My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Beverage Secrets: Unveiling The Drinks Of Choice

In the 2002 romantic comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the drinking culture is an integral part of the Greek family's celebrations and daily life. The film, written by and starring Nia Vardalos, centres around a young Greek-American woman, Toula, who falls in love with a non-Greek man, Ian Miller, and her family's struggle to accept him. The film includes several drinking game prompts, including taking a drink every time the name Nick or Nikki is mentioned, or when the Greek exclamation OPAH! is shouted. Audiences are also prompted to take a drink when they see the Greek flag on the garage, and when Toula's grandmother sneaks out. The film franchise inspired a drinking game, with prompts including taking a drink every time someone mentions Windex, or when Toula is told to fix something.

Drinking games for the film

Drinking games are a fun way to enhance your viewing experience of a film. Here are some rules you could follow to make a drinking game out of the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding":

• Drink every time someone says "malaka" (a Greek swear word).
• Drink every time someone mentions Windex.
• Drink every time someone mentions the family restaurant, "Dancing Zorba's".
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the bride's father, Gus.
• Drink every time someone mentions the bride's name, Fotoula or Toula.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the bride's mother, Maria.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the groom, Ian Miller.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the aunt, Voula.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the uncle, Taki.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the cousin, Nikki.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the bride's brother, Nick.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the bride's sister, Athena.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the groom's friend, Mike.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the groom's father, Rodney Miller.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the groom's mother, Harriet Miller.
• Drink every time someone mentions the name of the neighbour, Mrs White.

Please note that drinking games can be dangerous and should be played responsibly. It is important to drink in moderation and be aware of your limits.

Windex references

In the 2002 romantic comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", Windex is used as a cure-all for any ailment, from a pimple to poison ivy. In the opening scene, Gus Portokalos, played by the late Michael Constantine, is seen using a bottle of Windex on what looks like a pimple or wart. The film's writer and director, Nia Vardalos, has stated that this unusual habit was inspired by her father, who similarly used Windex for everything. In an interview, Vardalos recalled how her father once "accidentally got Windex on a wart and it started to dry out, so he started using it for everything."

The use of Windex as a cure-all is further emphasised in a scene where Aunt Voula tells Gus that she has a rash on her elbow, to which he responds by spraying Windex on her, insisting, "Put some Windex on it." Gus' belief in the power of Windex is so strong that he even keeps his elbow submerged in a bowl of Windex while quizzing his children.

The Windex references continue throughout the film and its sequels. In one scene, Gus' future son-in-law, Ian, reveals that he cured a zit instantly with Windex. In the third film, Gus' son, Nick, carries on the tradition after his father's death by using Windex on his shoes. The blue cleaning liquid has become an iconic and comedic part of the franchise's legacy, although experts and the Windex brand itself do not recommend using the product on the skin due to its irritant and caustic nature.

Ouzo, the most popular alcohol in Greece

Ouzo is widely considered to be the most popular alcoholic drink in Greece. Its roots can be traced back to the 14th century, when a version of the drink tsipouro, flavoured with anise, is said to have been created by a group of monks on Mount Athos. This eventually came to be called ouzo.

Ouzo is made from rectified spirits that have undergone a process of distillation and flavouring. Its taste is similar to other anise liquors like pastis, sambuca, mastika, rakı, and arak. It is usually mixed with water and served with ice in a small glass, or drunk straight from a shot glass.

The key to drinking ouzo is to eat snacks known as mezes. These can include small fresh fish, fries, olives, and feta cheese. Mezes help to keep the effects of alcohol from becoming overwhelming, allowing you to drink slowly for hours in a calm state of mind.

In Greece, ouzo is often consumed in establishments called ouzeries or mezedopoulions, which specialise in the drink and the foods that accompany it. Ouzo is typically consumed slowly over several hours in the early evening.

The best ouzo is said to come from the island of Lesvos, also known as Mytilini. Popular commercial brands include Mini and Plomari. However, the experience of drinking ouzo is just as important as the drink itself.

Greek food and eating

Greek food is renowned for its delicious flavours and fresh ingredients. It has been influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures, with a variety of meat, seafood, vegetables, grains, cheeses, herbs, and spices used across different dishes.

