Very small buns made to be thrown to the bride and groom at the wedding ceremony during the 'dance of Isaiah'.
Name - Origin
Very small buns made to be thrown to the bride and groom at the wedding ceremony during the 'dance of Isaiah'.
They were very small, since they were made by wrapping the dough around the little finger of the hand, and were kneaded with great care, because they had to be "clean". That is why young girls, who had no sins, would knead them . Kypri T., Protopapa K. (2007) 276.
Functional and symbolic role
They are thrown to the bride and groom at the wedding ceremony during the 'dance of Isaiah'.
These small buns were thrown to the bride and groom together with wheat, cottonseed and coins to bring them good luck.
There is testimony from many villages that these small buns were attributed with oracular properties and girls would place them under their headrests to dream of the man they would marry.
Additional information and bibliography
Kypri Th. and Protopapa K. (2007), 'Κυπριακά παραδοσιακά ζυμώματα', στο Φούρνοι και παραδοσιακά ζυμώματα στη Θράκη, το Αιγαίο και την Κύπρο (Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus Programme), Thira, 261-278.
Eleni Christou
Foods
Aggáthenon stefáni tou Hristoú - Crown of thorns
A type of bread shaped similar to the crown of thorns of Christ.
Foods
Alevrin - flour
Flour has always been the basic raw material for the preparation of various doughs, most notably for bread.
Foods
Arkatena bread and rusks
A traditional sourdough Cypriot bread (and rusks) made using chickpea foam (aquafaba), which requires a lengthy process with many stages.
Foods
Armyrokoulloura
Savoury pitta of Clean Monday, made of flour, salt and water. In the evening, a piece of the pitta was placed under the headrest of the young girls who were hoping to dream of their future husbands.
Foods
Artos, Afranda
Artos was prepared on special occasions like Saints' Days, Christmas, Easter, weddings and memorial services as an offering to the church.
Foods
Avkoti - Easter bread
An Easter bread. After kneading kouloures (bread) and flaoúnes, women would use a piece of the same dough to form small cases in the shape of a salt cellar, in which they would place one or two eggs…
Foods
Foodstuff offered as wedding gifts
Some of them would give to the newlyweds wheat, barley, potatoes and some others would give money.
Foods
Galena
Easter buns. Galena were made in certain places, mainly in Paphos, and were made with sugar and milk.
Traditional Recipes
Koullourka korniotika
"... cut a piece of the dough, roll it over the sesame seeds which you have placed on a towel and give it an oblong shape. Create Easter dolls, bags (baskets), the sarakosti (Lent) figure and…
Foods
Kourabiedes Athienitiki
A Christmas almond butter biscuit, which used to be offered to wedding guests. The dough for kourabiedes consists of flour, roasted almonds, sugar and various spices, such as cinnamon.
Foods
Prosforo gamou - wedding bread
The offering of this bread was considered necessary, since it was believed that the couple should eat and drink something together.
Traditional Recipes
Ressin
A traditional pilaf-like dish made from wheat cooked in meat broth. Resi is directly linked to the Cypriot wedding, since it was offered to the wedding guests at the dinner following the wedding…
Traditional Recipes
Sisamota
These bread products were customary in all the villages of Cyprus. They were especially made at Christmas and Easter.
Traditional Recipes
Traditional koullourka
After making the dough, the koulourka are given various shapes, such as oblong, rings, round but also avgotes, vatrahakia, zembilouthkia, stavrokoulloura etc for festive occasions.
Traditional Recipes
Wedding treats - Loukoumia
Loukoumia were offered as a treat on festive occasions, mainly at weddings and on nameday celebrations.