What do wedding customs, traditions, rituals and their modern interpretations mean? Modern wedding traditions and their meaning

It is believed that the observance of some wedding signs is given warmth and happiness in family relationships. Age-old traditions are not subject to doubt and discussion, as they are passed from parents to children. Often it is the closest relatives who are responsible for the customs, without which the wedding event is incomplete. Undoubtedly, many newlyweds have to find a compromise.

Photo of the wedding ceremony

modern wedding traditions

Traditional wedding ceremony in Russia starts with a meeting. It usually runs with . A pood of salt for a wedding for the young is prepared, as a rule, by the mother of the groom. Since Soviet times, champagne has been added to bread, although in some regions vodka is poured in the old fashioned way.

These traditions are very subjective depending on the values ​​of the family of the bride and groom.

Wedding rings were placed on a scarf, which was raised above the crown of the bride and groom. Such a wedding ceremony in Russian traditions meant making a love covenant in heaven, since the human head was associated with the heavenly world.

The newlyweds at the time of the marriage were surrounded by awe. According to the ideas of our ancestors, the creation of a family was the creation of a new world, where not two people unite, but the sun (groom) and earth (bride).

Slavic wedding customs

Another Slavic wedding ritual in Rus' - ritual around the stove. When a young man brought his wife to his house, the first thing she did was to bow and pray to the hearth, since it was considered the heart of the dwelling.

Fellow villagers led round dances around the hut newlyweds throughout the wedding night. So people gave blessing to the new family. Ancient superstitions and signs of happiness were clearly expressed in rich clothes. Red or gold belts at the wedding were a talisman. Later, after the holiday, if the husband was away, the wife girded herself with his wedding belt so as not to get sick.

Like the belt, the ring had the shape of a circle and signified the absence of a beginning and an end. Both were considered a symbol of fidelity, a girdle of evil, instincts or chaos.

Any Slavic amulets, including wedding ones, symbolized protection from evil.

Nowadays, some rather old customs are still used by newlyweds. Eg, . This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation. The towel was necessarily inherited as a dowry or was sewn by the bride on her own and was used in the ancient rituals of the ancient Slavs, as it supposedly had healing powers.

In some provinces from the hut the groom unrolled a woven track to the bride's house. When they approached her in a wagon, she stepped only on it. This happened because their houses had images of two universes, and everything else - of the uncreated world.

Wedding in the old Slavonic style

Sometimes bonfires were laid out near the threshold. The groom and his friends jumped over the fire before going to the bride, being cleansed of everything so that the marriage takes place in innocence. Some of the customs and traditions of Russian weddings are still used in modern themed celebrations.

Wedding without traditions - interesting and unusual wedding ideas

The most popular ceremony is: the bride and groom pour black and white sand from the vessels into one container, thereby promising each other that from now on they will be one and never be able to part. The drawing, which is obtained by mixing sand of different colors, always turns out to be individual, like the fate of people.

Sand ceremony at the wedding

The next touching ceremony begins with the fact that the newlyweds write before the wedding two letters to each other. In them, young people guess the first 10 years of married life. You can specify the following:

• what common goals they share;
• what feelings they experience on the night before the wedding;
• how they are waiting for this day;
• who will drink the most at the feast;
• who will dance the most incendiary dance;
• who will say the longest toast;
• who will give the biggest bouquet;
• what they swear to each other.

Besides, messages can be added:

• attach additional letters to future children;
• add drawings;
• express feelings in verse.

The longer the letter gets, the more interesting it will be to read on the 10th wedding anniversary. Next, you need to purchase your favorite drink that will not deteriorate over such a period. It is placed in the box along with the letters. The joint of the lid is sealed with wax candles and, accordingly, with a seal.

wine ceremony

If it happens that the newlyweds in a few years will not be able to cope with any life situation, this box can be opened ahead of time. Taking out your favorite drink and remembering your feelings, build relationships. This idea is called the box slamming ceremony and is even recommended by psychologists.

Hay or wood shavings, as well as ribbons, will make the box look sleeker. You can close it with a lock or nails.

A beautiful wine ceremony at a wedding is best done during registration. So the marriage will be more complete. A time capsule can become a family heirloom, a reminder of this day, and a good piece of furniture.

How to make wedding ceremonies the most relevant

When compiling the guest list, the newlyweds often know which of them will come with a couple, and who is alone. The handover of the wedding baton is a favorite story. For a successful competition, you can count single girlfriends and friends, and then play their numbers at the auction.

In addition to the attribute of the bride, such as a garter, a piece of a tie is also thrown to the guests, acting as an anti-garter. The one who catches her, according to tradition, will not have time to marry in a year. Such a ceremony will be especially in demand among single men with a good sense of humor.

From the first dance of the young do not refuse even in the absence of skills, because help can be obtained from a professional. The choreographer or director will add professional movements to amateur ones. A special entourage of the room is given by the team or bright props.

