A wedding in Rus' was a significant event in the life of a young family. Since the 9th century, Christianity appeared in Rus', which brought with it new traditions. They gradually intertwined with pagan traditions and completely new rituals appeared. The result of the analysis of the chronicles suggests that the Slavs did not have common traditions. Each tribe performed all the rituals in its own way.
For the Slavs, wedding ceremonies were a very big event and were carried out with special care, since it was first and foremost a ritual or sacrament. The essence of this ritual was to protect the young from damage and the evil eye. The most important ritual was considered to be the bride ransom. The Slavs called it “Veno”. Its main essence was that the girl was transferred to someone else’s family, that is, she left her home and the protection of her ancestors. Therefore, such celebrations were accompanied by sad songs and tears.
In general, the word ransom implies payment for something. In the case of the bride, this means that the groom takes the daughter from the parents, so he must pay them. In general, among the Slavs, ransom played the role of a ritual, in contrast to the Muslim dowry, which implied a material offering.
Bride ransom in folk style
Previously, in order for a man to marry his beloved, he had to buy her from his parents. This tradition has been preserved to this day, only now the ransom is accepted by friends and close people of the bride. They come up with funny competitions for the groom and friends, with the help of which the contender for the girl’s heart proves his love. Nowadays it is fashionable to organize themed events, which include bride price in folk style. How to make such a ransom?
Examples from weddings (photos)
Below in the photographs you will see how buybacks usually take place (both traditional and unusual options):
Preparation
For the ransom to be successful, prepare thoroughly for it. Make sure to purchase suitable props for the celebration. Decorate the room according to Russian folk traditions. The bridesmaids must assign roles among themselves and learn the words from the script. Organize video and photography so that after the wedding you can remember the fun moments of the event.
Details for redemption
To organize the ransom you will need the following items:
- Darts.
- Toy sword.
- A poster with childhood photos of all the bridesmaids, among which should be a photo of the bride.
- Glass of water.
Characters
The bridesmaids, witnesses, and the groom and his friends take part in the ransom. At least three girls must be involved in the production. If there are more bridesmaids, divide the words accordingly. Participants in the ransom dress in accordance with the folk style: men wear trousers and shirts, girls wear flared skirts and corsets. Distribute roles among yourself, learn the words and start the show!
Room decoration
The ransom event takes place at the entrance of the house where the bride lives. On the way to the apartment, the groom must complete tasks and wishes. The entrance should be decorated according to the Russian style. A good decorative option is an artificial cobweb hung around, pots on poles placed on staircase landings. The poster must be aged using scissors and a lighter. Decorate the entrance with twigs, towels, and wildflowers. You can also hang a poster with the inscription “Hello, good fellow!”
Bride ransom script in Russian folk style
To make it interesting and original, the ransom needs to be diversified with fun competitions. It is necessary to assign roles in advance and learn the words. Then the event will take place without force majeure.
The ransom begins with the arrival of the girl's future husband. It is advisable that the groom arrive on horseback. The friends are in a cart that will be pulled by a horse. Traditional Russian costumes on men will create the right atmosphere. As soon as the cart arrives at the entrance, the action begins:
– Dear guests, gentlemen, what have you forgotten in our region?
- We've come for the bride!
– We have one girl, a real beauty. A white-faced girl, slender, beautiful, young. You can't take your eyes off her! But in order to get such a treasure, you must prove to us, well done, that you are really her betrothed. To do this, you will complete our tasks!
The groom agrees and the girls collect the first payment from him. To do this you will need a glass half filled with water:
“We won’t just give up the girl.” We wish you to show us your heroic generosity with the help of a special ritual. To do this, throw here (gives a glass) so many gold coins so that the water begins to flow over the edge.
The tradition of wedding ransom in Rus'
This interesting custom has come down to us from ancient times. Slavic youths tried to choose a bride from another tribe. At first, we simply had to win back the girl . Later, the violent path was replaced by peaceful negotiations and exchange for valuable things, for example, furs, precious stones.
"Wedding ransom" by Konstantin Trutovsky (1881)
In Rus', ransom was a test for the future husband, a test of his ingenuity, dexterity and generosity. The ritual itself began from the moment the groom arrived at the bride’s house. The native girls created various obstacles: they could block the road with a huge log that needed to be sawed.
There were often fist fights that took place between relatives of the newlyweds. In addition to strength, the groom had to show intelligence and resourcefulness : he guessed riddles, sang, danced. All tests were designed to ensure that the betrothed revealed his positive qualities.
The groom always showed generosity : he treated the bride’s relatives and village children with sweets, and brought gifts to the girl herself.
