Wedding traditions yesterday, today, tomorrow: how do they bless the young?

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

Regardless of the era and time, a wedding is a wonderful ceremony with its thousand-year history, traditions and scenario. It should be noted that each nation has its own, special. Let's ask how it is customary in Orthodoxy.

Rite of blessing

The word "blessing" itself refers to a polysemantic vocabulary, but one of its main, primary meanings sounds like "glorification of someone or something, ex altation." In other words, this is a wish for success, good luck, happiness, the opportunity to fulfill your plan, etc. If this term is applied to the bride and groom, then for them the blessing means the desire to create a friendly family, live in joy and love, understanding, fidelity and prosperity. "And how do they bless the young," you ask? Different.

If we turn to history, the action took place in this way. After the matchmaking and betrothal, when the young man and the girl announced their desire to start a family, the parents, as a sign of consent, overshadowed them with a godfather.a sign, kissed on the forehead, congratulated. The young either knelt or bowed low. The father and mother could perform the ceremony on both sides or on one side.

How do young people bless if there are no parents? Then the mission is assigned to the elders in the family: grandparents, aunt or uncle, brother, sister. Finally, the godparents of future newlyweds have the right to give parting words for a new family life. An important nuance: to perform the action, the betrothed must be baptized. If one of them did not have a consecration to God, it must be passed through. When and how do they bless the young again?

The second parting word is given to the bride and groom before going to the registry office for painting. Before this legal formality became strictly obligatory, there was the consecration of marriage in the church. When the young were to go down the aisle, before leaving the house they again received a blessing with family icons or images bought especially for this occasion. The icons were then given to the young couple to protect their peace and happiness. The bride and groom make the sign of the cross three times with special prayers and good wishes.

And finally, how do they bless the young for the third time? Tradition says that this is done after the wedding (painting), when the young officially received the status of a young family. Before entering the house where the wedding will be celebrated, the parents meet them with bread and s alt, icons, say wishes and parting words. The word is kept by the father of the newlywed, the bread is his mother. Congratulations to the youngbaptize and kiss. Those in return thank and promise to honor the elders and build a happy family hearth. Of course, even in the first quarter of the 20th century, the rite was relevant and mandatory. Modern young people most often do without it. Or observe the formal side of the ritual. But there are quite a few couples who make it really important.

Icons for blessing

What icon do young people bless? The question is rather subtle. Firstly, as already mentioned, it can be a family image, passed down from generation to generation with just such a rite. Such images, already prayed, have a strong positive energy, especially if the marriage of the parents of the current young, their grandparents, etc. was successful, long and happy. And they will become good amulets of a new young family. Secondly, the image of Peter and Fevronia of Murom, saints recognized by the church as the guardians of the family hearth, can become such an icon. It is also customary to bless with icons of the Mother of God and the Savior - male and female. The image of Nicholas the Wonderworker is also suitable. And the last subtlety regarding how to properly bless the young. The icons are taken to the church (or registry office), then hung in the red corner of one of the rooms of the house where the young people will settle.

To observe or not to observe the tradition is a personal matter for every young family. But if you want to receive a completely sincere message of happiness, live a long life together in joy, it’s better to let the blessing of your parents and God be with you!