Wedding in Russian style - decoration and holding

A familiar wedding with all the traditional attributes will no longer surprise anyone. The monotonous competitions, which have become boring over many years, are practiced without spark, and the luxurious decoration of the banquet halls is created as if from a carbon copy. What to do if you want something unusual, soulful and truly exciting? A Russian-style themed wedding creates a unique atmosphere that immerses you in the customs and life of the Slavs. Russian folk wedding carries the heritage of our ancestors. There is a place in it for sincere, melodic songs, and good wishes, and unbridled fun with round dances and dances, and the rapid running of the famous troika. Probably, it was from our ancestors that we inherited the love of fast driving and the ability to celebrate with all the scope of the broad Russian soul.

Ancient beliefs

Since ancient times, a Russian wedding has been a significant milestone in a person’s life path. According to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, the union of a woman and a man was blessed by the gods, and they were considered full members of the clan. The celebration was accompanied by ritual actions designed to attract all kinds of benefits for the newly created family and protect them from evil forces:

evil spirits were driven away with the help of ringing bells, amulets, beating the floor and walls of the home with whips;
a veil or veil served as a shelter from unkind spirits and a symbol of passage through the afterlife, because a woman died for her clan and was born for her husband’s clan;
conversations in roundabout ways and metaphors, dressing up of the newlyweds and bride price were intended to protect the expectant mother from the slightest evil eye;
prosperity was invoked by sprinkling grains;
in the bathhouse they cleansed themselves, washing away all sorts of bad energy and enlightening their souls.

Much has changed since then. The origins and true meaning of the old rituals have been forgotten, but much has been preserved and to this day at Russian weddings they hang bells under the arc of the troika, arrange for a substitution of the bride and groom, and choose a wedding general.

Wedding traditions and rituals of the ancient Slavs

The ancient name of the wedding is Lubomir .
This day was celebrated without alcohol, fights, drunkenness and other indecent behavior. Lubomir is, first of all, a celebration of the soul, and only then of the body. A richly laid table was a secondary task. The tradition of wedding rings is an ancient and complex ritual. They have been preparing for engagement since adolescence. When a boy or girl turned twelve years old, they began to wear a silver ring. It was believed that this metal was sacred and capable of absorbing the positive energy of the owner. At the moment of engagement, the bride and groom exchanged these rings. They had to be worn closer to the heart - on the neck.

With these rings, the couple had to spend from 16 to 40 days, soaking in each other’s energy.

The newlyweds received the blessing of their parents; without it, the betrothal was considered invalid.

On the wedding day, the bride and groom put other rings on each other's ring fingers of their right hands. Silver ones were returned to the owner and worn on the ring finger of the left hand. This ritual closed the spiritual circle between the newlyweds.

There was no ransom in a Slavic wedding . This is due to the fact that the holiday is spiritual, there could be no talk of any money. On the eve of the wedding, fights were organized between the groom and the male relatives of the bride (father and brothers). This demonstrated the ability of the future spouse to protect his family. Another test option is hunting. The groom showed the bride's father how lucky and dexterous he was in this craft.

The bride had to undergo tests conducted by the female half of the groom. A woman was valued for her knowledge and skills in needlework, cooking, housekeeping, and it is good (but not necessary) for her to be able to sing and dance.

An obligatory part of the wedding day is round dances . The wedding round dance was especially important. It was held at the end of the celebration. Young people came closer to the reservoir and lit two fires on the shore: one for the boys, the other for the girls. The women's round dance was always performed in the direction of the sun; it was called posolon. The male round dance is in the opposite direction, that is, anti-salt.

What are the features of a Russian wedding

A wedding in folk style implies precisely the unity of two loving hearts, the process of the birth of a new family, blessed by the Slavic gods. Finding a mate and getting continuation in children was considered the sacred duty of every member of the clan. The newlyweds are the central figures at the wedding, all attention is directed to them, and various amusements are given an honorable second place.

The cultural traditions of the Russian people are multifaceted; in various Slavic tribes, weddings were played in their own special way. Having set the goal of having a real Russian wedding, you can create your own unique scenario that will suit this particular couple and will appeal to guests and relatives. To do this, you will have to delve a little deeper into the history of Rus' and become familiar with the wedding customs of our ancestors. This is interesting, useful for understanding the origins of Russian culture, and the result is so amazing that one cannot wish for anything else.

There are several components that are characteristic of wedding celebrations in the Russian style:

a plentiful and satisfying meal with a very minimum of strong drinks;
unique ritual songs accompanying every action and ritual;
round dances and group dances, which show the strength and prowess of the boys and the perky dexterity of the girls;
the musical accompaniment is lively, consisting of similar instruments: accordions, pipes, and rattles, and some virtuosos can show off their class on the ancient harp, wooden painted spoons or balalaika;
young people always ask for blessings from their parents, at the beginning of the wedding celebrations and at the end. Nowadays they usually bless the oldest prayed icon in the house and give it as a gift to the newlyweds so that it becomes the basis for their “red corner”.

You shouldn’t spoil a spiritual, joyful event with large doses of alcohol, quarrels and fights - none of this has ever been inherent in traditional Russian weddings. And even more so, you should abandon modern drinking songs, Mendelssohn marches and loud music through the stereo system. In the rich cultural heritage of the Russian people, you can choose a musical repertoire to suit your taste, and in full accordance with the spirit of a real Russian wedding.

Russian wedding ceremony: traditions and creativity

Increasingly, young people on the eve of their wedding are interested in folk wedding traditions. Sometimes even some elements of a folk wedding are used in the wedding celebration. Having two daughters, I sometimes wonder how I will marry them off. What are the traditions and beliefs?

