Modern Russian wedding rites and customs. A wedding dress, a ring and a veil should not be allowed to be measured either by girlfriends or sisters or anyone else. Otherwise, there will be quarrels in the family or the marriage will not take place at all. When and how did the preparations for the wedding take place?

Each ritual associated with a wedding has long roots. Rituals and traditions have migrated from antiquity to modern world in a slightly modified form. But, nevertheless, they remained, and many today consider their observance the key to a happy family life.

First of all, I would like to focus on such an ancient rite as matchmaking. The modern ceremony of matchmaking is quite simple - the ancient rituals at the wedding associated with this moment have been somewhat simplified.

To date, the matchmaking scheme itself is limited by the fact that the potential future husband, having received consent from his chosen one, visits the bride's parents. Wherein required attribute a bouquet presented to the future wife herself and her mother, her mother-in-law, performs. For the most part, the bride's parents have known a potential son-in-law for more than one month and are by no means against his candidacy as a spouse for their daughter. In general, the matchmaking ritual is more formal.

The same matchmaking ceremony takes place with the parents of the potential spouse of the future bride. The father-in-law and the mother-in-law receive future father-in-law and mother-in-law, as well as a potential daughter-in-law, in their house. In general, after a joint feast, the matchmaking is considered completed, and the engagement procedure itself has taken place.

Wedding traditions - newlyweds meeting

Wedding traditions have been compiled for decades, and one of important points V wedding ceremony the rite of meeting the young with a loaf and blessing the couple with their parents performs. At the same time, it should be said that the ceremonies at the wedding, which provide for the process itself parental blessing, were a prerequisite for a full-fledged Orthodox marriage and were held before the wedding in the temple.

The meeting itself and receiving a parental blessing begins with the fact that the newlyweds pass through a kind of corridor created by the wedding guests from towels and stand in front of their parents. After bowing three times to their parents, the young couple solemnly receives a blessing from them and a wedding loaf. Having received a loaf from their parents, the newlyweds break it each from their side and, dipping it in salt, give each piece to their spouse to eat.

Wedding traditions give a special place to the wedding cake, since no wedding can be imagined without this decoration of the ceremony itself. It is the moment of joint cutting wedding cake- a huge confectionery design of cream and biscuit, will remain in memory as one of the brightest and most colorful moments of the wedding.

Tradition is to bring a wedding cake newlyweds is rooted in Ancient Rome. Despite the fact that 5 thousand years separate us from those times, this wedding ceremony has survived to this day. But it is worth saying that although people did not know and did not use the very concept of a cake at that time, in the wedding ceremony itself they used wedding bread baked in compliance with all traditions from barley or wheat.

According to the very ritual adopted in those days, the groom was obliged to break the wedding bread over the head of his chosen one and then give each guest a small piece of it, thus offering to share the joy with the groom. The crumbs themselves, which fell on the bride's head from broken wedding bread, the groom collected and shared them with his chosen one. This ritual acted as a kind of symbol of the subordination of the future wife to her husband.

In Rus', a traditional loaf served as such a wedding cake. It was in this respect that our ancestors approached with great scope and good knowledge of the matter, since the preparation of this wedding attribute required the efforts of several people.

It was our ancestors who knew that only married women were engaged in kneading the wedding loaf, and men were engaged in the process of baking in the oven. But he cut the wedding loaf, decorated with branches and viburnum berries, necessarily a child. Further, already at the wedding celebration itself, the chopped loaf was carried to the guests exclusively by the matchmakers themselves. At the same time, this whole procedure of treating guests wedding loaf accompanied by the singing of ritual songs. They were performed by "loaf workers". As a rule, the honor fell to the young to be the first to touch the most ready-made loaf, and all this was done before the wedding in the temple.

Wedding ritual of the ransom of the bride

The very tradition of the ransom of the bride as a wedding ceremony is quite ancient and as old as the world. To date, many wedding ceremonies perceive the ritual of the ransom of the bride as one of the elements wedding game, although our ancestors invested in it a rather sacred meaning and their own special overtones. It was the ancestors, fearing blood mixing in the family, who chose a bride from a different tribe and region for the groom.

Often it was possible to get it as a result of either victory in hostilities or in the course of lengthy negotiations and the achievement of certain agreements, namely, the size of the price for the bride. To date, the wedding ritual of ransoming the young is not so detailed and, as a rule, the ransom itself is conditional in the form of a small gift to the bride's parents, but a kind of "offering" and ransom in money is also practiced.

Wedding ritual of covering the bride

In this rather beautiful wedding ritual, a special place and participation is given directly to the bride and mother-in-law. It was our ancestors who endowed this ritual with special magical features. In the very ritual of covering the future wife and mother, the mother-in-law herself removed the veil from the young woman and covered her head with a scarf. It was these actions that personified the sacred meaning of the fact that a girl is already becoming a woman and a wife.

At this moment, the bride herself can, as if jokingly, throw off her scarf twice, but on the third time, the mother-in-law ties the scarf herself on the daughter-in-law's head. After that, all the unmarried girls present at the wedding dance around a young round dance, while the bride herself tries on her own veil on each head, thereby wishing each of them to get married as soon as possible and find their own. family happiness.