The first wedding dance of the young

Another option is to perform the song as a duet. The first wedding live video is not forbidden to be performed with a soundtrack. Guests are unlikely to expect this, so it is joyful to be surprised in any case.

What are the wedding customs for the parents of the bride and groom?

As already mentioned, parents can put a slingshot at the wedding, but there are a number of unifying ceremonies. The first thing the bride's parents should do is bless the marriage. To do this, the father leads the bride to the groom standing at the altar, and dances with her at the banquet.

parents at the wedding

Classic wedding traditions for the groom's parents include his dance with his mother and godmother. It's a good idea to style these dances in one or more of the following ways:

• slideshow of children's photos;
• sparklers;
• candles;
• confetti.

The rite of interbreeding families is called family hearth ceremony, although all guests can participate in it

To do this, candles are distributed to all married people so that everyone can pass on a piece of their family hearth and warmth to the newlyweds. The newlyweds blow out the lights and make wishes in honor of the family's first birthday.

The last candles are given by parents, they seem to give. Since ancient times, only the mother of the bride participated in the ceremony. She passed the ember from her oven to her daughter so that she would cook dinner for the first time in the new house. In modern times, the mother of the groom also joins this.

Ignition of the family hearth

The participation of parents at the son's wedding mainly takes place in the banquet part of the event. In addition to the usual toasts with life stories they can sing, thereby fitting into the framework of a European wedding.

Thus, parents and guests express sadness about the passing of a bachelor. According to Russian traditions, invitees should meet the bride in the house of the bride or groom, and not at the restaurant. each family decides differently. You can listen to, or you can just from the bottom of your heart wish the young a good journey in a new family life.

Parents escorting the bride and groom

Asking the question of who should pay for the wedding according to tradition, one must turn to the Slavic dowry rule. Since the parents themselves agreed on the marriage, they paid for the festivities. Depending on the value acquired by the bride, the groom's parents were charged a fee. Today, in this matter, everything is individual.

Traditions for the second and third wedding day

The second day of the wedding is usually spent in nature, in a cafe or sauna in the afternoon. The duration of rest is usually 6 hours, but this is not the limit. The scenario for this day is thought out in advance. small styling and themed actions decorate the continuation of the celebration in the best way.

Traditionally, the husband and wife cook pancakes at the wedding on the second day to sell them. It is believed that whoever eats the most will be lucky all year. You can replace them with a multi-level ready-made cake.

A wedding cake

If young people ride around the city that day, the tradition of blocking the road at a wedding obliges them to give delicious gifts. If you give a treat to those who could, then the couple will be able to pay off bad luck in this way. On the third day, the newlyweds open presents, view photos and send postcards to guests. Some go to the local bridge and hang as a symbol of eternal love.

Wedding traditions of the world

Any marriage implies a marriage contract, in which the rights and obligations of the newlyweds can be discussed.

Oriental weddings begin with the conclusion of the testimony of the parents in the mosque, in order to give sacredness to the ceremony. In Arab countries, without this paper, young people are not even settled in the same room together.

After the business part, two people who create a family have long been obliged to give their consent aloud three times. In addition, if the newlyweds reveal insincere intentions about the wedding, their marriage is considered invalid.

Therefore, the strongest bonds, as a rule, are created in the east. But in the Russian Federation, the negotiated marriage contract has no legal force until it is registered with the registry office. Otherwise, a Muslim wedding in Russia is no different from a traditional Islamic one.

There are a lot of wedding traditions. There are even more variations. They make the wedding more solemn. But at the same time, more traditions make it harder to perceive, because in fact there is less time for communication, games and dances.

Another interesting tradition is the union of young families. A video of the marriage ceremony at the wedding can be viewed here:

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. Some - dishes, some - bed linen, some - 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, newlyweds exchanged rings. This meant that they entered into an alliance until death. The Egyptians firmly believed that if you put a ring on the middle finger of your left hand, 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 thing can be borrowed from a married woman, happily 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 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, the evil eye and corruption. 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 with ribbons. He came to us from Europe. In fact: these are already echoes of an older 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 are a guarantee of a 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, in our country the right to the 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 the wedding bouquet is a purely American custom, although some experts suggest that Americans spied this ceremony at Jewish weddings. At the end of the wedding evening, according to tradition, the bride throws her bouquet to a crowd of 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 a 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 fix a safety pin on their clothes with the 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 at a wedding banquet can you 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 has put the wedding ring on the bride, neither she nor he can take an empty ring box 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.

Russia is a multifaceted unique country, the history of which includes hundreds of the most beautiful rituals that accompany, among other things, the wedding celebration. To this day, some traditions have been preserved, the execution of which is rather a tribute to history and additional fun for guests. If you are going to organize a wedding, it will not be superfluous to study the wedding customs of Russia and find in them a lot in common with modern rituals.