I was very interested in how our ancestors celebrated their weddings?

nothing is known about the wedding rites of our ancient ancestors, and we mean really ancient ones - those who lived according to the laws of the Vedic worldview for several millennia . What is presented to us now as the most ancient antiquity, in fact, is not so. The most famous source on the issue of wedding customs of the ancient Slavs is the chronicle of the Christian priest Nestor, “The Tale of Bygone Years” of the 12th century. He writes that the customs of the ancient Slavs varied from tribe to tribe, and in some tribes the so-called “kidnapping” was practiced - the groom kidnapped the bride at the games, having previously agreed with her about the abduction - and polygamy: “I go to the games... and then kidnap the wife for himself , who met with her: the name has two and three wives...” Historian N.M. Karamzin continues the Nestorovian tradition of describing, in his opinion, half-wild Slavs in his “History of the Russian State”, Vol. 1, Chapter 3, where he tells horror stories about the family life of hospitable, chaste and faithful in marriage, but not covered by the “beneficent teaching of the Christian Faith” ”, our near ancestors: “They considered wives to be perfect slaves, at least unrequited; they were not allowed to contradict themselves or complain; they burdened them with labor and economic worries and imagined that the wife, dying with her husband, should serve him in the next world. This slavery of wives occurred, it seems, because their husbands usually bought them...” After the death of her husband, the Slav woman usually burned herself at the stake along with his corpse. The living widow dishonored the entire family. The wedding ceremony, which is described as “ancient Russian” , was formed relatively recently - after Christianity was imposed on Russia and they tried to knock out as many Vedic traditions as possible from popular life, to which many rulers of Russia consistently had a hand, for example, the false Peter I, diligently instilled “progressive” European customs. However, some “pagan” elements are preserved even in modern wedding rituals, for example, showering with grain, poppy or hops, carrying the bride over the threshold, tying the hands of the bride and groom with a towel, and others.

Such rituals have come down to us. It was believed that in order to preserve the unity of the family, it was necessary to place an unlocked lock under the threshold of the house at the time when the bride and groom were taken out of the church. When they stepped over the threshold, the lock was immediately lifted and closed, and the key was thrown into a river or well so that the husband and wife would live in joy and harmony and never be separated.

To protect the bride from damage and the evil eye, earless needles and headless pins were pierced into the hem of her dress, into her shirt, into her collar, and she wrapped her body in scraps of hemstitches. All this was done so that the newlyweds would not be “spoiled” on their wedding day. It was believed that no healer could spoil a person if he had earless and headless needles and pins. For the same purpose, nails or large needles were driven crosswise into the doorframe of the front door, and a woolen thread was tied around the bride’s waist; In addition, the stitches on the nightgown, made by hand by the bride herself, were considered reliable protection against betrayal and deception. After Christianization, it was customary for young people in Rus' to marry at an early age, starting from 12 years old. In this case, the decision about marriage was made by the parents, and the children were informed about this decision shortly before the wedding.

However, in some regions other behavior was allowed. The guy who spotted the bride had to tell his father about it. If he received approval, then two matchmakers with bread were sent to the girl’s house.

In the Middle Ages, weddings in Rus' were carried out according to the following plan: matchmaking, bridesmaids, hand-raising, howling, bachelorette party, ransom, wedding, festivities, wedding feast. Each stage of the wedding ceremony included many ritual actions of the bride, groom, groomsman, groomsman, future mother-in-law and other participants, as well as ritual songs, laments and various formal procedures. The rituals symbolized the transition of a girl from her father’s clan to her husband’s clan. The bride, as it were, “died” for her own clan (hence the howling and lamentation) and was “born” into another clan.

Matchmaking

Matchmaking was preceded by the collection of information about the bride - “they found out the breed . The first day of matchmaking was scheduled if the information received satisfied the groom's family. The matchmaker was usually the groom's relatives - father, brother, etc., less often - the mother, although the matchmaker could not be a relative. Matchmaking was preceded by a certain agreement between the parents of the bride and groom. Often the matchmaker did not speak directly about the purpose of his visit, but pronounced some ritual text. The bride's parents answered him in the same manner. The text could be like this: You have a flower, and we have a garden. Is it possible for us to transplant this flower into our little garden? A young gander is looking for a goose. Is there a little goose lurking in your house? We have a little goose, but she’s still young...

The bride's parents had to refuse the first time, even if they were happy about the wedding. The matchmaker had to persuade them. After the matchmaking, the parents gave the matchmaker an answer. The girl’s consent was not required (if asked, it was a formality); sometimes even matchmaking could take place in the absence of the girl. Most often, specially hired matchmakers, sometimes relatives of the groom, acted as matchmakers; this could be a father, godfather, godmother, or uncle. Their responsibilities included not only the matchmaking itself, but also often the choice of the bride herself from suitable candidates. They had to find out what kind of dowry was given for the bride and what it consisted of. In addition, through the matchmaker, the groom learned details about the appearance and character of the bride, whom in some cases he could see openly only on the wedding day.

Bride

Every bride had to go through the bride, no matter how favorable the information collected about her was. Bridesmaids were held after the matchmaking, before the handshake.

The girl was taken to the middle of the room and asked to perform various actions: walk in front of the bench where the matchmakers were sitting, raise both hands in turn, remove the scarf from her head, etc. With such a close examination, all physical flaws were visible.

At the end of the viewing, they waited for the groom's decision. If the bride was satisfied, we agreed on further actions. Or the caretakers would go out onto the porch for a meeting. Then the groom returned, and the girl’s mother brought him a glass of honey. If the guy drank the whole glass, wait for the matchmakers. If you brought it to your mouth and immediately put it on the table, there would be no wedding.

They also “looked” at the groom’s household. This was important especially if the matchmakers came from a foreign village. The groom was required to guarantee the prosperity of his future wife. Therefore, her parents inspected the farm very carefully. The main requirements for farming were an abundance of livestock and bread, clothing, and dishes. Often, after inspecting the farm, the bride's parents refused the groom. But, if the bride’s parents were satisfied with the results of the “grooming,” as the bridegroom was also called, then they set a day for public matchmaking—handshake.

Handshake

In different traditions, this ritual was called differently (“vaults”, “conspiracy”, “binge”, “singing” - from the word “sing”, “zaruchiny”, “zaporuki” - from the words “slap on the hands”, “betrothal”) ", "vaults" and many other names), but in any tradition it was from this day that the wedding itself began. After public announcement, only exceptional circumstances could disrupt the wedding (such as the bride's elopement). Usually the “conspiracy” takes place about two weeks after the matchmaking. The “conspiracy” took place in the bride’s house. Most of the village residents usually gathered for it, since the day of the “conspiracy” was determined after inspecting the groom’s household, and a few days before the “conspiracy” itself, this news spread throughout the village.

