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My Big Fat Greek Wedding Assignment (Daniela)
2,056
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Unit 2 Movie Assignment:
DANIELA BATTILANA
15/10/19
Cultural Traditions
Cultural
Traditions
Many observations of
the cultural traditions
that Toula's greek family has, can be made throughout the course of the movie, particularly regarding the greek culture. Some of the traditions observed during the movie include: food, marriage and family expectations, greetings,
and even spitting.
Food
Food played a very big role in
Toula's family. Toula says : "My mom
was always cooking foods filled with
warmth and wisdom..." The greek family
saw food as more than just a necessity, but instead as a way to bring people together and celebrate important events as a family. This can be seen many times; when Ian met Toula's entire family for the first time, and everyone was shocked to hear that Ian was a vegetarian (and aunt Voula quickly recovered by suggesting to give him lamb instead), when Maria (Toula's mother) made a greek feast when meeting Ian's parents for
the first time, and even that they
own a family run greek
restaurant.
Shocked Family at Ian's vegetarianism and shocked Aunt Voula instead suggesting lamb
Maria preparing the meal for Ian's parents
Maria getting a full lamb for Ian's parents meal
The family restaurant "Dancing Zorba's"
Greetings
For Toula's greek family (and
likely many others; my italian family included), it is customary, even
traditional to kiss someone on both cheeks when greeting them. Toula's family is very affectionate. And certainly if not a kiss on the cheek, then a nice big hug is warranted.
Gus Portokalos giving Rodney Miller (Ian's father) a big hug upon meeting him
for the first time
Marriage and Family
Toula's family is very specific
about their expectations regarding
marriage and family. As mentioned in the movie, the most important thing for a greek daughter to do was to get married to a greek man and have greek babies. This is one of the main conflicts in the movie for Toula. However, Toula was not the only one expected to carry on this tradition. Toula's sister was already married (to a greek man) with kids, and Nick (Toula's brother) was expected to marry a greek virgin
and also make greek babies.
Toula asks her father if she can take college courses so she can do something with her life. Her father responds by telling her to get married and make babies.
Gus Portokalos expressing his concerns about Toula
Toula and her family getting ready for the wedding
Ian and Toula getting married
Dating Permission
When Toula and Ian's relationship
is revealed to Toula's family, it is not taken lightly, specifically for Gus (Toula's father). Not only is he upset about the fact that Ian is not greek, but also that Ian did not ask for permission to start dating Toula. Though this may not be a specifically greek tradition, it seemed to be for Toula's family.
Gus telling Ian he should have asked for permission to date his daughter.
Spitting
Throughout the movie, we see people spitting on other people multiple times. Though briefly explained in the movie, it still may look and sound a bit confusing. Well, this actually is done in greek tradition and culture. According to weddingwire.com, "Spitting is part of a group of talisman some Greeks retained from the old country, collectively known as apotropaic. They’re essentially protectors from evil, the evil eye and negativity." So while it certainly
is a bit of a questionable tradition,
it is a greek tradition
nonetheless.
Greek guests spitting on Toula as she walks down the aisle
Rodney and Harriet Miller joining in on the 'fun' and spitting on Toula during the wedding
Symbols
Symbols
Throughout the movie, there are many different symbols representing different things. Some of the symbols I believe to be of significance includes: wedding crowns, almonds, bundt cake, and of course the greek flag.
Wedding Crown/Stefana
A little before the marriage, we see Toula's grandmother pull out a box and show Maria and Toula some old pictures of her as well as a sort of flower crown (to be assumed the crown she herself once wore). During Ian and Toula's wedding ceremony both Ian and Toula are wearing one of these crwons, attached together by a piece of string. These are not simply pretty crowns, but are also religious symbols. According to the weddingscript.com; "Stefana, or the marital
crown, is placed on the bride and
groom’s head attached by a white
ribbon of purity to symbolize their
journey together
through life."
The wedding crowns as seen during Toula and Ian's wedding
The wedding crowns can also be seen in the second movie
Almonds/ Bomboniera
Though quick and brief, there is a scene in which you can see the family creating the bomboniera for the wedding. Inside are chocolate or candy-covered almonds. The almonds are a cultural symbol, used often in greek weddings. According to weddingwire.com; "jordan almonds, or bombonieria, are handed out as wedding favors at a Greek wedding to symbolize the
salty-sweet aspects of
married life."
A picture of the almonds traditionally used as bomboniera for greek weddings
The Greek Flag
Certainly, the greek flag is an international symbol, one of value to many people. However, the greek flag is also a personal symbol to the Portokalos family. And particularly to Gus, the greek flag is a matter of great pride for him. To each memeber of the family the flag may mean something different, but altogether, to the family it is a symbol of where they come
from and who
they are.
