Geographical Dimensions of Nuptiality in Greece During the Inter-War Period

This paper examines marriage patterns in Greece during the 1920s, focusing on regional variations. These variations reflect Greece's diverse historical, cultural, and economic character, particularly considering that some regions, primarily in the north, had only recently been incorporated into the nation after the Balkan Wars and World War I. Analysing data from these administrative regions (formerly known as Geographical Departments), reveals a north-south gradient in marriage patterns, with further distinctions between mainland and insular Greece. In the northern regions, marriage customs, especially for women, resembled those of neighbouring Balkan countries like Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, characterized by early and near-universal marriage. Further south, age at marriage was generally later, and permanent celibacy was more common, particularly for men, and in the Ionian islands, for women as well. The influx of approximately 1.2 million refugees from Asia Minor following the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) significantly impacted Greek demographics, including marriage patterns, due to the gender imbalance created by the war, specifically a shortage of marriageable-age men. This study argues that regional variations in marriage patterns within Greece during the inter-war period were so pronounced as to suggest disparate cultural contexts rather than mere intranational differences. The primary findings highlight the enduring influence of pre-existing cultural norms among the populations that came to shape the modern Greek State.