Greek Breakfast

Greek-style breakfasts often include Greek coffee, tea, or frappe coffee, alongside dishes such as koulouri (sesame bread ring), Greek yoghurt, bougatsa, tiropita, spanakopita, omelette, strapatsada, and piroski.

Greek Appetizers and Salads

Appetizers, or meze, are an important part of Greek dining culture, with dips and pita bread being particularly popular. Some common Greek appetizers include tirokroketes (cheese fritters), saganaki (fried cheese), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and various salads such as horiatiki (Greek salad), horta (leafy greens salad), and pikantiki.

Greek Main Courses

Greece has a wide variety of meat and vegetarian dishes. Some popular meat dishes include moussaka (layers of fried eggplant, potatoes, seasoned ground meat, and spiced tomato sauce, topped with béchamel sauce), pastitsio (pasta with ground meat and béchamel sauce), kreatopita (meat pie), stifado (casserole with baby onions, tomatoes, wine, olive oil, and meat), and souvlaki (skewered meat). Gyros, another popular Greek dish, consists of meat (pork, chicken, lamb, or beef) cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served in a wrap with toppings and tzatziki sauce.

For seafood lovers, there's garides saganaki (sautéed shrimps with garlic, tomatoes, onions, oregano, and parsley), grilled octopus, and grilled fish. Vegetarian options include tiropita (cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), and briam (roasted vegetables).

Greek Desserts and Pastries

Greek desserts and pastries are often made with nuts, honey, fruits, sesame, and filo pastries. Some popular Greek sweets include baklava (layers of nuts and butter with syrup), loukoumades (fried dough balls coated in honey), galaktoboureko (custard pie with syrup), and diples (pastry sheets deep-fried and coated in honey syrup).

Greek Drinks

Ouzo, a distilled spirit with a licorice flavour, is one of the most well-known Greek alcoholic drinks. Wine is also a significant part of Greek culture, with a variety of grape varieties and wines available. Retsina, a white wine infused with pine resin, is another unique Greek drink. For non-alcoholic options, there's soumada (an almond-based beverage) and Greek coffee, which is thick and strong, made with tiny-grained ground coffee.

Greek wedding traditions

Greek weddings are steeped in cultural and religious symbolism, with rituals steeped in Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions. In the film *My Big Fat Greek Wedding*, the protagonist, Toula, falls in love with a non-Greek man, Ian Miller, and the film centres on her family's struggle to accept him while she comes to terms with her cultural identity. The film is based on writer and actor Nia Vardalos's own experience of marrying a non-Greek man.

The Marital Bed Tradition

Friends and family prepare the couple's bed in their home, throwing rice and money onto it to symbolise prosperity and putting down roots. A baby is then rolled on the bed to bless the couple with fertility.

Symbols of Good Luck

Greek weddings have several good luck traditions:

• A lump of sugar in the bride's glove
• A gold coin in the bride's shoe
• Iron in the groom's pocket
• Odd numbers of guests and attendants
• Spitting three times after offering congratulations or compliments

Blessings and Rings

The wedding rings are placed on the couple's fingers and exchanged three times by the koumbaro (best man). The priest then blesses them three times.

Candles and the Common Cup

The couple holds candles, representing the light of Christ, and shares three sips of wine from a common cup, symbolising a successful union.

Readings

The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians and The Gospel According to St. John are traditionally read during the ceremony.

Wedding Crowns

Marital crowns, or Stefana, are made from flowers, foliage, or precious metals, symbolising the union of two people. The koumbaro swaps the crowns three times, and the couple wears them while walking around the altar three times, representing their journey through life together.

Dance

Traditional Greek wedding dances, such as the Tsamiko, Zeibekiko, and Sirtaki, involve guests holding hands and dancing in a circle. The couple shares the last dance of the night, with guests throwing money or pinning it to their clothes.

Koufeta

After the ceremony, guests receive Koufeta (sugar-coated almonds) packaged in odd numbers. They symbolise purity, fertility, and the endurance of marriage.

The Bridal Dowry

The bride's family prepares a dowry of linens, embroideries, and handmade items to give to the couple.

The First Dance

The couple's first dance is often the Kalamatianos, a traditional Greek circle dance.

The Candle Lighting

The couple lights a unity candle together, symbolising their new life as one.

The Departure from the Church

The couple is showered with rose petals or rice after the ceremony, symbolising fertility and prosperity.

Frequently asked questions