Very little is known about the weddings of pagan Russia. According to the Russian historian N.M. Karamzin, the ancient Slavs usually bought wives for themselves and did not know the wedding ceremony as such. The bride was only required to prove her virginal purity.

The status of a wife was equated with the status of a slave: she was entrusted with all the household chores and raising children. At the same time, the woman could neither complain about her husband nor contradict him, expressing complete humility and obedience. After the death of her husband, the Slav woman usually burned herself at the stake along with his corpse. The living widow dishonored the whole family.

The chronicler Nestor left evidence that the manners and customs of the ancient Slavs varied from tribe to tribe. So, the meadows were distinguished by a meek and quiet disposition, they respected the sacred bonds of marriage, which they considered a sacred duty between spouses. Peace and chastity reigned in the Polyan families. On the contrary, Radimichi, Vyatichi, northerners and especially the Drevlyans had a wild disposition, cruelty and unbridled passions. They did not know marriages based on the mutual consent of parents and spouses. The Drevlyans simply took away or kidnapped the girls they liked. Among the Radimichi, Vyatichi and Northerners, instead of weddings, there were "games between the villages" ("games between the fields"), during which men chose brides for themselves and began to live with them without any rituals. Among other things, polygamy was widespread among the ancient Slavs.
Over time, the ritual life of the pagan Slavs became more complicated, overgrown with numerous beliefs and rituals around which their everyday life was built.

The pantheon of Slavic gods was constantly expanding, including more and more original and borrowed deities.
The god of fun, love, harmony and all prosperity - Lado (Lada) enjoyed special respect among young people.

During the games and dances near the water, dedicated to this deity, the kidnapping of brides was common, which, as a rule, took place by prior agreement. The newlyweds brought sacrificial gifts to the god of love.
In addition to the voluntary kidnapping of brides, among the Slavs of the period of decomposition of the primitive communal system, such marriage ceremonies appeared as splashing water, driving around an oak tree, buying wives, etc.

Until the very beginning of our century, two sharply different parts were clearly traced in the Russian wedding rite: the church rite of "wedding" and the wedding itself, "fun" - a family ritual rooted in the distant past. The hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in their messages both in the 16th century and in the first half of the 17th century. they continued to condemn all elements of the folk wedding ceremony as “magic”, which had nothing to do with the Christian religion, but, apparently, not only did not forbid, but even ordered the priests to take close part in the non-church part of the ceremony.

The highest church hierarchs themselves occupied important places in the wedding train and at the banquet table. Even in the church, along with the rites prescribed by the rules of Orthodox worship, actions were performed in the presence of clerics that were not provided for by these rules. For example, the newlywed drank wine from a glass, which he then broke and trampled on the fragments.

In the church, after the Orthodox ceremony, when the hands of the newlyweds were already joined over the altar, the bride fell at the groom's feet, touching his head to his shoes, and he covered her with a hollow caftan. The bride and groom left the church separately - each to his parents. Here they were showered with life, and the celebration, as it were, began anew: the bride feasted with her relatives, and the groom with his.

In the evening, the bride was brought to the groom's father's house, but even there she did not take off the covers and did not talk to the groom during the entire wedding feast, which lasted three days. Only after three days did the young couple leave for their own home, where they gave a common final feast.

In the rites of the Russian wedding, actions associated with pagan beliefs and the Christian religion were intricately intertwined. These include, for example, many actions that protect wedding participants from hostile forces. These actions should contribute to the well-being of the spouses, childbearing, increasing prosperity in the economy, and the offspring of livestock. Wanting to save the bride from the evil eye, they wrapped her in a fishing net, stuck needles without ears into her clothes so that the evil spirits would get entangled in the nets and run into the needles. In order to deceive the dark forces during the matchmaking, they changed the path, drove by roundabout roads, replaced the bride, etc. From spoilage and evil spirits, they were saved with the help of refraining from pronouncing words and from eating. There were ceremonies that provided young people with many children and wealth. These included shedding the young with grain or hops, planting them on a fur coat weathered up with fur. To strengthen the connection between the young people, they mixed wine from glasses of the young, shared food and drink, stretched threads from the bride's house to the groom's house, tied the hands of the bride and groom with a handkerchief.

The wedding ceremony took shape as a detailed dramatized action, including songs, laments, sentences and sayings, conspiracies, games and dances. In the form of lamentations, the bride said goodbye to her home, her girlish headdress and girlish braid. As in any dramatic work, the wedding ceremony had its own constant composition of characters - "ranks" who played the roles determined by tradition. The central figures were the bride and groom. The bride had to express her gratitude to her parents for the fact that they "drank her and nurtured her." And from the moment of the matchmaking to the departure for the church, the bride bitterly mourned her maiden life. The active participants in the wedding were the parents of the bride and groom, the closest relatives, God-parents, as well as matchmakers, thousand, brother of the bride, boyfriend, bridesmaids, etc.

Druzhka (druzhko) - the representative of the groom - the main arbiter at the wedding, made sure that the custom was observed as the community understood it. He had to be able to joke and amuse the wedding participants. A friend was chosen to help a friend, a senior boyar to help a thousandth. In the South Russian rite, loaf women were appointed to prepare the ritual loaf. Each character of the wedding was distinguished by its clothing or some additional ritual element of it. Usually these were towels, ribbons, scarves, wreaths.

The bride, in the days preceding the wedding and on the days of the wedding itself, changed clothes and headdress several times, which meant changes in her condition: collusion, i.e. betrothed, young princess - before the wedding, young after the wedding and wedding night. The groom was also called the young prince, and then simply young. He did not change clothes, but had his own symbols - a flower or a bouquet on a headdress or on his chest, a scarf and a towel on his shoulders. On the day of the wedding, the bride and groom dressed smartly and, if possible, in everything new.

The theme of marriage was constantly present in the life of the younger generation. For example, the whole premarital life of a girl was a preparation for marriage. Therefore, she was accustomed to the cares of the future mother and mistress. Literally from birth, her mother began to prepare her dowry. By the age of 16-17, the girl became a bride. An important point in the premarital rites there were public "views" ("brides") of brides. They helped find a suitable bride, find out the economic situation of her family, learn about behavior and character. Parents tried to find an "equal". Brides were held in spring-summer festivities and at Christmas time, usually timed to coincide with patronal feasts, as well as on Epiphany.

Usually two weeks or a month after the show, the groom's mother, taking her sister or married daughter with her, went to woo the girl she had chosen at the public show.