Peculiarities
Before organizing a wedding in the Russian style, it would be useful to study Old Russian traditions. Some rituals have now been forgotten, but nothing prevents them from being revived, at least as part of their own celebration in the Russian folk style, thereby allowing guests to plunge into the history of their people.
Holding a Russian wedding, even in a stylized version, presupposes compliance with the basic canons of the ancient Russian celebration. The celebration in the Old Slavonic style should begin and end with a parental blessing. There are no strong alcoholic drinks on the festive menu; the use of obscene language and dancing until you drop are not allowed during the celebration. Essential attributes of a Russian wedding:
- a riot of bright colors;
- matchmaking;
- bride price;
- refraction of a loaf;
- merry festivities;
- round dances;
- comic competitions;
- playing the accordion;
- generous table;
- gifts for guests.
The place for the wedding ceremony can be:
- restaurant hall, stylized in Russian style;
- real log house;
- an open area next to a forest or lake (typical for a wedding in a noble style).
Time spending
The choice of venue for the event directly depends on the time of year. In summer, for a wedding ceremony, you can prefer open spaces next to a pine forest or birch grove, near a beautiful pond. Nature will become an organic backdrop for a wedding in the Russian style and will provide an invisible connection between generations. By the way, the nearby wheat field will be an ideal place for a photo zone. What could be more Russian than endless fields?
If there will be a lot of guests at the event, you can rent houses at the camp site. Then the holiday can last several days. The first day is an official event according to the script, which will take place in the banquet hall, and the second is an informal holiday day, where swimming in the lake, a bathhouse, barbecue, songs with a guitar and other delights of a summer holiday are allowed. If you want a chic Russian wedding, it is recommended to choose a country wooden estate with a large park area for the celebration.
Tips for organizers
The success of the event will largely depend on the preparation, and therefore on the bridesmaids organizing the ransom. What is important for them to take into account when deciding on the action scenario?
- The venue should be considered taking into account the aesthetic properties of the room. An old entrance with numerous inscriptions on the walls will not be the best option. An alternative could be ransom on the street.
- There is no need to stretch out the ransom over time. 20-30 minutes will be more than enough.
- Options for scenarios can be found on the Internet, but it will be more interesting to adapt them to suit your couple.
- There is no need to get sophisticated in competitions and torment the groom. It is not advisable to offer tasks related to serious physical activity, drinking alcohol, or trying low-edible foods.
- The ransom should not turn into an outright money grab.
- The personal qualities of the groom should also be taken into account. A shy person should not be offered tasks of an ambiguous nature.
- It is necessary to think over alternative options for competitions and be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
Images of the bride and groom
A Russian wedding will not be quite the same if the invited guests are not dressed in ancient costumes. Opponents of such themed celebrations may only use an element of traditional attire. For example, girls can decorate their heads with a wreath of wildflowers, braid their hair with a scarlet satin ribbon, tie a beautiful scarf, and wear red shoes. The male half of the guests can wear a red tie or insert a scarf with a traditional Russian pattern into their buttonhole. To make it easier for guests to prepare for a Russian-style wedding, the bride and groom can rent all the necessary accessories themselves.
It is ideal if the bride’s outfit meets all the canons of such a wedding: a red dress, kokoshnik, blouse with embroidery. Modern girls can replace this outfit with a simple white robe, decorated with elements of folk style: embroidery on the corset, scarf, belt. For your hairstyle, it is better to choose a traditional braid or braided hairstyle. The longer the hair, the more beautiful the hairstyle will be. You can decorate your braids with fresh flowers or wreaths made from them, or scarlet satin ribbons.
Bright shadows and arrows are not suitable for the image of a Russian girl. To create the “right” face, you need deep red lipstick, blush, dark eyebrows (sable), long and voluminous eyelashes. Recommended shoes for creating a folk wedding look are red flats. Today you can move away from this trend a little and buy not only shoes, but also high-heeled boots. As an alternative, you can use white shoes.
The basis of the bride's bouquet can be daisies, ranunculus, cornflowers, stockrose or other meadow plants. To give it a “national feel,” you can add a viburnum branch, an apple tree, or ears of wheat to the composition. Bouquets made entirely of lilies, phalaenopsis or roses would be inappropriate at a traditional Russian wedding.
The groom's outfit consists of single-color trousers (stripes in the vertical direction are allowed) and a linen shirt embroidered with traditional patterns. You can put a vest on top, tie it with a belt, and put on soft boots that are quite high on your feet. The groom's head can be decorated with a cap with a small flower arrangement on one side.
Bride ransom in folk style
Previously, in order for a man to marry his beloved, he had to buy her from his parents. This tradition has been preserved to this day, only now the ransom is accepted by friends and close people of the bride. They come up with funny competitions for the groom and friends, with the help of which the contender for the girl’s heart proves his love. Nowadays it is fashionable to organize themed events, which include bride price in folk style. How to make such a ransom?
