Weddingsspecial EDITION
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GREEK AMERICAN THE NATIONAL HERALD • FEBRUARY 23, 2013 WeddinSPECIAL gEDITION s The National Herald www.thenationalherald.com www.ekirikas.com 2 GREEK AMERICAN WEDDINGS 2013 THE NATIONAL HERALD, FEBRUARY 23, 2013 The National Herald A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest to the Greek American community of the United States of America. Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos Special Section Editor Sophia Stratakis Huling Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, e-mail: [email protected] Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: [email protected] Subscriptions by mail : 1 year $66.00, 6 months $33.00, 3 months $22.00, 1 month $11.00 Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $88.00, 6 months $48.00, 3 months $33.00, 1 month $14.00 Home delivery New England States : 1 year $109.00, 6 months $57.00, 3 months $41.00, 1 month $18.00 On line subscription : Subscribers to the print edition: 1 year $34.95, 6 months $23.95, 3 months $14.95; Non subscribers : 1 year $45.95, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $18.95 Greek American Weddings 2013 In ancient Greek mythology, the goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus, was the goddess of marriage. The pomegranate was sa - cred to her. Perhaps that is why the pomegranate is frequently used in Greek wedding symbolism. photo courtesy eric hoffhines, chicago, ill. In this year’s special Weddings insert, we’re bringing you Maria-Tina Karamanlakis at work in the Scintillant Studio in San Francisco. something old (historical photos and stories), something new (trends in jewelry, ceremonial accessories, and delectable treats), and something different: a new kind of destination wedding – marrying in your grandparents’ village, with your grandparents’ customs. Ancient Methods for Modern Couples On the spiritual side, we have some excerpts from the classic “Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective” by the late revered scholar John Meyendorff. So whether you’re thinking about tying the knot, wondering Goldsmith Creates Custom Jewelry how things have changed since you have, or are already plan - ning your special day, we hope you enjoy our special issue. Inspired by Prehistoric Designs By Sophia Stratakis Huling tribute to the Minoan civiliza - TNH Staff Writer tion that flourished between 3000-1100 B.C. “When I was eight my par - Have you ever visited a mu - ents took me to Crete and I saw seum, perhaps the Metropolitan the Minoan frescoes and the in New York or the Benaki in palace, and those illustrations Athens, marveled at the splen - stuck in my mind,” she said. dor of priceless, one-of-a-kind “When I went to New York the jewelry designed thousands of first time, I went to the Metro - years ago, and fantasized about politan and I wanted those an - wearing such a piece, especially cient rings that were in the on your wedding day? cases.” Sterling silver Maria-Tina Karamanlakis, But since she couldn’t buy pomegranate owner of Maria-Tina Minoan them, she decided to make them necklace Jewelry™ in San Francisco, Ca., herself. For more than 25 years, wondered the same thing when, Karamanlakis has been design - A wedding crown used in an Orthodox Christian wedding at the age of 8, she first visited ing and creating original, cus - ceremony. the archaeological site of Knos - tom, handcrafted jewelry. sos outside Heraklion, Crete, a She works in 22, 18, and 14 uet a nq B & ant g aur rin est te s, R Ca litie aci ty f Par PANATHENIAN BANQUET HALL AND BAR Only Adelphia can combine fine dining services with nightly entertainment in the best location in Central Jersey. Chefs from all around the world have helped in developing American, Mexican and any other international cuisines. We are willing to make any foods that aren’t on the menu. The PANATHENIAN Ballroom which seats 500 people provides the perfect atmosphere for casual dining or banquets. Have your Wedding Reception, Bridal or Christening Party at Adelphia’s. Organizers of concerts. Call for reservations and ask for Evelyn. 1750 Clements-Bridge R d., Deptford, NJ 08096 856-845-8200 www.adelphiarestaurant.