Blessing of the young

An obligatory tradition preceding the sacrament of marriage was the blessing of the parents, which was strictly observed. Children turned to relatives with the words: “Bless the father, mother!”. In response, the mother and father, holding the icon in their hands, answered - “God bless!” In ancient times, almost all people were baptized. At the present time, unbaptized young people who receive a blessing with an icon are more likely to follow the fashion, since they do not receive God's blessing as such.

Rites

Along with a high degree of religiosity of the Russian nation, the people firmly believed in otherworldly forces. At the wedding, the presence of a sorcerer, a sorcerer was necessary, who would protect the young from the evil eye, distract the satanic evil from them with funny jokes and games. At a modern wedding in Russia, it is easy to recognize a sorcerer in the guise of a daring toastmaster. The organizer of the ceremony creates a festive atmosphere at the celebration, amuses and entertains guests.

Matchmaking

According to the old Russian precepts, the worries with matchmaking lay entirely on the parents. They had the final say - to be married or not. It was the parents who determined the size of the dowry, controlled the costs of the celebration. Wedding traditions in Russia today allow children to make their own choices, as well as resolve issues related to the organization of the celebration. But as before, a visit to the bride's parents for official permission to marry is considered a sign of decency and respect.

ransom

In Russian wedding traditions, it was natural for the groom and his parents to pay for their happiness, that is, to make a ransom. To date, the ransom ritual is a fun pastime for young people, friends and all participants in the festival. For the impatient newlywed, the merry guests give tasks, come up with obstacles on the way to their beloved. Usually the groom pays off with small amounts of money or sweets.

Collusion

In Rus', after the matchmaking, there was a custom of conspiracy. This was the name of the long conversations about joint investments in the wedding budget. The size of the bride's dowry, family capital and ransom were discussed. Such an event is reminiscent of the legal execution of a marriage contract, which regulates the expenses of family members and inheritance in the event of a divorce.

feast

In Rus', before a solemn dinner, a wedding loaf with a salt shaker was carried out to young young people. After tasting the ritual bread, the newlyweds bowed at the waist to the guests, and they, in turn, symbolically blessed them, showering them with grain, a symbol of prosperity and prosperity. Now, when leaving the Wedding Palace, the bride and groom arrange fireworks from the petals of beautiful roses. And during the holiday, the ritual loaf is eaten.

The custom of shouting "Bitter!" it happened a little differently before. The bride took turns approaching each guest with a festive pile on a tray. Having drunk, the invitee shouted “Bitter!”, demonstrating in such a way that he was brought a drunken festive drink. And in return, it was customary to put money and gifts on a tray.

Modern Russian wedding traditions associated with a feast have acquired new interesting moments that are already firmly rooted among the population. So, witnesses fasten two bottles of champagne for a young family. Newlyweds cherish the first bottle of sparkling drink until the first wedding anniversary, the second is supposed to be opened in honor of the birth of the first child.

According to wedding customs, young people open the dance evening with their first dance. Then everyone comes out to dance, and then, as a rule, the entertainment part of the celebration begins.

Wedding

The wedding ceremony is currently not always held or is postponed to another time. After registering and visiting the church, the newlyweds take a pleasure walk around the city. During such a trip, the innovative rites of modern weddings often take place. For example, on bridges, two people close the lock with a key, which symbolizes the inviolability of marriage. Or they tie pink and blue ribbons on the paws of pigeons and release them to determine the sex of the child. With which ribbon the dove flies higher, it will mark the gender of the unborn baby.

Bachelorette and bachelor party

Girls' gatherings before the wedding are an old wedding tradition in Russia. Girlfriends went to the bath, carefully washed the bride's braid, shared stories about unhappy marriages to avert the evil eye. It was not customary to hold a bachelor party in Rus', the young guy simply put himself in order: he washed himself in a bathhouse, he cut his hair.

Wedding rings

Stringing gold and silver rings on each other's fingers is a worldwide tradition. The ancestors of this event are the ancient Egyptians, who were the first to introduce a beautiful and romantic custom. Today, no wedding in the world is complete without the exchange of rings.

The bride's bouquet

The prototype of throwing a bouquet into a crowd of girls at the ceremony is the old rite of transferring a wreath from the head of the bride to a close friend. This ritual determines the future bride and groom. At the modern wedding in Russia, a piquant nuance was added to the tradition. The bride removes the garter from her stocking and tosses it to single men to see who is the next potential groom.

bride kidnapping

Of course, now no one kidnaps a happy girl, unless the groom of a Russian bride is a Muslim. In Rus', a newlywed from a simple peasant family could sometimes be kidnapped by a despotic landowner. And in order to save his beloved, the groom had to generously pay off.

Bride's shoe

The wedding tradition of Russia, to steal the bride's shoe by the groom's friends on the second day for the sake of a comic ransom, took place differently in antiquity. The young bride herself offered to try on wedding shoes for her girlfriends. The girl, who fit the shoe, rightfully demanded a ransom from the young man.

