Weddings and Happy Endings

My parents celebrated 52 years of wedded bliss today. That's a really long time by modern standards and it is a milestone worth acknowledging. Thinking about their anniversary got me to thinking about Greek weddings in general. A beautiful scene came to mind from the movie, "Shirley Valentine" starring Pauline Collins that was filmed on the island of Mykonos.

For those not familiar with the movie, the title character Shirley escapes to Greece in search of a mid-life adventure. While in Greece, she befriends a local man named Costas who happens to invite Shirley to his niece's wedding.

What follows is a traditional island village wedding. The bride is dressed in a traditional wedding costume and the entire village follows the bridal procession to the church while being accompanied by musicians. Afterwards, there is a great feast and a raucous celebration and Shirley is overcome by the warmth and hospitality of the family.

That pretty much sums it up.

Greek weddings are so rich in symbolism and tradition. There are no spoken vows, instead, the sacrament of marriage is bestowed upon the bride and groom who are crowned with delicate wreaths of white flowers joined by a single ribbon.

The wedding reception that follows is loud and festive and the party often continues until daybreak. The food and drink are abundant and flowing and the bride and groom are showered with money and coins as everyone dances until their feet throb.

The traditional wedding cookies are kourabiethes (koo-RAH-byeh-thes) - buttery shortbread cookies with toasted almonds dredged in confectioner's sugar.

Departing guests are given favor packets made of tulle containing sugared almonds called koufeta (koo-FEH-tah) that symbolize the hope that the bride and groom will have a long, sweet, and fruitful life together.

I'm guessing that the koufeta at my parent's wedding must have been exceptional!

When I was growing up, it was common for my parents' friends to invite us to their homes for "coffee." They didn't need a special occasion or a holiday - it was simply an opportunity for the group to get together.

What I remember about these gatherings is that the host usually put forth a mini feast instead of simply coffee and cake. There would be mezethes (meh-zeh-thes) or appetizers, possibly an entree or two and of course the requisite sweets. This is how Greeks entertain - they shower you with the best that they have to give.

To my parents' generation, most of whom were immigrants to this country, these gatherings allowed them an opportunity to forge a new community and to bring a slice of the old country to their adopted land.

In our tightly-knit Greek-American group, every adult friend became an honorary aunt or uncle - our extended family if you will. Even as children, we were welcomed to the table and counted on to be a part of the conversation. In this way, we were able to absorb the language and the culture and to develop strong ties to our heritage. Thinking about it now makes me very nostalgic for the good old days.

With today's hectic lifestyle, these types of gatherings seem a thing of the past. It seems like we rarely invite people to our home, choosing instead to meet in restaurants and coffee bars.

I say go ahead, invite some friends over to your home. You don't need to make a spread like our parents did, a simple but delicious Spiced Biscotti and a fresh-brewed pot of coffee will suffice.

Nothing can make the winter doldrums disappear like a great pot of soup. There's something almost therapeutic to me about the chopping and dicing needed to prepare the base ingredients. The rhythmic sound of the knife on the cutting board is almost like a heartbeat.

The simmering pot releases its delicious aromas into the home and reminds me of my childhood. During the winter months, Classic White Bean Soup or fassolatha (fah-soh-LAH-tha) was a staple in our house. Paired with some crusty bread it was a hearty, nutritious meal.

I didn't appreciate its goodness when I was a child. In fact, I was downright grumpy every time my Mom served it. Thankfully, our tastes evolve as we grow and I outgrew my aversion to this delicious soup!