Wedding ceremony of handing over the family hearth to the newlyweds

The whole essence of this ritual lies in the fact that it is the parents of the young who symbolically transfer warmth from their family hearth to the new family. The ritual itself is carried out at the end wedding celebration when the young themselves go to new house and parents, both from the side of the groom and from the side of the bride, light a candle each and at the same time light a common candle for the young with two candles, while pronouncing wishes and instructions for the young family.

The ritual itself also provides direct participation And wedding guests. They form a circle and also hold candles in their hands, thereby forming a kind of protective circle around the young. The lights in the hall are turned off and the newlyweds stand in an impromptu protective circle with one common wax candle. At this time, each of the guests pronounces his a short wish and after that he raises the candle up and mentally repeats the wish said aloud and lowers the candle.

After all the guests have expressed their wish, the parents of the young come up to the couple and pronounce their instructions and light a common candle of the new one with a flame from their candles. married couple. Lighting a candle and wishing the young all the best best candles do not extinguish but put on the tables, while creating romantic setting during the wedding ceremony.

Wedding signs and rituals for a happy family life

I would like to once again dwell on certain signs and customs, the observance of which, according to the beliefs and beliefs of many, can make the marriage itself strong and long. In particular, there are many signs in relation to the bride's attire. First of all we are talking about the number of buttons on the bride's dress - it must be even, while the young woman's shoes should not contain laces and ropes, and underwear must be white.

Many people think that the number of guests at the wedding should be odd - this will ensure the young people have a long and happy joint life. family life. After the wedding in the temple, the bride had to distribute a trifle to everyone she met - this was what provided the young family with prosperity and financial well-being. But showering the couple with grain or sweets also promised the couple prosperity and a sweet, prosperous life.

No less interesting wedding omen serves the fact that many young people put small coins in a glass for prosperity and success. It is these coins that should be stored in the future under the tablecloth on the table in the house of the young. This rite was accompanied by attracting wealth and prosperity to the house.

Marriage is soon. These words evoke different feelings in the soul. You are overwhelmed with joy that soon you will forever link your fate with your loved one. But how to make sure that your marriage is truly strong and happy?

About what magical and ancient wedding ceremonies and how they go, read and see in our article.

Of course, no wedding is complete without traditional wedding rituals. This is the meeting of the newlyweds with the loaf, and the throwing of the bride's bouquet, and the wedding cake. These rituals are known to all, but there are a dozen or two more customs that are often overlooked by the young. But it is they who will help you make your wedding sincere and unforgettable.

It is simply impossible to list them all at once, so we suggest you choose from those that are the most common, significant and beautiful.

According to an old English superstition, the bride must wear something old, new, blue and borrowed to the wedding (“something old andsomething new, something borrowed and something blue”).

It is decoded like this: new thing symbolizes good luck for the bride in her new family life. The old (usually a family jewel) symbolizes a connection with native family bride, brings her peace of mind. Borrowed guarantees that the bride will always be there faithful friends. And something blue will bring love and fidelity to the bride.

Now it has become fashionable when newlyweds hang a castle with their names on the bridges. But this old Russian rite was carried out in a slightly different way. Before the young people get ready to leave the house, a lock is placed under the threshold of the house. After the young people step over the lock, it is closed, and the key is thrown into a deep reservoir. The castle should be kept in the family as a symbol of love.

The launch of pigeons has already become a tradition. This custom came from Italy, where the bride released a dove into the wild as a sign that she was leaving her home. Now newlyweds make a wish when launching pigeons, and if the pigeons fly nearby, then the wish will come true.

At all new custom- the bride releases a sky lantern into the sky or balloon with his own written on it maiden name as a sign that she says goodbye to her.

When the newlyweds meet after the ceremony with the loaf, they break glasses, throwing them over their backs. Glasses are broken as a sign that the young have left all their evil behind. And looking at the fragments of broken plates, they look at how happy the newlyweds will be - the more fragments, the more happiness.

Before the start of the wedding banquet (and sometimes before the young people leave home), a ceremony of lighting the family hearth is held. Mothers of the young with the help of candles convey the warmth of the parental family hearth to their children. The newlyweds light one big candle with two candles. This large candle will symbolize their family hearth.

The wedding dance, which appeared in Rus' in the era of Peter I, has changed a lot in our time. The staged dance is becoming more and more popular, when young people prepare their beautiful wedding dance long before the wedding.

A beautiful custom is the dance of father and daughter. Usually, after a touching dance, the father brings the daughter to her chosen one and transfers the daughter to reliable hands young husband, but there are also very funny embodiments of this action in life.

The rite of farewell to the veil is becoming more and more fashionable. There are several variations of it.

According to one scenario, in the second half of the wedding, the bride changes from wedding dress to the ballroom, and gives his veil to an unmarried friend who dreams of finding her betrothed.

