Two hearts by the will of the Zodiac

Merged into one under the shadow of Marriage.

There are seven wonders in the world, however

There is nothing more wonderful than Marriage.At the present time, the wedding, as a complex multi-stage set of rituals, has practically not been preserved. Time and fashion dictate their conditions, but some elements are alive.

Ritual church wedding is becoming more and more frequent.

It is impossible to imagine a wedding without first meeting the parents. They also stipulate the material side of the issue - how much the wedding will cost, and how the expenses will be distributed. (Let us immediately note: today there is more atypical in this matter than at any time in the past).

Traditionally, rings, a dress and shoes for the bride are bought by the groom, and the bride's family provides a "dowry" - bed linen, dishes and furniture. Almost everywhere there is a wedding feast. The wedding can be based on both a village and an urban ceremony, or you can combine elements of both. The rest depends on the capabilities, tastes, traditions of the families of the bride and groom and the ingenuity of their friends. Often, professionals are invited to hold a wedding, they resort to the services of special institutions - wedding houses, etc.

There are various wedding scenarios. Let us dwell on some “generally accepted” points.

It is customary for the bride and groom to write invitations themselves and deliver them personally to those whom they wish to see at their wedding. An exception is for nonresidents, but it is considered more polite if a written invitation is confirmed by a telephone conversation. Relatives and friends must certainly be present at the solemn act of registering the marriage, where they congratulate the newlyweds and give flowers. The presence of witnesses is officially regulated. Wedding palaces became popular. There, every couple will definitely smile (and if necessary, they will help and calm them down: there are many cases when brides fainted from excitement).

It is generally accepted to give gifts to the newlyweds at a wedding. However, it has become quite acceptable to give money to young people in a smart envelope, which was once an offensive thing. And relatives or friends who were invited but were unable to attend the wedding simply send money transfers.

The main characters at the wedding - the bride and groom - should be the most elegant. If the bride is getting married in a church, then her dress should not have a deep neckline. The flowers that the groom orders (with the knowledge of the bride) must be in harmony with the dress. (At marriage registration, the bride may appear in short dress or without a veil, but with a bouquet). The bride's light dress and the groom's white shirt and tie are an indispensable condition for a wedding in a church and are specially stipulated - just like the fact that Christians getting married must be baptized and wear crosses.

Only the bride can wear white at a wedding!

In earlier times, grooms wore a tailcoat; today they may wear a dark (in winter) or light (in summer) well-tailored suit, a white shirt, tie or bow tie. It’s good to have a small bouquet of the same flowers in your buttonhole as the bride’s.

(In case of remarriage, which in our time, alas, is not uncommon, the wedding is no longer celebrated so magnificently and in quite a narrow circle. Guests arrive in festive attire. However, the bride no longer wears a veil and a snow-white outfit. There can be simply beautifully styled hair on the head, sometimes decorated with several flowers or a hat, but you still need a bouquet in your hands).

More about flowers. Previously, the bride was supposed to choose flowers of one color - mainly soft pink or white, but now they choose other flowers or combine many types of flowers, trying to ensure that they are in harmony in shape and color. There is one general rule: everything is permissible that does not violate harmony. Flowers are used in different ways in a bride's outfit. In the form of an elegant wreath, they can decorate her head. Graceful boutonnieres pinned to a light veil or dress are very beautiful.

A traditional bouquet can be made openwork, hanging, or placed in a small elegant basket ending with an inconspicuous, comfortable ring that fits on your finger. Most often, bridal bouquets are made elongated - this is a one-sided "German" bouquet, or - with shoots of climbing plants spreading far in different directions - the so-called English variety. Less known is the Swedish round bouquet" summer solstice", composed of colorful summer flowers, cereals, ears, with lace ribbons and colored tulle.

It is not at all necessary that the bouquet consist of expensive flowers. The age and appearance of the bride, as well as the color and length are decisive for choosing a bouquet. wedding dress.

