Ithacan Wedding Traditions: A Celebration of Love and New Beginnings
In Ithaca, marriage marked a significant and sacred transition in life. Unlike today, couples typically married just once, remaining partners until the end of their days. Divorce was simply not an option.
Festive Feasts and Joyful Melodies
Similar to other regions of Greece, Ithacan weddings were joyous affairs, celebrated with elaborate feasts lasting for several days. These celebrations overflowed with delicious food, refreshing drinks, lively music, and energetic dancing. Following the ceremony, relatives and friends would join in a joyous procession, escorting the bride and her dowry to her new home. Songs sung during these processions often praised the beauty of the couple and their unwavering love.
The Ritual of the Bedchamber
Traditionally, the preparation of the marital bed was a special task entrusted to unmarried girls. They would layer the bed with sheep’s wool while singing joyful wedding songs. Friends, however, were known for their playful mischief, often setting up light-hearted pranks like hanging animal bells under the mattress to disrupt the “mystery” of the first night.
Three days before the wedding, another fascinating custom took place. Relatives and friends would gather to participate in the “making of the mattress.” They would meticulously stuff the mattress case with sheep’s wool, followed by a ritual called “silvering the bed.” This involved placing various silver coins on the newly made bed. Finally, a young boy with both parents living would symbolically roll on the mattress, a gesture believed to bring good health to the couple and ensure they would have sons.
The Dowry Procession and Symbolic “Theft”
A few days before the wedding, the groom, accompanied by his family and musicians, would visit the bride’s house. They would arrive with music and song to formally receive the dowry, typically consisting of hand-woven linens and essential household items, accumulated over years of the bride’s hard work. Carried in baskets on the heads of young girls, the dowry would be transported to the groom’s house for another celebratory gathering.
Adding a touch of playful tradition, a small object was “stolen” from the bride’s parents’ home on behalf of the groom. This whimsical “booty” would then be presented to the groom, adding a lighthearted touch to the otherwise formal exchange.
These traditional customs, filled with symbolism, music, and merriment, offer a glimpse into the way love and new beginnings were celebrated in Ithaca.
Sources
- Ithaca Then and Now- Spiros Dendrinos Editions, Spyros X. Dendrinos – Alekos F. Kallinikos
- Historical and Folklore Tales of Ithaca – Andreas L. Anagnostou
- Ithacan Dirge (Ithaca Calendar, 1929)
- Photo by Old Ithaki Blogspot
- *Images are created with AI and do not represent real attires.