However, most often the veil is removed by the mother-in-law, immediately covering the bride's head with a scarf or shawl. This symbolizes that the mother-in-law accepts the bride into her house, as a daughter, as a continuer of the family. The veil itself should be kept at home, it should not be given to strangers. Our grandmothers said that a young mother can cover the baby's bed if he sleeps restlessly.

In western Ukraine, a “dancing” of the veil is being carried out. The bride dances with unmarried friends and holds a veil over her head. Thus, the bride "dances" her husband's girlfriend.

At the wedding, the bride can give a box from wedding rings the girl she wishes for a quick marriage.

Young people are given tied bottles of champagne, one of which they drink on their wedding anniversary, and the second on the birth of their first child.

There are a lot of modern wedding rituals and ceremonies: new ones are constantly appearing, and sometimes well-forgotten old wedding ceremonies simply return. Choose which ones you like, which ones will look beautiful at your wedding, and which ones carry meaning. It is quite possible that at your wedding there will be rituals that your grandmother or someone you know will tell you.

But do not forget that the rituals should be approached carefully so that there are not too many of them, and each ritual becomes bright and memorable not only for you, but also for your guests.

Folk rituals have long accompanied in Rus' the most significant events In human life. They were sacredly revered, carefully passed down from generation to generation. Many ancient customs have survived to this day. A rare marriage does without traditional rites. They give the first family holiday young special solemnity, make it bright and memorable. Rites at the wedding not only symbolically unite the destinies of lovers, but also connect many generations of their families with an invisible thread.

Traditional pre-wedding customs

Wedding ceremonies in Russia begin long before the joyful event. The most common customs preceding marriage:

• matchmaking;
• bride;
• hen-party;
• bachelor party.

Long gone are the days when parents chose the right couple for their children. Modern lovers usually decide on their own to start a family, and matchmaking involves a solemn marriage proposal in the presence of the father and mother of the bride.

And yet, paying tribute to the traditions, many arrange matchmaking according to all the rules. This is a fascinating and beautiful ceremony that is performed in the bride's house. Having received the consent and blessing of her parents, preparations for the wedding begin.

A return visit to the groom's house - the bride, in the old days was made in order to inspect the household, assess the family's prosperity and make sure that the bride would be in good conditions after the wedding.

Modern brides have more symbolic meaning. Arriving at the house of future relatives, the bride's parents get to know them better and once again confirm their consent to marriage. At the bride, they begin to discuss issues of preparation for upcoming holiday.

Shortly before the wedding, a bachelorette party is traditionally held. The bride gathers her friends, says goodbye to the former unmarried life. Girls exchange small gifts, have fun and have fun from the heart.

A bachelor party is a similar holiday for friends of the future newlywed. Conduct interesting party V narrow circle close friends or celebrate an event on a grand scale - everyone decides for himself, based on his preferences and capabilities.

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Rituals on the day of marriage

In order for the long-awaited celebration to be beautiful, it is advisable to prepare for the wedding ceremonies in advance. If the toastmaster is invited to the wedding, he will offer ready scripts their holding and advise what wedding attributes you need to purchase. Selected ceremonies, except Orthodox wedding, easy to organize and independently.

Traditional Rites at a wedding in Russia:

• ransom of the bride;
• Orthodox wedding;
• blessing with bread and salt;
• gifting newlyweds;
• interbreeding of families;
• withdrawal wedding veil;
• transfer of the family hearth.

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Before marriage, the last pre-wedding ceremony is held - the ransom of the bride.

If in the past a girl was literally redeemed, giving her parents money and other material values ​​as a sign that the future husband was able to support his wife, then the modern ceremony is carried out in a simplified and often joking manner.

The witness and bridesmaids arrange for the groom a series of "obstacles" in the form various competitions which he must overcome in order to present the betrothed with a wedding bouquet. Demonstrating his ingenuity, endurance, sense of humor, the guy gets the right to pick up his beloved and become her husband. Groom and Witness Prepare small gifts for girls: champagne, sweets and funny souvenirs. Sometimes the bride is redeemed for money.

A cheerful custom will entertain the guests and the heroes of the upcoming celebration, cheer up and serve as a good start. happy day. It is worth calculating in advance the time required for the bride's ransom ceremony, so as not to be late for marriage registration or wedding.

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Orthodox wedding ceremony

Many young couples not only get married officially, but also want to take an oath of love and fidelity before God, having received a church blessing. In this case, the wedding ritual in the temple is the most important and significant rite. wedding celebration.

The decision is important to make consciously. The wedding requires a certain spiritual preparation: the future newlyweds need to talk with the priest, confess, take communion and endure a short fast. Sacrament of Church Blessing new family invite to share only the closest relatives and friends.

For the solemn ritual, they acquire two wedding candles, a white towel under the feet of the newlyweds, wedding rings and wedding icons of the Savior and Mother of God. It should be noted that in Russia the church crowns only those newlyweds who have officially registered the marriage.