At the “conspiracy,” the guests were given refreshments, the parents of the bride and groom had to agree on the wedding day, who would be the groomsmen, upcoming expenses, the number of gifts, masonry (a form of financial support for the bride from the groom’s relatives), dowry, etc. d. Also, during the handshake, wedding ranks were distributed - roles distributed among the guests at the wedding. In conclusion, the fathers of the bride and groom beat each other's hands, often wearing canvas mittens to do this. All this was supposed to mean the strength and obligation of the contract. After the “handshake,” the bride was considered matched.

Vytie

The next period in some traditions was called a “week” (although it did not necessarily last exactly a week, sometimes up to two weeks). At this time, the dowry was being prepared. In northern traditions, the bride constantly wailed. In the south, every evening the groom and his friends came to the bride’s house (this was called “gatherings,” “parties,” and so on), and sang and danced. During the “week” the groom was supposed to arrive with gifts.

In the northern tradition, all actions during the “week” are accompanied by the bride’s laments, including the arrival of the groom.

Vytiye - wedding ceremony, ritual crying. Happens on half of the bride. Its purpose is to show that the girl lived well in her parents’ house, but now she has to leave. The bride said goodbye to her parents, girlfriends, will and spent all the time before the wedding “in tears and howls”, “in the dark”, which was associated with the hard work awaiting the young woman, saying goodbye to a young girl’s life. The bride was put on something like a veil, because of which she could not see anything, so the bride needed an escort. This ritual was called hanging.

hen-party

A bachelorette party is a meeting between the bride and her friends before the wedding. This was their last meeting before the wedding, so there was a ritual farewell to the bride and her friends. At the bachelorette party, the second key moment of the entire wedding ceremony took place (after the “hanging”) - the unbraiding of the girl’s braid. The bride's friends unbraided the braid. Unraveling the braid symbolizes the end of the girl’s former life. In many traditions, unraveling the braid was accompanied by a “farewell to red beauty.”

“Red Beauty” is a ribbon or ribbons woven into a girl’s braid. But first, her friends braided her braid for the last time, braiding it into a braid - a ribbon embroidered with pearls and beads. Then, wailing and crying, the friends unbraided the girl’s braid for the last time, and the bride passed the braid to her younger sister or unmarried friend. At the bachelorette party, the bride’s handmade creations, which she managed to make as a girl, were hung throughout the house. These were towels and napkins embroidered by the bride, shirts and dresses, homespun rugs. All the things she learned to do in her life.

An important element was also the ritual bathing of the bride in the bathhouse on the eve of the wedding. The healer read conspiracies against treason to the bride in the bathhouse.

She was hovered and doused with water several times. The last water after the bride was collected in a small container to be added to the groom's drink at the wedding. It was a conspiracy against betrayal and love.

First wedding day

On the first day of the wedding, the following usually happened: the arrival of the groom, departure to the crown, transportation of the dowry, arrival of the newlyweds at the groom's house, blessing, wedding feast.

Wedding ransom

In some traditions, on the morning of the wedding day, the groom must visit the bride's house and check if she is ready for the groom's arrival. When the groomsmen arrive, the bride should already be in her wedding clothes and sit in the red corner. The groom with his groomsmen, friends and relatives make up a wedding train with bells.

Bells and bells are not just decoration for the wedding train. They not only added festivity to the entire procession, but also protected it. “The bells are ringing - the evil force, the evil eye, the evil craft will not come.” As the train moved towards the bride's house, its participants (poezzhans) sang special “poezzhans” songs.

The arrival of the groom was accompanied by one or more ransoms. In most regional traditions, this is a purchase of the entrance to the house. Gates, doors, etc. can be redeemed. Both the groom himself and the groom can pay the ransom. The bride also took a bath. The bride can be bought either from her girlfriends or from her parents. Sometimes there was “deception” of the groom. The bride was brought out to him, covered with a scarf. For the first time, they might have brought out not the real bride, but another woman or even an old woman. In this case, the groom either had to go look for the bride, or buy her again.

Another ritual is used here - sweeping the road . This is done so that an object that could be damaged (hair, stone, etc.) is not thrown at the young people’s feet. The specific road that should be swept varies among different traditions. This could be the road in front of the bride’s house along which the groom’s train will travel, it could be the floor of the room along which the newlyweds will walk before leaving for the wedding, the road to the groom’s house after the wedding, and so on.

Arrival at the groom's house

After the wedding, the groom takes the bride to his home. Here they should be blessed by their parents. In many traditions, the bride and groom were seated on a fur coat with the fur turned outward. The skin of the animal served as a talisman. Bread in one form or another is required in the blessing ritual. In some regions, it was then fed to the cow so that it would produce more offspring.

wedding feast

After the wedding, the bride stops wailing.

From this moment the joyful and cheerful part of the ritual begins. Next, the newlyweds went to the bride’s house to buy gifts. Then the groom brings the bride to his house.

There should already be a rich meal ready for the guests. The wedding feast begins. During the feast they sang songs of praise. In addition to the bride and groom, they named their parents and groomsmen.

The feast could last two or three days. On the second day, the feast continued at the bride's house. If they feasted for three days, on the third they returned to the groom again.

“Putting down” and “waking up” the young

In the evening (or at night) the “laying of the newlyweds” took place - the matchmaker or the bed-maid prepared the wedding bed, which the groom had to buy. The feast often continued during this time.

The next morning (sometimes only a few hours later), a friend, matchmaker or mother-in-law “woke up” the newlyweds. Often after waking up, guests were shown the bride’s “honor” - a shirt or sheet with traces of blood. In other places, the groom testified to the bride’s “honor” by eating a scrambled egg, pancake or pie from the middle or the edge, or by answering ritual questions like “Did you break the ice or trample the dirt?” If the bride turned out to be “dishonest,” her parents could be ridiculed, a collar hung around her neck, the gate covered with tar, and so on.

