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A oral tradition from Skiathos about matchmaking, jealousy, and secrets kept for decades
The story that follows was told to me by local inhabitants of Skiathos, people who grew up hearing the traditions and customs of the island. Through their narratives, the preserved costumes and the old matchmaking practices come to life, where an orange or tangerine could determine the fate of a family and the heart of a young woman.
Skiathos, Early 20th Century
Skiathos at that time was an island that seemed to move slowly, as if afraid to awaken from its own silence. The alleys were narrow, the roofs of the houses rusted from the salty sea air, and the scent of tangerines mingled with the brine of the harbor.
Houses and courtyards hid secrets and stories that only locals knew how to tell. There, matchmakers played the role of connecting families and deciding the hearts of young women, following rules and rituals that seemed small, yet carried immense power.
The Promise of the Tangerine
In the summer of 1921, Kalliopi was to marry Lefteris, son of Captain Dimitris. Kyra Georgia, the matchmaker, left a golden tangerine in the pot at Lefteris’s father’s house -a sign that the match had succeeded.
But during the night, a shadow lurked. Marigo, the baker’s daughter, her heart suffocated by jealousy, quietly snatched the tangerine. Society, patriarchy, and the secret power of the matchmaker determined the lives of girls, yet that single act was enough to change a destiny. The match failed, and the wedding never took place. Kalliopi kept her sigkouna, treasured in a chest, a reminder of fate’s inevitability.
Decades of Silence
Marigo left Skiathos, but guilt never abandoned her. Her nights were filled with waves and sorrowful voices no one could hear. Decades passed, and the island continued to smell of sea and tangerines, yet the stories remained hidden, kept behind curtains and traditional costumes.
Eventually, as an old woman, she returned to Skiathos. She stood before Kalliopi’s sigkouna and felt the decades melt like ice in the sun. A young girl stood beside her, unaware of the old stories. Marigo began to speak, and for the first time, the silence broke. She told of the tangerine, jealousy, and the social pressure that imprisoned hearts, but also of the need for repentance and honesty.
She picked a tangerine from the garden and handed it to the girl, saying:
“Never let anyone steal it from you.“
The Value of Memory
This story was orally transmitted by the locals of Skiathos and recorded to preserve the customs of matchmaking in the early 20th century. Jealousy, silence, and social pressure leave deep marks, yet honesty and repentance can bring light and hope, even after decades.
At the Skiathitiko Spiti (Skiathos House), the costumes stand as witnesses of an era where duty, tradition, and love intertwined, while the tangerines continue to smell of summer, reminding us that life always finds a way to heal its wounds.
August 13, 2025
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