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Blessing with bread and salt

At a wedding ceremony with a loaf is traditionally performed in the groom's house. Parents meet the happy newlyweds at the entrance with an icon and bread and salt on an embroidered towel and bless. On the way, guests shower the young spouses with rose petals, and under their feet they throw coins and grains of wheat or rice - symbols of family happiness, prosperity and fertility.

The ritual of bread and salt at a wedding is often organized at a restaurant or cafe before the start of the festive banquet. A solemn custom means the acceptance of a daughter-in-law into the house of her husband's parents. According to tradition, the bride and groom must simultaneously bite off the loaf without the help of hands. It is believed that the one whose piece is larger will dominate the family.

Sometimes guests are treated to a wedding loaf. But more often, the mother of the groom hides it, so that after the wedding they take it to the temple and leave it on the table for donations. According to some beliefs, this guarantees harmony and well-being in the family of the newlyweds.

For the ceremony, they buy or bake an elegant rich loaf. They also prepare an embroidered towel and an icon to bless the young. A small salt shaker with salt is placed in the center of the festive bread.

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Gift giving by guests

After a parental blessing, the groom in his arms brings the bride into banqueting hall. Before the beginning wedding feast guests give gifts to young spouses. At the same time, it is not customary to make long congratulatory speeches so as not to tire the newlyweds and others present. However, a few sincere sincere words bidding farewell to the newlyweds in life together, successfully complement the ceremony of giving gifts at the wedding.

If an impressive number of guests are invited to the celebration, and the ceremony of gifting the newlyweds risks dragging on for a long time, then it is carried out in several stages: first, the parents and closest relatives congratulate the young, and after the first part of the wedding feast, it is the turn of friends, neighbors and work colleagues.

Witnesses and toastmasters make sure that all gifts are collected in one place, and flowers are placed in vases or other containers with water. For cash gifts, you can prepare in advance an elegant chest or a bright box with a slot.

good idea- invite attendees to write congratulatory words for the newlyweds in a specially prepared album. You can also put a white tablecloth on a separate table, which friends and relatives of the newlyweds will gladly paint sincere wishes goodness, happiness, prosperity and well-being.

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Parenting families of newlyweds

At the wedding ceremony for the parents of the newlyweds is carried out in the second part of the festive feast. On a solemn day, not only the hearts of lovers unite, but also become related to their families.

The ceremony of twinning at a wedding can begin with a beautiful ceremony. To do this, prepare a curly bottle, decorated with lace or bright ribbons, a small funnel and coarse salt in two colors. Salt is pre-stained with undiluted gouache and dried.

After solemn words the host of the wedding about the unification of two families and good wishes, the newlyweds pour multi-colored salt from two glasses into one bottle. The ceremony symbolizes the merging of the destinies of the newlyweds into one and the twinning of their families.

Then the son-in-law with the mother-in-law and the father-in-law, the daughter-in-law with the mother-in-law and the father-in-law and the parents of the bride and groom kiss each other (or just hug). After the ceremony, the new relatives take turns dancing with each other.

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Removing the bride's veil

Modern rite removal of the veil at the wedding is carried out differently. A pillow is placed on a chair in the center of the hall and the bride is seated. This symbolically means that now the daughter-in-law has her own cozy place in the groom's house. The mother-in-law takes off the bridal veil and good wishes ties an elegant shawl or scarf around her head.

Then the bride dances in turn with all the unmarried friends, raising the veil over their heads. Other girls are not allowed to try on the bride's veil. By folk beliefs, this is for an early marriage. In some scenarios, the girlfriends do not dance with the bride, but pass under the veil, which the young wife holds in her hands, to beautiful music. The dance can be different: the newlyweds lift the veil by the wreath, and the bridesmaids dance around.

Sometimes the mother of the bride or the groom takes off the veil, and the mother-in-law puts on the scarf. The wedding headdress is kept in the house of a young family. It will serve as a reliable amulet for the future daughter of the spouses.

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Transfer of the home

One of the most touching and spectacular customs at a wedding is the ceremony of transferring the family hearth. It is held at the very end of the celebration and helps to complete it beautifully. The mother of the newlywed lights a large candle and carefully passes it to her daughter as a piece of home warmth, comfort and happiness, which from now on should reign in the house of a young family.

Sometimes the ceremony with candles at the wedding goes differently: from two small candles, which are held in the hands of the mother of the bride and groom, the newlyweds light the symbolic fire of their family. The rite looks very beautiful in a dimly lit room. To the gentle music, the newlyweds slowly whirl in the last wedding dance, completing the holiday and saying goodbye to the guests.

Wedding candle - a symbol of warmth and well-being parental home

A year will fly by, and the young spouses will perform the ceremony of tying knots on print wedding- first family anniversary. In twenty-five years, they will tenderly endow each other with silver. Having lived in harmony for half a century, with love and gratitude they will again exchange gold rings. But the most precious memories will always be the memories of an amazing wedding celebration.

Folk signs, rituals and little everyday tricks for the wedding day, allowing you to keep family happiness for long years and protect your family life from ill-wishers.