Second wedding day. On the second day of the wedding, the bride usually performed some ritual actions. For example, the “young woman” fetching water with two oars on a yoke, scattering garbage, money, grain in the room - the young wife had to carefully sweep the floor, which was checked by the guests.

On the same day, the groom came to his mother-in-law. She treated him to specially prepared food (pancakes, scrambled eggs, etc.). The plate was covered with a scarf, and the son-in-law brought her a gift to redeem the scarf.

Third wedding day. The wedding was celebrated at the young husband's house on the third day. On this day, the matchmakers were “kicked out” of the house, the husband’s relatives smashed pots against the door, the matchmakers sang and danced on the benches. At the threshold of the young husband's house on the last day of the wedding celebration, a stake was driven in, symbolizing the end of feasts and festivities.

Russian folk wedding beliefs and signs

The wedding ritual has long been accompanied by certain rituals and signs associated with them. Rituals, having passed through the centuries, have become softer, simpler and more humane. But wedding signs, although they were replenished with new superstitions, remained just as strict. Whether to believe them or not is up to everyone to decide for themselves. But following “safety precautions” will help avoid unnecessary conflicts and quarrels at any wedding.

Any superstition did not arise out of nowhere. Human observation showed its strengths during the celebration of a wedding, noticing causes and their consequences. That is why most of the signs can be explained even by the most categorical people by ordinary life situations.

As a rule, all beliefs and signs for a wedding, what is possible and what is not, are, in one way or another, related to people’s health, preservation of property and the ability to be happy. For example, torn dresses and suits always mean grumpy relatives. Which is not surprising, because in ancient times, wedding attire was often a family property and was passed down by inheritance. And damage to such a dress easily led to a family scandal.

As for future happiness, everything here is traditionally built on the “vice versa” principle. So, if dishes break during a celebration, it means there will be no quarrels in family life. In modern interpretation, this sign has become a separate obligatory ritual, when the bride and groom, leaving the registry office, break the glasses in which they drink champagne “for good luck.” At the same time, over the centuries, people have combined this sign with another one: it is believed that if broken glasses fall into large pieces, then the first child will be a boy, and if they are small pieces, a girl.

Also, signs of a happy wedding advise the bride to cry before the celebration itself. In fact, in ancient times, brides cried without any special purpose, because they really left one family for another and forever left behind their free life. Today this is not at all the case, but from a psychological point of view, such tears help reduce nervous tension, which means that the celebration itself, as well as family life, will be a joy for the girl. Therefore, brides cried and cry at the wedding, sometimes not knowing that this is an important sign that promises happiness in marriage.

Wedding Dress

A girl moving into a new family was the key to prosperity and the future of an entire family. Hopes were pinned on her for the birth of children and grandchildren. And the ability to keep the house clean, create comfort and find a common language with new relatives is important for the personal happiness of every bride. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was the bride who was and remains under the closest attention of the guests. And most of the restrictions are associated with her actions and outfit.

Thus, signs about a wedding dress prohibit the bride:

put on your outfit through your legs, not over your head;
wear a borrowed wedding dress (although today this sign is not observed so strictly);
wear a dress that has knots, laces and braids as decoration, but you can attach a special knot charm under the dress;
dress and appear in a dress in front of the groom before the ceremony;
wear a two-piece suit rather than a one-piece dress;
let someone else try on something from your closet: a dress, veil, shoes or ring.

By observing these wedding signs and superstitions, the bride will avoid quarrels, poor health and early separation from the groom.

It is also believed that if the entire wedding dress was put on before the wedding, for example, during fitting, then the wedding itself will not take place. Therefore, when choosing in a store or studio, it is customary not to wear some part of the outfit. Most often - gloves.

As for the color of the dress, it hardly matters. White, cream, red... Popular wisdom condemns only green color, which has nothing to do with the wedding ritual. This is what you should avoid in your outfit.

Among the huge number of beliefs, you can also find warning signs:

a torn dress - to a grumpy and angry mother-in-law,

to sell a dress means to lose the protection of the clan.

And if you make a few stitches on the hem of the dress or sew two red ribbons, the bride will be protected from the evil eye. Also, the witness can pin a pin to the bride’s dress for the same purpose.

The best dress for a bride has long sleeves, a closed back, a floor-length skirt and embroidery as decoration. And by treating the wedding dress as a symbol of family wealth and a shrine, you can avoid a bad mood, both during the ceremony itself and after it.

What about shoes, underwear and various outfit details? There are rules here too. The bride is required to wear only white underwear. This is due to the fact that it is not just aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, but also symbolizes purity of thoughts. The belief itself does not depend in any way on the color of the dress.

Shoes should be comfortable and, best of all, old. This is a very practical superstition, because the wrong shoes can cause foot pain and swelling, which will interfere with the wedding fun. In order to comply with all the rules, the bride is advised to walk around the house for several hours in her shoes a couple of days before the important date, wearing out and thereby aging her shoes.

As for jewelry, wedding signs for the bride condemn all types of jewelry, except costume jewelry. Beads made from pearls are especially bad, because from time immemorial this stone has been associated with bitterness and tears. Why would there be extra sadness in future family life?

Ideally, for the wedding the bride will wear something new, something old and something borrowed. The dress itself is new, the shoes are old, and the borrowed handkerchief may be an embroidered handkerchief taken from the mother. Such a scarf will not only be an additional talisman, but will also be useful for wiping away tears.

According to European tradition, something blue should be added to this list. As a rule, blue is the chosen garter. The use of this particular color for such an intimate detail of the toilet symbolizes the wife’s future fidelity to her chosen one.

And in any case, the bride is strictly forbidden to borrow, sell, or simply let someone wear her veil. This taboo is caused not only by the fact that the veil is a ritual symbol, but also by the belief that terrible damage can be done to the veil. After the wedding, the veil is kept by the young wife.

But wedding signs about the bride’s bouquet appeared quite recently. This is due to the fact that in ancient times there were no such bouquets in Rus'. But there were flowers in wreaths. At the same time, folk wisdom here prohibits sticking individual flowers into the hairstyle itself - they should only be in a veil or in the form of a wreath. As for the bouquet, along with it came from Europe the tradition of throwing it into a crowd of unmarried girlfriends. Whichever one of them catches the bouquet will be the next one to get married. During the day, the bouquet should be held in your hands, and during the banquet it should be placed in a vase on the table in front of the bride. If it is made from natural flowers, then you can put it in water.

