Marriage

While Greek American wedding celebrations and receptions represent a mixture of American and Greek traditions and customs, a Greek Orthodox wedding service is the same in churches around the world. This service includes seven basic steps: the betrothal or blessing of the rings, the lighting of candles, the joining of hands, the crowning with “Stephan” or crowns linked by a ribbon, scriptural readings, drinking from the common cup, the dance of Isaiah in which the priest leads the couple around a small table at the front of the church, and the proclamation of marriage. This ceremony lasts about an hour and in the United States may be conducted in Greek, English or a combination of the two depending on the preferences of the couple and the priest.

Elements of ethnic traditions customarily found in Greek American wedding celebrations include, bouzouki music, Greek open-circle and open line dances like the hospice and kalamatianos, and Greek wedding sweets such as baklava and kourabiethes. “Kouretas” or favors made out of almond candies, wrapped in layers of fine tulle fabric and decorated with ribbon, are also frequently handed out to each guest.

Over successive generations, Greek American attitudes toward intermarriage have changed. According to Greek Orthodox Church statistics, mixed couples represented three out of ten marriages performed in the Church during the 1960’s and six out of ten in the 1980’s. These numbers represent only marriages between Greek Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians, since these requirements must be met for a marriage to be performed in the church and by a Greek Orthodox priest. Thus, intermarriage has become the rule rather than the exception and no longer carries the stigma it once had.