Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sega]

For all non-Greek speakers, Prikothiras comes from the word Prika = dowry, and it basically refers to a groom who demands houses, and material assets of the brides parents in order to marry her.

I recently noticed the amount of males who still believe this, and demand such material assets. Fairly recently I came across a case were the groom would not move into the house, which the bride's parents built, due to the fact it had no forniture, and he was not willing to purchase the furniture. This is meant to be his house as a gift.

After comfronting a person who thought like this, he began arguing with me, and saying this like, how will you pay for you're house off, and how will you do this, and do you know how much your mortgage will be? Naturally I still disagree, life has struggles, and through those struggles you find happiness.


I am wondering if I was wrong to assume this form of mentality still exists?

How many people still think like this?

How do women feel that there are men who think like this?

Would the house not distant the real reason you are marrying her in the first place?


It's all really confusing, at first I thought they were joking, but then when I realised that they were serious. I feel if the woman is a good person and has a compatible character then this is enough.

[LENA]

Sega they still exist...but nowadays they dont just tell them that I want this amount of money and house, land or whatever.

Most of the parents who have daughters they try to buy a house, an apartment or save enough money so they can give her when she is going to get married. The problem though is that not many people can afford to educate their children and buy properties for them. Imagine a family who has 3 daughters.

What happens is that most of the parents in Cyprus they help their children as much as they can. They help them even after they have their own families and salaries. As far as I know many countries when their kids become 18 they have to live the house or if they are going to stay in they will pay some money. None of the Cypriot families are doing that. Plus they help them financially to buy their own house/flat. So the matter of the dowry is not discussed like a demand but some men they care abut how much the woman has.

[Oracle]

I don't think there is any expectation from men to receive a dowry.

It is just something the parents do to help the young couple.

The reality is most parents want to help a young couple get started, through choice ... helps with survival of the fittest and man's extended nurturing role.

Since women have the children they are the most vulnerable if the man goes off ... hence by tying the property in the woman's name (not necessarily observed, but good rule of thumb ) it ensures that she is not made homeless, nor her children by an absent father.

[tessintrnc]

I don't think there is any expectation from men to receive a dowry.

It is just something the parents do to help the young couple.

The reality is most parents want to help a young couple get started, through choice ... helps with survival of the fittest and man's extended nurturing role.

Since women have the children they are the most vulnerable if the man goes off ... hence by tying the property in the woman's name (not necessarily observed, but good rule of thumb ) it ensures that she is not made homeless, nor her children by an absent father.

Good point Oracle. My sister in law rented / lived for several years in a "dowry house" (Paphos), and when the bride got married they moved out. They stayed on friendly terms with the family and were amused when the daughter and new husband moved out to a rented house themselves - because the "dower house" was too old fashioned!!!

[denizaksulu]

How out moded can you get. I thought it was the TCs who were supposed to be 'not in the 21st Century'.

Come on GC men, earn your keep. No more freebies from the brides parents.

[umit07]

That's quite odd Sega , I understand for TC's that it is customary for the groom to provide the house and for the bride to furnish it. Nowdays both sides of the family just help out as much as they can . IF I were the bride I'd never marry a dickhead like you described above.

[CBBB]

I think you will find nowadays that both sets of parents assist in the setting up of their children when they marry (or whatever), to the best of their abilities.

Mind you if a Government job is part of the prika it is a big attraction.

[pantheman]

OK, speaking as a parent, if some guy mad such a demand for any of my daughters, he would be out on his arse. In fact I am quite sure the daughters would have done it for me.

You do what you can for the kids, if the parents are well off then the kids get helped more. I have not heard of any cases where actual demands are made, more of an expectation that the woman would have something, but if you have nothing to give then that cannot be helped either.

Tell me one person who wouldn't accept some assistance through a marriage and I'll show you a liar.

Anyway, unless the dauther in the case you refer to above sega was some ugly old M******F******* then maybe he was right to ask for something

No seriously, those days have gone, you take her as she comes or not at all in my books.

good luck sega, don't be getting any funny ideas now

[kangaroo]

My mum was describing to my partner that in the old days, if the man was 'educated' he would aslo receive a car. Imagine my partner's delight! He has 5 degrees, working on his 6th!!!! LOL

Pity we don't live in Cyprus!

[Sega]

That's quite odd Sega , I understand for TC's that it is customary for the groom to provide the house and for the bride to furnish it. Nowdays both sides of the family just help out as much as they can . IF I were the bride I'd never marry a dickhead like you described above.

lol, that's funny.