Greek Dancing Essay

Opa! Did you know that this Greek saying can be used in two diverse ways? The first way it can be used is when telling someone to stop, and the second way is during a dance performance. Speaking of dancing, many of the Greek festivals and celebrations conclude their ceremonies with dancing.
One festival that includes dancing is the festival of wine and jugs. During this festival, the people worship Dionysus (the god of wine and drunken revelry). Participants of this festival were expected to wear a wild fawn skin and carry a staff. The location of this festival was held upon a bare mountain top. Greek women would lead the festival up to the mountain top while the men followed. Once they arrived at their desired location, a sacrifice was made.

The Greeks would tear apart a young hill goat for Dionysus. After the sacrifice is made, the festival participants consume wine, dance, and pray. The people would not consume heavy amounts of wine to become drunk, their goal was to simply loosen up their spirits.
Another celebration that includes dancing is the wedding ceremony.

The ancient wedding ceremonies would usually start after it got dark. The bride would go to the groom’s house while standing in a chariot. The groom would then get into the chariot, while friends and family would follow it on foot carrying gifts, torches, and playing music to scare away evil spirits. The Greeks have many ways to ward off evil; wear garlic around their neck, play music, make the sign of the cross behind the ear with soot or dirt, etc. They also “knock on wood” to guard against evil and misfortune. Many people in today’s society do this. During the wedding ceremony the rings are placed on the bride and groom’s right hand, then the rings are exchanged three times by the Koumbar. The rings are exchanged three times to show the significance of the holy trinity. Then the bride would eat a piece of fruit to signify that she will provide food and other basic needs to her husband. Next, the couple would engage in a short fight, to show the groom’s strength. After the fight, the groom would toss his bride over his shoulder and carry her out of the church. Having a wedding reception was rare but when a bride and groom did have one, it was best known for the abundance of food, the dancing, and

music.
The three part after life ceremony does not include any form of dancing or happiness. The first part of the ceremony is the Prothesis (laying out of the body). Sometimes the relative who was preparing the body would put a gold coin between the deceased person’s teeth to pay Charon to escort them across the river Styx. Styx is the river to the underworld. Next, the body is washed and clothed into something that displays their status in society. The Ekphora (the viewing) takes place after the Prothesis. First, close relatives get to mourn and say their final goodbyes to their loved one. Then the body is publicly transported to the gravesite. Transportation usually took place after dawn. The people on the streets would stop the family members carrying the body, and pay their respects. After placing the body in the ground, the family would go back to the house of the deceased and hold a banquet called the Perideipnon. The perideipnon was held in honor of the dead.
Ancient Greek Festivals and traditions are very different from modern festivals and traditions, but the Greek history helped shape the country into its full potential.