Every future married couple wants their wedding day to be remembered forever. When the solemn date is already appointed, the bride and groom begin to wonder: "How to have a fun wedding?". Future newlyweds dream of turning the wedding day into a real holiday. And on the eve of this joyous event, all the subtleties of the traditional wedding are recalled. Observance of traditions and ceremonies of the wedding is an integral part of a merry holiday. And most of these wedding traditions have very ancient roots and history. It was important for our ancestors to receive the blessing of parents on this bright day, and observance of rituals was considered an important guarantee of happiness and well-being.
Russian Wedding Traditions
At all times in Russia, weddings were considered one of the most important events in the life of every person. Weddings were fun and noisy. It was believed that a verst should be heard as the wedding takes place. Most of the ancient traditions have survived in modern culture:
- matchmaking. This ceremony preceded every wedding. His essence was that the groom sent his beloved friends to his parents. If the bride liked the bride and her parents, then they agreed on the wedding, if not, then the parents gave matchmakers a pumpkin as a refusal. This custom has survived to the present day in the traditions of the Ukrainian wedding in the villages;
- stag and hen party. The stag and hen party is an ancient Russian custom, but it is still observed today. In the old days at the hen party the future bride was preparing for the wedding, and her friends were talking to her about evil spirits. The bachelor party was usually attended by the father, brothers and friends of the groom. They sang songs and walked the streets;
- wedding. The wedding is an ancient Orthodox rite, which is held among believing couples and today. This rite symbolizes a spiritual union between a man and a woman. In the old days, parents blessed their children after the wedding.
The wedding itself in Russia was celebrated for three days. The first day was dedicated only to the bride and groom. The bride and groom came to the bride's house in the morning, after which the young people went to the wedding. After the wedding, the bride and groom received a blessing from their parents, congratulations from the guests and a festive feast began. The wedding could last until the morning, the guests were treated to wine and the most delicious dishes, but the newly-made husband and wife were not supposed to have wine. On this day, guests, as a rule, stayed overnight in the house of the bride.
The second day of the wedding was no less intense than the first. Many traditions of the second day of the wedding are observed at the present time. On the second day the guests gathered at the groom's house and continued their festive feast. On this day, the parents of the bride and groom gave a big honor - they were congratulated, seated in the most honorable places and entertained.
On the third day of the wedding, the young wife was given real tests - checked that she knows how
Many weddings in Russia are held in accordance with these traditions. Some of them have changed beyond recognition, others have disappeared, and also new ones have appeared. Modern married couples run pigeons "for luck" and go with guests to walk to the central parks and embankments. Some, not wanting to forget their roots, use the traditions of Armenian, Tatar or Azerbaijani weddings. It can be bride kidnapping, visiting a bathhouse on the wedding day or decorating a banquet hall in an ethnic style. Having developed a fantasy, the bride and groom can turn this significant day of their life into a wonderful holiday, which their guests will remember for a long time.