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[miltiades]

We all have them, some good, happy and nostalgic, some not so good, but still stored in our subconscious, they form part of our being, they are a reminder of our early " introduction" to life. It costs nothing to have memories, they are a natural progression in our life, a part of our selves that perhaps formulated our self "make up", made us what we are today.

As one gets older, those memories become regular occurrences in our daily lives, our off springs, our niece and nephews , inquisitively want to know more about our past, more so when one has family spread over from Cyprus to the UK, Australia, Mauritius and of late Belarus.

I would like to tell you, in a light-hearted manner, some of my early memories, growing up in Stroumbi the Great, going to the cinema for the first time in my life, listening to the radio for the very first time, even listening to a mainland Greek for the very first time. The very first taste I had of ...ice cream.

Naturally I do not want to be a bore and will not continue if no interest is generated.

May I request the psycho to stay off this thread. Do your own plonker, this is part of a book I'm writing..., will ask you to help with the ....spelling

[Linichka]

Post on, Milti. You have unique memories. Each of us has, of course. Yours will be of great interest.

[Cap]

Do it Milt.

I enjoy reading.
The English language is like music to my ears.

[CBBB]

Tell us about when you first arrived in the UK, again!

[Jerry]

Yeah, go for it Milti, don't forget to mention your brother and his eccentricities.

[repulsewarrior]

...you may jog our own memories.

[miltiades]

Tell us about when you first arrived in the UK, again!

Now, that is SOME memory

Karakiozis shows do come to mind, why were they mostly in winter? I do recall those wonderful family shows but somehow I always recall being rubbed up well and taken to the local Kafenio where the show was being staged. Magicians shows too attracted the whole village, all these long before cinema, TV, radio and electricity. Yet people enjoyed their outings and children were happy.

Sunday church was another highlight, most if not all of the villagers ( apart from my father ) would attend , children would play in the forecourt being constantly reprimanded for making too much noise.

Simple yet so pleasurable life, all those years ago...

[miltiades]

No other village activity generated as much enthusiasm as a Wedding. Friday was the start of the ceremony, women and men preparing the RESI, pounding the wheat in a rhythmical fashion accompanied by the violi and the laouto. Once well pounded the resi was taken to the village vrisi for a wash, then it was left laid out on large sheets to dry ready for cooking on Saturday.

The atmosphere in the village was electrifying in spite of the fact that electricity had yet to come to the village.
Children stayed up late watching and taking part in the festivities, running around and taking everything in.

Scapouli too were well groomed trying to impress the local " talent". Weddings did last for 3 days and more since Monday was also a part of the ceremony, the day that the brides parents would proudly parade for all to see the bed sheets as a proof of their daughters virginity !!!!

The highlight was of course Sunday when the couple would undergo the religious ceremony in church and pronounced husband and wife. People from around other villages would attend on Sundays to offer their wishes to the newly married couple.

Much dancing and tsiatista would see us through Sunday night with the sounds of the violin and the laouto.

So much different now, understandable, life progresses and things change, but still remain in the memory of those of us that lived through the 50s ....

[repulsewarrior]

...weddings, three days, busloads with chairs. what i remember, my biggest challenge was serving the cold drinks, having to reach in the bania of ice (water) for the bottles, so many of them. down the main street the bride would travel on a donkey to the church; i used to feel a sense of pride every-time because, so i am told, the Virgin Mary was carried to Bethlehem on a Cypriot donkey. And years later, when someone tried to use this unique animal as a form of ridicule against my origins, i had the chance to remind them of this fact too.

...curious, have you ever been to a Turkish wedding?

[miltiades]

...weddings, three days, busloads with chairs. what i remember, my biggest challenge was serving the cold drinks, having to reach in the bania of ice (water) for the bottles, so many of them. down the main street the bride would travel on a donkey to the church; i used to feel a sense of pride every-time because, so i am told, the Virgin Mary was carried to Bethlehem on a Cypriot donkey. And years later, when someone tried to use this unique animal as a form of ridicule against my origins, i had the chance to remind them of this fact too.

...curious, have you ever been to a Turkish wedding?

Turkish wedding No, but I did attend two T/C funerals, much the same as the Christian ones.