Also, the bride herself can benefit her friends and sisters without throwing a bouquet. It is believed that the girl to whom the bride gives a piece of cheese before leaving her parents' house will soon get married. And if the bride pulls the tablecloth on the dining table before going out, then her younger sisters will soon become married women.

People's observation did not spare the groom either. True, the main wedding signs for the bride and groom are very similar and differ only in small details. Of course, no one expects tears from the future head of the family, and his suit does not require such a reverent attitude, however, red ribbons sewn onto the jacket, pins or stitches made are also needed here to protect against the evil eye. And the groom’s boutonniere after the wedding is kept at home as carefully as the bride’s veil.

As for individual signs for the future husband, there are not very many of them. First of all, these are those associated with the ritual of throwing the garter. The groom removes the bride's garter from her leg or takes it from her and throws his unmarried friends into the crowd. The one who catches her will marry the beauty.

It is also important that the groom buys the wedding rings. At the same time, both he and the bride’s rings should be made of the same metal and absolutely smooth, without stones, engravings or curls. What kind of rings - such is the life of newlyweds. You should not make wedding rings from other jewelry, even if your parents' rings were used for this. Violation of this taboo promises someone else's fate.

You should also be very careful when exchanging rings. In ancient times, it was believed that if the ring was dropped on the floor at this moment, it would lead to the breakup of the family. If such a nuisance does happen, then the groom and groomsmen at the wedding should mitigate this omen: for this purpose, they specially prepare a white thread in advance, which is threaded through the fallen decoration. Thus, the thread takes away all the bad things and the ring can again be used in the ritual.

But the loss of a ring means separation for spouses. And here, unfortunately, it will not be possible to soften the omen in any way. Although the bride or relatives may not believe in such a superstition, if the wedding ring is lost, a spoiled mood is guaranteed. But even if the ritual exchange of rings was successful, the groom could not touch the empty box from under them or a special plate. They are brought and removed by both witnesses or just the best man.

Also, the groom's friend, before the groom brings the bride into his house, can place an unlocked lock under the threshold of the house. Once the newlyweds are inside, the lock is closed and the key is thrown away. This sign-rite symbolizes strong family happiness. The groom must carry the bride in his arms. In this way he protects her from damage.

The role of a witness at a wedding is important, and the signs associated with it are very categorical. First of all, a girl who meets strict criteria is selected for this “position”:

not a widow
at least one day younger than the bride,
not namesake.

Moreover, if the witness has already played this role somewhere, it means that she herself will have a happy marriage. Also, it is the bride’s friend who must pin a pin on the dress or hem the hem with thread. At the same time, she should not inject herself or inject the bride. If she injects herself, it promises her misfortune in her personal life.

Among other things, it is the groomsmen and groomsmen who shout “Sweet!” during the wedding banquet, when the guests shout “Bitter.” And since no one should cross the path of the bride and groom on their wedding day, it is the witnesses who go first everywhere before the newlyweds.

There are far more prohibitions than permissions associated with guests and relatives and friends invited to the wedding. So, guests should not be allowed into the newlyweds’ bedroom until they themselves find themselves in this situation. In some customs, guests accompany the bride and groom to the bedroom with songs, jokes and parting words, but even then they enter after the newlyweds. In many ways, this tradition protects the future husband and wife from theft of guests or much greater troubles.

Also, parents and witnesses should ensure that none of the guests, whose responsibilities include the right to dress the bride and groom, do not adjust their clothes. To make the wedding fun and with lots of gifts, it is customary to invite an odd number of guests. Guests should not give forks, spoons or knives. But if they do give them as a gift, then in exchange they should be given at least a coin. Traditional wedding omens prohibit guests from giving roses to the newlyweds. Especially red ones. Chrysanthemums, lilies, peonies and many others are considered wedding flowers.

Much of wedding superstition has to do with the weather and seasons. In different cultures, girls were married in different ways: in some places the spring months were considered the most suitable for this purpose, but most often such celebrations took place in August-October. Today, a wedding can be celebrated on any day of the year. Therefore, some of the signs are related to weather conditions.

Thus, rain on a wedding day is a sign that promises happiness and wealth. The heavier and longer the rain, the better. However, even a simple rain is better than a cloudless sky. But you shouldn’t have any complexes about the beautiful weather on your wedding day.

And since in Rus' winter was also considered one of the most suitable wedding seasons, snow is also a good symbol, meaning prosperity and well-being. In general, a special wedding in winter has special signs. If the wedding takes place on the day of Maslenitsa, it means that prosperity and a cheerful life in the house will go hand in hand.

February is considered the best winter month for a wedding. Marriage at this time is a life in perfect harmony for the future husband and wife. A wedding in December is also good. Here beliefs promise an eternal feeling of love between spouses. But a January wedding promises quick widowhood.

The influence of the wedding ritual is so enormous that celebrating a wedding is a very common sign. But it is complex in that it has several different and contradictory meanings. So, it is believed that this is also a sign of an imminent wedding in the family, as well as an addition to the family, sometimes even the birth of twins. But at the same time, the day on which such a meeting took place is not very good for business and, in general, is considered not profitable.

Of course, these are not all the well-known signs and superstitions for a wedding. However, this important event for every person is so dependent on rituals and beliefs that even people who are far from understanding their meanings unwittingly observe them.

Whether to believe in the power of folk wisdom or not is up to the newlyweds to decide. In any case, no matter how ideal the wedding is, without mutual understanding, respect and trust between spouses, there will be no prosperous family life.

How to organize a wedding in Russian style

A folk wedding is usually organized outdoors; you can arrange to rent an old mansion or a wooden mansion, stylized as antique. One of the forest tourist centers with cozy houses will also be a wonderful place. There are more opportunities for entertainment, and there is a comfortable place to relax and spend the night.