A large and lush bouquet is contraindicated for a short, fragile bride; flowers that are too large are not suitable either. It is preferable for her to choose a small, elegantly arranged bouquet that she can hold with two fingers, or a basket bouquet.

For the bride tall and the corresponding physique, you should prefer a fairly large bouquet, which is worn on the elbow. This is a bouquet of long-stemmed flowers, the center of gravity of which is on the bride’s hand and the flowers themselves hang down.

You can make a delicate boutonniere for the groom. For complete harmony, the boutonniere should be made of the same flowers as the bride's bouquet.

In many countries, the bride wears myrtle branches in her hair and a bouquet of the same branches in the shape of a brooch on her chest. The groom wears a bouquet of myrtle branches in his buttonhole.

The traditional exclamation, taken up by the choir, “Bitter!” behind wedding table sounds for centuries. It also cannot be done without congratulatory poems.

The wedding table does not have a significant ritual program. Perhaps the only remaining items on the menu are chicken dishes and wedding cake. The rest depends on tastes and possibilities. But oh wedding cake special mention should be made.

A wedding cake, or bride's cake, is not only a delicious confectionery product and table decoration, but also a symbol expressing skillful decoration good wishes bride, young family. A cake in the form of a wicker basket with white roses is a symbol of purity, purity and love; with red - deep and passionate love; cake with swans and a chick - a hint of a new baby new family; "horn of plenty" - to prosperity; cake in the shape of a horseshoe - fortunately; "lyre" - to creative perfection; cake in the shape of a pyramid - a wish to live to a ripe old age, to rise to the top of life together...

There should be no dedicatory inscriptions or wishes on “themed” cakes.

The wedding cake is usually placed on the banquet table in front of the newlyweds. You can place the cake on a special bedside table or table near the bride and groom. When it’s time for dessert, the bride cuts the cake (this is where the test of dexterity and accuracy lies!). The piece with the main design is placed on the bride's plate by the groom.

It is advisable to arrange the tables in the letter “P”; another arrangement is also possible - the main thing is that the bride and groom and parents are in the center of the table. At crowded weddings, it is recommended to place guests according to the plan according to name cards.

The decoration of the banquet table is fruit. A composition of grapes, apples, pears, peaches, bananas, etc., placed in a tall crystal vase, gives the wedding table the necessary splendor and freshness. In general, it should be remembered that the color of the treats and the appearance of the table are no less important than the taste qualities. Skillful arrangement of dishes, fruits, confectionery on a white or colored tablecloth affects a person like a good picture.

The rule for serving and serving guests is that before serving dessert, appetizers, bread and spices must be removed from the table. Exceptions are allowed at a wedding. In this case, the owners only need to tidy up the table from time to time: remove empty dishes, and place identical snacks remaining on the dishes on one dish along with herbs and other decorations. To do this, it is best to have on hand pre-chopped greens, radishes, olives, cucumbers, green peas, etc., which are pre-chopped and dipped in water, so you can immediately decorate the combined dishes. It is advisable to have refreshing drinks on the tables until the very end of the celebration.

In addition to flowers, candlesticks in the form of candelabra with 3-5-7 candles add solemnity to the wedding table. Antique silver and bronze tall candelabra or ceramic and wooden ones are always beautiful. Tall candlesticks and slender, even candles do not blind those sitting at the table or interfere with seeing each other. However, you should not overload the table with candlesticks. For a 50-seat table, 2-3 candelabra with 3 candles each are enough (the total number of candles, as is customary, should be odd).

At the table to the right of the bride and to the left of the groom, leave some space, somewhat separating the newlyweds from the rest. This should be done not so much for convenience (although comfort is important), but rather according to tradition, which provides for the special position of the bride and groom.

A happy marriage loves the holidays. We have loving spouses celebrate every anniversary. But there is also an almost “official” list of wedding anniversaries that are customarily celebrated.

