Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/100

84 priest has a small tin tray in front of him; a few small coins are given by each of those present, and, as they are put into the priest's hand, he is told the donor's name. He then rattles them into the plate, shouting,—"Mashallá! May So-and-so have many children," or some wish suitable to the occasion and the donor's status. The priest and the pariskámenos entered with great zest into this part of the business, and shouted for with all the energy of hawkers at a fair.

When the springs of charity have run dry, the bridegroom is again brought forward. His shoes are removed, and inside each is placed a small coin. He then puts them on again, and walks round the company, shaking and kissing hands, but holding all the while his left hand in front of his genital organs.

After this general salutation, the bridegroom disappeared for good, and until half-past ten o'clock, when we were given a hint to go and permit the party to break up, music and dance occupied the company. To the tambourines was added a reed pipe called a (kerýka), to whose strains a local performer danced a wild dance with extraordinary and unflagging energy. It opened by his standing with feet wide apart, arms dangling out, and head, with closed eyes, hanging slack on his breast. In this posture he swayed five or six times from side to side, like a man in the last stages of sodden inebriation. The next movement consisted of a shuffling little step combined with a good deal of stomach play and twisting of the body. Then suddenly, sitting on his heels, he proceeded to bound round and round the circle, snapping his fingers and emitting sharp barking yells.

On the next day, Sunday, we reached the bridegroom's house about 7.30 a.m. The bridegroom was dressed in his new clothes with the polystávro, which was worn also by his very tired-looking little sýnteknos. About half an hour was spent sitting round drinking coffee and singing and dancing. Then the tambourine player and a few of those present went off to fetch the (kumbára) or godmother of the bridegroom. When she arrived, we all set out for the house of the bride. Here the bridegroom and his sýnteknos remained outside the gate of the yard; we all went inside, and stood outside the house door. This was locked, and a short fight took place between some small boys in front of