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

Original post by Misty

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

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

I am LMAO at PUh Puh Puh
that is so my mom! LOL
only she does it when she 'shouldnt know from it'
'doesnt want to know from it'

like when she hears something bad about someone and wouldnt wish that on anyone or us
she goes oh, puh puh puh and spits on the floor sometimes
deby Posted:

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

LOLOLOL- I do it all the time to my Godson!!!!!!!! But mine sounds more like:

FTOU FTOU FTOU

I guess you do it when you or someone else compliments another person (especially if that other person is a baby) to keep away the evil eye... and the evil eye can be given by anyone... the evil-eye giver does not necessarilly have to be evil or have bad intentions or even be jealous - it can be a sincere compliment.
Olgaki Posted:

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

What deby described of Ftou Ftou Ftou is done to not jinx anything good/pretty/precious/adorable and so so as in a newborn or a beautiful bride. It's kind of the same idea of knock on wood when you say somethiing good so you don't jinx it.

WOW this must be a first for LIWeddings - a thread of spitting
Sweetie2004 Posted:

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

no offense, but I think for someone who is not greek, the spitting question is completely legitimate. As LIMOM said, the movie industry did a poor portrayal and it is no doubt that people are curious. It's unfortunate that you have to defend your religion (And I would defend it as adamantly as you are) but you don't have to get your feathers ruffled!

I think the 'EEEWW' comment was directed at the THOUGHT of someone spitting on a bride, knowing that Greeks actually don't!
LImom Posted:

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

Girls, you are soooo right! My mother used to say FTOU sou, not ptu sou. Oh my, have I been doing it wrong all these years? LOL!!!

deby Posted:

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

LI Mom, Ftou sou can mean ftou ftou ftou, but if you say in a mean way, it could mean that the person is a loser and deserves to be spit on. For example: 'ftou sou na mi se matiaso' is good. where as 'ftou sou gaidouri!' is bad.

I think it's more of a cultural thing than a religious thing.
LImom Posted:

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

Deby, I haven't heard the deragotory use in so many years, as in Ftou sou gaidouri, that I totally forgot it. LOL!!! You are obviously in a much more Greek environment than I am. And what a great explanation.

Thanks for the reminder, and the laugh!

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