I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

...is it really a Greek tradition to spit on the bride as she walks down the aisle?

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Lara, you and me think a like!! I was going to post that same question! is it

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

ugh...i hope not...that's gross! and if i were greek i'd warn all my guests that they'd get it if they even tried to spit on me....

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

found this on a website - The spitting is for good luck and to keep away evil
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The Millers aren’t religious at all. The Portokaloses are Greek Orthodox, but all signs indicate that their faith is based mainly on cultural tradition and superstition. It’s common for the women to spit on people (including the bride as she walks down the aisle) for good luck and 'to keep the devil away.' When people hear shocking and disturbing news, they instinctively cross themselves. Ian volunteers to be baptized in the church, which uses an inflatable kiddie pool as a baptismal. Maria mentions that she teaches Sunday school. The wedding ceremony, while entirely in Greek, is formal and reverent.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

My FH is Greek and we will be having a GO ceremony. As I understand it, no one ACTUALLY spits on the bride or anyone else for that matter. It's just the 'motion'. It's supposed to keep the evil eye away.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

I come from a very Greek family and I can vouch 100% that noone spits on the bride's dress!! This was just exaggerated to make for a funny movie scene...

Marcela is right, that comes from an old superstition where the person uses a 'spitting' motion to show disregard for and to ward off evil spirits.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

EEEWWW!!!

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

I wanna know if the Windex works?

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

I'm GO and so is my soon to be husband. You are right on the money Marcela.

Hasn't anyone heard of comedic license. They just took some artistic freedom with it.

Gosh, I mean is everyone Italian like someone on the sopranos? Just b/c you live in Manhattan are you like Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, or Charlotte.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

I can't say if the windex works... but my dad swears by chap-stick.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

REALLY??? Good to know!

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Hasn't anyone heard of comedic license. They just took some artistic freedom with it. Gosh, I mean is everyone Italian like someone on the sopranos? Just b/c you live in Manhattan are you like Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, or Charlotte

Yes indeed I have, and I asked a simple question so the sarcasm can be left to the films please. Thanks.

Thank you to the ladies that answered me. Jewish people have the same type of little superstition..maybe it was based on the GO one, where we 'spit' when we want to take something we said back...

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

yeah , the Jewish custom is like a 'puh puh puh' spitting throught two fingers. (one of the women at Charlottes synagogue (sp?) on SATC did it)

and yes.. take it easy there, it was just an innocent question. jeez!!!

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Misty and Tracy: I'm not sure if Lenitsa remark was 'sacarstic' since we are on the internet and can't hear the tone, but I will say that if it was I don't think it was directed at your question Misty. Some who responded automatically thought it was some disgusting custom of the GO people. Speaking for myself, I personally got somewhat insulted too, since my FH is Greek. (I'm a sensitive person )
Even if it was a custom and GO people actually spit on the bride or anyone else, do you think it was appropriate for people to say it was gross or disgusting, etc knowing that there are a lot of GO brides on this site that might get insulted?

I don't want to start an argument, I'm just clarifying.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

I said 'EEEWWW'.

I apologize if I offended anyone.
I didn't mean to.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Kelly: Don't worry about it! It's over. I know no one meant to hurt anyone.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Misty I alwats wondered that after the movie too

Hugs all

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

I too am Greek Orthodox as is my husband and many of our friends. This is a very interesting topic and I have had many similar conversations with non-Greeks who were curious, including my FSIL, his mom, and a future DIL. The 'ptu,ptu' (innocently referred to as spitting) is only symbolic, as was already pointed out by the girls. The word 'motion' is an excellent one, but I wish to point out that is done more often than I think anyone stated thus far. One will see it done at the entrance of a church when a baby is about to enter for its baptism to denounce Satan. It is done by people of my generation, never have I seen my children do it and I'd drop to the floor if I ever did, when we see a newborn baby or child and especially if we make a complimentary comment about that child. The custom being that you harbor no jealousy for that child or wish any harm to come to it. And it could be done when one first sees a bride, although I have never seen it at that time, for that same reason. I can see how it would cause one to react in a negative manner. In fact, when my first son was born and I took him to a pediatrician who was Jewish, one of his first words of advice were 'Don't allow anyone to spit on him.' His office was in Astoria so I knew he had many Greek patients. I wasn't offended, but as you see, I haven't forgotten it either.
That movie is by far one of the favorites of my entire family and my circle of Greek friends. The only Greek I actually know of who took offense to it entirely was our priest. We have seen it countless times and I will say I still do not like any of the scenes in church, though. But that's me. And the reason is this conversation we are all having now. It totally misrepresents the core of our beliefs. There were a great many lines and scenes that were hysterically funny. I didn't feel they needed us to laugh while misrepresenting many of our beautifully symbolic customs. I found myself assuring my FSIL, as well as my FDIL, that they will not have to go into a kiddie pool in order to convert to our faith.

I hope I don't sound like I'm on a soapbox here, but this conversation has been had so many times, it just came out of me without thought. I will also add that, Yes, we do roast whole lambs on spits on Easter, but as I tell my friends we do them in the back of the house, not in the front, and are very considerate of people and children who are not accustomed to seeing it done.

As for myself, I thank you for bringing up the topic and appreciate you listening to all of our explantions. And please don't be upset if I or anyone else sounded defensive. This is our religion and no one wants their faith misinterpreted or laughed at.

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Of course, and it was never my intent to laugh at this topic....it was purely an innocent question. For the sake of film, it is always given creative license. I was purely asking out of real honest to God curiousity and cluelessness!

I apologize to those who may have felt offended, or felt I posted this to mock anything...as it couldn't have been further from my intent.

Thank you LIMom for the explanation!!!

Re: I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night..and I have a question...

Mistyeyes, and everyone else. I knew that - believe me! No offense was taken.