An important place in the premarital life of young people was occupied by girlish fortune-telling about marriage, the apogee of which fell on Christmas time. Having decided to marry their son, the parents began to look for a bride for him, they found out who had a "marriable girl". The desire of the son was taken into account, but it was not always decisive, because. the girl had to meet the requirements of her parents. Overstayed girls (usually aged 23-25) were considered "overdated", "centuries" and the suitors avoided them, thinking that they were with a vice. The same distrust and suspicion were evoked by young people who had sat up in bachelorhood (beans, overage).
The first marriages were usually concluded in compliance with all the customs and rituals of the wedding ritual. The weddings of widowed men with girls who were not previously married were also celebrated. marriages of widows and single men with widows were not accompanied by wedding ceremonies.

The time of weddings was determined by the agricultural calendar - usually weddings were played during a period free from agricultural work. Was of significant importance church calendar, because in the posts of weddings "did not play." Most of the marriages took place in autumn, from Intercession (October 1) to Fililipov's incantation (November 14), as well as in the winter from Epiphany to Maslenitsa. In some places, the ancient tradition was still preserved to play weddings in the spring, on Krasnaya Gorka, after Easter.
The traditional Russian wedding cycle, as it were, was divided into three main periods: pre-wedding, the actual wedding and post-wedding.
The first period began with an unspoken family council - a "gathering" in the groom's house. It was attended by the parents and relatives of the groom. The groom himself did not take part in the meeting. At the gathering, the property status of the bride, her behavior and health, and her pedigree were discussed.

The initial period of the wedding consisted of matchmaking, conspiracy, inspection of the groom's household, the bride's bride, pilgrimage, rubbing and hard drinking. There were several ways of matchmaking, for example, the groom's parents went to the bride's house and started negotiations. In other cases, a matchmaker or matchmaker was sent to the bride's house, and they asked permission to come with the groom and his parents. Usually the matchmakers were the spiritual parents of the groom - the godfather or mother, or one of the relatives.

Sometimes they resorted to the help of professional matchmakers. For matchmaking, they chose easy days, avoiding fast days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In many places, matchmakers took a stick, a poker or a frying pan with them in order to "scoop out the girl." Visiting matchmakers was repeated 2-3 times, or even more. The first visit was regarded as "reconnaissance". The bride's parents set the table: they put bread, salt, lit lamps and candles.

After agreeing to the marriage of the daughter, the size of the clutch was determined, i.e. the amount of money given by the groom's relatives to buy dresses for the bride and for wedding expenses, as well as the size of the dowry (the bride's personal property consisting of clothes and shoes - it was also called a chest or a ship).

Two or three days later, after the agreement expressed by the common parties to intermarry, but even before the final decision, the parents and relatives of the bride examined the groom's household. The continuation or termination of the "case" depended on how much it was liked. If the inspection of the groom's household ended successfully, then after a few days the "groom's side" was invited to the bride's bride, where she showed up in all her dresses and showed all her labor skills - spinning, sewing, etc. The bride at this stage had the right to refuse the groom. Most often, the bride-to-be ended with a feast. After the feast, the bridesmaids escorted the groom home. He invited them to his place and generously treated them.
The final stage of the first negotiations was an agreement taking place in the bride's house two to three days after the bride. The bride after the agreement was called "conspiracy".

Successful collusion negotiations ended, as a rule, with a handshake. The father of the groom and the father of the bride, as in trade transactions, gave each other their hands wrapped in scarves or caftan floors. After the handshaking and the feast, which often lasted all night, the gates were opened in the morning so that everyone could come in and look at the bride and groom.
Prayer was given special meaning - "Pray to God, so the matter of matchmaking is over." After the blessing, the bride and groom kissed three times and exchanged rings - they became engaged. The agreement reached by the parties usually ended with a joint feast - a drinking bout.

After the agreement, the period of preparation for the wedding began. It could last from one to three weeks to a month or more. The collusion changed its lifestyle and appearance. She almost did not leave the house (unlike the groom) and lamented. It was believed that the more the bride cries, the easier it will be for her to live in her husband's family.

The last day before the wedding was called a bachelorette party, where the bride broke with her girlish life, freedom and her family. As a rule, a bachelorette party consisted of a whole complex of ritual actions: making beauty (emphasis on O), braiding, washing in a bath, saying goodbye to beauty (will) and passing it on to her friends, treating the participants of the ceremony to the groom. In some localities, on the last day, a youth party was arranged in the groom's house, at which the groom said goodbye to his comrades and single life. On the same evening, the groom's relatives were sent with gifts to the bride's house. If the groom rode himself, his preparations were accompanied by special rituals and instructions. Following the groom, his guests left. The bride was also dressed up, dressed up, the bride washed her face with vodka (wine) and sat down with her friends to wait for the groom. Soon (by 9-10 pm) the matchmakers arrived. For a bachelorette party, the groom brought a basket of toiletries, and sometimes a wedding dress, and gave ribbons to his girlfriends. At the end of the table, before the groom left, the bride was hidden. The groom was looking for her among her friends, they slipped old women on him until he gave her friends a ransom.
For the wedding they baked a special ceremonial bread - a loaf. In a Russian wedding, bread personified life, prosperity, well-being and a happy share. The preparation of wedding bread and its distribution occupied an important place in the wedding ceremony.

The wedding day was the culmination of the entire wedding event. On this day, rituals were performed in the homes of the bride and groom, preparing them for marriage and expressing the consent and blessing of the family for this marriage. After the wedding, already in the house of the newlyweds, rituals were performed that introduced the young woman to the new household and the position of a married woman.
The morning passed in chores and preparations for the wedding. The bride was dressed, perhaps more elegantly. When the groom arrived, they demanded a ransom from him, for the right to pass through and enter the bride's house. Then the parents would bless their daughter and let her go to church, after which the dowry was usually brought to the groom's house.

There were several options for a trip to the crown. According to one, the bride and groom went to church together, according to others, separately. Having blessed their children, the parents handed over their friends and matchmakers (the parents themselves did not go to church). Druzhko went out into the yard with the groom (if the groom was traveling from his house) and the trainees (other participants in the wedding) walked around the yard with an icon, and the matchmaker, standing on a wagon, scattered the hops. Walking around three times with the icon around, he asked everyone present for the blessing of the groom for marriage. After that they went to church. In parting, they wished: "God forbid to become a crown of gold, to make a house, to lead children." The groom rode solemnly, hanging bells to the arc, the groom's horses were covered with white towels. The bride, on the other hand, came to the church without much fuss, with one wailer ("cry-baby"). Before the wedding, they met in someone's hut, and here the groom took the bride by the hand, circled her three times around him, lightly pulled her braid, as if showing that the bride was losing her will and must obey the will of her husband. Usually the wedding train left in odd numbers, i.e. an odd number of horses.
In the Central Russian provinces, on the contrary, the buddies violently dispersed the oncoming ones. Leaving the yard, the trainees congratulated each other on the "valiant departure."
The weather on the day of the wedding was of particular importance. It was believed that if "snow and rain on the wedding train - live richly", "rain on the young - happiness", "a whirlwind with dust to meet the train - not good", "red wedding day - live red, but poor", "blizzard on the wedding train - wealth will be blown out.