The first wedding anniversary is called calico. Five years - wooden, seven - copper, ten - pink, fifteen - glass, twenty - porcelain, twenty-five - silver, thirty - pearl, forty - ruby, fifty - gold, seventy-five - diamond. The name also suggests gifts. And your favorite flowers (or maybe those that made up the wedding bouquet!).

An example of a wedding scenario in one of the wedding celebration houses:

The wedding celebration begins with a ceremonial meeting of the newlyweds at the entrance. The presenter congratulates them and leads them to the newlyweds’ room, meanwhile organizing the guests for a ceremonial meeting in the wedding ritual hall. Guests are located on both sides of the carpet, at the end of which stand the parents of the newlyweds.

When the newlyweds, accompanied by witnesses, enter the hall to the sounds of the wedding march, the guests shower them with sweets and flowers. The groom's mother brings them a lush fresh loaf of bread, specially baked for the wedding, on an elegant towel, and the bride's mother generously sprinkles them with grain. Everyone wishes happiness and prosperity to the young family.

Young people break bread and treat wedding loaf each other, parents, witnesses and all guests. The presenter hands the young wife a small broom, and the young husband a dustpan, and offers to sweep the carpet. Young people collect grain and candy to the sound of cheerful music. The presenter comments on their work, explaining to the guests the meaning of the wedding ceremony: the bride, having shown skill, must remove the garbage quickly in order to please the mother-in-law, and the son-in-law - the mother-in-law, as good helper daughters. The guests thank the young people with applause for their first joint work and give gifts. (V. Dahl - teach a young woman to sweep the floor / she sweeps, and the guests litter to test her patience / - Approx.).

Then the host, on behalf of the newlyweds, invites everyone to the wedding table. The first ceremonial toast - congratulations to the newlyweds - is offered by the host of the celebration or the wedding guest of honor. Guests greet the newlyweds standing. The young people thank their parents. The presenter invites guests to congratulate their parents on this joyful event.

The response - a parental order - is offered to the parents of the newlyweds. Then the guests of honor, witnesses and friends speak.

The newlyweds open the dance, the next dance is open to everyone.

Then the presenter reads out the decree - a comic parting word to the young, in an epic style. The decree is issued in the form of a scroll with wax seals. After reading, the scroll is given to the young people. And again congratulations, wishes and instructions follow.

Young people are invited to break a bagel hoop baked from dough. Whoever breaks off the largest piece is proclaimed the head of the family for a day.

A prerequisite for the feast is songs. The youth sings their favorite songs, the elders sing old wedding songs.

At every wedding you can see various traditions that have come to us since ancient times, but they still try to adhere to them.

We are familiar with many wedding traditions - this is the creation of a family, the bride's ransom, the exchange, eating a loaf, a white wedding dress, showering the newlyweds with coins, rice, sweets, flowers, the groom throwing a garter, and the bride a bouquet, changing the shoes of the bride's mother into chebots. This list goes on and on; in every wedding tradition you can find exactly what your couple likes most. We offer several options for wedding traditions that continue to be relevant even after many centuries.

Every nation has its own wedding ceremonies and traditions

Every wedding is a bright event full of positive emotions.

IN European countries There is a tradition of having a small dinner before the wedding. This kind of pre-wedding dinner is very often observed by newlyweds in our country. On this evening, close friends of the bride and groom, their parents, relatives, and, of course, the young people themselves, get together in order to get to know each other better before the wedding day. If you are interested in such a tradition, then you need to know the following things before starting it:

• Dinner location and time. Since this dinner is not an official event, it is not necessary to celebrate it in a cafe or restaurant. You can meet at someone’s house (the parents of the bride or groom), arrange a trip out of town, have a picnic, cook fish soup, or barbecue. It is best to organize such a dinner three to four days before the wedding date, since before the wedding itself everyone will be busy with other, more important things.
• Who should organize such a dinner? It can be organized by the newlyweds themselves, or by their parents, relatives or friends. Much depends on who is invited to dinner. You can invite both relatives and friends, or you can limit yourself to inviting only your closest relatives so that they can get to know each other better.
• How can you entertain your pre-wedding dinner guests? This question is one of the most important. Since the purpose of this evening is to bring relatives closer together, you can come up with anything you want. Newlyweds can prepare vows to each other in advance, come up with an original declaration of love, and tell everyone present the story of how they met. They can express gratitude to their parents for their help in preparing for the wedding and give them memorable gifts. Relatives or friends can use the slide to show photos together newlyweds. You can come up with a variety of interesting competitions. You can simply spend the evening chatting with loved ones. It is important that the organizers of such an evening discuss all the details with the bride and groom.

There are Western countries in which a wedding dinner involves a full rehearsal of the wedding ceremony, right down to the feast.

Traditions and customs on your wedding day

• Home. More from ancient Rus' the custom of the hearth came. Today, the hearth is supposed to be lit by the mothers of the bride and groom. It is believed that in this way they convey experience, harmony and traditions to the young family. In reality, this tradition is carried out by lighting candles.
• White color . This is very old tradition. A wedding dress should be white, since this color is considered a symbol of innocence, purity, harmony and purity. But recently, girls often break this tradition and make their own adjustments. Modern brides often choose wedding dress colors such as ivory, cream, and pale pink. Some people prefer to get married in a bright red dress. Everyone has their own style and taste. But still White color wedding dress remains traditional.
• The first dance of a new family. For many people, the first dance does not seem like a wedding custom. It seems that through dance, young people demonstrate their dancing skills and beautiful outfits. But this is absolutely not true. The first dance of a young family reflects their feelings, relationships, and harmony.
• Throwing the bride's garter. It's comparative new tradition, but she is already present at almost all weddings. The groom needs to remove the garter from his wife’s leg and throw it to all the single guys present at the wedding. Whoever holds the garter will soon get married.
• Throwing the bride's wedding bouquet. This tradition is one of the most beautiful and memorable. By throwing her bouquet, the bride gives the opportunity to one of the unmarried girls present to get married in the near future. Some brides throw their bouquet at the very end of the wedding, others do it between feasts, some prefer to throw the bouquet after the wedding ceremony.

You need to choose traditions that both the bride and groom will like. This day should be only yours, it should give you a lot of positive emotions, colorful impressions and leave memories for a lifetime! Love each other and be happy!

Wedding traditions of the peoples of the world:

What traditions or customs do you know?

Spring and summer are the most important seasons for weddings. We have already figured out which date is best to choose for your wedding day. Today we will look into wedding traditions and customs.

Grade

Removing the veil. Very tender and, which has quite a lot of variations depending on the region of Ukraine. This tradition symbolizes the acceptance of a new person into the family.

According to tradition, the veil must be removed by the mother-in-law. As a rule, such a tradition takes place in a light game form. The groom tries to take off the veil first, thereby showing that the girl is no longer a bride, but a wife. The bride jokingly resists, allegedly not yet quite coming to terms with the loss of her independence and freedom. Then the mother-in-law comes up and takes off the veil, after which she ties a scarf on the bride’s head.

After the bride has been tied with a scarf, she can dance with all her unmarried friends, trying on her own veil on each head, thereby wishing them to meet their man in the near future and marry him. This ritual is always performed at the end of the wedding.

Another very touching one and which is held at the end of the evening - lighting the family hearth. For almost all peoples of the world, fire is a symbol vital energy, comfort and well-being. Fire has great power, which is why, when a new family is born, it is so necessary to light family hearth.

From time immemorial, women have been considered, which is why on the wedding day, the mothers of two families light the family hearth in the new family, thereby symbolizing the transfer of their wisdom.

Dance with dad. A dance with your father is one of the most touching and exciting moments of the entire wedding, leaving no one indifferent. For the bride, dancing with her father is a wonderful opportunity to express her gratitude and love for her parents, in particular her father.