Signs

Warn all relatives and future guests not to give piercing and cutting objects.
When you go to your future daughter-in-law to woo your son, let your son enter first.
He does not take off his hat in front of the matchmakers until they are seated at the table. If one of the wooers manages to take away a spoon from the bride's house, then the son will be the master in the house and his wife will never leave. Three months after their wedding, the spoon should be thrown into the house of the bride.
A wedding dress, a ring and a veil should not be allowed to be measured either by girlfriends or sisters or anyone else. Otherwise, there will be quarrels in the family or the marriage will not take place at all.
Don't buy lace-up shoes. The bride should have shoes without laces.
You can’t let guests into the bedroom of the young before the wedding, and even more so show their bed.
Wedding towel, candles are not left in the church. Hiding at home - will definitely come in handy.
The bride's dress, veil, shoes and wedding rings should be under special supervision, as they can be easily damaged and even simply ruined by chance. The damage that came from the wedding is heavy and difficult to remove. Therefore, you need to take care of the bride's dress until the year of their life together.
The bride's dress can be white, beige, gold, golden, pink. The bride's dress should not be black, blue, light blue, red, green, gray. TO underwear the same applies.
The bride should not wear pearls and they are never given. Especially for a wedding.
The groom must wear a black suit. Allowed gray, white, gold. The same goes for shoes.

Rites

So that the mother-in-law does not harass
The young woman washes her face three evenings before the registry office or the wedding, wipes herself with a heaped towel. which he leaves with his parents, with him in new family does not take.
How dear I am to my mother and my father. How they held me in their arms, protected me more than the eye, did not give offense to anyone, so my mother-in-law would love me. I wouldn’t torment, I wouldn’t scold, I wouldn’t shrink from the world, I would regret and protect. My word is strong, tenacious to my cause. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen.

wedding blessing

So that the young do not quarrel, they speak on their cutlery before they sit down at the table: As the church is unshakable and indestructible, faith is strong, mead is sweet, so the slave (name) with the slave (name) were inseparable and unshakable. They couldn’t be without each other, they couldn’t live separately, not a day, not an hour from this time, from the wedding table, like me, a slave (the name of the master), I read the slander. Amen. Amen. Amen.
When buying an outfit for the bride, try to have the veil and dress bought on Wednesday, shoes on Friday. back from the apartment: My angel, golden crown. cover with a clean veil not for a month, not for a year, as long as the slave (name) lives. Amen. Amen. Amen.
So that the bride likes the bride
splash your face with both hands cold water and say: I am God's servant (name).
The sun is high and I am higher.
My brows are pitch, my curls are golden, my eyes are bright stars, my lips are red petals.
Whoever sees me will not offend me with a single word.
God help me! Mother of God, bless the marriage.

Marriage against the will of parents

In difficult cases, if parents do not bless those who love for marriage, there is a prayer that softens the parental heart.
Buy two candles, put one near the “Softening Hearts” icon, light the other at home and read the plot twelve times.
Angels of heaven, sing hallelujah! Hail, holy church, crowning marriage! God created people, God baptized them, God forgave them, God blessed them for marriage.
Remember, Lord, all the meekness of King David, so let my sisters, brothers, sons-in-law, all relatives, mother, father be meek, give blessings for marriage and a crown to the servants of God (names). Amen
Buying wedding rings
Without entering the house with rings, you need to say: To a good life, to faithful family. Amen.

On the wedding day Signs

The mother of the bride should not be present at the wedding.
A wreath with a veil is put on the head. There should be no flowers separately inserted into the hair, hats and tiaras.
The bride should put on the dress first of all, sticking her head through the neck. A friend with the same name does not dress up the bride.
The dress should have an even number of buttons, if any. The bride's underwear must be white.
If the bride's hem is cut off during the wedding, the bride herself does not hem it.
Young people are seated at the table on a shaggy fur coat or sheepskin coat, turned inside out with fur. To live richly.
The spoon that the groom ate for wedding table, clean up until the fortieth day. On the fortieth day, they give her husband to eat it again. To live well and long together.
On the day of the wedding, it is good to plant a tree for the bride and groom. Plant so that they start. Leaving the church after the wedding, the bride distributes change in order to remove unnecessary troubles in her family life.
During the wedding, when the crowns are on the head or above the head, young people should not look into each other's eyes: there will be betrayals. Don't look at your candles either. Look at the father.
During the wedding, try to leave the doors you entered.
If all the pins from the bride's outfit were taken out by one woman, then every girl who received such a pin within one year will get married. If the pin is bent, will remain an old maid.
The girl who received from the bride a piece of cheese, cut off before leaving the table, will next bride among friends.
Matchmaking: 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th are lucky days. The wedding ring is not worn on the glove. A hat on the bride's wedding day is for divorce.
So that the son-in-law does not offend the daughter, the mother-in-law should (while they are going to the wedding) pin on her bra right chest pin, and on the way back to pin it on left breast. Upon arrival from the church, the mother pins this pin on the hem of her daughter. Do not remove the pin until the first wash.
They don’t take salt to matchmakers - their children will not live, they will disperse.
If the wife’s ring falls during the wedding, she will die first, if the husband’s ring falls, he is a short-lived tenant.
If at the wedding one of the young people first steps to the altar, he will be the head of everything.
If someone throws shoes of salt at the bride, first into the right, and then into the left, the young woman will cry with her husband all her life. According to custom, shoes are stolen at a wedding, be careful.
If the wedding car meets a funeral procession, you should think: Wreath to wreath strife. Amen.
If the candles go out during the wedding, the bride and groom should exchange candles, otherwise there will be no life.
When crowning your children, see that three of the same sex, that is, three men or women, do not stand behind them.
If a wedding tablecloth is laid three years in a row on the anniversary of the marriage, then the young will live to a ripe old age.
If the bride or groom drops something during the wedding, you cannot pick up this thing (flowers, gloves, etc.).
Try to avoid scandals during the wedding, so that you do not harm anyone, so that your car does not hit a dog or a cat, and, of course, the dead are not commemorated at the wedding table.
The loaf with which the newlyweds are greeted, the guests do not eat. If it is very large and it is impossible to eat it right away, dry the crackers and eat it with soup. The loaf is eaten only by the bride and groom.