The wedding ceremony consisted of betrothal and the laying of marriage crowns - the actual wedding performed by the priest. During the betrothal, the priest asked the bride and groom about their mutual and voluntary consent to marry and put on the rings.
Church wedding gave legal force. However, marriage with a wedding, but without a wedding, was not encouraged.

The wedding was accompanied by many magical rites: it was customary for the bride and groom to sweep the road around the church with a broom, a scarf or linen was spread under the feet of the spouses and money was thrown in order to avoid "naked life". The bride and groom tried to step on each other's feet, and the one who managed to do it first had the "top" in family life. They strictly monitored that no one passed between the bride and groom (so that none of them violated marital fidelity). Standing before the crown, the bride was baptized "covered" i.e. not with a bare hand (to live richly). Many beliefs were associated with wedding paraphernalia: a ring, candles, crowns. It was believed that dropping an engagement ring during a wedding was "not a good life." And the one who held the candle above under the crown, "behind that and the majority" (dominance in the family).

They tried to blow out the wedding candles at once in order to live together and die together. The wedding candle was cherished and lit at the first birth.

After the wedding in the church gatehouse or the nearest house, the bride was braided with two braids and laid around her head - "they twisted the young woman like a woman." The matchmakers of the bridegroom, who braided the braids, weaved for distillation - whose matchmaker is the first to braid the braid, this gender will be the firstborn. After that, the young people put on a female headdress - a warrior. This ceremony was marked by the transition of the bride to a group of married women.
The newlyweds were waiting in the house. Women - fellow villagers went out to meet the wedding train to the outskirts, seeing him, they began to sing songs. Relatives and guests meeting at the house shot upwards from a gun, sprinkled the young with hops and grain, laid out a fire at the gate and led them through it. Parents blessed the newlyweds - the father with an icon, the mother with bread and salt. In some areas, bread was broken over the heads of the young and each and every one of them had to keep it for the rest of their lives. After the blessing, the young people bowed at their feet, trying to do it at the same time in order to live together. They were seated at the table, on benches covered with fur coats, saying: "a fur coat is warm and shaggy - you will live warmly and richly." Usually, the mother-in-law or one of the groom's relatives used a tong, a frying pan to open the young bride, i.e. they removed the veil from her (later the veil). Then they greeted her and brought gifts.

The first table was usually called the "wedding table". The young ones, although they sat behind him, did not eat anything. In honor of the young, congratulations and wishes were pronounced. Soon they were taken to another room and fed dinner. Then the young again returned to the trainees. By this time, the second table, called "mountain", was laid. Relatives of the newlyweds came to this table. They were met at the porch, giving each a glass of vodka.
Those who arrived were seated at the table in order of seniority - men on one side, women on the other. At the mountain table, the young woman presented gifts to her husband's relatives, bowed to them, hugged them and kissed them. Then she had to call the father-in-law - father, and the mother-in-law - mother. During the feast, the girls sang songs. At the end of the table, the young, having gone out, fell at the feet of their parents, so that they would bless them on the marriage bed.

It was arranged in some kind of non-heating room: in a barn or stable, in a bathhouse, in a separate hut. The marriage bed was made with special care. Sometimes, some tools of peasant or handicraft labor were placed next to the marriage bed so that the newlyweds would have sons and be good workers. Young people were usually seen off by a friend and a matchmaker. The farewell was accompanied by music and noise, probably, such decoration had the meaning of a talisman. The matchmaker and the friend examined the bed and the room so that there were no objects that could “damage” the young, and, having given the last advice and instructions, wished them happiness and well-being. The young were treated to wine. After an hour or two, and in some places even night, they came to wake up and raise the young.

Usually this ceremony was performed by those who accompanied them to the wedding bed, and led the newlyweds to the hut, where the feast continued. The young received congratulations. In many localities, it was customary to display the newlywed's bloody shirt. If the young woman turned out to be blameless, she and her relatives were given great honors, if not, then they were subjected to all sorts of reproach.

In many localities, the rites associated with "waking up" were accompanied by a bath. She was drowned by her friends, matchmakers, friends, godparents. Seeing off to the bath took place with noise, songs and music. In front of the young people they swept the road with brooms. Ahead of the procession was a friend and carried a broom decorated and covered with a scarf. Over time, the rite of the second day gradually began to be replaced by dousing with water, wallowing the young in the snow, even just visiting an unheated bath. After the bath, the young people rode around the village, stopping by the houses of relatives and inviting them to the next feast.
The feast of the second day was called - "cheese table". During the cheese table, cheeses were cut. Druzhko, by seniority, first called the relatives of the young, then the young and asked them to accept treats from the young - vodka and snacks, and put something "on the cheeses."
The most common rite of the second and third days was the first visit of the newlywed to a spring or well, during which the young woman usually threw money, a ring, a piece of bread cut off from a wedding loaf or a belt into the water.
Another, no less common ritual was the belts of the bright. Relatives of the young woman came to her husband's house and reported the girl was missing. The search began. The newlywed was taken out to them. They recognized it as their own, but after inspection they found many changes and renounced their rights.

They tried to diversify the ongoing wedding festivities with all kinds of games and fun. A common custom on the second day was dressing up. The mummers dressed in twisted skins. They dressed up as different animals, gypsies, soldiers. Sometimes men dressed in women's clothes, and women in men's.
The third day was usually the last. Often on this day they arranged tests for the young. They forced her to kindle the stove, cook, sweep the floor, but at the same time they interfered in every possible way - they poured water, overturned the dough, testing her patience. Only the husband could save the young woman from all the trials by treating everyone with vodka.

One of the responsible and fairly common rituals was the visit of the son-in-law to the mother-in-law ("bread"). The young mother-in-law was treated to pancakes and scrambled eggs. Often during this visit, the son-in-law showed his attitude towards her, depending on whether she managed to raise her daughter and keep her chastity or not. After the treat, the son-in-law broke the dishes on the floor. In many villages, a visit to the mother-in-law ended with the serving of an accelerating pie, which meant the horses of the wedding festivities.

