Two loving hearts decided to create a new union. There is a lot of pleasant trouble ahead for the preparation of the celebration. It's time to remember what wedding traditions exist . In Russia, most couples try to stick to even 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 recall 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 for the bride to feel most beautiful in him on her day. Despite this, most girls choose white outfits. And only in rare cases do they agree to the robe in which someone has already married. Usually it’s a mother’s dress if she has a happy marriage. Why is it white and new? This color symbolizes youth and innocence. Therefore, many women, getting married a second time, choose blue or champagne color variations, believing that they already wore their white outfit. A new dress symbolizes a new life, which begins on the day of marriage.
By the way, the white color in the tradition of weddings in Russia came from Europe. Our girls have long been married in red dresses, which symbolized fertility. Fashion is changeable, including wedding looks. Many modern brides try to get away from traditional colors, adding bright or, conversely, delicate ribbons or other decoration to their dress. Red is now chosen only by the most extraordinary and extravagant people.
Veil
The history of veils as an attribute of a wedding dress has about two thousand years. Roman brides hid their faces under a veil as a sign of modesty, chastity, and mystery. Only after the ceremony could the husband remove this veil from his beloved. In the East, the veil did not adorn the young, but kept between 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 second, then it becomes unnecessary. Today, this custom is no longer taken so seriously. The veil is perceived, rather, as an accessory that complements the hairstyle, along with a diadem for example. Sometimes a small veil attached to a hat is worn instead. You can even do without this element of the wardrobe.
Old and new, borrowed and a little blue
With this phrase, modern wedding traditions in Russia describe the whole outfit of the bride. “New” is undoubtedly a dress - a symbol of entering a clean and bright family life. "Old" - usually these are jewelry transmitted in the family from mother to daughter. It is not necessary to talk about family diamonds; it is entirely permissible 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 put into their daughter and which she will bring to her own family. “Borrowed” is the thing borrowed by a friend. It will mean that next to a young family there will always be friends and close people, always ready to help and support. The blue color in the dress is a symbol of peace and harmony in the future family. It can be used in bride makeup, dress decoration and accessories. A blue garter is often worn.
Rings
Wedding traditions in Russia, as well as in other countries, are not complete without exchange of rings. Young people about to get married today choose jewelry made of precious metals - gold, silver, platinum, smooth or with stones, decorated with carvings and engraving. And yet, traditional wedding rings are smooth, without inserts and jewelry. Why so? A ring is an infinite straight line, without beginning and end. It symbolizes a long future family life. Every stone or roughness, according to popular belief, means some kind of misfortune in the path of a young family, since the ring is closed, troubles will be repeated time after time, in a circle. So they often choose smooth rims.
Blessing
When discussing the traditions of weddings in Russia, one should not forget about the important custom of receiving a parental blessing. It is it that gives a happy ticket to family life. The lack of parental approval can still be considered a significant reason for the wedding not to take place. Each of the newlyweds on the morning of the celebration should be blessed by mothers or godparents.
Buyout
Like many years ago, a modern traditional wedding in Russia is not complete without a bride ransom ceremony . This custom has existed for centuries in our country. It symbolizes the transition of a girl from a parental nest to her husband's family. The sacred meaning of this rite is practically lost, now the ransom has turned into a fun action, designed to entertain guests. The groom has to show remarkable ingenuity to cope with all the tasks that the bride's girlfriends have prepared for him. Often they help to demonstrate how well the future husband knows his beloved and what heavenly life he promises her. If the task is not completed, you have to pay off with money or sweets - from the smallest participants. Help the groom are his friends. Sometimes they manage to break through, having missed part of the tasks. In any case, ransom is one of the most fun ceremonies.
Bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere
The best Russian wedding traditions (and the most beautiful) are associated with the bride’s bouquet. Previously, the groom composed him himself. He could pick flowers in the field or ask any of the neighbors to cut a plant in the garden. Such a request was not usually refused. 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 up flowers on his own.
For the first time, the bouquet plays its role on the ransom of the bride. When the future happy spouse overcomes all obstacles, he gives his bouquet to his beloved. The buyback stops at the moment when she picks up the bouquet in her hands - this means consent. Next, the girl must take out one flower from the bouquet and pin it on the groom's chest. From here came the tradition of the boutonniere. It always consists of the same colors and is similarly decorated.
The custom of throwing a bouquet of brides into the crowd of unmarried friends, and the second - a garter to friends of the groom, came to us from Europe. Not so often, a well-known sign works, but a fun 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 size, which the girl who caught him can pick up herself, sometimes they use artificial flowers.
Shedding newlyweds with grain
After the wedding ceremony, usually at the exit of the registry office, guests waiting for the newlyweds line up on both sides of the exit, forming a tunnel through which the bridegroom carries the bride in her arms and showers them with grain, small coins or rose petals. This action is part of the wedding traditions of the peoples of Russia and many other countries. Different objects may be used, but the meaning of the rite is one and the same. It symbolizes the wishes of happiness, wealth and fertility of the newly made family.
Bread salt
At the entrance to the house where the newlyweds will live, the groom's parents expect young people with bread and salt - a holiday loaf. It is decorated with the image of swans, clusters of mountain ash and other symbols of wealth, fidelity and fertility. Bread symbolizes the wealth and well-being that a young family desires, and salt should protect them from evil forces. Young must bite each piece of loaf and eat. There is a sign - whoever grabs a larger piece will be the head of the family.
There are other wedding traditions in Russia associated with arriving at 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 did not enter on her feet, then she was not in this place.
Even for young people, they spread their fur coats with their fur up - a symbol of wealth. Whoever first knelt on her is the head of the family.
Dish breaking
Many wedding traditions and wedding customs in Russia come from villages. The custom of breaking dishes for happiness is also from there. On the second day after the celebration, it was customary to beat clay pots. If the dish broke, then the girl got married clean and immaculate. Even if no cracks appeared, they could begin to slander 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 drop in during a walk after the registry office. Among them, a bridge must necessarily appear, through which the groom must carry the bride in her arms so that she does not touch the ground with her feet. Often, locks are hung on the fence of the bridge indicating the date of the wedding and the names of the newlyweds. Together they lock them and throw the key into the water, as if fastening 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 already unknown to anyone. They are perceived only as good old traditions and a way to entertain guests. Nevertheless, most couples who marry tend to follow the customs known to them, believing that they will be able to make their marriage more successful.