follows.
The religious ceremony is now per-
! formed during which the priest makes
/ the sign Of the cross three times over
their heads with the rings before
placing them on their hands. The
priest then places the wedding WreaInS
on the heads of both bride and groom,
and the best man, standing behind
them. changes these three times, while
the priest says;
Grown myself, servant Of God"
The bride groom and best man then
drink q glass of wine, and the pair,
holding hands. are led three times
around the holy table, the best man
following with his hands on the
crowns
priest removes the Wreaths and pro-
nOunces the benedictiOn, after which
the guests offer their congratulations
I When they return TO the house the
brides mother places a leaf on the
heads of the bridal couple; the others
shower them with c0mfits-
Bridal Feast Is Held.
The bridal feast follows and is Kept
up until time for the bride TO depart
AS she leaves the house loaf is
divided and she takes half Of it to her
new home.
village green, where they omen the
I dance. after which they proceed TO the
patcrnaI roof OF the groom On the
following morning the guests meet pc
fore the house and serenade the
Young couple The best man arrives
for breakfast bringing with nm the
half cake and spoon given TO MIN ths
day before.
The bride uses the spoon to COM
mence her meal and eats the cake, ant
or which she goes to the family wen
to prOpitiate the Naiad Of the spring.
by dropping into it a coin rom ner
lips She then fills an earthen Jar
with water. carries it home on her
shoulder and on entering the house
pours some water on her husband
hands. giving him towel on which 10
dry them, for which service she re-
ceives small present
The rest of the day is spent IN
feasting and dancing, after which t6@
young wife settles down in her new
home, assisting her mOtherinlaw with
her household duties. The following
Friday the bride and her husband go
to her parents home to spend twenty
four hours.
other visit to her mother, three days
after which the wedding obserFances
finally end by a feast given by the
brides father TO all the relatives OF
the pair.