Usually wedding celebrations lasted three days, the rich lasted longer. Special rituals were not performed these days, as a rule, various entertainments were repeated, there were feasts with refreshments, either in the house of the young, or in the house of the husband.
The peasant wedding ceremony served as the basis of the urban one.

In the conditions of the city, it has changed significantly, both in general and in details. By the middle of the XIX century. in the rituals of the townspeople, general and specific features were observed that distinguish them from the peasant tradition: the weakening of the magic of the elements, the strengthening of the role of professional matchmakers, the greater distribution marriage contracts, changes in ritual food and the order of feasts, the replacement of dances with dances, and the folklore repertoire with city songs. This allows us to speak about the already established urban forms of wedding rituals.
From about the 80s of the XIX century. under the influence of the growing democratization of the social and cultural life of Russia, there have been changes in the social and domestic relations townspeople, which also affected the wedding ceremony.

The October Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent declaration of war on religion attacked, ridiculed and banned the traditional wedding ceremony. During the entire Soviet period, there were, as it were, two main forms of the wedding ceremony: official (state) and traditional.

Two hearts by the will of the Zodiac

Merged into one under the shadow of Marriage.

There are seven wonders in the world, however

There is nothing more wonderful than Marriage.At present, the wedding, as a complex multi-stage complex of rituals, has practically not been preserved. Time and fashion dictate their terms, but some elements are alive.

Church weddings are becoming more and more frequent.

It is impossible to imagine a wedding without first meeting the parents. They also stipulate the material side of the issue - what the wedding will cost, and how the expenses will be distributed. (Let's note right away: today there is more atypical in this case than at any time in the past).

Traditionally, the bridegroom buys the rings, dress and shoes for the bride, and the bride's family provides the "dowry" - bed linen, crockery and furniture. Almost everywhere there is a wedding feast. The wedding can be based on both a village and a city ritual, or you can combine elements of both. The rest depends on the possibilities, tastes, traditions of the families of the bride and groom and the ingenuity of their friends. Often, professionals are invited to conduct a wedding, they resort to the services of special institutions - wedding houses, etc.

There are also various wedding scenarios. Let's dwell on some "generally accepted" points.

It is customary for the bride and groom to write invitations themselves and deliver them personally to those whom they wish to see at their wedding. An exception is for non-residents, but it is considered more polite if a written invitation is confirmed by a telephone conversation. Relatives and friends must certainly be present at the solemn act of marriage registration, where they congratulate the newlyweds and give flowers. The presence of witnesses is regulated officially. Wedding palaces became popular. There, every couple will be sure to smile (and, if necessary, they will be helped, reassured: there are many cases when brides fainted from excitement).

It is customary to give gifts to young people at a wedding. It has become, however, quite acceptable once insulting business - to give the young money in a smart envelope. And invited, but unable to come to the wedding, relatives or friends simply send money transfers.

The main characters at the wedding - the bride and groom - should be the most elegant. If the bride is getting married in a church, then her dress should not have a deep neckline. The flowers that the groom orders (with the knowledge of the bride) must be in harmony with the dress. (At the marriage registration, the bride may appear in short dress or without a veil, but with a bouquet). Light bridesmaid dress White shirt and the groom's tie are an indispensable condition for a wedding in the church and are specifically stipulated - just like the fact that married Christians must be baptized and have crosses on their backs.

Only the bride can wear white at a wedding!

In the old days, grooms wore a tailcoat, today they can wear a dark (in winter) or light (in summer) well-tailored suit, white shirt, tie or bow tie. It's good when in the buttonhole there is a small bouquet of the same flowers as the bride's.

(In case of remarriage, which, alas, is not uncommon in our time, the wedding is no longer played so magnificently and in a rather narrow circle. Guests arrive in festive toilets. However, the bride no longer wears a veil and a snow-white outfit. hair, sometimes decorated with several flowers or a hat, but a bouquet is still needed in the hands).

More about flowers. Previously, the bride was supposed to choose flowers of the same color - mostly pale pink or white, but now they choose other flowers or combine many types of flowers, trying to harmonize in shape and color. There is one general rule: everything is permissible that does not violate harmony. In the bride's dress, flowers are used in different ways. In the form of an elegant wreath, they can decorate her head. Graceful buttonholes pinned to a light veil or dress are very beautiful.

A traditional bouquet can be made openwork, hanging or placed in a small elegant basket, ending in an inconspicuous comfortable ring that is worn on the finger. Most often, bouquets for the bride are made elongated - this is a one-sided "German" bouquet, or - with shoots of climbing plants that diverge far in different directions - the so-called English variety. Less well known is the Swedish round "summer solstice" bouquet, made up of colorful summer flowers, cereals, ears of corn, with lace ribbons and colored tulle.

It is not at all necessary that the bouquet consists of expensive flowers. Decisive for choosing a bouquet are the age and appearance of the bride, as well as the color and length of the wedding dress.

A short, fragile bride is contraindicated in a large and lush bouquet, and too large flowers will not work either. For her, it is preferable to choose a small, elegantly arranged bouquet, which she can hold with two fingers, or a basket bouquet.

A bride of high stature and an appropriate physique should prefer a fairly large bouquet, which is worn on the elbow. This is a bouquet of long-stemmed flowers, the center of gravity of which is on the bride's hand and the flowers themselves hang down.

For the groom, you can make a delicate boutonniere. For complete harmony, the boutonniere should be of the same colors as the bride's bouquet.

In many countries, the bride wears myrtle branches in her hair and a bouquet of the same branches in the form of a brooch on her chest. The groom wears a bouquet of myrtle branches in his buttonhole.

The traditional exclamation "Bitter!" at the wedding table sounds for centuries. Not without congratulatory verses either.

The wedding table does not have a significant ritual program. Perhaps only chicken dishes and a wedding cake have survived on the menu. The rest - according to tastes and possibilities. But the wedding cake should be said especially.

A wedding cake, or a bride's cake, is not only a delicious confectionery and table decoration, but also a symbol that expresses with skillful decoration good wishes bride, young family. Cake in the form of a wicker basket with white roses - a symbol of purity, purity and love; with red - deep and passionate love; a cake with swans and a chick - a hint of an addition to a new family; "horn of plenty" - to prosperity; horseshoe cake - fortunately; "lira" - to creative perfection; cake in the form of a pyramid - a wish to live to a ripe old age, to climb to the top of life together ...

Gift inscriptions and wishes should not be made on "thematic" cakes.

The wedding cake is usually placed on the banquet table in front of the newlyweds. You can put the cake on a special bedside table or table near the bride and groom. When it's time for dessert, the bride cuts the cake (that's where the test of dexterity and accuracy is!). The groom puts the piece with the main pattern on the bride's plate.

