Traditions Of Russian Brides Then And Now

Dec 27
10:08

2010

Lera Cupidonova

Lera Cupidonova

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A while ago, it was customary for a couple to seek the blessings of their families before they could get married. In modern times, the culture is far more open-minded when it comes to Russian brides.

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There are many interesting traditions relating to marriage,Traditions Of Russian Brides Then And Now Articles some of which are truly unique.

A Russian wedding ceremony is a one of a kind occurrence. It is very probable that you find the perfect lady by means of an agency, who will enlighten you regarding the basic cultural norms. Still, you may be eager to know more about the ceremony itself.

Long ago, it was common for the couple to have very little say regarding a partner and often only became acquainted on their wedding day! Families had a lot to do with deciding who their children were going to marry by promising them to prospective mates when they were still young.

Over time, these traditions became more flexible, especially when free thinking ideas became popular in America. By now, dating became acceptable, as long as the couple did not partake in sexual indulgences before the marital date. To do so would bring harsh punishment.

Buying a wife was never seen as disrespectful, in fact, it was meant to show that the male would be a good provider. He would make a bid of money or presents, often including her whole family in his generosity. The future bridegroom would go to great lengths to show that he was quite capable of providing his wife with a lavish life. This is still practiced in modern times, but the bidding is now simply a representation of the old ideas without any real trading.

If he was hampered and could not marry her due to parental obstacles, abduction was the perfect solution. This may seem strange in these modern times, but it was normal back then. There were even men who were professionals at it and they would come up with all kinds of tricks to make the girls parents consent to her marriage.

The money these men received usually came from the bridegroom and his family. Naturally, it needed full support from the woman to succeed, with many of them eloping at midnight while the household slept.

This shows the tenacity of Russian girls, that they are able to set all that they cherish aside simply to be with that special person.

Marriage ceremonies are usually authorized and take place in a church. While Most of the population Christians, more orthodox beliefs mean that the ritual is slightly different to those in the west. Speaking of religion, during the later years of the Stalin government, many church rituals were banned.

These days, most people choose a church service, and also include formal documents to cement the marriage from a legal aspect.

Traditional ceremonies for Russian brides are flexible, and it can take many hours to perform the required chants and requests for blessings from God. In modern times, people wanting to marry tend to choose the shorter ceremony, which may last for half an hour. After that, the entire group moves to another setting, like a restaurant, where everyone joins in and celebrates with delicious food and vodka.

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