In a traditional Greek wedding, guests commonly receive koufeta as sweet almond favors.
Koufeta are sugar-coated almonds served at weddings and other Greek celebrations. Their hard almond center and sweet coating express the idea that married life contains both difficulties and joys. The almond’s shape and fertility associations also connect the favor with hopes for health, prosperity, and descendants.
The number of koufeta placed in each favor is usually odd, often five, because an odd number cannot be divided evenly. Five is commonly explained as representing health, happiness, prosperity, fertility, and longevity. Meanings vary, but the tradition of giving an indivisible number is widely recognized.
Koufeta are often wrapped in white or arranged in small bags, boxes, or decorative displays. They are not the stefana, which are the ceremonial crowns used during the Greek Orthodox wedding service.