Rites

Very often, at the expense of your happiness, many seek to improve their unhappy family life. On the day of the wedding and during the wedding, such people swap your happiness and their grief. To prevent this, pins should be pinned to the bride and groom in invisible places, saying the following on them: There is a throne, a wedding table is in front of it, young people sit at the table, do not drink, do not eat, but look at the icon. Mother of God, save, Mother of God, protect from all deeds and all trouble. Bless and save. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
On the day of the wedding, all households, starting with the mother, should greet the bride and groom in the morning. If there is no one but her, then the mother should say to her child three times (but not at once): “Hello, (name)!”. At the same time, the bride or groom should be silent in response. Then they give to eat a pancake, spoken from corruption: Mother of God, mother of all mothers, do not let people take happiness and share from the slave (name). In the name of the Father and the Son, manifest your will. Lock it with the key and take it. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Protect for the bride

The bride should wash her face with slandered beer.
“Like you, pure gold - silver, pure and decent; as on you, gold - silver. everyone covets, peers, old and young, married and single, old old women and young young women, beautiful girls and young fellows, so it would be for you, the servant of God (name), everyone would stare and look. You would seem to them gold - silver, they would look and look. And they didn't take their eyes off you." After the wedding, entering her husband’s house, the young woman says: “First, second, I’m going third, but not the last! All out, I have one house. ”To be the most beloved daughter-in-law.
If the young man goes to live in the bride's house, he, entering the hut after the wedding, says: "I'm going - the beast is lapist and proud, loud-mouthed, the wolf is toothy, I am the wolf, and you are my sheep."

wedding amulet

So that a bad person does not mess up at a wedding, because of which the whole life of the young can be ruined, they read from the very morning:
“God, God bless. I got up, blessed, I see an open field where a Christian wedding is being started, where they called me to this wedding. I will pray, I will submit to him, the most true Christ. With me, an aspen staff, an old amulet, I will eat prosvir, drink holy water, save a Christian wedding, let me go in fun and joy. No one could pinch to my wedding, have fun, no one would spoil it. I will close this wedding, no one would see it. Hours go, minutes fly, meet, God-given parents, with happiness, with joy, my wedding. Salt - evil, trouble - bad, and young people - good luck and a long life. Be, my words, strong and sculpting. From now on and forever and ever. Amen."
This slander is read by the eldest in the family.
So that the wedding is not spoiled
Before the guests arrive, talk about the poppy and sprinkle it at the doorstep. Then all bad wishes will be interrupted by your amulet.
They read like this: Which person vechet, who speaks evil, who thinks evil, interrupts my word.
As this sermak cannot be counted, so my amulet cannot be interfered with.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Whisper over bread and salt
As people love bread and salt, so a husband would love his wife. Just as you cannot replace salt with sugar, so a husband cannot change his wife either with a dark one, or with a light one, or with a full one, or with a thin one, or with a smart one, or with a stupid one, or with any other slave.
As people love bread and salt, so would a wife love her husband. Just as salt cannot be replaced by sugar, so a wife cannot be changed by her husband either with a dark one, or with a light one, or with a full one, or with a thin one, or with a smart one, or with a stupid one, or with any other slave. Amen.
They slander bread and salt and give it to the young during the wedding at the wedding table so that they love each other and there is no betrayal in the house.

wedding conspiracy

Read during the wedding so that the newlyweds never disperse and walk from each other. All the Saints of the slave ( male name) take by the hand, lead to the altar. At the crown of a slave ( female name) is standing, looking at the Saints. Lord, King of Heaven, crown with a holy crown a slave (name) with a slave (name) for all eternity, do not separate until death. Amen.

