Miliá (apple tree) mé pouliá (birds) apó zymári (dough). A symbolic game that was played during the wedding festivities, associated with both kneading and fortune telling.
Name - Origin
Another wedding custom also associated with kneading and fortune telling was miliá, the "apple tree". It was a kind of symbolic game played at the wedding tables on Monday night. It is mainly reported from villages of the Kyrenia district.
(Kypri T., Protopapa K., 2007, 277).
Functional and symbolic role
The number of birds left on the "apple tree" was representing the number of children the new couple would have, according to popular belief (Kypri T., Protopapa K., 2007, 277).
In this custom, the "apple tree" game, the belief on the fortune telling properties of bread is evident just like in other customs, and also the various symbolisms for the tree: a symbol of life, the sacred tree of life, which perfectly express the deeper meaning of marriage (Kypri T., Protopapa K., 2007, 277).
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.
Elena Christou
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
Foodstuff offered as wedding gifts
Some of them would give to the newlyweds wheat, barley, potatoes and some others would give money.
Traditional Recipes
Komposto Mílo - Apple compote
"Make the syrup with 1 glass of sugar and 2 glasses of water. Pour it into the bottles. Seal the bottles tightly and place them in a pot with water to boil for 10 minutes." (Eleni Savva, Kyperounda)
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
Wedding treats - Loukoumia
Loukoumia were offered as a treat on festive occasions, mainly at weddings and on nameday celebrations.