Slavic Wedding Customs

The customs of Slavic weddings are extensive and diverse. It is brimming with various ceremonies that represent significant occasions in each couple’s career and aid in their peaceful marriage. These rites were performed not only to commemorate the union of two people, but also to demonstrate the bride’s virginity and guarantee that her spouse do look after her buy a wife well.

Village relationships were once connected to the agrarian calender. During breaks like Ivan Kupala in June https://www.va.gov/womenvet/ or the fall, it was popular for young boys and girls to get together. At this time, matching was common: young people presented themselves, chose their coming spouses, and recited songs during square dances.

Family people separated the women on the ceremony day. A shrouded gentleman had be given to the bride by her relatives. The community of the groom did therefore offer the couple’s relatives a ransom in exchange. This practice, known as vykup nevesty, involved the man asking the princess’s relatives to give a larger sum of money if the payment was insufficient.

The wedding was then given to her new residence by her father and mother-in-law, who gave her wheat, sodium, and a rushnyk. She then walked into her new house with her newlywed husband, bowing to the four directions: South ( white, air ), West ( red, fire ), North ( black, water ), and East ( green, earth ). They took their oaths while standing on a rushnik-shaped piece of triangular linen. They then shared a cup of wine, sipping it as the preacher guided them through the analogy.