The wedding ceremony is a special solemn event that is commonly celebrated in Ukraine. There are different variations of celebrations, from solely traditional forms to modern-day variants. Weddings are full of sophisticated customs and traditions that all Ukrainian brides should follow. Such a symbolic event is a part of national culture depicting old and well-known traditions.
Top 5 Wedding Traditions: What You Should Know About Ukrainian Culture
Some of the customs and ethos trace back to the old days but remain significant till these days. Some of them have been transformed and adjusted to modern-day realia to entertain guests and newlyweds during the celebration. What are these entertaining traditions that you may want to know?
Doesn’t it sound weird that you have to pay something to see your wife? Well, that’s what Ukrainian wedding traditions are all about. Sometimes they are absurd or weird to others. But it gives a special charm. If you want to marry a Ukrainian woman, you should be ready to arrive at her house and pay the ransom. The tradition says that bridesmaids were to protect the bride. If the ransom was too small, a groom wasn’t able to take his future wife with him. What is the general tradition for ransom?
When a groom comes to the house of his bride, some guests pose tricky questions. A groom should be ready to give an adequate sum of money and answer all the questions so that the wedding ceremony can start. In some regions of Ukraine, the ransom can be equivalent not only to money but to other alternatives. These days, the ransom is more like a custom, and not all couples stick to the old tradition.
This is a very intimate tradition for Ukrainian families. Parents and grandparents from both sides should give their blessings to the couple and wish them happiness. This is a wonderful ritual that is still present in our days. Listening to the bows and looking at parents’ eyes full of different emotions is an unbelievable experience. Parents wish their children luck, a happy and a long marriage.
- Embroidered Cloth
You can also call it Rushnyk. There are different traditions related to embroidered cloth. It was said that a bride had to work on the cloth on her own and manage a beautiful embroidery before the wedding. It would prove that she is a dedicated housewife and will be a great choice for the groom. These days, this is more common in village areas. In big cities, the tradition isn’t very popular today.
The variety of different foods is a specific feature of Ukrainian wedding ceremonies. Guests may enjoy a whole different variety of tasty dishes. But what is korovai? It is a simple bread made of flour and water. The recipes may differ but the taste and the look of the bread have similar features. This is the traditional food for a wedding ceremony. It designates the well-being of the future family. The customs say the newlyweds have to tear off a piece of bread and eat it in front of the guests when the official part of the ceremony is finished.
Doesn’t it sound frightening? The kidnapping of a wife is a fun tradition that is still present at weddings in different forms. Guests may hide the wife in some of the rooms or outside and ask a husband for another ransom. In many cases, there are also various competitions and contests to check the strength of the man and his desire to save the wife.
What’s special about Ukrainian weddings? This is something about the culture. In western countries, the wedding ring should be put on the left hand. While in Ukraine, wives are supposed to wear the ring on their right hand. Wearing a wedding ring on the left hand in Ukraine is possible but it’s not a traditional way.
Final Thoughts
What should you know about a Ukrainian wedding? This is an interesting and culture-specific celebration. If you have the opportunity to be a guest at such an event, you shouldn’t miss a chance. You will be amazed by the kindness and hospitality of the Ukrainian people, as well as their customs and traditions.