The traditions described above are only a small fraction of possible wedding rituals, but even they reveal the richness and beauty of the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people.

Wedding signs

• If a cat sneezes in the house in the morning, then the bride will be happy in her marriage.
• After the bride leaves the house, the floors need to be washed to make it easier for the bride to enter her husband's house. The best thing to do is for her mother to do this.
• Rain or snow on your wedding day is fortunate.
• Before the newlyweds enter the house where they will live, an unlocked lock is placed under the threshold; as soon as they enter, the lock is locked with a key and thrown away. For the same purpose, a lock is placed on the bridge fence.
• The groom carries the bride over the threshold of the house in his arms. With his hugs he protects her from damage. The one who first crosses the threshold of the house (steps on the carpet in the registry office or church) will be the head of the family.

• Grains, rose petals, money and sweets - all this can be thrown at newlyweds leaving the registry office.
• The tradition of serving a wedding loaf comes from the ancient Romans. In Rome, newlyweds were not recognized as spouses until they ate a piece of the wedding cake at the same time. Nowadays they look to see who will pinch off which piece of loaf. The one of the newlyweds who manages to bite or pinch off more will be the head of the family.
• There will be two “fighters”: after the ritual with a loaf of bread, the bride and groom are served a glass of wine or champagne. They drink and break their glasses on the floor - for good luck. The fragments are used to determine who will appear first among the young: a boy or a girl. Large fragments - to the boy, small ones - to the girl.
• To avoid quarrels in the future, the young wife, entering her husband’s house, breaks a plate. Then they step over the fragments together.

• Witnesses tie two bottles of champagne for good luck. The first bottle is drunk on the first wedding anniversary, and the second on the birthday of the first child.
• If the bride wants her sister or all her sisters to get married immediately after her, then before she leaves the house, she needs to pull the corner of the tablecloth that covers the table towards her.
• If a newlywed wants her girlfriend to get married as soon as possible, she needs, before leaving her parents’ house, to cut off a piece of cheese and give it to this girl.
• The girl who catches the bride's bouquet will soon get married.

Wedding signs related to wedding clothes and shoes

• The groom should not see the bride before the ceremony.
• On the wedding day, the bride should wear something old, something new, something blue and something borrowed. By old we mean some gift from the mother (such a gift symbolizes peace and wisdom in marriage).
• Blue stands for love, modesty and loyalty.
• Borrowed - this thing is taken from married woman happily married.
• A stitch added to a bride's dress before she leaves the church is supposed to bring her good luck.
• The bride should be girded with a red belt - a talisman. It should have salt consecrated for Easter or Maundy Thursday.
• The change received from the purchase of a veil, shoes and dresses is not spent for as long as possible, at least for at least three months, and the money is put away so that a stranger cannot get to it.

• To prevent the newlyweds from being jinxed during the wedding, they need to pin a pin or a small piece red ribbon (crosswise).
• Rowan leaves in shoes, berries in pockets - these measures should protect the young from damage.
• Old shoes on the bride will bring good luck in family life.
• The bride is recommended to walk around for at least a day, prepared for the event.
• definitely necessary in closed shoes so that the toe and heel are closed, then happiness will not leak out of the house.

• How long dress, the longer the married life.
• You can’t put it on through your legs, otherwise your husband will leave you.
• Parents should ensure that no strangers or guests adjust the clothes on the bride and groom.
• So that young people do not need bread and money, they put a few grains and a coin in their shoes.

Wedding signs associated with rings

• You can’t let someone try you on it, so you can give away your destiny.
• On your wedding day, you cannot wear any other rings on your hand other than the wedding ring.
• Marries with parents' rings - repeat their family relationships.
• After the groom has put a wedding ring on the bride, neither she nor he should take the empty ring box or the plate on which it was lying.