It is best to choose periods of clear, not too windy weather so that being outdoors is enjoyable. In winter it can be a slight frost under clear skies. The main thing is that there is no mud and it doesn’t rain from the sky. Therefore, the period of melting snow and the mud and rain that accompanies mid-autumn are not very suitable for walking on the street; in this case, you will have to limit yourself to renting a suitable room and refuse to ride on a sleigh or in an open stroller.

Having chosen the venue, you should think over the scenario of the holiday and its style. Even within the same region, newlyweds' clothes and festive decorations varied, so the choice is quite wide, and there are a great many ideas that can be implemented. You can choose something stylized and average. The main thing is not the presence of painted dishes and outfits, especially since we have lost many of the meanings of carved and colorful images, embroidery and details of the clothes of women and men of ancient tribes. The main thing at a wedding in the Russian style is a spiritual mood, a benevolent attitude and sincere joy with wishes of happiness for the newlyweds.

Design features

For musical accompaniment, you can negotiate with folk groups or individual performers, not necessarily professional ones. They will suggest a repertoire, including for joint drinking songs, and will not let the guests get bored. And the dance group of Russian folk songs and dances performs so fieryly that it is impossible to sit still - your legs are asking to start dancing!

Decorations in the Russian style involve a large number of embroidered fabrics: shirts, towels, napkins, curtains and dresses. If possible, such accessories can be ordered from specialized studios, or purchased in craft stores. In summer, flowers and climbing plants are used abundantly, and in winter - coniferous branches and red berries of rowan and viburnum. A wonderful touch emphasizing the Russian flavor will be painted wooden dishes and spoons, trays in the style of Gzhel, Khokhloma and other famous paintings. And, of course, what would a wedding in Russian folk style be without a samovar and aromatic tea with fragrant herbs and bagels? You can also add crushed sugar for a bite.

Matchmaking. Reconnaissance in force

According to tradition, matchmakers and parents agreed on the wedding of the newlyweds. Before matchmaking, preliminary “torture” was often carried out - they found out whether the chosen one was ready to get married. The matchmakers conducted their conversation allegorically: “Here, they say, you have a sheep. And here we have a merchant,” “Your little body has gotten lost here!” or “Our hunters walked around and spotted a fox. The fox ran into your yard.” The groom had to be shown from the best side - if not a prince on a white horse, then certainly a good owner and family man.

To avoid being rejected on the first “date,” in the Leningrad region, upon entering a hut, they tried to “fill up the sticks” (pokers or grips), and according to Cossack tradition, the groom’s mother hid a broom under her jacket. The guests brought a cake for the bride's parents. If the “torture” was unsuccessful, the pie was returned. In the Belgorod region, after a refusal, guests could be given a “garbuz” (pumpkin) - but only if the groom was categorically not satisfied. To annoy the bride, the rejected matchmakers tried to “close the door with their backs” when leaving. It was believed that after this no one would woo the picky girl.

Konstantin Trutovsky. They get the bride drunk. 19th century

Nikolay Pymonenko. Matchmakers. 1882

Nikolay Pimomenko. They got me in marriage. 1896

If the “torture” was successful, the bride’s mother divided the matchmaker’s pie into two or four parts, and the future wife, as a sign of her consent, gave the groom a scarf, blanket or sheet. Parents could immediately agree on official matchmaking - this ritual was called differently in each region. At the meeting (or magarych, singing, profit, drinking bouts) they sang funny drinking songs. Traditional dishes were served on the table: pies, jellied meat and okroshka. The groom's relatives brought lard, rye bread and strong alcohol with them.

Wedding song “Drunkard Drunkard” performed by A.I. Kurskaya and M.I. Dolzhenko from the village of Kupino, Shebekinsky district, Belgorod region

After the final agreement, the bride could no longer refuse the groom; it was considered an insult. The period of preparing gifts for future relatives began. Usually the bride sewed or knitted some clothes for the groom: a scarf and gloves, underwear, or even the entire wedding suit. A “chest”—a dowry—was also prepared for the celebration. Towels, dresses and bed linen were sewn and decorated with embroidery by the bride herself and her close relatives.

Wedding Invitation Style

For an old Russian wedding, the invitation should be special in order to immediately put the guests in the right mood. You should be warned in advance about the need to find or order clothes in the national style. The most popular types of wedding invitation designs:

postcards with ornaments in folk style;
pre-reform writing of letters and words;
With the invitation you can send miniature figurines of bears with balalaikas, swans, and nesting dolls.

If the invitations are delivered to the address by a couple who seem to have stepped out of the pages of Russian history textbooks, it will be a wonderful surprise for the invitees.

Russian wedding tradition

Those traditions that are present in a modern Russian wedding are similar to the traditions of past centuries, as they were passed on from generation to generation. As a rule, the bride and groom get to know each other themselves and make a decision about marriage, having notified all their friends, relatives and acquaintances in advance. After the newlyweds submit their application for marriage registration to the registry office, serious preparations take place, both on the part of the bride and the groom, for the holiday. After all, during this time you need to have time to choose a venue, create a menu, and buy wedding dresses.

Feast for the whole world

Russian weddings have always been distinguished by their cordiality and scope. If a guest left hungry, it was considered a shame, so the tables were traditionally laden with a wide variety of dishes. Western trends, when the number of sandwiches or pieces of pie are strictly calculated according to the number of guests and not a crumb more, are absolutely unacceptable in this case. Of course, many traditionally Russian dishes are simply impossible to find now - either the recipes are lost or the products are unavailable, but you can try to get as close as possible to the traditions of the wedding feast of those times.

