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Title
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Ethnographic Research in Greece
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Description
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The ethnographic research conducted in a small Greek village revealed personal stories that capture the complexity and emotional landscape of arranged marriages. Elders in a Greek village shared their experiences with arranged marriages. Their experiences provide insight into a tradition that, while sometimes considered ancient, still holds cultural roots and continues to exist. The research team went to Vitina Village to conduct interviews with the local people, asking them about their marriages, how they happened, and whether they were based on love or through a “contract.”
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Date
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2022
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Abstract
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Excerpts from the Interviews:
«Η μάνα μου μας έλεγε: Θέλετε αγαπήστε, θέλετε καθίστε. Εγώ μια φορά με προξενιό θα σας παντρέψω.»
“My mother used to tell us: You want love you don’t want to get married at all? I don’t care, I will marry you with arranged marriages”
«Εγώ, μαζί με τη φωτογραφία του έστειλα και γράμμα και o Φίλιππας μου απάντησε, «Είσαι δεκτή. Βλέπω τη φωτογραφία σου και τα γραφόμενά σου. Είσαι η κοπέλα που θέλω».
“I sent him a letter along with the photo and Philippas replied, “I accept you. I see your picture and your writing. You are the girl I want.”
«Ένας θείος, αδερφός της μάνας μου μου είπε, «Κοίταξε, εκεί που θα πας στην Αυστραλία, μην περιμένεις να βρεις πολλές ομορφιές. Το παιδί δεν είναι όμορφο, αλλά είναι τίμιο και καλό παιδί, για σπίτι».
“An uncle, my mother’s brother, told me, ‘Look, in Australia, don’t expect to find much beauty. The boy is not handsome, but he is an honest and good boy and he will make a good husband “
«Ο πεθερός μου με ρώτησε: «Τι λες κορίτσι μου, πηγαίνεις στην Αυστραλία;» Του λέω κι εγώ: «Πηγαίνω, αλλα πρώτα να ιδώ το παιδί. Έχετε καμιά φωτογραφία;» Όταν μου την έδειξαν, έβαλα τα γέλια.»
“My father-in-law asked me, “What do you say girl, are you going to Australia?” I said to him: “I’m going, but first I have to see the guy. Do you have a picture?” When they showed him to me, I laughed.”
«Ύστερα ο Γιώργος επέμενε να του στείλω μία που να είμαι όρθια και όχι καθιστή….»
“Then, George was insisting to send him a picture that I am standing and not sitting
«Μόλις με είδε ο άντρας μου μου λέει «Εσύ είσαι;», «Εγώ είμαι» του λέω, «Δεν σου αρέσω;»
“As soon as my husband saw me he said, “Is that you?”, “It’s me” I said, “Don’t you like me?”
«Δεν μετάνιωσα ποτέ που παντρεύτηκα έτσι, με προξενιό και φωτογραφία.»
«Ο γάμος με προξενιό είναι νομίζω πιο πετυχημένος.»
“I never regretted getting married like that, with a “love contract” and a photo.”
“I think an arranged marriage is more successful.”
Και της κόρης μου της είπα, βασισμένη στη δική μου εμπειρία, «Σε παρακαλώ πολύ, αν η καρδιά σου δε χτυπήσει, δεν θέλω να παντρευτείς. Δεν με νοιάζει ποιον θα πάρεις, αρκεί να τον αγαπήσεις’’.
And I told my daughter, based on my own experience, “Please, if your heart doesn’t beat, I don’t want you to get married. I don’t care who you marry, as long as you love them.
Marriage in Australia – Interview
Inter Alia
For Memory's Sake (booklet)
Veroniki Krikoni For over a decade, Veroniki has been developing and managing projects and activities in the cultural and creative sectors. She specialises in the fields of European integration with a geographical foc...
Nikos Pasamitros Nikos is a founding member of Inter Alia. He is also adjunct lecturer of International Studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In the past he has been a visiting research fellow at the Un...