Manners and customs during betrothal and marriage in Proti Serron

and more widely in the villages of western Pangeo.

α) Engage

     The betrothal is preceded by the consulship. The groom sends the matchmaker to the house of the girl he has chosen as his life partner. Discussions and negotiations follow, the issue of the dowry is settled, and once all the agreements are settled, the engagement date is set..

     On the day the cohabitation agreements expire, the bride gives a dress to be kept at the groom's house. Taking the bride's dress to his house, the groom calls the young people of his company and they feast until the morning. Others make big engagements with many guests, with a feast, exchange of gifts, etc. While others in a close circle only change wedding rings .

     The first public appearance of the betrothed is accompanied by friends and relatives. The so-called handshakes follow in order to make acquaintance. Mutual visits exchange of gifts etc.

β) Marriage

     Several days before the wedding, preparations for the dowry begin at the bride's house. Friends of the bride wash, iron, sew and make sure to present the dowry as best as possible. The quilts must be put into sheets by three young women who have been crowned for the first time. Then they display the dowry in a room and invite many female relatives, friends and neighbors to see it.

     The guests give wishes, the parents brag and generally there is an atmosphere of joy. A few days before the wedding, the best man is called by the groom. Two or three of the groom's closest relatives with various gifts (sweets, candies, wine, fruit) sent by the groom visit the best man and set the date on which he will exchange the crowns.

     On the eve of the wedding, the best man must help carry the dowry from the bride's house to the groom's house. Several young men and women, relatives of the bride and groom carry the dowry and furniture in their hands and display it in some way. In order to get the dowry from the bride's house, they have to give monetary gifts to the girls who help in her preparation. The first thing from the dowry must be offered by the bride's mother and it must be a copper household utensil.

       After the dowry, the best man and his entourage take the wedding dresses to the bride. These are placed in a large pan and precede the procession.

On the eve of the wedding, a feast is held in the homes of the bridegroom and the bride. At the groom's house, the best man also has fun with his relatives.

     On the wedding day and while the groom is getting ready, they sing various touching songs. The same applies to the bride's dress. Free girls write their names on the bride's shoes, and it is believed that the first to marry is the one whose name is erased first .

     The shoes will be put on the bride's feet by a small child, to whom the bride will give a small tip. When the groom and the best man go to the bride's house to accompany her to the church, they close the door of the room and do not open it unless they pay her dearly. When the door opens the groom is standing next to the bride. A small child holding a man's handkerchief circles it around the bridegroom's neck and says three times " A marriage forever". At the end, he offers the groom a glass of wine. He drinks it and puts the empty glass in his pocket.

     The bride, who has previously greeted her family, when she leaves her house stops at the exit or at the main staircase. There they have placed a glass full of wine which she kicked with her right foot. It is considered good luck for the couple if the glass breaks .

     The procession that accompanies the bride and groom to the church is preceded by the violin. At the time of the ceremony and at the moment when the priest says "the woman should be afraid of the man" the groom or bride steps on the other's foot to force his attention. After the ceremony, all the guests accompany the newlyweds to the groom's house..

     A ploughshare is placed at the entrance of the house. The newlyweds must step on it. This symbolizes health and fruitfulness. The mother-in-law welcomes the bride first. The bride bows down and prostrates three times at her mother-in-law's feet. The mother-in-law covered with a red scarf on her head gives to hold in her arms a small child, boy or girl with many wishes.

     Treats and wishes follow. The bride replaces the dress and departs with the groom for the wedding trip. Returning from her wedding trip, the bride offers gifts from her dowry to her mother-in-law, father-in-law and all relatives.

     Fifteen days after the wedding, the bride goes to church together with her mother-in-law, maid of honor and other female relatives and friends. Then they visit relative houses of the maid of honor and end up at hers. On that day, the maid of honor prepares a rich table for the newlyweds. After the table the bride to reciprocate offers gifts to the groomsmen after greeting them and bowing to them.

γ) Prejudices - superstitions:

     The villagers still maintain some precautions.

These are:

· The bride after the coronation must not return dressed in her wedding clothes to her paternal home, lest she return as a widow or a divorcee.

· They don't sweep when a loved one leaves for a trip. When the traveler leaves home they throw water behind the car, the same way when the newlyweds leave for the wedding journey.

· They forbid newlyweds from attending funerals and memorial services for a year.

· If two brides happen to meet in church they must not look at each other.

· The bride leaving her home must not turn to look behind her.

· On the eve of the wedding, the groom is forbidden to go to the bride's house as well as any of his relatives.

· After the funeral the priest must not go to a wedding.