If the candle burned out during the wedding

If one of the spouses has a candle burned out during the wedding, you should make a vow to God and keep it all your life. For example, you will help someone all your life. You can sometimes buy toys in Orphanage or send at least some money to a nursing home.
Reporting:
the cinder of the candle is put into the water, after reading the plot, they wash their face with this water. Then the candle is removed.
They read like this:
God help me! The Lord has measured the age of every man.
Lord, help me, extend the age of the slave (name).
How did you not let Lazarus die.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wedding toasts that lead to divorce

"Love her like your soul, and shake her like a neighbor's pear."
"Beat her more often, love will be sweeter."
If someone during the wedding, without hesitation, wished the young bad, you should do this:
First, immediately cut off a piece of bread, while saying:
As I cut off this piece of bread, So I remove your (name) promises.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then, this piece of bread should be placed next to the one who wished the young bad.
But the simplest thing: you need to make a wedding amulet in advance. Read to yourself at the wedding table: My table is oak, The guests are tin, all the promises are evil glass.
As fragile glass breaks, breaks, So not a single evil word in a promise comes true.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Charm for the groom

Before the young man goes to the bride's house to take her to the wedding, the groom's mother must cross him and say:
Heavenly heights cannot be reached, Heavenly beauty cannot be taken away.
So no one will diminish my son
And nothing will add to him.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Charm for the bride

My daughter rides from yard to yard, God's shutter is on her hem.
No one will damage that shutter, No one will defeat my amulet.
My leg is left, her leg is right.
Key, lock, tongue.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Read on the water and wash the bride with it before leaving the house for the wedding.

Words on church steps

Going to get married, step firmly on the entire sole of the steps of the stairs and say to yourself: I step on the first step - I step on my husband with me.
I step on the second step - I step in with my father-in-law.
I step on the third step - I step on my mother-in-law with me.
I step on the fourth step - I step on the trees with me.
I step on the fifth step - I take my sister-in-law with me.
As there are five fingers and one fist on my hand, so I will rule everything. Amen.

Love spell during the wedding

When “bitter” sounds for the third time at the table and the young people kiss, the bride should leave the table, touch the first corner with a ring worn on right hand, and say:
As you, the corner, are inseparable from the wall, so be the husband from his wife. Amen.
After the wedding, when leaving the church, tie it on a handkerchief and immediately untie the knot with the words: As I easily untie the knot, so I easily give birth in due time. Amen. If you do this, then no matter how many times a woman gives birth, all childbirth will be easy.
If the ring slipped or fell during registration or in church, you should say to yourself three times: “The ring is on me, the trouble is not with me. Amen".

After the wedding

Should not be given wedding photos all in a row. It is very easy to damage them.
Ask one of the parents to read the conspiracy for Easter during breakfast: The Easter egg lies quietly, so the young live in peace. The Easter egg is silent, so the young do not shout among themselves. Christ is risen, and peace and harmony to them. Amen.
The plot must be read before crossing. The eggs must be lit in the church. This is done so that you do not have quarrels.

Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation

Federal Agency for Education

Ivanovo State University

Faculty of Law

Department of Theory and History of State and Law

Modern wedding customs and traditions in Russia

4th year students of the 5th group

day department

commercial form of education

Scientific adviser:

Art. teacher Pavlova

Ivanovo, 2009

Wedding traditions……………………………………………………….4

Wedding signs………………………………………………………..8

What month to marry………………………………………………….12

Sources…………………………………………………………………..13

wedding traditions

The tradition of "marrying" a daughter along with a dowry was born in Holland. This is the opinion of German ethnographers. There is a legend that a girl from a wealthy family fell in love with a simple miller. Of course, her parents were against such a marriage, they persuaded, convinced that she would not last long on bread and water. However, the girl was unshakable, and left, in what she was, to her beloved.

The lovers decided to modestly celebrate this celebration, invited close friends and relatives. All the guests came to the wedding not empty-handed, but with gifts. Everyone carried something that could be useful to the young in the household. Who - dishes, who - bed sheets who is money. Everyone wanted the life of the young to start happily and last a long, long time. Since then, they say, it is not customary to come to a wedding empty-handed.

When did the custom of giving each other rings appear? Ring- these are not prejudices, because by exchanging rings, young people make a vow of complete unity and fidelity with each other. Already in Ancient Egypt the newlyweds exchanged rings. This meant that they entered into an alliance until death. The Egyptians firmly believed that if the ring was put on middle finger left hand, then you can keep love in each other's hearts for life. So this tradition among the Eastern peoples has been preserved to this day.

Something old, new, borrowed, blue. There is an old English saying that the wedding should be something old, new, borrowed and blue. This sign began in Victorian times and since then many brides try to dress in accordance with tradition. Something old symbolizes the connection with the bride's family, peace and wisdom in marriage. Many brides wear some sort of old family jewel. Something new symbolizes good luck and success in the new life of the bride. Something borrowed reminds the bride that her friends and family will always be there, if their help is needed, this item can be borrowed from married woman, happy married with the blessing of a good family life. Something blue is (for both pagans and Christians) means love, modesty, fidelity. Usually it's a garter.

Most consider the most best custom bring the bride into the house in his arms. He appeared as a result of the belief that the bride is a tasty morsel for evil forces, evil eye and damage. Since she does not walk the earth, it means that she is not here now.

