There is a ritual that Cypriots do with the groom just before the wedding. It involves music, shaving the grooms beard and wrapping a red sash around the grooms waist. Does anyone know what this ritual is called?
Some say that the red sash symbolises purity and others say it symbolises fertility. I have also heard that it represents the ‘virginity’ of the groom.
What do you think the red sash symbolises?
Does anyone have pics or video of this ritual?
Why do other people dress the groom on his wedding day?
Why does the groom let someone else shave him?
What are the lyrics/music that is played during the ceremony?
Are the Cypriots the only ones that do this?
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November 5, 2007 at 5:35 am
Anonymous
the dressing/shaving of the groom,
n the dressing of the bride.
Its all to do with good luck…its stupid really
the ‘krevati’ is merely to wish them luck (agen)
also the bride does this thing wer she hold a bowl of water n every1 at her spiti gets a coin n does the cross on her forhead…guess wat thats 4…
YEP.. more good luck
the way i c it everything the greeks do in prep for the church is all to do with giving the pair all the luck they can get
kinda slack if u ask me
n yes im greek
November 5, 2007 at 6:51 am
Maria
The red sash is a tradition that has a vague meaning. Now it is done mainly because its tradition and it is considered bad luck to not follow this part of the tradition and it has always been an integral part of greek weddings. From what my nan told me I gather that it is mainly for the parents, grandparents, godmother & godfather and borthers or sisters and any other very imediate family after that is used as a way to give their blessings and wish them long life, prosperity and to have a good marriage in general. Now why red I do not know that is the vaguest out of the lot because from since ever whomeever I’ve asked however old they were what they said was that they do not really know or remember they just know it has to be red and it is bad luck to use another colour or not use it at all if you are going to have a traditional greek wedding that is!
November 5, 2007 at 6:57 am
Anonymous
laso the red sash affair is called ‘To Zosma’(pronounced zo-z-ma).
The groom gets shaven and dressed by other people to wish him luck mainly and to prepare him so to speak for the event ahead so he is ‘well-groomed and presentable for his bride-to-be’!
Maria
November 5, 2007 at 7:07 am
Anonymous
Are the Cypriots the only ones that do this?
Mainly its cypriots you find lots of variations and similarities to greek weddins in the islands not the mainland, one similar wedding is the Crete wedding (you can find an example of this I’m not sure its either the first or second episode of the greek series ‘THS AGAPHS MAXAIRIA’ all episodes are available on veoh so you can see a recreation of a traditional Crete wedding with the balothies(gun-shots) and the serenading of the groom and his party around the village the night before the wedding etc and see similarites and differences and if they are things that have been adopted maybe and incorparated from it in the Australian-Greek weddings…
MAria
November 5, 2007 at 10:47 am
Lia
I was bridesmaid at a cypriot wedding and one of their traditions at the brides house was to wrap a red scarf around the groom 3 times before he goes to the church. Each family memeber can have a turn.
January 13, 2011 at 8:51 am
Chris Oxinou
I’m confused, I remember my mother did the red scarf three times around the waist of my niece – not the groom. Is that right or wrong?. If it’s right what does this symbolize and what is said whilst doing it?