It is advisable to arrange the tables with the letter "P", a different arrangement is also possible - the main thing is that the bride and groom and parents are in the center of the table. At crowded weddings, it is recommended to place guests according to the plan according to name cards.

Fruits are decoration of the banquet table. The composition of grapes, apples, pears, peaches, bananas, etc., placed in a high crystal vase, gives wedding table necessary splendor and freshness. In general, it should be remembered that the color of the treats, the external design of the table are no less important than the taste. A skillful arrangement of dishes, fruits, confectionery on a white or colored tablecloth affects a person like a good picture.

The rule for serving and serving guests is that snacks, bread and spices must be removed from the table before serving dessert. An exception is allowed at the wedding. In this case, the hosts only have to clean up the table from time to time: remove the empty dishes, and put the same appetizers left on the dishes on one dish along with greens and other decorations. To do this, it is best to have greens, radishes, olives, cucumbers, green peas, etc., pre-cut and dipped in water, on hand, which can immediately decorate the combined dishes. It is advisable to have soft drinks on the tables until the very end of the celebration.

The solemnity of the wedding table, in addition to flowers, is given by candlesticks in the form of candelabra for 3-5-7 candles. Antique silver and bronze high chandeliers or ceramic and wooden ones are always beautiful. High candlesticks and slender, even candles do not blind those sitting at the table, do not interfere with seeing each other. However, you should not overload the table with candlesticks. For a 50-seat table, 2-3 candelabra of 3 candles are enough (the total number of candles, as is customary, should be odd).

At the table to the right of the bride and to the left of the groom, leave some space, somewhat separating the young from the rest. This should be done not so much for convenience (although comfort is important), but according to tradition, which provides for a special position for the bride and groom.

A happy marriage loves the holidays. Our loving spouses celebrate every anniversary. But there is also an almost "official" list of wedding anniversaries, which are usually celebrated.

The first wedding anniversary is called calico. Five years - wooden, seven - copper, ten - pink, fifteen - glass, twenty - porcelain, twenty-five - silver, thirty - pearl, forty - ruby, fifty - gold, seventy-five - diamond. The name also suggests gifts. And favorite flowers (or maybe those of which the wedding bouquet consisted!).

An example of a wedding scenario in one of the wedding houses:

The wedding celebration begins with a solemn meeting of the newlyweds at the entrance. The presenter congratulates them and escorts them to the young couple's room, meanwhile organizing the guests for a solemn meeting in the wedding ritual hall. Guests are located on both sides of the carpet, at the end of which are the parents of the newlyweds.

When the young people, accompanied by witnesses, enter the hall to the sound of the wedding march, the guests shower them with sweets and flowers. The groom's mother brings them a lush fresh loaf, specially baked for the wedding, on an elegant towel, and the bride's mother generously showers them with grain. Everyone wishes happiness and well-being to the young family.

Young people break bread, treat each other, parents, witnesses and all guests with a wedding loaf. The host hands the young wife a small whisk, and young husband- scoop, and offers to sweep the carpet. To cheerful music, young people gather grain and sweets. The presenter comments on their work, explaining to the guests the meaning of the wedding ceremony: the bride, having shown skill, must quickly remove the garbage to please her mother-in-law, and the son-in-law - the mother-in-law, as a good helper to her daughter. The guests thank the young people with applause for their first joint work and give gifts. (V. Dahl - to teach the young woman to sweep the floor / she sweeps, and the guests litter to test her patience / - Approx. comp.).

Then the host, on behalf of the newlyweds, invites everyone to the wedding table. The first solemn toast - congratulations to the young - is offered by the host of the celebration or the guest of honor of the wedding. The guests greet the young standing. Young people thank their parents. The presenter invites guests to congratulate their parents on a joyful event.

The response word - a parental mandate - is offered to the parents of the newlyweds. Then guests of honor, witnesses and friends speak.

Dances are opened by the newlyweds, the next dance is offered for everyone.

Then the presenter reads out the decree - a comic parting word to the young, sustained in an epic style. The decree is issued in the form of a scroll with wax seals. After the reading, the scroll is given to the young. And again congratulations, wishes and instructions follow.

Young people are invited to break a bagel-hoop baked from dough. Whoever breaks off a larger piece is proclaimed the head of the family for a day.

A prerequisite for a feast is songs. The youth sings their favorite songs, the elders sing old wedding songs.

Today, the customs and traditions of wedding celebration have changed a lot. Some complex rituals are no longer performed, some, new to the Russian people, came to us from the West. The essence remains the same: a wedding is one of major events in the life of the family and the most important thing in the life of the newlyweds.

Despite the constant evolution, the wedding today has a clear structure:

• sentence;
• matchmaking;
• hen-party;
• bachelor party;
• ransom of the bride;
• registration;
• wedding;
• walk (photo session);
• banquet;
• first night;
• honeymoon trip.

Let's look at the wedding traditions that are relevant now and compare them with those that our ancestors had.

Traditional meeting with parents

Previously, it could have happened even before the acquaintance of the bride and groom. A matchmaker could arrange it, although the initiative was also allowed from the young themselves. If the acquaintance went well and the future relatives liked each other, then they discussed the details of the wedding and resolved financial issues related to it. This ceremony was traditionally held at the festive table.

Today, too, it is customary to do so.

This tradition not only survived, but also acquired new rites. For example, now there is an unspoken rule according to which the rings, shoes and dress for the bride are purchased by the groom or his parents, and the bride's side is responsible for the dowry - bedding, dishes, towels. On the same day, parents can also discuss wedding gifts - furniture and appliances (so as not to be repeated).

There are some traditions that are dying out right now. The opinion that the groom is obliged to provide housing for the future family becomes a convention. But the sign that the future husband should see his betrothed in a wedding dress only on the wedding day is still alive. The bride can buy the outfit herself, and the groom can only pay for it or not pay at all.

As for shoes, today, on the one hand, the groom must buy them, on the other hand, neither shoes nor socks can be given before the wedding, otherwise there may not be a wedding (leave). Initially, the Russians believed that the bride herself should save up for shoes, thereby demonstrating her thriftiness and frugality.

Wedding dresses

Wedding dresses became white only 200 years ago, by decree of Catherine. Before that, they married in red. However, even this seemingly fundamental tradition is not obligatory today.

Modern brides choose and pastel shades, close to white, and puffy ball gowns, including red ones, and even black outfits for brides flicker on the catwalks. The veil, according to signs, not only symbolizes the purity of the bride and her purity, but also serves as a talisman against evil spells. It is the groom who must lift the veil.