Towel

A towel or a towel in Rus' is a special ritual wedding item, on which a wedding loaf was carried out, and in the church the young were supposed to stand during the wedding. In some settlements, the hands of the newlyweds were tied with an embroidered festive towel. The bride gave a beautiful ethnic towel to her betrothed for matchmaking, several types of towels should have been included in the dowry.

wedding loaf

Bread was traditionally considered a sign of wealth and prosperity among the Russian people. Therefore, young people were supposed to taste this delicacy so that their life would be without need, hunger and deprivation. The modern interpretation of the ritual has been transformed into a comic form. Taking a bite from the loaf, the bride and groom strive to grab a larger slice in order to take a leading position in the pair. In ancient times, guessing about the head of the family would never have occurred to anyone. In Rus', a strict and sometimes cruel patriarchy ruled.

The wedding night

The pre-wedding chores are over, the feast is over, and the most mysterious and beautiful night in the life of lovers is coming - the first wedding. The wedding tradition, to bring a young wife into a new house in her arms, also has a magical background. In ancient times, the groom thus averted his eyes to evil spirits, pretending to be carrying a child.

The custom to spend the first wedding night outside the native walls encourages young people to hide from evil spells, hide in another place. Often, relatives provided accommodation for the newlyweds, or, as an exotic option, young people were sent to a hayloft equipped with a shed. Modern newlyweds also crave adventure and for this they book a hotel room, rent an apartment.

Unlike Slavic traditions, the second day of the banquet became optional. Instead, young lovers prefer a honeymoon trip, a honeymoon in some resort place.

Despite the fact that culture is constantly changing and many traditions are losing their relevance, the wedding celebration will forever remain the most magnificent and memorable event in life. And in order for the wedding to become a real celebration of love and fun, you need to make every effort and properly prepare.

Wedding customs change over the years. Every year, young people prefer to abandon some signs and rituals, or they remember their roots and add more and more nuances to the celebration. For example, the tradition of exchanging rings exists in almost every nation; it is not abandoned to this day. But the Christian custom of meeting the young with an icon is not honored by everyone even in our country, this is a personal choice of the bride and groom.

Wedding traditions and customs of the Russian people

The Russian celebration of marriage is a whole range of different customs and signs. In ancient times, people sacredly honored and observed every ritual.

As now we have a toastmaster or leader, our ancestors also chose a person-leader. He was called a friend, later - a thousand. He followed the observance of all rituals, toasts, congratulations. Sometimes, as a ritual action, it was customary to scold a friend or a thousandth, and he had to adequately respond to this.

In past centuries, not a single marriage was concluded without matchmaking and matchmakers who resolved various issues. Now this is no longer, only if in a comic form. The bride and groom decide for themselves how worthy they are of each other and how the celebration will be held.

The tradition of the Russian wedding also included handshaking, which is now almost never seen. The parents of the young people gathered and, while drinking strong alcohol, discussed all the nuances of the wedding: where the young family will live, who pays for what, how to celebrate the wedding.

Of course, the loaf has not outlived itself to this day. Many people still bake wedding loaves, which the bride and groom should definitely try. Previously, this treat was baked for a huge number of people, so the diameter of the bread reached incredible sizes. Now this role is partially played by the cake.

There was also a rite of vaults in Rus', which was carried out even before the young people go down the aisle. This magical act was intended to unite the young family, to provide them with many years of living together. The groom was brought to the bride, their hands were joined, tied with a ribbon or a towel, and they were led in a circle a certain number of times.

The brides had to cry before the wedding, lament and sing special farewell songs, which said how they did not want to leave their father's house and how wonderful it was in girlhood. At the same time, it does not matter at all whether the girl likes this union or not. It was necessary to cry.

Wedding traditions in Russia: modernity

Not all wedding customs and traditions in Russia are strictly observed. Some have already become obsolete, others we have begun to borrow from other countries. The result is a whole complex of transformed rituals.

For example, the blessing of parents took root very firmly. Even if they decide to skip the morning blessing before the wedding, then at the banquet itself there will definitely be a toast from the parents, which will sound in the spirit of the blessing. The parental word was always honored, it was important for the young to know that this marriage was approved.

The comic ransom of the bride came to replace the real ransom, when the groom literally gave money to the girl's parents in order to marry her. Now this fun action is designed to amuse the guests, test the strength and ingenuity of the groom. All the money raised goes to the budget of the newborn family.

A trip to the registry office can hardly be called a tradition, it is rather a necessity that you need to go through in order to officially become husband and wife. Of course, earlier there were no registry offices in Rus', there was a wedding. Now some young people also prefer to get married so that their marriage is concluded before God.

Of course, it is customary to give wedding gifts. Previously, these were things necessary in the household. Now more often they give money to start a family life.

Wedding traditions in Russia include. In the distant past, dance had a magical meaning. Round dances were danced around the young, and they themselves circled in a certain direction. Thus, troubles and evil spirits were driven away. Nowadays, the dance of the young is part of the banquet, when the bride and groom show their choreographic capabilities to beautiful music, entertaining guests and showing love for each other. It can be waltz, tango or something else.

