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Everything for Platanias Village
A couple of decades ago, the Greek girls in particular, used to marry extremely young, usually mid teens, to a man 10 or 15 years their senior. However, in recent years this habit has changed as more girls and boys are graduating to university and taking more professional jobs.
The wedding service
The church is decorated with flowers and ribbons. The groom waits on the steps of the church with his bride’s flowers, together with his best man (koumbaros), his parents and his wife’s parents. The bride arrives wearing a white gown and veil, in beautifully decorated car with the horn blowing. The groom kisses her, handing her flowers, kissed his father in law’s hand and his mother in low’s cheek. They enter the church together and stand in front of the altar with a tray of sugared almonds and a bible on the table in front of them. The sugared almonds represent fertility. The whole service is conducted in ancient Greek. The priest takes two coronets, joined by a piece of ribbon. And puts them on the heads of the bride and groom. The best man and woman cross hands, take hold of the coronets and cross them three times. The rings are placed on their hands and the old tradition was for the groom to stamp on his wife’s foot as a sign of obedience. I am told if the bride complained the groom had every right to refuse to marry her!!! The couple follows the priest around the table, he carries the bible, preceded by the children who carry beautifully decorated candles, paid for by the best man or woman. They are to represent something for the house. After the ceremony the couple stand back from the table and the guest file past either kissing them or shaking their hands. As the guests leave they are each given a gift, sugared almonds specially decorated. Everyone gets into their cars and drive in a procession blowing their horns. The couple and their families will then visit a photographer. Usually a party follows with much eating and drinking, with up to as many as 500 guests and finally the happy couple head for home. The bride is dropped on her new bed which has been specially prepared the night before with lace sheets.
Platanias village it lays beside river Iardanos (which means holy water according to Homer) or Platania. It has been named after the sycamores that were in the riverbank.The old village of Platanias is situated at the top of the hill. The old village of Platanias is situated at the top of the hill, it was there that the inhabitants of Platanias found refuge from pirates and other invaders over the centuries.
There is a beautiful 7 kilometer beach with all the standard facilities.The thin golden pink sand of this beach and the trees along the seafront create an exotic setting.You can find water sports. Bus service from Chania every 15minutes. There are plenty of bars and restaurants next to the sea but if you want a quiet beach just go to Gerani or Maleme.The beach in Platanias area is awarded with the Blue Flag award from the E.U. for several years. There are lifeguards in the most busy areas.
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HISTORY OF CRETE
‘In the middle of the wine dark sea is a country called Crete, lovely and prosperous and surrounded by water’ Homer, The Odyssey. Crete is the most southerly and largest of all the Greek islands. It is rich in scenic variety and steeped in history and legend. It’s splendid climate is matched by the warmth of it’s people who offer generous hospitality to any foreigners. Read more...
Crete hosts more species of wild flower than the whole of the europian Isles, including around 150 endemic plants. Without doubt the best time to see the profusion of flowers is in the month of May.
Some of the flowers are linked to mythology, such as the scarlet buttercups. According to legend, Smyrna’s son, Adonis, was so dangerously handsome, Aphrodite sealed him in a chest and placed him under the guard of Persephone, Queen of the underworld. Curiosity got the better of her and Persephone opened the chest and immediately took Adonis as her lover. Read more...
A couple of decades ago, the Greek girls in particular, used to marry extremely young, usually mid teens, to a man 10 or 15 years their senior. However, in recent years this habit has changed as more girls and boys are graduating to university and taking more professional jobs. Read more...
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