Meet the best man.   

Hi ShepherdSpy, maybe I didn't explain this very well but it is indeed a valid Greek relationship which once made one is stuck with. It really isn't anything to do with a wedding, though one day in the future that could be a part of it. And it's definitely a case of someone picking you rather than you picking them. I'll give you an example. I have a 50 year old friend who has never married and never will. He has a best friend who he grew up with and is close to still. The friends wife then decided that she would be the Koubara to my friend and now never calls him by name but Kouraros. He in turn is stuck with this and calls her koubara. The friend and husband has nothing to do with it all but their daughter is also called koubara by the friend. Now if one day my friend ever did get married then his friends wife would stand up beside him, so although it will never happen the relationship is there. For life. And everyone recognises the relationship and may speak of my friends friends wife as the koubara of my friend.
There isn't a formality involved in the way of the godparent thing but it nonethe less is a recognised relationship and no doubt I will now be instructed to attend family dinners.

Possibly it was the "Best Man" idea that may have wrong footed Me..So He's best MAN in Your life without any wedding related commitments until that occasion arises,at which time the Best Man's Job still needs to be allocated?

I said loosley translated as because there is no equivalent English word to describe it, but it would really mean the person you can always rely on to help you out. He would also be the main witness at any wedding.

Hi Shames, we've never had the cultural practice which you describe about marriage, but up to the second world war young girls covered their hair and weren't allowed to mix with men except family members. So if a man saw a girl tending the land he would have to approach her father to meet her. I think the practice of being promised from birth though is only in the families interest and not in that of the couple involved.

Hi sunnysmiles, well you're right there, it is absolutely nothing like the best man tradition in the UK. Often friends would form this bond when younger so be the Koubaros, but really we're talking here about a slightly older brigade, the either divorced or never married, and therefore it is unlikey that any sort of big wedding would be involved. More the style of popping into the town hall to sign a few papers, no ceremony, couple and Koubaros and another witness. Takes a couple of minutes as all the papers would have been presented first and other people will be expecting to get into the office to pay their water rates.

Free lobsters, lets hope so.

Hi Kitty, I don't think I explained all this very well and should have highlighted the words that a koubaros roughly translates as a best man, as there is no English word to describe it. He would be the main witness at any wedding.

But our customs are indeed fun Kitty and they when I'm included in them then it proves to me that I'm fully integrated into Greek life, rather than sitting on the sidelines with a bunch of ex pats.

Hi Zeph, 'the walrus' is neither my best friend or my best man. In the intro I said that the the word Koubaros loosely translates into best man as there is no equivalent thing in English so no word for it. But he's now meant to be there as a permanent feature to lend me a hand, which he always would before anyway, and would be the main witness were I to ever marry. I also discovered from him last night that my son is also now expected to address him as 'koubaros' instead of by name. Anyway his picture will SOON be up as the new Avatar for this interest and it has only been delayed because of a technical hitch between me and my camera.

Yassou Aunty, it's certainly hard to keep track of them all and what I'm meant to call all these people suddenly. I've already got a Koubarra but that one is legal with papers to prove it but I did have coffee with my new Koubarros this evening and he assures me there is no paperwork involved, just a lifetime obligation to give me the first of the pomegranates.

I couldn't keep up w/all i'd have to do to follow all these customs u have, I don't believe he is the only character around if u get my drift, lol.

Aunty there are so many strange characters locally you would not believe, and I probably know only a half of their secrets as yet, there are some people I just look at and think of something they have no idea that I know about. There is no point living in a 24 hour gossip village if you can't know lots about the people sat on the next table who think they know all about you. Course I'm never sure how much is embellished, either by themselves or others.

Hi Sunny, now the ongoing problem with the avatar picture continues. I charged the camera the other day but did it wrong. I have now turned the house upside down and cannot locate the charger lead anywhere but it must be here somewhere. Bit annoyed as I want the camera for something else too and I don't generally misplace things and even know how to identiy it. I had so many wires on the go yesterday though.

The koubaros thing is basically a way of saying he's now sort of obliged to look after me and no doubt I'll be expected to turn up at family dinners. I also thought it might stop him asking me out all time but that's one Greek habit which apparently will never change. But he would stand up as well as the main witness if I ever marry, but it definitly won't be too him.

always good to have someone to look after you....as long as you don't have to marry... (i wonder why this thing has not caught up here..). gadgets do have a downside...lots of accessories. i am no stranger to such problems....until i tagged all the cables and made a special drawer for all of them....makes it a lot easier..

Hi jillhill, I hope you've misread all this, the very thought of me having a relationship or marrying the new koubaros is a total no go, in fact I presumed that if I agreed to go along with this he wouldn't be allowed to keep making his more than suggestive comments any longer, I thought he'd have to start behaving. He knows full well I'm in a relationship already but that doesn't put any of these Greeks off from still trying. But please, me and the lobster fisherman. My cunning ploy previously was to tell him I couldn't go out with him till he lost at least 70 kilos, I mean, as if.

Drat, I was having an evening in the cafenion earlier and completely forgot the museum thing we had planned. Coffees on the way if you've made the white chocolate brownies

Here, I saved you one!

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Well, it sounds like a beneficial relationship for both of you. And it's a good way to get him to stay quiet...you are a smart lady, but I've known that for awhile now. :-)