"Bitterly!" guests shout with a glass in their hand for a reason to make the newlyweds kiss. Previously, it was a sign that the glasses were not water, but really vodka, “bitter”.

Wedding loaf: traditions

Bread has always been especially revered in Rus'. And the wedding loaf was even called a talisman. It could be stored, taken with you on the road, protected from the evil eye.

Such a loaf was baked only by women who had a light hand and a strong marriage. Widows, divorced and childless were by no means allowed to this important matter.

The tradition has come down to us to meet the young with a loaf, and also to divide it in order to find out who will dominate in the house.

This round bread was necessarily decorated with various symbols: rings for a strong marriage, ears of wheat for wealth, leaves and petals for healthy children.

It had to be shared among all the guests. No one should leave a wedding without trying the loaf. A piece was also taken home and divided among the whole family, which did not have a chance to attend the wedding. Conspiracies were even committed against him, which were endowed with magical significance.

Modern newlyweds prefer to buy ready-made or order loaves. However, the most skillful bake them themselves, which is considered a special honor.

Wedding tradition: family hearth

This is a very exciting and beautiful rite that came to us from ancient times. Young people love it for its beauty and romance, but it also has a symbolic meaning.

The essence of this ritual is that the parents of the bride and groom light a candle and pass it on to the young, and at the same time say a parting word on how to keep comfort and warmth in the family.

Most often, modern newlyweds buy a special beautiful candle, usually red. And the parents light it with the fire of their candles to the beautiful words of the presenter. After this ceremony, the hearth remains with the newlyweds. They say that in difficult times you can light it, and peace and tranquility will return to the family, and all troubles will pass by. It can be lit by both moms or dads, and all parents together.

Thus, not only the experience of older generations was passed on, but also two families, two clans were united. Lighting a candle, the parents accepted both spouses as their children and made a promise to love them and help with advice.

Armenian wedding traditions

Armenia, like any other country, has changed over time. Some customs faded into the background, while others remain unchanged to this day.

As in Rus', in Armenia, the wedding was necessarily preceded by matchmaking. Previously, the groom did not take part in it, only matchmakers came. Then it became customary to take the groom.

Matchmakers came after dark to hide from the eyes of neighbors. After all, a refusal could greatly reduce the rating of a failed husband. Men have always been considered the most important, so matchmakers have always been male. The father never betrayed his daughter the first time, it was considered a shame. As if the bride is defective in some way, so they want to give her away as soon as possible.

Refusing in person was not accepted. There were many allegories that meant either "We'll think about it, come back again" or "Our bride needs another groom."

Be sure to give a dowry for the bride. And the more dowry, the more enviable the bride. But this custom is outdated. Now, as a sign of respect, the groom's side says that no money is needed, they only want this girl to become a member of their family.

Armenian weddings were usually celebrated in late autumn or early winter. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, the crop has already been harvested, which means there is a lot of food. Secondly, the body after the summer is strengthened and full of strength, which means that children will be born strong and healthy.

The celebration is always magnificent, loud with countless guests. This is true to this day. All relatives are invited, even distant ones, so as not to offend anyone. Previously, guests were convened with music, and the most respected residents were invited with special honors.

Guests from the side of the future husband tried to give as much gold jewelry as possible. After all, this is how the well-being of the family should be shown.

Makars were necessarily present at the wedding - armed strong young guys who acted as bodyguards. They protected the entire procession and the groom in particular.

There was always plenty of food, and the dancing did not stop. The parties competed in what is more happy and cheerful. No one should be inferior in the dance to another.

Wedding traditions and customs in Belarus

The Belarusian wedding is similar to ours, primordially Russian. There was a matchmaking, and here the signs played such an important role that, having seen a black cat, the matchmakers could return. For matchmaking, they took gifts and treats with them to appease the bride's parents.

They married more often at the end of summer, at the beginning of autumn, when the harvest was over. But in mid-January, according to Belarusian customs, weddings are prohibited.

Before marriage, the future wife arranged a bachelorette party, where she said goodbye to her unmarried girlfriends. They wove wreaths. The bride should have the most magnificent, beautiful and tight wreath.

The young woman was dressed up in a strange house not far from the groom's house. It was considered very bad luck to take a girl across the road on her wedding day. They put on her wedding dress, braided a tight braid. (or a scarf) was put on at the very last moment.

There was definitely a ransom, comic and cheerful with games and rhymes.

After the arrival of the groom, the hands of the future spouses were fastened with a handkerchief, they were circled several times around the table with a white tablecloth. After that, they helped themselves and went to the temple to get married.

After the wedding, the newly-made family had to go around seven bridges and visit the grave of their ancestors. These traditions are still alive today. The newlyweds try to visit seven bridges so that the groom carries the bride in his arms through each of them. Instead of the graves of ancestors, memorials, mass graves are often visited.

After the walk, everyone escorted the young people home. The threshold was a special place. He was often associated with death, so the husband had to carry his wife in his arms over the threshold, and the guests showered them with grain.

