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Baptism boutique on a main road on the outskirts of Hania, near the old gymansium at Palia Ilektriki. The store also sells and rents wedding gowns, and all the other paraphernalia used at such events.
Greeks are really, really REALLY big on weddings and baptisms. Everything has to look glamorous. The boxes and miniature armchairs all open up to the contents of the baptismal wardrobe of the 'neo-fotisto': 'the one who has just received the light'. They are then used as a toy storage box as the child gets older. The lamps are a decoration for a tall candle, which supposedly signifies the life of the baptised child. It is held by another 'enlightened' child standing next to the baptismal font.
Well this is something I've never ever seen! How fascinating! Thank you for "enlightening" me. "Neo-fotisto"--what a great word and thought and image. I love how Greek makes words like that.
ReplyDeleteThe Irish lavish huge amounts on a wedding - I have always felt the money would be better spent on the couple starting out.
ReplyDeleteThere are only holiday cottages on the island now where people pretend to be islanders.
All I get to know!
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing shop! Almost an innocent paradise of treasures for special occasions!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and lovely photo. It's fun to learn about Crete/Greece through your posts.
ReplyDeleteGreek baptism outfits look soooo cute :-)
ReplyDeleteΔεν έχεις κι άδικο...
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is a big business....usually business exploiting either too much joy or too much sadness, in between you go to work, pay the bills and hope for the best :-)
Some Indian classmates were telling me that weddings are huge in India also.
I love the boxes, the clothes and everything about baptism. When i became a godmother, i was preparing this holy thing two months to be everything perfect for my vaptisimio.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a photo of what the children wear for a baptism (hit, hint), I think it must be quite colorful.
ReplyDeleteI always like to see the babies in their white outfits, sometimes the candle "dressing" is bigger than the baby! Don't you think the sweetest thing is when they come out wrapped in the big white blanket ready to be baptized.
ReplyDeleteWow! the extravaganza begins!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE window shopping in exotic places!
ReplyDeletealoha-
wow. those items do look glamorous. :O cool.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. It's not that big of a deal here in the States. People try, but don't really go all out for a baptism. Weddings, on the other hand ...
ReplyDeleteGreeks in the States make big deals about baptisms and weddings.
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