The bride and groom sat at the head of the table. In front of them stood a freshly baked white loaf with figures of swans, domestic animals, and doves. Stars, the sun, ripe ears of corn and viburnum leaves were also depicted. My mother-in-law usually baked it.
A head of cheese was placed next to the loaf, symbolizing the fullness of life. Bread and cheese were cut and distributed to all guests.
The first dish was roasted swan or any poultry.
At least two chicken pies were required - multi-layer pies with chicken, because wheat meant fertility, and a chicken or rooster symbolized heaven and blessed the birth of many children.
The basis of the table was a variety of pastries, used instead of bread and served until the very end of the feast: fish pies, meat and offal pies, pancakes with meat filling and caviar, pies with vegetables and mushrooms.
Traditionally, baked goose with apples and a wide variety of meat dishes were served, including meatloaf, roasted and spit-roasted veal, pork and whole roasted pigs.
You could wash it down with fruit drinks, jelly, and tea.
Fish and meat broths, crumbly buckwheat and wheat porridges were served.
Intoxicating drinks were limited to homemade wine, honey, beer, and home brew. They were displayed in abundance, however, they should only be sipped with each toast, and not drunk the entire cup to the last drop. People who were intemperate in drinking and who caused brawls at weddings were condemned.
Fruits and berries, a variety of sweet pies with fillings of honey, cottage cheese, nuts, berries, apples, sweet pastries with poppy seeds, various jams, buns and rolls were exhibited.
The table was decorated with miniature bouquets in small vases.

You can take as a basis several traditional meat and fish dishes, pies, and add familiar dishes that have long been considered a symbol of Russia:

Iwasi herring with onion rings, boiled potatoes sprinkled with dill, and black bread;
sauerkraut with cranberries, salted crispy cucumbers, salted and pickled mushrooms;
dumplings and dumplings with a variety of fillings;
black and red caviar;
aspic;
gingerbread and buns, bagels.

It is better to refuse purchased drinks and serve homemade compotes and berry fruit drinks. The usual wedding cake can be replaced with traditional sweet loaves in the amount of two pieces. One is decorated with flowers and baked by the bride, and the second is decorated with figures of people from the groom’s family. If you can’t do without a cake, then it is advisable to decorate it in the Russian style: in the shape of a tower, a forest clearing with birch trees and strawberries, a hill with a lake and two swans on it. It should be decorated with images of the sun and stars, horses, roosters, ears of corn, rowan berries and viburnum leaves. On the second day of the celebrations, they usually serve royal triple fish soup, rich broths and mushroom soups.

Wedding feast. Dancing during breaks

On the wedding day, the bride was treated to a special ceremony - midwifery. The girl was combed and her headdress was changed to a new one - a married one. The matchmaker covered her from the evil eye with a veil, braided two braids “in a woman’s style” and styled them in a bun or “horns”. And on top of the hairstyle they put on a headdress, denoting a new social status. It was a cap or pochapushnik, a magpie or a kukoshnik - depending on the region.

Wedding a bride at a wedding in the village of Bolshebykovo, Krasnogvardeisky district, Belgorod region

Dressing the bride in a women's suit on the second day of the wedding in the village of Belitsa, Belovsky district, Kursk region

Chicken noodles, jellied meat, pies, jelly, uzvars (compotes) and porridge were served on the table on the wedding day. Special dishes also appeared at the festive dinner - “shishechki” (small buns) and pork ham, which was cooked for a whole day before the wedding. The wedding loaf was cut right there and a piece was distributed to everyone. The bride and groom, fearing the evil eye, sometimes ate in a separate room.

Not a single traditional Russian wedding took place without music and dancing. In the Pskov region, wedding marches were played at the celebration - on violins and cymbals.

“Allotment March” - a wedding tune on violin and cymbals performed by Ya.P. Petrova (violin), V.A. Borisov (dulcimer) from the village of Bondari, Sebezhsky district, Pskov region

In the Moscow region, “walkers” danced to festive songs. This dance was usually learned right at the wedding.

Walking song “Spring Straw” performed by a folk ensemble from the village of Subbotino, Pavlovo-Posad district, Moscow region

The first wedding night was also accompanied by rituals. A jug with viburnum was placed on the table, which symbolized the innocence of the young wife. In the Voronezh region, the marriage bed of the newlyweds was “warmed” by another couple - friends or relatives who were happily married.

A story about the wedding night of a group of performers from the village of Lipovka, Shumyachsky district, Smolensk region

Summer wedding ideas

In the warm season, the entire celebration can be held outdoors. It is enough to set up several tents so that guests have a place to rest, and a canopy from occasional rain. To do this, you can use either the plot of a private house or rent space at a tourist center or next to a hotel located in a picturesque corner of nature. It’s better to sign at the registry office the day before so that you don’t have to go to the city just to fill out the documents. How can you diversify the holiday?

Hire carriages or phaetons drawn by Oryol trotters.
Engage all present guests in a round dance.
Organize competitions for tug of war, the best male and female dance, blind man's buff and lapta.
Girls can weave wreaths and give them to boys.
If the weather is hot, no one will refuse water procedures in the nearest body of water, you can organize competitions in diving or quickly getting a “drowning” girl out of the water.
Folk songs under a night sky full of stars - what could be more romantic?
You can offer guests a colorful night show - a Russian girl's dance in outfits illuminated by fluorescent lamps. It looks and sounds simply amazing.

In summer there are many opportunities to organize an unforgettable holiday.

Winter Russian fairy tale

Winter is a traditional Russian season, Napoleon recognized this. You don’t even need to invent anything for the folk festival; winter fun has long been perfected by generations:

skiing, sledding, skating on slides, on ice or in the winter forest;
competitions for sculpting snowmen, carving ice sculptures, drawing artistic figures on a blank sheet of snow;
construction and assault of an ice fortress and snow battles;
riding in troikas with bells, dog and reindeer sleds.

A memorable Russian wedding requires space. The best solution would be to rent the territory of a forest boarding house, a nature reserve or a tourist base, stylized as antique. Outdoor games and dancing on a snow-covered meadow will keep you from freezing; you can offer guests to warm up with hot tea with bagels or dry bread during the break. It is necessary to provide warm rooms for feasting and relaxation, because there can be quite a noticeable frost outside. A real, hot Russian stove creates a special comfort.

How to design a celebration place

It doesn’t matter where the solemn celebration will take place: outdoors or indoors, it must be decorated. It is advisable to maintain a uniform color both in design and in outfits and furnishings.

