Balkarian wedding. Features and usages

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In our article we will talk about the Balkarian wedding, about what makes it interesting. The traditions and rituals of this celebration will be considered. Previously, the issue of marriage was decided by foremen and relatives. It was not until the nineteenth century that the initiative usually began to come from the groom. Next, matchmakers were sent to the bride's house (respected old people were chosen). After that, they were already sent to the young one of the trusted groom. He talked with the bride, asked her if she agreed to the marriage. Of course, the bride-to-be had to submit to the will of her family.

Bride price

After the groom paid part of the ransom to the bride's parents. Kalym could be given: things, livestock or money. Part of the ransom was immediately recorded on the wife, if suddenly a divorce occurs due to the fault of the future spouse.

What happened to the bride?

She was dressed in a white dress, which was considered a symbol of youth and beauty. Then the girl (if she is from his village) was taken to the house of the woman's fiance. As a dowry, she was given a horse, a dagger, a belt and a gun. All this was presented by the father-in-law to the son-in-law. Before going for the young, all the participants in the Balkarian wedding were treated,and parents were showered with gifts. After the dzhigit, they sent for the bride. The girl was surrounded by friends in the room. The jigit had to touch her sleeve. Girlfriends tried to prevent him from doing this.

Interesting ritual with a bowl

There are a lot of fun rituals in the Balkarian wedding. For example, the rite "bowl of the groom." What is this custom? To the groom's friends, the bride's relatives brought a huge bowl, with a capacity of about a bucket. It was filled to the brim with braga. The one who accepted this gift must drink from the cup without spilling a drop. Note that the parents were anointing the bowl with oil on the outside.

Entrance to the groom's yard

Further, the celebration of the Balkarian wedding continued at the groom's house. On the way, young people for the future spouse arranged barriers, demanded a ransom. They drove into the groom's yard loudly - to the sound of gunshots and cheerful shouts. The bride, hidden with a veil, was brought into the room of the young. Only relatives of the future spouse had access to this room. For entry they already pay a certain fee.

The Balkar wedding continued around the clock, for seven days, with small breaks for sleep. In the course of it, a well-known custom was carried out - "the introduction of the bride into the big house." She had to enter with her right foot, making sure to step on the lying skin of a goat.

Further on, the mother-in-law smeared her lips with oil and honey. This symbolized the desire of two women to live together. On the day of entry into the house, the young woman's face was shown to all the assembled women. A close friend of her husband had to open her face by throwing off the veil with a dagger.

During the Balkarian wedding, the groom is in the family of a relative or friend, where the festivities take place. When the bride was already brought into the house, the next ceremony took place - “the return of the groom”. A few days later, the young wife could already clean the house and give food to the cattle. At the same time, the son-in-law was tested (he repaired something, chopped firewood, etc.) in the house of his wife's parents.

Conclusion

Now you know what a Balkar wedding is, we have reviewed the well-known customs in the article. We hope that the information was useful and interesting for you.