• It is better to take the box to an unmarried girlfriend or friend.
• If, while putting on a ring, the bride or groom drops it, it means cheating.
• If you touch the rings of the bride and groom at a wedding, it means that you will soon attend your own wedding.
• Newlyweds cannot use wedding rings, sawn or melted from the rings of their parents. The groom must buy both rings, and it is advisable that he does this on the same day, in the same place, then the chances of a long life family life will increase.
• The groom needs to put the ring on to the base of his finger - the love will be stronger.

Wedding traditions in Russia are a mixture of ancient Russian rituals, traditions of the Soviet period and Western trends. Recently, more and more often we can see Western-style weddings being held in Russia: with on-site registration, without toastmaster, competitions, accordion player, ransom and loaf, but still the majority still prefer classic Russian weddings. In this article we will take a closer look at how a traditional Russian wedding takes place.

There are many signs and traditions, and some of them relate to the period of preparation for the wedding: this is traditional matchmaking, which now takes the form of a small feast for parents and newlyweds.

There is also a tradition of bachelorette and bachelor parties. According to Russian traditions, the bachelorette party was held before the wedding day: the bride's friends gathered there, the bride cried and wailed, said goodbye to her girlhood, and unbraided her hair.

Nowadays, hen and stag parties are increasingly held as we often see in Hollywood films - fun, noisy and with alcohol.

Let's return directly to the day of celebration. What ritual begins almost any Russian wedding?

Bride ransom

Previously, the phrase “bride price” was not a metaphor at all! Indeed, the bride was bought from her parents' house.

Now money has faded into the background. The bride price, which is usually organized by the bridesmaids, takes place in the house of the girl's parents and includes competitions. By going through these competitions, the groom proves that he knows and loves the bride well, and the groom's friends should come to his aid.

This is how the wedding fun begins. Having gone up to the bride's house, the groom takes her to register the marriage. Usually, during the bride price and after it, the bride's parents arrange a small buffet.

Wedding ceremony

After the ransom, traditionally the couple, followed by the guests, go to the registry office, where the marriage is officially registered. The newlyweds perform their first dance there, for which they often order live music.

After accepting congratulations from the guests, a small photo session is usually held, first for everyone, and then only for the newlyweds, during which the guests prepare for the bride and groom to leave the registry office.

Guests sprinkle the newlyweds with rice (for the early birth of children), sweets (for sweet life), coins (for wealth) and rose petals (for a beautiful, romantic life together).

Orthodox couples who belong to the church also undergo a wedding ceremony in the church.

Wedding walk

After registering the marriage, the guests (often only young friends and girlfriends of the newlyweds) go for a walk around the city. At the same time, they try to visit the most beautiful sights in order to take pictures there.

Seven Bridges

We have all seen the groom carry the bride across the bridge. It turns out that this ritual also applies to wedding customs and traditions in Russia.

It is believed that if the newlyweds cross seven bridges on their wedding day, their marriage will be strong. It rarely happens that a couple manages to go around all seven bridges, but everyone tries to cross at least one.

Also, a padlock with the names of the newlyweds is often hung on the bridge, which, according to legend, seals the marriage.

Bread and salt

Traditionally, after the wedding, newlyweds come to the house of the groom's parents, where they meet them with bread and salt.

Usually the new mother-in-law holds a loaf of bread on a towel (a special towel), from which the bride and groom must take a bite. Whoever bites off the most will be the head of the family.

Wedding traditions and customs of the Russian people these days are losing touch with religion: previously, the groom’s parents used to bless the newlyweds in this way, and the groom’s father kept icons for this. Loaf for a wedding is a tradition that originated from here.

Now the wedding loaf is greeted at the restaurant where the banquet on the occasion of the celebration will be held.

Festive feast

The celebration continues in a cafe or restaurant, where everything is ready for the arrival of the newlyweds. The decoration of the hall, tables and menu are usually chosen in advance.

This is a separate topic worthy of a huge post. Now we are talking about the traditions of the wedding feast.

