Cretan
customs
and traditions.
Christenings and weddings
Christenings and weddings in Crete
are usually a big occasion and cause for a big celebration and party
atmosphere, meaning anything from 50 to 3000 guests. The wedding
ceremony is a very complicated and serious affair, but at the same
time everything is very relaxed.
Since there is not room for all at
once in the church, people just wander in and out, conversing and
smoking. All the guests are given a small gift, at a wedding it is
often a small tulle bag with sugared almonds and at christening it
is often a framed picture of the child.
After the ceremony the guests pass by
the couple or the parents, congratulating and handing over the gift;
an envelope containing 10 -20 Euro. This means that the newly
weds are able to start family life in comfort, and the parents of
the christened child are able to pay for the big party.
See pictures from a baptism in a small
mountain village.
Food and wine in large quantities is
served following the lengthy church service, and is followed by
traditional Greek dancing.
According to tradition the bride's
family dances first, then the family of the groom, followed by
friends of the bride, then friends of the groom. When these dances
are over, the other guests are now free to join in the dancing. At
these parties it is customary that the dancing men make a donation
to the musicians.
Name days and birthdays:
From ancient time name days have been
celebrated instead of birthdays, It is still like that in the
villages, while in the cities birthdays are celebrated more and more
nowadays. Every day has
2 names, one male and one female; the name day is celebrated much
like a birthday, guests - food and party.
Gifts:
At the big celebrations the gift consists usually of money. Only the
closest family and closest of friends give anything but money. You
can however give a "real" gift at a name day or for the
hostess. The gift Will usually not be opened while the guest is in
the house. It is considered impolite. It is all about the guest, not
the gift.
Dancing and music
Where to experience real Cretan music and dancing?
From May and way into September many
different events and village festivities are arranged. E.g. parties,
concerts and competitions in dancing, music or cooking. The parties
are primarily for the local population, but guests are more than
welcome. At these village festivities people come from near and far,
whatever the occasion Cretan music is an important part of the
entertainment. You will find posters in tavernas, kafenions and on
lampposts that announce where and when you can find the festivities.
Other places to experience Cretan
music and dancing are tavernas and bars, particularly in the bigger
cities. Several places advertise music and dancing- and any
"good" discothèque has Cretan music late at night.
More about Cretan dancing and music
Folk dancing in Crete is acknowledged everywhere as something
special as in contrast to elsewhere around the globe, it is not just
staged for the sake of the tourist but it is a part of the festive
side of life. It is not unusual to find that these festivities carry
on into the early hours of the morning.
The Cretan dances are bound by
traditions; it is no coincidence who is to start and who is to end
the chain. At weddings there is a fixed order for who is to dance
and when.
Very often a whole family or parties
will "pay" for a dance, and it is considered impolite to
participate unless you are invited, however later at night everybody
is normally welcome to take part.
Being a guest you are supposed to follow customs and traditions, and
not join in on the dancing before the traditional dances are
finished, but please make sure that you do not place your self in
front of the chain as this is considered to be an act of ignoring
the order of the dance, you have to follow the lead dancer at all
times.
Most Cretan dances are performed in
chains or circles, holding on to each other's shoulders. The small
steps and jumps are more complex than what they seem at first
glance. The leader of the dance is the one who can impress with
acrobatic jumps and difficult steps. For the young man has an
outstanding chance to impress and catch the attention of his loved
one and friends alike.
The most common Cretan dances