Custom beat the dishes for luck during the wedding. You can call it international. On the second day of the wedding, clay pots began to be beaten in Russian villages. In addition, a broken pot was considered proof of the bride's chastity, but if the pot remained intact, the poor girl had a hard time. After all, it was very difficult to dissuade others that she was honest. And in general, it was believed: the more fragments, the more happiness. The custom of breaking dishes for happiness existed not only in Russia. So, in Yorkshire (England) there is still a tradition of breaking a dish. It is given into the hands of the groom, on it there are pieces of a wedding cake. The groom must throw this dish over the head of the bride onto the road. And the kids should quickly snap up the pieces of the pie. The more broken pieces of the dish, the more happiness the young will have.

Custom decorate wedding cars ribbons. He came to us from Europe. In fact: these are already echoes of more ancient tradition. The fact is that there were so-called "bantha brides". It was in the XVII-XIX centuries. The bride was accompanied to church by several boys with rosemary (bride's flower) and bride's bows on their sleeves. It was believed that by doing so they were a guarantee happy marriage. Bride bows are narrow strips of ribbon that are tied around the sleeves. Later, the brides stopped adhering to this custom, but they still attached importance to the ribbons. They began to hang ribbons on cars.

bride kidnapping. This custom existed even among the Russian Slavs. For example, the Vyatichi and Northerners had games "between the villages": during games, songs and dances, men chose brides for themselves and took them to their homes. The very expression PLAY WEDDING is reminiscent of the ancient games with which the acquisition of brides began. This rite was not forgotten thanks to the serfdom that took root in Rus'. As in Scotland, where the right of the wedding night belonged to the English sovereign, we have the right to the first wedding night belonged to the master (nobleman, pan), sometimes (quite often) the grooms opposed this custom and the lord's serfs simply stole the bride right in the midst of the festivities. If the groom was quite wealthy, the master could offer a ransom for the bride. With the abolition of serfdom, this became a fun tradition.

The bride's bouquet. It is believed that throwing wedding bouquet- this is a purely American custom, although some experts suggest that the Americans spied this ceremony at Jewish weddings. At the end wedding evening traditionally the bride throws her bouquet to the crowd unmarried girls. Whoever catches this bouquet will be the next to get married.

Loaf. Parents always met the newlyweds with a loaf and salt. Why? This ritual traces its roots back to the ancient civilization of Egypt. The ancient Egyptians idolized bread so much that they designated it in writing with the same hieroglyph as gold. And this is no coincidence. After all, bread is a symbol of abundance and material well-being. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the newlyweds are greeted with bread and salt. But in this case, a special loaf of bread! The loaf is necessarily decorated with ears of wheat, which personifies well-being and prosperity in the family. Viburnum leaves are always baked on the loaf - a symbol of the family's fertility. And it is no coincidence that the loaf is decorated with two woven rings, as symbols of fidelity to each other. The ring has no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of infinity, eternal love.

What is the ceremony when the groom takes off bride's leg garter? Just as the bride tosses her bouquet to her unmarried friends, the groom tosses the garter he has taken from the bride's leg to his unmarried friends. Similarly, according to the sign, the first one who catches her marries.

Custom tying two bottles.Usually at a wedding, no matter at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the wedding feast, the 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.

Tradition sprinkle the young only those who left the registry office with grain, rose petals, money and sweets. This is done so that the union is strong, fruitful, rich and sweet.

Newlyweds kiss This beautiful wedding custom has sacramental meaning. A kiss unites the souls of the young into a single whole. And if the kiss takes place in public, the bride and groom "announce" to everyone present about their unification into one family. The relationship of young people before the wedding was extremely chaste, so it is very important in this ceremony that it takes place in front of parents and guests.

Wedding cake- a symbol of abundance, good luck in marriage. The shape is most often round, like the sun - a symbol of light, joy, a happy life.

Honeymoon. In ancient times, the groom, who stole the bride from her parents, tried, for obvious reasons, to take her away ... This was the first Honeymoon. The name itself was invented by the Teutons, an ancient Germanic tribe. After the wedding ceremony, the guests drank a honey drink until the moon began to wane.

wedding omens

If one witness is married to another, then the marriage of the witnesses will break up.

If the witnesses at the wedding are divorced, this is for the divorce of the couple entering into marriage.

No one is allowed to measure wedding rings either before or after the wedding.

Both the bride and groom need to be fixed on clothes safety pin head down from the evil eye. To the bride on the hem of the dress, to the groom where the boutonniere is, but so that the pin is not visible.

The bride should not let go of the groom's bouquet all day long. In an emergency, you can give the groom or mother to hold the bouquet. Only on wedding banquet you can put it on the table in front of you.

When leaving the house for a wedding / registration, it is desirable that the bride wears a veil from the evil eye. When she enters the House of Celebrations or the church, if desired, the veil can be thrown back.

After the groom put on the bride wedding ring, neither she nor he can take an empty box from under the rings or a plate on which she lay. It is better to take a box to an unmarried girlfriend or friend.

Lovers do not give each other their photographs - otherwise they will part, disperse.