Congratulations

The whole holiday is arranged in such a way that Special attention dedicated to congratulations: everyone will have time to congratulate! Usually the parents are the first to congratulate, they are given the floor, and they seem to bless the children for marriage.

Afterwards, relatives congratulate: first on one side, then on the other, and then friends. Often, the bride prepares a special box in advance, in which she places envelopes with money so that they do not get lost.

Dancing

After the guests have eaten, the dancing begins. But here, too, traditions cannot be avoided. The first dance of the bride and groom is obligatory. Recently, it has become fashionable to prepare this dance in advance, to make it unusual, brides change their dress for the dance, grooms can also change clothes. Of course, such dances are remembered by guests.

Another dance, without which it is difficult to imagine a Russian wedding, is the dance of the bride and her father. With this dance, the father seems to be escorting his daughter to another family, saying goodbye to her. This touching dance reminds that a completely new time is coming in the bride’s life.

Family hearth

An ancient tradition that is still popular today. How to spend a family hearth?

1. Organizers and assistants hand out small candles to guests.
2. Guests stand in a circle and light candles.
3. The lights in the hall turn off.
4. To the accompaniment of slow music, the presenter tells a parable about a family hearth.
5. Parents light their candles and approach the young people.
6. A new candle flame is created for the newlyweds - a family hearth.

Ritual of removing the veil

According to tradition, at the end of the holiday, the mother-in-law or mother of the bride removes the veil. At first, the bride should not agree, only the third time does the mother manage to persuade her to remove the veil.

After the veil is removed, the groom undoes the bride's braids. During the ceremony, the leader usually explains what is happening and tells the story of the ceremony. This wedding moment always turns out to be very touching.

Second wedding day

But the holiday doesn't end there! The first day is followed by the second wedding day, the traditions of which include an informal celebration.

On the second day, guests most often gather outdoors, where they drink, sing songs and barbecue. These days, weddings are rarely celebrated for more than two days. After the wedding, the newlyweds can go on a honeymoon.

These are the wedding traditions in Russia. Of course, these are not all the rituals that exist; many of the traditions are already disappearing, but new ones are replacing them.

So, fortunately, at weddings we can find vulgar competitions, which were very popular 10 years ago, less and less often. Nowadays, themed weddings and outdoor weddings are gaining popularity.

In any case, you do not have to follow all wedding traditions and customs, the main thing is that your wedding is memorable and you like it!

Today, customs and traditions at wedding celebrations have changed a lot. Some complex rituals are no longer performed, some, new for Russian people, came to us from the West. The essence remains the same: a wedding is one of the most important events in the life of a family and the most important in the life of the newlyweds.

Despite constant evolution, weddings today still have a clear structure:

• offer;
• matchmaking;
• hen-party;
• bachelor party;
• bride price;
• registration;
• wedding;
• walk (photo shoot);
• banquet;
• first night;
• Honeymoon.

let's consider wedding traditions, which are relevant now, and compare them with those that our ancestors had.

Traditional meeting with parents

Previously, it could have happened before the bride and groom met. A matchmaker could arrange it, although initiative was allowed from the young people themselves. If the acquaintance went well and the future relatives liked each other, then they discussed the details of the wedding and resolved financial issues related to it. This ceremony traditionally took place at the festive table.

Today it is also common to do this.

This tradition not only survived, but also acquired new rituals. For example, now there is an unspoken rule according to which rings, shoes and a dress for the bride are purchased by the groom or his parents, and the bride’s side is responsible for the dowry - bed, dishes, towels. On the same day, parents can also discuss wedding gifts - furniture and equipment (so as not to repeat).

There are also traditions that are dying right now. The opinion that housing future family The groom's obligation to provide becomes a convention. But the sign that the future husband should see his betrothed in a wedding dress only on the wedding day is still alive. The bride can buy the outfit herself, and the groom can only pay for it or not pay at all.