The Portokalos family home garage has the greek flag on it
The wedding invitations to Toula and Ian's wedding had the greek flag on the front
Bundt Cake
The Bundt Cake may not be an important or large symbol in the movie, but it was one that I liked. Specifically the bundt cake with the slower pot in the middle is symbolic of both families trying to learn and accept each other's differences for the sake of Ian and Toula and the love they have for them.
Maria serving the 'fixed' bundt cake with the flower pot in the middle
Rituals
Rituals
Wedding crown/ Stefana
As previosuly mentioned as being a symbol, the wedding crowns are also part of the greek marriage ritual
A ritual passes on a tradition
According the weddingwire.com; "The tradition of placing a delicate, white crown on top of the bride and groom's head was said to originate in the 11th century and is still one of the most important Greek wedding traditions."
A ritual needs our bodies
The crown is placed on the bride and groom's heads
A ritual is accompanied by words
The stefana is accompanied with the priest, bride and groom saying many words
A ritual forms a community
The ritual brought together many different people (ex. Toula and Ian's families)
This ritual not only forms a community but an eternal partnership or the binding togther of two people.
Greek Orthodox Baptism
The Greek Orthodox Baptism is a ritual. In the movie, Ian goes through this ritual.
A ritual passes on a tradition
It is religious tradition for a person newly joining the religion to get baptized
A ritual needs our bodies
The persons body is dunked/covered in water
A ritual is accompanied by words
The priest says some words during the baptism, before and after the person is dunked/covered in the water
A ritual forms a community
The ritual brought together people (ex. ian and Toula's family) as well as brings the newly baptized into the religios comunity
Gathering at Bride's Home
For many greek people, it is sort of ritualistic to gather at the bride's house before the wedding where all the women get ready.
A ritual passes on a tradition
This would be tradition as it has happened in the past, and would happen for everyone in the family to get married
A ritual needs our bodies
Everyone goes to the brides house and dresses and prepares themselves there.
A ritual is accompanied by words
They prepare the bride both physically and mentally, by encouraging and congratulating her
A ritual forms a community
They gather together as a community, and help, love, and respect each other on this special day
Spitting
The spitting is a tradition for the Portokalos family, as well as a ritual
A ritual passes on a tradition
It is a tradition to spit on the bride and groom on their wedding day for good luck
A ritual needs our bodies
They use their own body to spit on someone's body
A ritual is accompanied by words
The spit is usually accompanied by a congratulations of wishes of good luck
A ritual forms a community
A community of people partake in this ritual (ex. all of Toula's family spitting on her and Ian)
Cultural
Differences
Cultural Differences
(Between Toula and Ian)
Celebrations/Events
Ian's Family and Culture
Following the news of Ian and Toula's engagement Ian's family invites Toula and Ian over for a simple quiet dinner. It shows that they enjoy quiet and organized dinners; very formal
Dinner with the Millers
Toula's Family and Culture
Following the news of Ian and Toula's engagement, Toula's family invites Toula and Ian over for dinner as well as the entire Portokalos family. This showed that they are a very close and affectionate family. It was a very informal dinner with everyone eating around the house and on the couches. It was very
loud and even
disorganized
Dinner with the Portokalos'
Religion
Ian's Family and Religion
Ian is completely willing to join the greek orthodox religion only to appease Toula's family, showing to us that prior, religion did not play a big role in his life. He even says to his parents that he's going to get married in a greek chruch because religion is not that important to his family, but it is to Toula's.
Toula's Family and Religion
Toula's family only really began to fully accept Ian when he was baptized. This was extremely important to Toula's family, as well as the fact that they must get married in a greek orthodox church
Involvement
Ian's Family and relationship
While Ian's parents certainly ove him, they don't seem to be too involved in his life. They only found out about his relationship with Toula when he told them, an they did not seem to have any strong opinions on the matter, they were very accepting of whatever he chose.
Toula's Family and Relationship
Toula's family found out about her relationship even when she was trying to keep it hidden from them. This shows how involved they are in Toula's life. They have very strong opinions on everything she does, and are always involved in everything she chooses or does.
My Culture in Comparison to Toula's and Ian's
My Culture
I think my culture has aspects of both Ian's and Toula's cultures.
Celebrations/Events
For celebrations and events, there are certainly asects of both Toula's and Ian's cultures present. For most events, my family still has a sit down meal like Ian's family, but is also very loud and disorganized too, like Toula's family.
Religion
For this subject, my family is more like Toula's as religion means a lot to each of us individually as well as all of us as a family. However my family is certainly not as strict or adamant about it.
Involvement
As of right now, my
family is certainly a lot
more like Toula's, but also considering the fact that I am a minor, my parents are still essentially fully responsible for me. So, this category is not fully applicable. However based upon other family members and my relationship with my family now, I can see a lot more similarities
to Toula's family