The room where the banquet will be held or the area in the lap of nature is decorated with daisies, poppies, cornflowers, bindweed, ripe ears of corn, coniferous branches and branches of birch, willow, and ripe red berries, depending on the season. You should not overuse large garden flowers - they do not fit well into the overall color scheme. Bouquets, wreaths and garlands can be tied with bright satin ribbons.
Paintings with Russian landscapes are hung in the banquet hall.
Tables and benches should be wooden, antique. And the young people are usually seated on throne-chairs with high carved backs, since they are the king and queen at this holiday.
All fabrics: tablecloths, napkins, towels, curtains should be decorated in folk style. The main color is white, and the embroidery can be colored.
The utensils used are wooden and painted, as are spoons. As a last resort, you can use Gzhel porcelain - although it is an invention of a later time, its design fits well into folk traditions. Clay jugs and wide bowls, painted metal trays are welcome. The king of the table is the samovar. If you can find a real one, wood-burning, it will be great. It is better to replace the usual stacks and glasses with antique-style metal cups.
The main colors of the design are white and red with splashes of blue, gold and black.

Swans were the symbol of newlyweds in Rus'. You can decorate tables and walls with figurines and images of two swans intertwining their necks; bright matryoshka dolls and horseshoes with bells above the entrance look great.

Traditions and features of folk weddings

A folk style wedding is traditionally divided into several important stages.

Matchmaking

Usually occurs on the first day of the wedding and replaces the usual ransom. In the house of the bride’s parents, the groom’s representatives, with jokes and jokes, do their best to praise the “merchant” who has his eye on the exclusive “product”. The action is diluted with comic tasks for dexterity, courage, strength, the applicant’s abilities and the bride’s skill in housekeeping are tested.

Collusion

This stage takes place long before the wedding, although from time immemorial it was carried out precisely after a successful matchmaking - otherwise there would be nothing to talk about. On it, representatives of both parties discuss all the details of the upcoming celebrations, calculate the budget and distribute responsibilities.

Youth gatherings

The day before the wedding, the bride says goodbye to girlhood and takes a steam bath with her girlfriends. At night, it is customary to conduct fortune telling for future family life. It was customary to feel sad, even cry - it was believed that this promised a happy marriage.

The groom steams alone and is forbidden to communicate with anyone until the morning of the wedding. Nowadays this tradition is observed extremely rarely; usually the newlywed visits the bathhouse in the company of friends or relatives.

Hen-party. "Goodbye youth!"

A few days before the wedding, we had a bachelorette party. In Rus', on this day they said goodbye to youth and parental care. The bride gathered her friends, the girls sang traditional songs:

Oh, there are little ropes at the gate, so Manechka’s friends have gathered. As they walked, the red girls passed like a mountain and called out to Maryushka with them: “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s get Maryushka in a row with us, Let’s play in harmony with us, Ivanovna.” - Go away, beautiful girls, don’t wait, Oh, I caught myself a strong swarm, Oh, a strong swarm - young Ivanechka.

Sad “lamentations” were performed by those who were saddened by the move to their husband’s family:

Wedding lamentation of the bride “Darlings, dear girlfriends” performed by P.A. Revunova from the village of Tebleshi, Bezhetsky district, Tver region

We sang at the bachelorette party and “gratitude” to our parents:

You are a red sun, Annushka Timofeevna, And take care of me, red mother sun. Thank you for the colorful dress, thank you for the bread and the salt.

Bride and groom's robes

The traditional color of the newlyweds was deep red. It was with this that the festive sundresses and shirts of the newlyweds were painted. Now the color can be different: red, white with colored embroidery, light blue or dark blue. Girls wore kokoshniks for weddings, which were removed only at the wedding. Hairstyle: braid with ribbons and flowers. The bride's clothing is a white undershirt and sundress. You can wear red boots or shoes on your feet. Flowers are the simplest, wildflowers or berries, tied with ribbon or twine.

Usually, the groom chooses a loose-fitting shirt, white with embroidery or red. Black harem trousers must be wrapped with an embroidered sash, and boots should be lacquered, black.

Stylistics, symbolism and attributes

In order for the wedding day to go according to tradition, the following attributes must be present::

Rushnik . This is an embroidered piece of fabric in the shape of a long towel. It was the protection of the family and clan, it was passed on from one generation to another. The towel was used to present a loaf or other treat. It was forbidden to step on the towel, as the family would lose the protection of the spirits and doom itself and its descendants to misfortune.
Homespun towel . It was used to bind the hands of young people during betrothal. Afterwards, the towel was given as a dowry to the bride.
Loaf . Sweet bread beautifully decorated with curls, flowers, braids. The richer the loaf, the happier and more prosperous the life of the young people was. With the help of the loaf, a ritual of honor to Mother Earth and Father Sky was performed.
Rings . With their shape they symbolized the sun, which was held in high esteem by the Slavs, then still pagans. The circle is a symbol of harmony, unity and fidelity.
Wreath of flowers . It was worn by both the bride and groom. A wreath is a symbol of love and sun rays hidden in herbs and flowers.
Wedding party . An embroidered amulet signifying both the creative and destructive principles of the sun. It means the interweaving of two families and serves as a talisman for a new family. The wedding dress was given by the parents after the wedding ceremony.

How to dress for guests

Guests also dress according to the spirit of the celebration. For women, it is best to wear national-style sundresses or antique-style dresses. The same goes for men: formal black suits will look at least ridiculous at this celebration of life.

During the winter season, the newlyweds and all invitees must take into account prolonged exposure to the street. Therefore, you need warm fur boots, high fur boots or felt boots, insulated pants, fur coats and short fur coats made of natural fur, astrakhan fur or drape, with fur cuffs. It is also recommended to wear old-style fur hats on your head.

Wedding train

The best solution for this wedding would be horse-drawn carriages. All teams are decorated with ribbons, flowers, garlands, and bells. The cavities are lined with warm fur in winter.

If there are no carts, you will have to limit yourself to cars decorated with wreaths and ribbons in the Russian style.

A wedding in the Russian style will become an exciting, mind-blowing adventure if you take the trouble to carefully study the traditions of the Russian people. If you can’t prepare everything yourself, you can turn to professional consultants. It is important to remember: a folk wedding celebrates the birth of a new family, and therefore the newlyweds are the central figures at this holiday.