Interviews about the way of life in villages

By Rafael Papadopoulos

Introduction

The next pages are referred about the way of life in villages 50 years ago. There are 3 sections. The first one talks about eating habits, the second about everyday activities and the third one about regional and family celebrations or ceremonies. The persons that I have taken the interview are 3. Cariofulia Dragozi, James Matziarakis and Helias Kapetanidis and each one of them talk for one theme only in the order they appear.

Eating Habits

-Fifty years ago eating habits were not as same as they are now, especially in villages, said Cariofulia Dragozi. Because the most of the villagers didn’t have the luxury to have jobs except the ones which had farming as their object, and because they didn’t have much communication with other cities, their eating habits were totally different than the civilians in the cities. They were eating mostly vegetables and fruits, milk derivatives and some meat from herd animals.

Everyday-activities-Fifty years ago the everyday activities weren’t as same

as they are now, said James Matziarakis. In an ordinary family the father was working at the farms all the day except late at night and at lunch time. The mother wasn’t working but if there were any financial family problems, she was working at the farms too. The young members of the family were helping their parents or they were staying at home. But, usually, the younger members were going out to play and have fun with other kids. The grandparents were usually staying at home or, if they were healthy enough, they were taking care of the young children of the family or they were helping the parents at the farms.

Regional and family celebrations-ceremonies

-That’s a really interesting question, said Helias Kapetanidis. Well, fifty years ago there was a celebration for every special occasion in a village’s life. There was a celebration for the grape gathering, for wine production and many others such as the ones which they were about the season’s change. But, the most important celebrations were the Saint celebrations

-Each village had a different Saint as its guardian. And of course they had to do celebrations for him or her to honor their name with a special ceremony in each village’s church and later every region person or outsider was treated with many kinds of food and many blessings . (in this picture is

the celebration of Saint Elias, Guardian of the village Thirea)

-But not only the guardian Saints were honored by celebrations, but and other Saints such as the

guardians of farming and home-protection and of course Holy Mary was honored for each of her date celebrations and Jesus Christ and every important

Orthodox Saint. (in this picture it is the Easter celebration)

-About the family ceremonies, they were kind of different. Almost everything is the same as it is now. The ceremony in the church is not different at all, the Orthodox religion especially in villages is the same for hundreds of years. Only some side-celebrations are not used much or they have been forgotten.

-The Baptism was a really important family moment. The ceremony was the same as it is now but there are some differences: the parents weren’t allowed to see the child during the ceremony. Only the close and elder family members were allowed to see it and the elders of the village. The Godfather or the Godmother was a really important person. From the day that the child was baptized by that person, it was like a third parent for the child, a spiritual guider and a good friend. After the ceremony, a huge celebration was taking place at the baptized child’s house.

-The wedding was the most important ceremony. The couple fifty years ago was very young and the bride had almost

always to be younger than the groom. Divorces were not much known these ages so the couple had to have really strong-bind of love and understanding. (A family wedding

photo)

-Many times, the groom and the bride didn’t know each other until the ceremony. The parents were choosing the best life-mate of their child. That was kind of disturbing and weird, to see your life-mate for the first time in the church! After the ceremony, it

was always a huge celebration with free food and drinks for everyone. Sometimes, the celebrations was lasting for many days!

(Another family wedding photo)

Ending

The old way of life was in some parts more different than the one that it is now. Some people say it is better now. But there is an old saying which says: the older a wine goes, the sweeter it gets.