According to ancient rites, the veiling of the bride with a veil also had a special ritual significance. The father had to do this, while the bride, even if she was happy about the wedding, had to run away from him, resist and hide. After the veil was hung, the bride no longer resisted, but accepted her fate.

Customs before marriage

A few days before the wedding, the bride and groom arrange evenings in honor of farewell to their single life - a stag and hen party. There are more and more ways to hold them, and the main rule remains the same: these two holidays must be held separately.

Bride theft

Truly modern grooms of brides in Russia have not been stealing for a long time. And they don’t steal it from suitors. But the rite of redemption was preserved. The task of the groom is to get the bride from his parents or girlfriends. To do this, he will have to pay a certain price, from a symbolic to a very large one, or show his best qualities - cunning, dexterity, strength and ingenuity.

Marriage is an ancient tradition

A tradition that is making a comeback. Newlyweds often get married after the wedding, sometimes on the first anniversary, and sometimes immediately after registration. Increasingly, young couples began to order field registration in church. After the wedding in Russia, the newlyweds were showered with grain.

This part of the ceremony went to the registry office today. After the official marriage, the newlyweds are showered with rose petals, rice, change or sweets - for every taste.

Exchange of rings - a centuries-old rite

Ring exchange- a centuries-old rite, a symbol of endless happiness and love. For the bride and groom, the rings on their hands will become a real talisman of family life.

Loaf offering

After registration and a wedding walk, the newlyweds head to the banquet hall, where they will be met by the groom's parents with a loaf and offered to bite off a piece of it.

A loaf is brought on a long embroidered towel, which is a symbol of a long married life. Mother-in-law offers to taste bread and salt. According to this sign, the one who bites off the largest piece will be the main one in the house.

Releasing pigeons

The newlyweds, who left the registry office, release a dove into the sky, one of which has a blue ribbon on its paw, the second has a pink one. This is a kind of guessing who will be born first to a couple - a boy or a girl. Pigeons flying nearby predict peace in the family, and those that are moving away from each other, or heading in different directions - discord.

Bouquet and garter

The bride throws a bouquet to her unmarried friends. This bouquet heralds the wedding of the one who catches. The same mechanism is used for throwing the garter. V Lately it is customary to bring your bouquet home, and throwing a bouquet is an understudy, because with your bouquet you can give away your happiness.

Breaking dishes

In addition to the fact that the dishes, in principle, beat for happiness, this ceremony also has a sacred meaning. When the glasses of the newlyweds beat, their fragments mix with each other and become one, thereby promising a long life. life together. And you can guess on the fragments of glasses. Large ones portend the birth of a boy, small ones - girls.

The best tradition

The groom carries the bride into the house in his arms. The ancient Slavs considered a married woman to be a newborn from a spiritual point of view. The rituals of seeing her out of the house were similar to funeral rites, then the bride changed her name, and in new house she was brought in in her arms, like a child who "did not enter the house, but ended up in the house."

Whatever the reasons for carrying a woman in her arms, it is always beautiful and pleasant.

There are a lot of wedding customs, family and folk may well both get along together and contradict each other: locks on the bridge, Champagne bottles donated in advance for the first anniversary and for the birth of the first child (although it’s impossible in advance), gifts to parents and from parents, symbolic sweeping of the floor and much more, including a honeymoon trip.

Most of the current holiday traditions of our country have roots that go deep into the past. So it is with a wedding. All the most exciting and impressive: the proposal, the pre-wedding festivities and the marriage process itself - all these wedding customs have been inherited from our ancestors. And that's what makes the process work. What has been invented in our days, unfortunately, cannot boast of the brightness and unforgettableness of the event. And even sadder is the fact that not all the traditions of the ancestors have survived to this day.

How is it happening today?

In fact, what are modern Russian wedding ceremonies?

Let's outline briefly. A young man proposes to his chosen one, in most cases relegating events such as "ask the bride's parents for her hand" and "receiving a parent's blessing" into the background. And it happens that he does not resort to such actions at all.

After the bride accepts the groom's proposal, active calculations begin, how much this celebration will cost. An application is submitted to the registry office, which allows you to determine the exact date of the wedding. The bride, resorting to the help of her bridesmaids, chooses for herself Wedding Dress, jewelry and shoes. The responsible person, the toastmaster, is responsible for the wedding script itself. Usually she is not related to either the side of the groom or the side of the bride.

Immediately before the wedding, events such as stag and hen parties take place.

And finally, that day comes - the wedding. With or without a visit to the church, young people in their motorcade arrive at the doors of the registry office, where the main wedding ceremony takes place. And only after the signature of both parties, the marriage is considered valid.

How was it before?

Initially, there was no single Russian people, but only various tribes of pagans. Each of them had their own cultural customs. Naturally, the wedding ceremonies of these tribes differed from each other. Among the meadows there was a special reverence for marriage bonds. They welcomed harmony in the house and were anxious about creating new family in your community. What cannot be said, for example, about the Drevlyans. They were dominated by a barbaric attitude to this issue. Wedding rites and customs seemed alien to them. And for a man of such a tribe, it was not considered shameful to steal a girl he liked. Moreover, she could be both from a foreign tribe, and from her own.

Over time, the tribes converged and rallied. Thus, uniting their cultures into one single.

The pagan ancient wedding ceremony consisted of dancing near idols. So our ancestors revered their gods, thereby consolidating the marriage. The dances were accompanied by mass dousing with water, jumping over the fire and singing ritual songs.

Significant changes were brought with it by the baptism of Russia. Thus, paganism and Christianity are closely intertwined. No matter how the church tried to eradicate manifestations of paganism, nothing came of it. To this day, elements of it are present in our traditions.

However, with the advent of Christianity, it became obligatory to go to church on the wedding day. Thus, marriage was considered sanctified. Otherwise, everything was as before - a feast that dragged on for up to seven days, dancing and sleigh rides.

What time was considered appropriate for the wedding?

As in our days, they tried to carry out ancient wedding ceremonies at a certain time of the year. Most often this was done in autumn and winter, since during this period there was no need to engage in agricultural work. In case of special need (for example, an unplanned pregnancy of the bride), the wedding was played in the spring or summer. But this was extremely rare.

Despite this, there were not so many days for the celebration. wedding customs marriage was prohibited.

During fasting;

During Christmas time;

In Easter Week;

On Maslenitsa;

On Orthodox holidays.

It was also not customary to marry in May.

Religious and magical actions during the wedding

Wedding ceremonies in Russia were famous for their superstition, which again is a considerable merit of paganism. And it was believed that the time of the wedding is the right moment for evil spirits. To protect the young from its effects, many rituals were performed. Thus, the newlyweds were protected from the evil influence of spirits, as well as from damage and the evil eye.