As for shoes, today, on the one hand, the groom must buy them, on the other hand, neither shoes nor socks can be given before the wedding, otherwise there may not be a wedding (it will go away). Initially, Russians believed that the bride herself should save up for shoes, thereby demonstrating her thriftiness and thriftiness.

Wedding dresses

Wedding dresses became white only 200 years ago, by order of Catherine. Before that, people got married in red. However, even this seemingly fundamental tradition is not necessary today.

Modern brides choose and pastel shades, close to white, and lush ball dresses, including red ones, and even black dresses for brides flash on the catwalks. The veil, according to signs, not only symbolizes the bride’s purity and purity, but also serves as a talisman against evil spell. It is the groom who must lift the veil.

According to ancient rituals, draping the bride with a veil also had special ritual significance. The father had to do this, while the bride, even if she was happy about the wedding, was obliged to run away from him, resist and hide. After the veil was hung, the bride no longer resisted, but accepted her fate.

Customs before the wedding

A few days before the wedding, the bride and groom organize evenings in honor of farewell to their single life - a bachelor party and a bachelorette party. There are more and more ways to celebrate them, but the main rule remains the same: these two holidays must be held separately.

Bride kidnapping

Truly modern grooms in Russia no longer steal brides. And they don’t steal it from suitors. But the ransom ritual has been preserved. The groom's task is to get a bride from his parents or girlfriends. To do this, he will have to pay a certain price, from symbolic to very large, or show his best qualities- cunning, dexterity, strength and ingenuity.

Wedding is an ancient tradition

A tradition that is coming back. Newlyweds often get married after the wedding, sometimes on their first anniversary, and sometimes immediately after registration. Increasingly, young couples began to order on-site registration for the church. After a wedding in Rus', the newlyweds were showered with grain.

This part of the ceremony went to the registry office today. After the official wedding, the newlyweds are showered with rose petals, rice, change or candy - for every taste.

Exchange of rings - a centuries-old ritual

Exchange of rings- a centuries-old ritual, a symbol of endless happiness and love. For the bride and groom, the rings on their hands will become a real talisman of family life.

Offering a loaf

After registration and the wedding walk, the newlyweds head to the banquet hall, where they will be met by the groom's parents with a loaf of bread and offered to take a bite of it.

The loaf is presented on a long embroidered towel, which is a symbol of a long life. married life. The mother-in-law offers to taste the bread and salt. According to this sign, the one who bites off the largest piece will be the main one in the house.

We release pigeons

The newlyweds, leaving the registry office, release a dove into the sky, one of which has a blue ribbon on its foot, the other a pink one. This is a kind of fortune-telling about who will be born first to a couple - a boy or a girl. Pigeons flying nearby predict peace in the family, while pigeons moving away from each other or heading in different directions predict discord.

Bouquet and garter

The bride throws a bouquet to her unmarried friends. This bouquet foreshadows the wedding of the one who catches it. The same mechanism applies to throwing a garter. Recently, it has become common to bring your own bouquet home, and throw the bouquet as an understudy, because with your bouquet you can give away your happiness.

Breaking dishes

In addition to the fact that dishes, in principle, are beaten for good luck, this ritual also has a sacred meaning. When the newlyweds' glasses clash, their fragments mix with each other and become a single whole, thereby promising a long life. life together. You can also use the glass fragments to tell fortunes. Large ones foretell the birth of a boy, small ones - girls.

Best tradition

The groom carries the bride into the house in his arms. The ancient Slavs considered a married woman to be a newborn from a spiritual point of view. The rituals of seeing her off from home were similar to funeral rites, then the bride changed her name, and new house they carried her in their arms, like a child who “did not enter the house, but ended up in the house.”

Whatever the reasons, carrying a woman in your arms is always beautiful and pleasant.

There are a lot of wedding customs, family and folk ones can both get along together and contradict each other: castles on the bridge, Bottles of champagne given in advance for the first anniversary and for the birth of the first child (although you can’t do it in advance), gifts to and from parents, symbolic sweeping of the floor and much more, including a honeymoon.