Already in the house, the veil was removed from the young wife, given to the older girlfriend, so that she would also get married soon. A simple scarf was put on the head of the newlywed, symbolizing the female share, the role in the family.

Many traditions have survived to this day, while others have been transformed. But ransom, loaf and bachelorette party have always been and are of great importance in the wedding ceremony.

Wedding ceremonies and traditions in Ukraine

Wedding Ukrainian traditions are not much different from the original Russian ones. But they have more pagan nuances. We will consider only the most interesting and unusual Ukrainian rituals.

• Theft of girls. During the dance, it was quite possible to steal a girl, even from a rich family, and then marry her, if she did not mind, of course. It took a lot of courage and dexterity from the guy to carry his prey as far as possible from home and hold it there for at least a day. If they find him early, don't take his head off. But after 24 hours, he was forgiven if the abducted woman did not want to marry him, or they married him if both agreed.
• Girl's marriage. It was not forbidden for girls to marry a young man they liked. She couldn't refuse. Such matchmaking was used only in very rare cases, if the girl was deceived by the guy. So she could protect herself.
• Liberation through marriage. For a long time on Ukrainian soil there was a custom not to execute a convict if some girl wished to become his wife. This also applied to convicted women. There is a belief that once a Cossack was taken to execution, a girl came out to meet him and wished to become his wife. But looking at her, the young man wished to be hanged rather than marry her.
• Married always by seniority. In a family where there are several children of the same sex, the eldest always entered into marriage first and nothing else. Middle and junior had to wait their turn. After all, if a younger sister marries earlier, it will be an insult to the older one. She might not have been taken.
• According to pagan tradition, it was possible to marry in the spring, when nature blooms, and not only in the fall after the harvest.

• The wedding twig, which denoted the beauty of the bride, can also be attributed to pagan symbols. It was baked in dough and put on the festive table. After the celebration, all the girlfriends and friends broke off a piece from her.
• Ukrainian weddings are always wide, noisy, and alcoholic drinks are pouring on them. For this reason, even older children were not taken to such festivities.

Tatar wedding traditions

Tatar wedding celebrations differ from Russian ones for obvious reasons: Tatars are a Muslim people. However, we also have a lot in common. For example, matchmaking and.

One of the interesting Muslim customs is the rite of nikah. In fact, this is the same wedding. The mullah gives advice and guidance to the young, and blesses them. Until the nikah is completed, the groom should not be left alone with his chosen one.

The ransom from the Tatars is not a joke, but a real one, when the groom's family is given a dowry for a future wife. The toastmaster is also present at such weddings, but he is not hired, but the most cheerful and courageous among the guests is chosen. Currently, they still prefer to hire a host.

Of course, among the festive dishes there should be traditional pilaf, and among sweets, honey chak-chak.

There is also a special bridal house where the bridal bed is located. She was carefully covered. All the guests touched it and put coins on the saucer. After that, only the older women and the bride remained in this house. They taught the young woman how to meet her husband.

When all the festivities were completed, special contests and games were held in which the groom proved how strong and smart he was. Only after that did he get the right to stay alone with his newly-made wife.

On the day of the wedding, it is also customary to go to the bathhouse. The guests and the groom washed, after which the husband put on new clean clothes that the bride had sewn for him.

Like the lamentations of brides in Rus', the Tatar people have the so-called "caresses". The young wife sat down with her back to the guests and sang songs about the heavy female lot. The guests came up, consoled her and stroked her back.

Previously, if the groom did not immediately give all the dowry, he helped to visit his wife no more than once a week until the full amount was paid. Modern wedding traditions of the Tatars do not imply such measures.

Wedding in India: Traditions

The Indian people, more than anyone else, honors their customs from ancient times. Local residents try to observe all rituals and rituals in order to provide young people with a long and happy life.

We used to think that the Indian celebration is songs and dances in the spirit of any films. This also has a place to be, but to a greater extent it is a spiritual sacrament. A rite called vivaha binds two families together, and also tightly weaves two souls for the next seven lives. That is why it is so important to follow it correctly.

The wedding is organized and paid for by the bride's parents. The young woman herself is dressed in a beautiful red sari and decorated in a special way. The color and cut of festive clothing may vary depending on the region of India.

The bride can have only one hairstyle - a tight long braid. It is forbidden for an Indian woman to let her hair down in public. Before the wedding, the girl's hair was thoroughly washed and smeared with precious oils. Then the braid was braided.

The future wife also has a special make-up. This is a black eyeliner that makes the look more mysterious. A small red dot on the forehead, called a bindi, is equivalent to a wedding ring, as is the ring in the left nostril. This is a sign of a married woman.

An Indian wedding lasts 4-5 days. All this time, many different ceremonies are held, none of which can be missed.

One of the main qualities of the bride was considered (and is considered to this day) chastity. The woman was compared with the field, and the man with its owner. The first one to plow the field owns it by right, as well as everything that grows on it. Therefore, marriages with girls who lost their virginity were considered a meaningless exercise. It turns out that the groom stole the wife from someone else, this woman and all her children do not belong to him.

