| In the Old Rus' it was a custom to marry quite at a | | | | brother invited many guests to the stag party: they |
| young age, starting from 12. It was taken for | | | | visited their homes and brought presents when |
| granted that the bride and the bridegroom did not | | | | inviting the guests. |
| know each other very well before the wedding or, | | | | At the hen party the bride was getting ready for the |
| often, had not even seen each other. Parents | | | | coming wedding: with other girls she was charming |
| decided about the marriage and informed a youth | | | | evil spirits away. Quite often the bride would lament |
| about "his fate" shortly before the wedding. In some | | | | over parting with her family and maiden living, and |
| regions, however, it was not that strict: a boy could | | | | facing the unknown lot in the new family. Sometimes |
| choose his prospective wife himself, but was obliged | | | | the bride's friends would sing songs in a choir. |
| to ask for his parents' approval to marry her. If he | | | | Usually a wedding lasted for three days, but |
| was lucky in that, the parents would send | | | | sometimes could run for a whole week. During the |
| matchmakers with gifts and bread to the girl's family. | | | | Marriage church service the bridegroom was to hold |
| It happened also that parents of the would-be bride | | | | the bride's hand and not release it for a second. They |
| initiated the wedding. They sent a close person to | | | | brought bread wine with them, and the priest treated |
| the young man's family to propose the match. If the | | | | them with it for three times. After drinking it for the |
| boy's parents agreed, then they proceeded with a | | | | third time the bridegroom threw the wine goblet on |
| regular matchmaking. Some girls' parents resorted to | | | | to the floor and trampled down on it. Afterwards, |
| cunning: if their daughter was not that beautiful they | | | | according to one tradition, the newlyweds did not |
| could demonstrate a prettier servant or a younger | | | | hurry to the wedding feast, but separately went |
| daughter instead of the proposed bride. The | | | | home: each of them had dinner at one's parents' |
| fiancée had no right to see his future wife | | | | place. After getting the final blessing of his parents, |
| before the wedding, so when the trickery came to | | | | the bridegroom went to the bride's home. This is |
| light the marriage could be dissolved. Yet, it happened | | | | when wedding games started. To get hold of his |
| very seldom. | | | | wife, the newlywed husband had to buy her out and |
| Matchmakers usually went to the girl's parents | | | | then symbolically lashed her several times so that she |
| together with relatives. They brought presents, wine, | | | | would obey her husband ever since. Afterwards the |
| beer and various pies to the parents. According to | | | | celebrations moved to the bridegroom's place. |
| the tradition the father was supposed to refuse at | | | | According to a different tradition the wedding feast |
| first to give his daughter. After all, following the | | | | on the first day took place at the bride's home. The |
| results of the "deal", the father gave his blessing to | | | | newlyweds could eat or drink almost nothing. On the |
| his daughter's marriage. Before singing the paper | | | | eve of the wedding the bride's matchmaker went to |
| about details of the forthcoming event the parents | | | | the bride's home to prepare the nuptial bed. There |
| of the bride and the bridegroom would for some | | | | was a belief that evil spirits put a curse on the home |
| time sit in front of each other keeping silent. In the | | | | where a wedding was celebrated. So the newlyweds |
| agreement the bride's dowry was also specified. | | | | never slept inside the house on their first night. |
| Usually it consisted of her paraphernalia, household | | | | Usually a barn was used for that purpose. |
| things, and, if the family was well-off, money, | | | | On the second day the wedding moved to the |
| servants and some landed property as well. If the | | | | bridegroom's home. On the third day the newlywed |
| bride's family was poor, then the bridegroom had to | | | | wife already boasted with her cooking skill and |
| hand over a certain amount of money to her | | | | treated guests with her pies. |
| parents, so that they could make semblance of | | | | This is roughly how the old Russian wedding used to |
| dowry. | | | | be held. Some traditions have kept till date and in |
| On the eve of the wedding a stag party and a hen | | | | modified versions and interpretations are still used |
| party were arranged in the homes of a bridegroom | | | | nowadays. |
| and a bride, respectively. The bridegroom's father or | | | | |