Where to spend it?
Traditionally, the ceremony was held in the bride's house. Now many continue to follow this custom, meeting the groom on the threshold of the newlywed's house. However, this is not the only place where a ransom can be arranged.
When deciding on the location of the event, do not forget about its festive decor. You can use ribbons, balloons, fresh or artificial flowers, photographs of the newlyweds.
Where can you conduct a ransom other than at home?
- In the fresh air . The picturesque corner of the park will allow you to organize the action itself in an interesting way and take beautiful photographs. The bride can be hidden in a cute gazebo.
- On the territory of a country house . The house does not have to belong to the bride; you can simply rent it or ask friends to provide a house for a while.
- In a spacious hotel room . Often, young people book a room for a photo shoot, including for getting ready for the bride before the wedding. The ransom can also be carried out there. You just need to check with the administration whether they will be against such an event.
- In the mall . Original girlfriends can make a ransom in the form of a quest for the groom, forcing him to walk through different departments in search of his betrothed.
Important! When choosing a place for a ransom, consider its location. It should be as close as possible to the bride's gathering place.
Preparation
For the ransom to be successful, prepare thoroughly for it. Make sure to purchase suitable props for the celebration. Decorate the room according to Russian folk traditions. The bridesmaids must assign roles among themselves and learn the words from the script. Organize video and photography so that after the wedding you can remember the fun moments of the event.
Details for redemption
To organize the ransom you will need the following items:
- Darts.
- Toy sword.
- A poster with childhood photos of all the bridesmaids, among which should be a photo of the bride.
- Glass of water.
How to prepare for the groom?
To prevent the ransom from turning into a real torment for the groom, he needs to think through some points in advance .
- Check with your girlfriends whether you will need any specific items for the sale.
- Stock up on sweets, chocolate, champagne, fruit.
- Carry cash with you. It can be bills, coins, antique or even fake money.
- Prepare informatively: remember important dates together, names of relatives, clothing sizes, lover’s shoes, etc.
- You can prepare tips with affectionate names and characteristics of your beloved.
- Find out the exact time when he should arrive for ransom and its approximate duration.
- Bring with you creative and resourceful friends who will not get confused in any competition.
Bride ransom script in Russian folk style
To make it interesting and original, the ransom needs to be diversified with fun competitions. It is necessary to assign roles in advance and learn the words. Then the event will take place without force majeure.
The ransom begins with the arrival of the girl's future husband. It is advisable that the groom arrive on horseback. The friends are in a cart that will be pulled by a horse. Traditional Russian costumes on men will create the right atmosphere. As soon as the cart arrives at the entrance, the action begins:
– Dear guests, gentlemen, what have you forgotten in our region?
- We've come for the bride!
– We have one girl, a real beauty. A white-faced girl, slender, beautiful, young. You can't take your eyes off her! But in order to get such a treasure, you must prove to us, well done, that you are really her betrothed. To do this, you will complete our tasks!
The groom agrees and the girls collect the first payment from him. To do this you will need a glass half filled with water:
“We won’t just give up the girl.” We wish you to show us your heroic generosity with the help of a special ritual. To do this, throw here (gives a glass) so many gold coins so that the water begins to flow over the edge.
After the groom completes the task, the procession enters the entrance. At the entrance there is a poster with childhood photos of the bridesmaids and the bride herself.
– I see that you’re a generous fellow, but are you savvy? Now let's test your resourcefulness! Here’s “The Enchanted Mirror” (they hand the groom a poster with a photo). Well, guess where your (bride's name) is?
For every mistake there is a fine, which is set by the girls themselves. With subsequent errors, the fine increases. After completing this task, move on to the next one:
- Well done, our savvy guy, he finally guessed our riddle. But is he dexterous? We find out this with the help of fiery spears, which must be used to hit the target (gives the groom darts). Can you do it?
A man must hit the target. For every mistake you have to pay.
“You showed us the dexterity, generosity and savvy of a hero.” And now the opportunity has arisen to show you my heroic strength. Zmey-Gorynych locked our girl in the room, and left the key with himself. To get to him, you need to kill the villain. Do you have a sacred sword?
The groom answers in the negative, so the girls sell him a toy sword. Next, the “well done” is led up the stairs to a structure made of basins, rags, bowls, under which the key to the apartment should lie. The guy destroys the structure with his sword and takes out the key. After this, the groom is allowed to unlock the door.
- Well done, not just a simple guy, but a daring craftsman! You passed all the tests, you found the red maiden. Now feel free to take her to the registry office!
