A Ukrainian marriage is an celebration that combines both national and religious traditions. It is a huge, elaborate meeting https://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/women-science with many meaningful rituals and customs.
The ceremony begins with the conventional engagement, when the bridegroom goes to the bride’s parents ( for same- sex or genderqueer couples this is done with both sets of parents ) with a bottle of horilka asking for her hand in marriage. The groom’s family and older married men called starosty visit him. If the parents accept the relationship, the wedding drapes a rushnyk around her spouse- to- get and they all drink horilka jointly.
Before the cathedral service, the bride and groom receive gifts from their parents and godparents during a conventional ceremony known click here for more info as Blahoslovenja. They bow and trade offers, quite as marriage wheat called korovai that indicates career and reproduction. During this part of the ceremony, it is also common to provide the pair with a set of theological symbols that they must place at home and take care of, as a symbol of their new responsibilities.
As the couple exits the ceremony hall, they are presented with a towel that has been nicely decorated. They are supposed to step on it and superstition says that whoever steps on it first heads the household.
Once the wedding celebrations are over, it is common for the newlyweds to spend a few days at their parents ‘ houses. They are showered with gifts and pampered by their family and friends. During this time it is customary to play some light- hearted games like putting a towel on their heads and running through the house or throwing salt at each other. This helps to relax the atmosphere and prepare for their married life.