Now, as in many other countries, a young family leaves by car, but earlier the bride was taken away on a decorated elephant or horse, and all the guests saw them off with songs and dances.

Italian wedding: traditions

Italy is always unbridled fun, noisy games, dancing and an abundance of wine.

It is believed that the custom of carrying the bride in her arms over the threshold came from here. After all, if the bride stumbles on the threshold of the house, this predicts a lot of troubles and troubles.

In addition to the dance of the young, the bride still needs to dance separately, demonstrating her choreographic skills. She usually starts alone, and then guests join her, who simply cannot sit still.

The basic rule of Italian weddings is that everything should be fun. There are usually many guests, these are relatives, close and distant, friends, families of friends, friends of the family of friends, etc.

The Italians are also very responsible. Until now, for them it is not just a vacation. In order for the life of the young to be happy and rich, sweet, they are supposed to eat honey for the first two weeks after the wedding, which they do.

One of the interesting rituals is the sawing of a log by young spouses immediately after the wedding. And you have to cut it by hand. This symbolizes the strong union and cooperation of the newlyweds. It is worth adding that it is not customary for Italians to marry early. Marriage at the age of 30-35 is considered early.

Gypsy wedding: customs and traditions

Those associations that arise in you when presenting gypsy fun are the best fit for the definition of a wedding.

The gypsy people absolutely do not spare money and effort for the wedding, as it is considered the most important event in life. Therefore, whoever marries, everyone walks and treats all passers-by.

The wedding took place in an interesting way. Children could still be babies, and their parents had already agreed on a wedding. When the children reached a certain age, the marriage arrangement was obligatorily respected. You can even exchange brides if two families have a son and a daughter. In this case, a ransom is not needed, as this is a mutually beneficial solution.

If a young man does not have money to ransom, or his beloved is intended for another, he could steal her.

At the celebration, the guests - men and women could not sit together, they were supposed to have different tables. The first wedding night should not take place after the feast, but during. The young were taken to the tent, where there should be no one but themselves. When the bride's shirt was taken out on a tray, a special fun began. Parents congratulated each other, were proud of their children.

If the bride was innocent, she was given expensive gifts. If not (which happened very rarely), her parents had to reimburse all the expenses for the wedding.

American wedding: traditions

We are all familiar with the customs of the American wedding celebration from films and TV shows. Not accepted in the US. If you arrange a celebration in accordance with all the rules, you will have to pay for the engagement, rehearsal, the wedding itself, as well as the buffet during the honeymoon.

From there came the custom to make an offer in an original and beautiful way, so that later you could tell your friends and girlfriends. Marriage is not necessary at all. The lovers themselves decide everything, and then only report this good news to the rest. A rehearsal is not always necessary, but it is sometimes arranged to introduce the guests and create a favorable atmosphere.

Comic marriage registration ceremonies are not accepted in America. The more romance, the better. It is believed that guests should cry at the ceremony itself, and laugh at the banquet.

For married life to be successful, the bride must have something blue, something borrowed, and something new during the ceremony.

In the US, they get married in churches much more often than in our country, even if the couple is not very religious. After the ceremony, the groom carries the bride in his arms, they are showered with petals and rice.

Second wedding day: traditions

Not all newlyweds want to celebrate the second day. However, the wedding ceremony in Russian traditions suggests that the next day after the wedding there should be fun and a continuation of the banquet. Previously, weddings were held for a week, now it is customary to celebrate only two days. This custom can be completely abandoned if the young so wish.

In Rus', the second day was obligatory. The newborn family received guests, treated them. The young wife demonstrated her skills as a housewife. Sometimes they jokingly interfered with her, scattered garbage, overturned buckets. And the first pancake was served with a surprise, vinegar or coal was mixed into it. A guest who ate such a pancake still had to praise the hostess and give her money for her troubles.

Of course, there were also mummers. Everyone had fun, came up with costumes, the funnier the better. They walked the streets, treated passersby with vodka.

Such customs reign not only in Russia. So, for example, it is also customary for Dagestanis to invite relatives to the house on the second day and treat them. Young people continued to give gifts. And the young wife was obliged to dance with anyone who wanted to.

The Kazakhs, on the contrary, the newlyweds should visit all relatives, and they treated them and gave gifts.

There are separate tribes on the island of Borneo, where the second day is not so cheerful. Their honeymoon is an ordeal. Three days after the wedding, young people do not have the right to go to the toilet. To endure this, they have to eat and drink almost nothing. And only if both cope, they will be granted a happy and long life together.

As we can see, the wedding traditions of the peoples of the world differ from each other, but one thing is invariable: all the rites and rituals are designed to hold a young family together for many years.

Today, many Russian wedding traditions are observed in a "simplified" form, but still occupy an important place in the wedding celebration.

New fashionable traditions are also emerging, such as offsite wedding registration.

