Does anyone know, are there any legal or religious prohibitions regarding the marriage of first cousins in Greece?
And, if it is legal, what would be the generally held attitudes to such a union?
This might seem like a strange question but I need to know for novel-writing purposes!
Many thanks to anyone who can answer this.
Message posted by LouiseJames on 29 January 2009 at 8:57pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
This came up in the kafenion a couple of months ago. Although cousins can marry in Britain it is not allowed in Greece. Well, thats what my Greek neighbours told usn although I have no way of verifying this. Maybe someone can confirm this.
Message posted by Bill on 29 January 2009 at 9:39pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
The last paragraph says "Greek law requires parental permission for the marriage of people under the age of 18. The Greek Orthodox church said it was not a problem for second cousins to marry". But by inference it could be suggesting that marriage between first cousins isn't allowed...
Message posted by Bill on 29 January 2009 at 9:48pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I was scouring the 'net to see if I could find an answer to Viv's question, and I found this. Not to do with cousins marrying, but it does explain a lot (to me, anyway!):
"However, in Greek villages, women traditionally have been socially prohibited from marrying again after the death of their husbands. On becoming widows, they are thought to rapidly go through menopause making them less desirable as potential wives for most men. Widows take on a somewhat sexually neutral status and, therefore, are free for the first time in their lives to go into male places, such as coffee houses. However, they must wear black clothes to indicate their widow status for the rest of their lives. Greek men who become widowers are not similarly restricted and stigmatized as being gender neutral."
Message posted by BoltonLynda on 29 January 2009 at 10:37pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Don't know about Greek law, but I'm sure that first cousins can legally marry in England. However, in cultures where this practice is commonplace, I believe there is a higher incidence of congenital defects in any children born from such a marriage (read this somewhere only recently but unfortunately can't remember where)
Message posted by Dasia on 29 January 2009 at 10:38pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
What a sad story, Bill, but your post about the widows is interesting to say the least.
Re cousinly marriage, from Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides...a novel, but very much concerned with this sort of issue (and a great read, IMHO):
"'The priests say even first cousins never should marry,' she said. 'Second cousins is okay, but you have to ask first the archbishop...Even if you want to marry your godparents' son, you can't.'"
Hope this helps.
Message posted by vivwells on 30 January 2009 at 5:08pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I know of a couple here whom for both it was a second 'relationship' and they had a child, but were not allowed to marry because as first cousins it was not permitted . If you start to delve into ' village ' life, some of the stories you hear will make you hair curl !!!! you think it doesn't go on but believe me, everything is just about possible. If it was in a book, you would think it was too far fetched !
All Rights Reserved. No part of the Corfu Travel Guide web site may be reproduced without permission.
Infringement will be pursued.
The Corfu Travel
Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund
Topic:
Goto Page: [1] 
