The old Zakynthian wedding is of special folkloric importance, which shows the austere social behaviour and the conservative narrow morality of older times in the island.

The time, the matching, the way, the arrangement of the dowry and the agreement between the two parties was an exclusive business of the parents only.

When the parents of a young man decided that it was time for him to marry they first chose a bride and then announced who was the best wife for him.

Love affairs and pre-marital acquaintances were forbidden phenomena, so the necessary person who intervened for marriage agreements was the match maker. The will and the opinion of the bride was totally ignored as well and there was no way of asking or telling her in advance.

After the parents of the groom and the bride had agreed about the money, the household, the clothes, the jewellery, the land, the animals and whatever else the dowry included to the last detail, then the family of the bride would inform her and announce her future husband.

Then the named "Scartsofoli", the dowry agreement, that is, was composed, which referred analytically to the promised property. The dowry agreement was usually written by the teacher or the priest who also blessed it in the name of the Holy Trinity.

They then used to fold it in a red scarf and they would deliver it to the match maker who would carry it to the house of the groom with pomp.

The match maker would then return to the house of the bride where the announcement that the "Scartsofoli" was accepted without a problem. There was a custom and "Andeti" of the bridegroom to send hazel nuts and walnuts with the match maker so that the bride would treat relatives and friends who would visit her to express their felicitations.

Preparations for the wedding and obligations for it to be carried out started simultaneously. They would then define the date of the wedding and announce it to the relatives.

The weddings used to start on Friday afternoon when the bridegroom and his relatives would go to take the linen and to "Make the engagement".

Then the first contact of acquaintance of the couple would take place, which was a simple handshake and not embraces and kissing.

So, the feast started on Friday evening with dancing and singing accompanied by traditional instruments of the time. Then the verification of the dowry would take place, with the bridegroom holding the "Scartsofoli" and checking one by one the linen loading it on animals to be carded away in such a manner that they were visible to everyone.

With gunshots and joy they would then start for the house of the bridegroom.

The feast continued there until Sunday when all the relatives from both sides would go to the house of the bride to exchange the wreaths, which was the mystery of marriage, with the help and the blessings of a priest. When the wedding was over, the bride would follow the groom and all his relatives to her new house.

Wherever the couple passed on horseback they were welcomed with joy, good wishes and rose petals, while they responded by throwing hazel nuts and walnuts.

Whoever of the guests arrived first at the house of the groom, something which many riders tried to achieve, was called "Synchariatis" because he would give his congratulations that the wedding was over and that the newly weds were coming, then he would be given as a present a bread roll and a scarf which he would tie on the ear of his horse.

As soon as the couple would arrive, the mother in law would first treat her daughter in law with honey and sugar and would lay in front of the entrance a pair of men\'s trousers for the bride to step on so that she would give birth to boys, a piece of iron to step on in order to become as strong as iron, and a rose to step on so that she would have as many children as the petals which would spread around.

Then the bride would take off her gown and dress simply, and sit at the table for the start of the eating and drinking. When the eating was over they would place a tray with wine and an open red scarf on the table of the bride and groom. Then the guests would drink wine, one by one, and wish the newlyweds good fortune and throw money on the scarf.

The wedding would close with dancing, singing and shots in the air, something to be repeated when the mother in law of the bride on the following day would show with joy the petticoat of the bride with the signs of her virginity.

Then the match maker would take the petticoat to the home of the bride and show it to her relatives who were waiting in agony. The mother of the bride would take it, kiss it, and put money on it. This was repeated by the whole family.

Then the match maker would take it back to the bride who would keep it intact and well hidden until the day of her death, when her relatives would dress her in it so that she could go to the other world honoured. Otherwise, they believed, she would not be accepted there.

The "dishonoured" young lady, if this fact was made known, was very unlucky and would have to go back to her father\'s house in shame and pointed at! Fortunately, nowadays customs have become more humane and a love relationship outside a marriage is considered natural and is discreetly accepted.