Home life in Hellas, Greece and the Greeks - eBooks4Greeks.gr

188 HOME LIFE IN HELLASoften furnished by the koumbaros. The ceremonialdressing of the bride by her girl friendsis an important function, and isgenerally accompaniedby the singing of songs bearing on theevent. In Sparta, when the bride comes home,the bridegroom's mother awaits her at the doorholding a glass of honey and water. The bridedrinks some of it,in order that her words may besweet as honey. The rest is smeared over thelintel, that the house may be free from strife.Oneof the guests breaks a pomegranate on the threshold.These rites form no part of the ceremonialprescribed by the Church, but the rustics cling tothem. They are undoubtedly survivals of paganantiquity. They vary among the different populations.In some of the Cyclades the pomegranateis thrown at the door and thus broken. Ifsome of the seeds stick it is considered a goodomen. In Rhodes the pomegranate is placed onthe threshold of the new dwelling, and the bridegroomcrushes it with his foot as he enters. Butfirst he dips his finger in a cup of honey andtraces a cross on the door, the guests crying, " Begood and sweet as this honey. " As the bride entersthey throw over her grain and cotton seed, andsprinkle her with orange-flower water. In somedistricts the bridecake takes the form of smallcakes of honey and sesame, which areat the wedding feast,not eatenbut sent to the guests afterwards.Cyprus has many peculiar customs,among which is the solemn bathing of the bride