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, FEBRUARY 23, 2013 GREEK AMERICAN WEDDINGS 2013 3 karat gold, platinum, 24-karat cient prehistoric times, and they are losing now, as the hand - vermeil (sterling silver dipped had 1500 years of peace.” made from yiayia.” in 24 karat gold), sterling silver, Karamanlakis fondly remem - The Miami, Fla. native copper and bronze, some inlaid bers her grandmother inspiring launched her jewelry making by hand with precious or semi- her creativity as a child, taking business in 2000, to transmit precious stones. her on fabric-buying expedi - “the message of life and trans - Her style is inspired by an - tions, sewing her dresses, mak - formation and 1500 years of cient museum pieces, primarily ing beaded flowers, even sewing peace through the Minoans,” Minoan and Byzantine era gold elaborate clothes for her Barbie she said. work. doll. “My effort is to make it look With both parents of Greek She credits her grandmother like it’s ancient, but incorporate ancestry, and a name ending in with inspiring her creativity my own style. Through this jew - the typically Cretan “-akis,” she when, years later, she began elry, this is my interpretation of identified strongly with the Mi - making jewelry after working all their culture and of their beauty. noan culture from a young age. day on the computer as a That’s just something that goes After further research into graphic designer. through me, that just comes out. the Minoan civilization, she “It was like my tactile re - When I start working in gold, I learned they “were matriarchal, lease, you know, but it’s all have an idea and I know what I which means women were in about yiayia (grandmother), re - want, and it becomes its own high positions, they had the ally,” she said. “I started getting most advanced society of an - all that traditional stuff that we Continued on page 4 Hand hammered and sculpted Copper Leaf Stefana. Clockwise from top right, all rings in 22 karat gold: ring with central rutilated quartz stone and tiny rubies; ring with Persian turquoise and ring with encased diamond; life spiral ring with European cut antique diamond; 3-ring set, one with ruby center stone; rosebud ring with pink tourmaline stone and ring with large square pink tourmaline. 4 GREEK AMERICAN WEDDINGS 2013 THE NATIONAL HERALD, FEBRUARY 23, 2013 “How Come You Don’t Say ‘I Do’?” By Sophia Stratakis Huling chanting, and the readings; ex - Viewpoint superficial to me at the time. standing of marriage is not con - TNH Staff Writer change rings, have crowns put “Well, they’re there, aren’t tractual. on their heads, and process they?” she said. “Thanks for a It’s sacramental, mystical. Weddings are a frequent joy - around the table. Not about to non-answer,” I thought, “the When the crowns are placed on ful community experience, not let a good needling opportunity neighborhood kids will sure the couple’s heads, the choir and only for Greek-Americans, but go to waste, they challenged me, mock me on that one.” the congregation sing, “Lord our for most cultures throughout hu - “Well then, how can they be mar - Years later, I appreciated its God, crown them with glory and man history. Growing up, all my ried without vows? How do you profound meaning. Our western honor.” The crowns symbolize family’s relatives and close know they want to be married if society is based in many ways the grace of God coming upon friends were Orthodox, so every they never say ‘I do’?” on Roman legalism. Even our the couple to unite them in a wedding I attended was a Greek I had no answer. Living in a concepts of civil and criminal way that goes beyond our hu - Orthodox ceremony. I witnessed secularized western culture, I law are heavily influenced by man reason. They’re not joined Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jew - did realize that as Greek Ortho - the Latin legal system. by their “promise” to one an - ish, or civil ceremonies only on dox we were “different” from This legal ideology extended other – which can be broken if television or in the movies. One the society around us. But I was into the western church, and one of the parties “defaults” on day, my neighborhood playmates never challenged to defend it so created the concept of marriage the agreement in any way – but and I got into a discussion about directly – and felt defeated as a contract between two peo - by their participating in the full - weddings. (We were all young when I couldn’t respond. ple. ness of God’s grace by “being girls, after all, and dreaming of So I did the only thing I And thus it is still ap - there” in the sacrament. our prince charming and the day knew. I asked my mother the proached today in western So the next time I witness an when all eyes would be on us.) same question: how do we Christian and civil marriage. Orthodox wedding, whether it’s They all knew I was Orthodox, know all those couples we’ve That’s where the vows come in. in Greek, Russian, Arabic, Ro - and they asked me about our witnessed get married in the Or - In order for a contract to be manian, Albanian, English, or “wedding vows.” “We don’t have thodox Church actually wanted binding, the parties must both anything else, I won’t wonder wedding vows,” I said, having to be married if they didn’t have agree.