To continue on with the story, we’re all practically done eating, only a few finishing up on scraps and the workers/owners come out with plates and they start throwing some on the ground. Apparently this is some Greek custom/ritual, whatever it is, I didn’t know. To speed up the story, they broke at least 15-20 plates for us, played music and danced for us. One of the ladies got married yesterday, so she threw her flowers behind her for us, she showed us pictures, and she made the soon to be bride that caught the flowers, as well as the birthday girl, Kacie, go and dance, which eventually led to Kacie standing on a table and awkwardly dancing in front of the group. The majority of the group went along with it and got out of their chairs and danced.

More dancing was involved, they brought out shots of some disgusting licorice alcohol and eventually passed around a bottle of some other awful alcohol, suggesting that everyone drink. I suppose most of us were overage anyway, except a select few, me being one of them. More glass breaking, more dancing, more fun and entertainment ensued. It was quite the experience indeed and I now never to go there for my birthday. Aside from all the fun, it was raining which was nice. We were outside under a tap roof or whatever you’d like to call it.

Being curious as I was, I decided to look up some information of Greek culture and customs. Perhaps I can gain knowledge from this event.

For Byzantine Greece, there was a leader called “koryphaios” or “chorolektes” that would lead a dance and make sure a circle was maintained. The dance involved the circle and at the end of the dance, all the dancers ended up facing each other.  It also states that when the dancers weren’t in the circle, they would raise their hands in the air and sway them from left to right, which makes sense because I saw a lot of that tonight. Also, the onlookers were encouraged to clap and join in on the dancing, which also happened.

Interestingly enough, dancing usually was involved when such events as weddings, family celebrations, and paneyeria took place. Also, we were given almonds covered with some white layer. Apparently, In weddings, “Jordan almonds (called koufeta) are given to represent the sweet (sugar coating), as well as the bitterness (almond) of life. They are given in odd numbers to represent that this new couple being formed is indivisible.” To mention with the dancing, in weddings and special events, it was always the bride to dance first, or in the special event such as a birthday party, the birthday person dances first.

Definitely Interesting. Such a good evening. Now I have class in 2 hours for shoot day 2/3. Then a meeting later that day. Hopefully it goes well.