The cultures of different countries have mixed up, many wedding traditions have been borrowed, "modernized" and today are successfully observed by our newlyweds.

In any case, wedding traditions were observed by our ancestors and are observed by us in order to open the way to a happy family life for the newlyweds in such a symbolic way. The fact that wedding traditions exist in other countries is also interesting.

Engagement and betrothal is an important modern wedding tradition

When a couple decides to officially marry, they are considered engaged. The groom proposes to the bride and in honor of this he gives an engagement ring, which she wears on the ring finger of her right hand.

Basically, an engagement is a formal announcement in front of relatives that a couple is going to get married.

Bachelorette and stag parties are part of modern wedding traditions

The bride and groom before the wedding separately celebrate the last day of "free life". Today bachelorette parties and stag parties are fun events, with pranks and congratulations from close friends of the bride and groom.

Bride ransom is an old wedding tradition that has survived to this day

One of the most fun and interesting events at the wedding, where the groom has to go through all sorts of trials on the way to the bride.
Previously, this ceremony was performed in order for the groom to redeem his future wife from her relatives. Today, the groom has to redeem the bride from her bridesmaids, who conduct the ransom.

We bring to your attention a very original script for the ransom of the bride, which should please not only the bridegroom, but also the guests of the party.

The exchange of wedding rings is the main ritual of a modern wedding.

This tradition came to us from ancient Rome. It was believed that by putting rings on the ring finger of the left hand, lovers thus put a seal on each other's hearts, which will always keep love in their hearts. The wedding ring is worn along with the engagement ring.

Sprinkling with rice, rose petals, coins, sweets is an old wedding tradition.

This ceremony has a deep sacred meaning. During the time of worship of pagan gods, the road along which the newlyweds stepped was strewn with flower petals to appease the goddess of fertility. Rice and money, which were thrown at the feet of the young, signified prosperity and a prosperous life. Many nations use this beautiful rite. Nowadays, the function of “showering”, as a rule, is performed by all those invited to the wedding, showering the newlyweds while they leave the registry office.

Newlyweds dance - the most touching wedding tradition

It turns out that the tradition of the first wedding dance of the newlyweds came to us with the accession to the throne of the great sovereign Peter I, in those days the ball was an integral part of the wedding celebration. The newlyweds opened the ball in honor of the marriage.
Today, the classical waltz is gradually fading into the background, and instead, the newlyweds delight guests with staged dances in which they tell the story of their relationship. Sometimes friends, witnesses, etc. invited to the wedding participate in the wedding dance of the bride and groom. Nowadays, the wedding dance is often a unique part of the celebration, in which the bride and groom show their creativity and surprise the guests with an unusual performance.

Wedding tradition - the kidnapping of the bride and shoes

This wedding tradition is no longer as deep washed away as before, but is still relevant today.
Bridesmaids or groomsmen hide the bride in some secluded place. To get the newly-made spouse back, the groom has to go through a series of "tests".
They do the same with the bride's shoe. Friends agree in advance with the bride about the time of the disappearance of her shoes. To return the shoe to the bride, witnesses of the newlyweds have to go through a series of comic "tests".

Throwing the bride's bouquet and removing the garter - a European wedding tradition

The significance of this tradition is probably known to everyone: it is believed that the girl who catches the bride's bouquet will soon get married herself. There is another tradition associated with the bride's bouquet, which says that the bride must keep her bouquet in her house for at least a year in order for the marriage to be strong. In this regard, a duplicate of the bride's bouquet is ordered, and it is he who throws the bride to be torn to pieces by the girls who are eager to get married as soon as possible.
By analogy with throwing the bride's bouquet, the wedding garter is removed by the groom from the leg of his young wife and is thrown to unmarried guests. The one who caught the wedding garter will soon become a husband himself.

The release of white doves is another modern wedding tradition borrowed from the ancestors.

White doves are considered a symbol of peace and love. It is known that these birds create a couple for life, therefore, it is not at all surprising that these birds are a symbol of a happy and long marriage.
By the flight of pigeons, they determine what the marriage will be like, and even what gender the first child will be. If the groom's dove flies ahead, then a boy will be born first, and if the bride's, then a girl.
If the pigeons aspired high up, then it is believed that the marriage will be long and strong.

Delicious modern wedding tradition - cutting the wedding cake

Cutting the wedding cake symbolizes the first joint action of the newlyweds. The newlyweds, holding a knife together, cut the cake and are the first to treat their parents with a cake. Then all the guests.
Of course, it is not necessary to follow all wedding traditions. Nowadays, there are many options to celebrate a wedding in a bright and unusual way.

Gifts for the parents of the bride and groom

In Russian weddings, it is customary to give gifts to the bride and groom, but the bride and groom also give gifts to their future relatives.

We told you about modern wedding traditions, many of which have roots from the most ancient times.
Our editors wish everyone who decides to enter into a marriage union - family happiness, prosperity and well-being for many years of living together!