Witnesses, who were the friends of the young, were needed in order to confuse the evil spirits. So, according to the beliefs of the ancestors, evil spirits could not find real future spouses, which prevented her from fulfilling her dirty plans. In addition to the fact that friends and relatives of the young people participated in the withdrawal of evil forces, various amulets were also used for this. For example, the bride's veil served as a kind of protection from dark spirits. When they moved on a sleigh, they deliberately swept the road after themselves, which was also supposed to throw the evil forces off the trail.

By carrying out all the above measures, relatives and friends provided spouses with happy marriage, wealth and health. If the wedding took place with people who had previously been widowed, then little attention was paid to such traditions.

When and how did you prepare for the wedding?

On the part of the bride, preparations for a future wedding began almost from her very childhood. She was taught to cook, sew and other household chores.

In addition, there was a tradition that for the wedding, the bride was obliged to sew a towel for each relative from the groom's side. The very same future spouse was intended for a shirt woven by the hands of the bride. A piece of material for a sundress and a scarf for the head were intended for the groom's mother.

Who made the choice?

As a rule, the choice fell entirely on the shoulders of the parents of the young. Matchmaking, bride and collusion also took place under their control.

If the children themselves chose their own mate, then this was considered disrespectful to the parents, and such marriages were considered unhappy. However, there were cases when parents approved of their child's choice.

Young people could meet in the squares, where mass celebrations often took place. The girls sang and danced. The guys played musical instruments (harps and balalaikas), and also arranged horseback riding, where they demonstrated their dexterity and courage in front of the fair sex.

Dowry

Dowry was the property that was attached with the bride after the wedding. Basically, it was furniture, women's clothing and jewelry, money (exclusively silver and gold), as well as livestock and real estate. It was welcomed that the girl was from a wealthy family. If the family did not have a dowry, then it was provided by the groom's side.

Matchmaking

Wedding ceremonies in Russia differed in that this action took place without the participation of the young. This event was usually planned for Sunday or some other holiday. The groom's parents took with them an attorney - a matchmaker. She was supposed to represent young man in front of the bride. She praised the groom in every possible way and discussed the dowry with the bride's parents. At the end, the matchmaker took both sides by the hands and led them around the table three times, after which they were baptized in front of the icons. Leaving, the father of the groom appointed the date of the bride. As a rule, they took place a week after the matchmaking.

Smotriny

A week before the bride, the groom's side carefully prepared for this event. Sleighs were decorated, clothes were sewn and gifts were prepared.

In the bride's house, everything was even more reverent. The future wife had to personally clean the room where the guests would gather. The best robes were taken out and treats were prepared.

Wedding ceremonies in Russia did not allow the groom to participate in the bride. The bride was examined by his parents. Her main task was to impress a modest girl.

After the bride-to-be came to an end, the groom's side went out into the courtyard for a meeting. This was already a formality, since the final decision was made after the matchmaking.

Collusion

This important item included every wedding ceremony in ancient Russia. The conspiracy was accompanied by a more magnificent feast than matchmaking and the bride. And during it, both parties signed an agreement. Thus, our ancestors got engaged. The contract spelled out the exact date of the wedding. And after the signatures were put, the only reason that could violate the marriage ceremony was the death of one of the young.

After the contract was signed, the sister (or girlfriend) of the bride entered the room and presented gifts to each relative from the groom's side.

Wedding

Before the adoption of Christianity, pagan weddings consisted in the departure of young people from locality. Surrounded by their peers (there should not have been elders), they went to the edge of the forest. There they wove wreaths, sang ritual songs and danced round dances. It was believed that, in this way, nature itself blesses the young.

When pagan wedding rites supplanted Orthodox Church, then it became obligatory to enter into an alliance in the temple.

Before the wedding day, the bride and her bridesmaids had a bachelorette party. They washed in the bath, sang songs and wondered about what fate awaits the girl in married life.

On the day of the wedding, at first everyone gathered in the groom's house and feasted. Various rituals were held, controlled by the matchmaker. In general, the entire scenario of the wedding belonged to her. After the third course was served, the young and the guests went to the temple.

In the temple, the father blessed the marriage, and the father handed over her daughter, now, to her husband. At the same time, he hit his daughter with a whip, which meant a parental order to obey and honor her husband. The whip was passed on to her husband. Sometimes it was limited to this, but there is evidence that some wedding ceremonies in Russia were carried out by whipping the future wife by her husband. Striking her with a whip three times, according to legend, the husband made his wife submissive.

After a long ceremony in the church, everyone returned back to the groom's house. The rest of the festivities were spent there. Russian wedding ceremonies, as a rule, took place in three days.

At night, the young were escorted to their box and no longer disturbed. Starting from the second day of the festivities, they could easily wake up in the middle of the night, dress and return to the table.

The bride's nightgown was checked for deprivation of virginity. If there were no such spots, then the wedding could be broken, and the girl ridiculed. The stains on the shirt were shown to the guests at the table, which served as a good indicator for the bride.

Where can such traditions be found today?

There are few places where such wedding traditions are still preserved. However, in our country there are still lands where people, although not completely, have preserved the old customs. So, for example, the wedding ceremony in the Kuban is quite reminiscent of a wedding that was once held in Russia. The Cossacks have always been famous for honoring the history and traditions of their people, thereby preserving its heritage for their descendants.

Two loving hearts decided to create a new union. Ahead of a lot of pleasant troubles in preparing the celebration. It's time to remember which ones exist. In Russia, most couples try to stick to at least the most basic ones. All customs carry a semantic load, which we often no longer remember, following all the unwritten rules, rather out of habit, so that it is like everyone else. Let's try to figure out what customs and traditions symbolize at a wedding in Russia.

Wedding Dress

The first thing that comes to mind when you remember wedding traditions in Russia is a wedding dress. Romantic and airy, modest and innocent, luxurious and elegant - it can be anything, the main thing is that the bride feels the most beautiful in her day. Despite this, most girls choose white outfits. And only in rare cases do they agree to the attire in which someone has already gotten married. Usually this is mom's dress if she has a happy marriage. Why white and new? This color symbolizes youth and innocence. Therefore, many women, marrying a second time, choose blue or champagne color variations, believing that they have already put on their white outfit. The new dress symbolizes new life, which begins on the date of marriage.

By the way, White color in the wedding tradition in Russia came from Europe. Since ancient times, our girls got married in red dresses, which symbolized fertility. Fashion is changeable, including wedding looks. Many modern brides seek to move away from traditional colors by adding bright or, conversely, delicate ribbons or other trims to their dress. Red is now chosen only by the most extraordinary and extravagant persons.

