A wedding is a celebration for two young people who decide to unite their fates. At different times and in different countries, this celebration took place and is taking place with its own characteristics, depending on the traditions and rites that are present in society. In our country, a special place at a wedding belongs to the parents of the groom, because it is they who meet the newlyweds after the wedding ceremony. But how to meet the groom’s young parents, each family determines independently, based on their life experience and existing traditions.
Where and when should the groom's parents meet the newlyweds?
In those days when there were no institutions such as the registry office, the ceremony of marriage was held in the church. And after the wedding, the parents of the groom met the newlyweds in their home, because it was decided that the young family would live in the husband’s house.
Today, the meeting of the newlyweds after the registry office has become more common. This is due to the fact that not all young couples get married, and sometimes transfer the ceremony of marriage in the church to another day. The bridegroom's parents still meet the bridegroom, or rather, the mother-in-law plays the main role in this event.
Another change that modernity has made to an ancient custom is that now parents meet newlyweds at the entrance not to the groom's house, but to a restaurant or any other establishment where such an important event is celebrated. After all, before the wedding, people always walked at home, and now restaurants are more and more preferred, so it’s not quite reasonable to go home just so as not to violate an ancient custom.
What are the traditions of meeting newlyweds by the parents of the groom?
There is no single opinion on how to meet young parents of the groom, so everyone chooses the option that is more to the liking of both
families and their close relatives. The main goal of this event is to bring prosperity to the future life of the newlyweds.
One of the most common customs is meeting the bride and groom with bread and salt. Some parents prefer to meet their children with glasses filled with wine. There are also people who believe that the wedding loaf is the main attribute of the wedding, and that it should be held in the hands of the groom's mother when meeting the newlyweds. Believing parents prefer to meet young people with icons.
An integral part of the wedding event called “meeting the young” is sprinkling the bride and groom with grain, sweets, rose petals or confetti. The mother-in-law conducts this ceremony, sometimes guests join her.
What do parents need to prepare to meet the bride and groom?
It is important for the groom’s parents to think in advance about what rituals they will hold, meeting their son and daughter-in-law, and to prepare all the necessary attributes for this. Moreover, it is better to do this in advance, so that at the most crucial moment it does not turn out that something is missing at hand.
So, first of all, think with what words you will meet your children. And if you are afraid to forget your speech, write it on a piece of paper. For the ceremonies, you will need icons, bread and salt or a loaf, two towels - one for bread and the other for young feet, two new glasses, champagne, as well as grains, sweets or rose petals that you will sprinkle on the bride and groom at the entrance to the restaurant .
How should the bride and groom behave during their meeting with the parents of the groom
The newlyweds, having approached the groom’s house or the entrance to the restaurant where their parents meet them, and having stepped on a towel for them, should first bow to their parents three times and cross themselves (if they meet with an icon).
Further, if they are met with a loaf or bread and salt, break off a piece of it and give it to each other. At this stage, you can determine who will be the head of the new family - it depends on who quickly broke off a piece of bread or loaf. If the spouses managed to do this simultaneously, then you can be sure that in their house there will be harmony and order in everything.
After the parents serve the newlyweds with glasses filled with champagne, they should mark them with the Cross knowledge three times, which will protect them from possible troubles. Next, the bride and groom should drink a little champagne from the glasses, and pour the rest behind, and then break the glasses. After the ceremony, young people can safely go to the hall to continue the celebration.
The words of the mother-in-law when meeting young
According to ancient traditions, the first words of congratulation of the newlyweds with their creation of a new family are pronounced by the mother of the groom. What exactly will be the first words of the mother-in-law at the wedding depends on her desire. Someone prefers to study poetry for this purpose, someone prepares a beautiful speech in prose, and someone pronounces those words that came to mind at the time of the meeting of the newlyweds, not preparing in advance.
What to do, you decide! However, it is worth noting that it is better to think about what exactly you will say when the bride and groom meet, so as not to be in front of the young and guests in an uncomfortable position. Of course, to learn poetry, firstly, not everyone can do it, and secondly, because of the excitement, you can easily forget the rhymed lines. Therefore, it is best to prepare a small congratulatory speech in prose.
