The best wedding traditions in Russia. Wedding customs in Russia

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

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 what wedding traditions 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 color variations.champagne, believing that they had already put on their white outfit. The new dress symbolizes a new life that begins on the day of marriage.

By the way, the 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 people.

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 require brides getting married 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 do without this element of the wardrobe.

Old and new, borrowed and some blue

With this phrase, modern wedding traditions in Russia describe the bride's outfit as a whole. "New" isundoubtedly, the dress is a symbol of entry into a clean and bright family life. “Old” is usually jewelry that is 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 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 bridal makeup, 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 about to get married today choose jewelry made of precious metals - gold, silver, platinum, smooth or with stones, decorated with carvings and engravings. And yet, traditional wedding rings are 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 they choose smooth rims.

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 the rite of redemption of the bride. This custom has existed in our country for centuries. 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, the ransom is one of the most fun rituals.

The bride's bouquet and the groom's boutonniere

The best Russian wedding traditions (and the most beautiful ones) are associated with the bride's bouquet. Previously, the groom made it himself. He could pick flowers in the field orask any of the neighbors to cut the plant they like 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 harmoniously fit into the image. The groom is not allowed to see the dress in advance, so he is unlikely to be able to pick the flowers himself.

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 similarly designed.

The custom of throwing the bride's bouquet into the crowd of unmarried friends, and the second - the garter of 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 a second, smaller one is ordered, which the girl who caught it can pick up for herself, sometimes artificial flowers are used.

Sprinkling newlyweds with grain

After the end of the wedding ceremony, usually at the exit of 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. 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, we alth and fertility to the newly-made family.

Bread and s alt

At the entrance to the house where the newlyweds will live, the newlyweds are expected by the groom's parents with bread and s alt - a festive loaf. It is decorated with the image of swans, bunches of mountain ash and other symbols of we alth, fidelity and fertility. Bread symbolizes the we alth and well-being that a young family wishes for, and s alt is supposed to 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 upside down - a symbol of we alth. Whoever knelt on her first is the head of the family.

Beating dishes for good luck

Many wedding traditions and wedding customs 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 should 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 ribbons are tied to trees for good luck.

The sacred meaning of wedding ceremonies is often not known to anyone. They are perceived only as good old traditions and a way to entertain guests. Yet most couples who marry tend to follow the customs they know, believing that they can make their marriage more successful.