Veil

The history of the veil as an attribute of a wedding dress has about two thousand years. Roman brides veiled their faces as a sign of modesty, chastity and secrecy. Only after the ceremony could the husband remove this veil from his beloved. In the East, the veil did not decorate the young, but was kept between the future spouses so that they could not touch each other until their first night.

Wedding traditions in Russia oblige brides who marry for the first time to wear a veil. If the marriage is the second, then it becomes unnecessary. Today, this custom is no longer taken so seriously. A veil is perceived rather as an accessory that complements a hairstyle, along with a diadem, for example. Sometimes a small veil attached to the hat is worn instead. You can completely do without this element of the wardrobe.

Old and new, borrowed and some blue

With this phrase, traditions in Russia generally describe the bride's outfit. "New" is, undoubtedly, a dress - a symbol of entry into a clean and bright family life. “Old” is usually jewelry passed down in the family from mother to daughter. It is not necessary to talk about family diamonds, it is quite acceptable to use some detail of the mother's wedding dress. This thing will symbolize the connection between generations, that particle of parental warmth that they have invested in their daughter and which she will bring to her own family. "Borrowed" is a little thing that was borrowed by friends. It will mean that next to the young family there will always be friends and close people who are always ready to help and support. The blue color in the outfit is a symbol of peace and harmony in the future family. It can be used in dress decoration and accessories. A blue garter is often worn.

Rings

Wedding traditions in Russia, as in other countries, are not complete without the exchange of rings. Young people who are going to get married today choose jewelry from precious metals- gold, silver, platinum, smooth or with stones, decorated with carvings and engravings. Yet traditional wedding rings- smooth, without inserts and decorations. Why so? The ring is an endless straight line, without beginning or end. It symbolizes a long future family life. Each pebble or unevenness, according to popular belief, means some kind of misfortune on the way of a young family, since the ring is closed, troubles will be repeated over and over again, in a circle. So most often smooth rims are chosen.

Blessing

When discussing wedding traditions in Russia, one should not forget about the important custom of receiving parental blessings. It is it that gives a happy ticket to family life. The lack of parental approval can still be considered a weighty reason for the wedding not to take place. Each of the newlyweds on the morning of the day of the celebration should be blessed by their mothers or godparents.

ransom

Like many years ago, a modern traditional wedding in Russia is not complete without a ceremony from time immemorial exists in our country. It symbolizes the transition of a girl from her parental nest to her husband's family. The sacred meaning of this ceremony is almost lost, now the ransom has turned into a fun act, designed to entertain guests. The groom has to show remarkable ingenuity in order to cope with all the tasks that the bridesmaids have prepared for him. Often they help to demonstrate how well the future husband knows his beloved and what a heavenly life he promises her. If the task is not completed, you have to pay off with money or sweets - from the smallest participants. Helping the groom are his friends. Sometimes they manage to break through, skipping part of the tasks. In any case, ransom is one of the most fun rituals.

and the groom's boutonniere

The best Russian wedding traditions (and the most beautiful ones) are associated with the bridal bouquet. Previously, the groom made it himself. He could pick flowers in the field or ask any of the neighbors to cut the plant he liked in the garden. Such a request was usually not denied. Today, a rare girl will allow the groom to order a bouquet in the salon without her approval, yet he is one of the main wedding accessories and should fit harmoniously into the image. The groom is not allowed to see the dress in advance, so he is unlikely to be able to pick flowers on his own.

For the first time, the bouquet plays its role at the ransom of the bride. When the future happy spouse overcomes all obstacles, he gives his bouquet to his beloved. The ransom stops at the moment when she takes the bouquet in her hands - this means consent. Then the girl should take out one flower from the bouquet and pin it on the groom's chest. This is where the boutonniere tradition began. It always consists of the same colors and is decorated in a similar way.

The custom of throwing the bride's bouquet into the crowd of unmarried friends, and the second - the garter to the groom's friends, came to us from Europe. It is not so often that a well-known sign works, but the cheerful tradition has taken root perfectly. And the guests are happy to support her. The main bouquet is usually cherished, for throwing they order a second, smaller one, which the girl who caught it can pick up for herself, sometimes artificial flowers are used.

Showering the newlyweds with grain

After the end of the wedding ceremony, usually at the exit from the registry office, the guests waiting for the newlyweds line up on both sides of the exit, forming a tunnel through which the groom carries the bride in his arms, and shower them with grain, small coins or rose petals. This action is included in the wedding traditions of the peoples of Russia and many other countries. Different objects can be used, but the meaning of the ceremony is the same. It symbolizes the wishes of happiness, wealth and fertility to the newly-made family.

Bread and salt

At the entrance to the house where the newlyweds will live, the groom's parents are waiting for the newlyweds with bread and salt - a festive loaf. It is decorated with the image of swans, bunches of mountain ash and other symbols of wealth, fidelity and fertility. Bread symbolizes the wealth and well-being that a young family wishes, and salt should protect them from evil forces. Young people should bite off each piece of loaf and eat. There is also a sign - whoever grabs a larger piece will be the head of the family.

There are other wedding traditions in Russia associated with the arrival in a new home. The groom must certainly carry the bride over the threshold in his arms. This custom should protect her from the evil eye, diseases and other misfortunes. If the girl didn't walk in on her feet, then she wasn't there.

Even for the young, they spread a fur coat with fur up - a symbol of wealth. Whoever kneeled on it first is the head of the family.

Breaking dishes for luck

Many people in Russia come from villages. The custom of breaking dishes for good luck is also from there. On the second day after the celebration, it was customary to break clay pots. If the vessel is broken, then the girl got married clean and immaculate. Even if the crack did not appear, they could start slandering the bride. It was believed that the more fragments, the more happiness the young will meet on their way.

New wedding ceremonies

Each city has its own variations of wedding traditions and its own places where young people must definitely stop by during a walk after the registry office. Among them, a bridge necessarily appears, through which the groom must carry the bride in his arms so that she does not touch the ground with her feet. Often padlocks are hung on the fences of the bridge with the date of the wedding and the names of the newlyweds. Together they lock them up and throw the key into the water, as if sealing their union and throwing away the only possibility of its destruction. Sometimes, for good luck, ribbons are tied to trees.

The sacred meaning of wedding ceremonies is often no longer known to anyone. They are perceived only as good old traditions and a way to entertain guests. And yet, most couples who marry tend to follow the customs they know, believing that in this way they can make their marriage more successful.