The words of a mother-in-law at a wedding can be, for example, the following: “Our dear children! I want to congratulate you on your marriage and wish that the union you created was strong and full of happiness. Stay as beautiful and happy as you are today, the long years of your family life! ” After the first words, the ceremony of meeting the young will be held depending on the traditions chosen by the parents and the newlyweds.
The blessing of young icons
All parents dream that their children’s marriage should be strong and long, so the most exciting moment in holding a wedding is a blessing. Believing families use icons for this rite.
In addition to the fact that the mother of the bride blesses her at home with the oldest icon before handing over to her future husband, and the mother of the bridegroom blesses her son before leaving the house, a meeting is also held between young people with an icon or two (depending on the traditions in a particular locality) at the entrance in a restaurant.
In most cases, the parents of the groom with two icons meet the young at the entrance to the restaurant - the mother-in-law holds the icon of the Mother of God, and the father-in-law holds Jesus Christ.
Where to get icons for blessing the bride and groom?
Where exactly to take icons for blessing is decided in each family. You can use those with which the groom’s parents were married or the oldest icons in the house, which, for example, came from the mother, and she from her mother or grandmother.
In addition, you can buy new icons, fortunately, today they even sell special sets of them, designed to bless the newlyweds during the wedding. After the ceremony, the icons are placed next to the loaf, and after
At the end of the wedding, the newlyweds bring them to their home as a talisman.
Meeting the newlyweds with bread and salt
Many modern people do not know how to meet young groom's parents with bread and salt, despite the fact that this rite is quite ancient. After all, it has its roots back in those days when the bride and groom lived in the house of her husband. With bread and salt, the mother-in-law welcomed the daughter-in-law in her house as a new tenant.
Nowadays, this custom has no practical significance, since most newlyweds after the wedding settle separately from their parents, but nevertheless many people like it, and they have every right to such a meeting of their son and daughter-in-law. “We meet young people with bread and salt ...”, are the words that the groom’s mother says at the entrance to the house or any establishment where the wedding will be celebrated.
It is important not to forget that bread is placed on the embroidered rushnyk, and salt is placed on top of the bread. In no case should the salt shaker be near bread, as this symbolizes poverty. Well, of course, it is necessary to ensure that the salt does not crumble, as this promises quarrels in a young family.
Bride and groom meeting with a loaf and glasses of wine
In some localities, it is customary to meet newlyweds with a loaf and champagne-filled glasses. However, until the time comes for this ceremony, few think about how to meet the young parents of the groom with a loaf and champagne.
So, for this it is necessary to prepare a silver tray, new glasses, champagne, two wedding towels and a loaf. The mother of the groom meets the young loaf, which must lie on a rushnyk. And the father at this time holds a tray with glasses and champagne, symbolizing the sweetness of married life.
In front of the parents lies a second rushnyk, on which the newlyweds step on approaching their parents. Towel young under the legs spreads so that their path was as beautiful, festive, bright and clean. A meeting of the newlyweds with a loaf promises them a rich and happy future.
Sprinkling young groom's parents
After the wedding, meeting, and blessing, the mother of the groom can also perform a ritual of sprinkling. For this purpose, our ancestors used a mixture of young grain (rice, millet, oats), coins and sweets. Such a "rain" symbolized wealth, prosperity and a sweet life.
Today you can see at least how the groom’s mother meets the young and sprinkles them with rose petals. They symbolize the beauty and eternal love, which, of course, all newlyweds dream of. Even more modern parents use confetti to shower the bride and groom. This method is no less beautiful, but they invest the same wishes of happiness and goodness into this rite.
Whatever method you choose, it is important not to forget about the practical side of this rite. So, it should be borne in mind that in case of showering with grain, sweets and coins, it is better to pour them under your feet, otherwise the joy of this custom may be overshadowed by the ingress of grain into the eyes or a spoiled bride’s hairdo.
Now you know how young parents meet in different towns and families. It remains only to choose the most suitable rites for you. However, whichever of them you prefer, the main thing is that they are carried out wholeheartedly and liked by your children. And then the wedding will be fun and unforgettable!