{"id":48755,"date":"2018-12-30T09:55:50","date_gmt":"2018-12-30T14:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.topweddingsites.com\/wedding-blog\/?p=48755"},"modified":"2019-01-14T09:14:37","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T14:14:37","slug":"russian-wedding-the-guide-to-quirky-traditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.topweddingsites.com\/wedding-blog\/multicultural-themes\/russian-wedding-the-guide-to-quirky-traditions","title":{"rendered":"Russian Wedding: The Guide to Quirky Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although the Web is actively crushing cultural barriers and destroying decades-old stereotypes, the phrase \u201cRussian wedding\u201d still makes minds of some picture a loud, bustling feast, with gallons upon gallons of vodka, red tablecloths, and bears, dancing to the sweet, cheerful sounds of the balalaika. Of course, the real picture has nothing to do with all this, except for vodka, maybe. A traditional ceremony is much more sophisticated and elaborate than it may seem, yet it has some quirks and features, some of which date back hundreds of years. In case you\u2019re looking for some\u00a0exotic ideas<\/a>\u00a0to spice up your wedding, feel free to take inspiration from these classic Russian traditions.<\/p>\n

The Ransom<\/b><\/h3>\n

So, the wedding day begins. The groom rounds up the matchmakers, friends, and his best man and heads to the bride’s house only to find out that the bridesmaids (yes, there may be more than one) hid his future spouse somewhere, and now they demand the ransom for her. But that\u2019s not all. In addition to paying actual money, the groom must go through an \u201cobstacle course,\u201d solving a few riddles and puzzles. For each unsolved riddle, he must pay with either a gift or even more cash. Once he finds his bride, the two head to the town hall or registry office where the official <\/span>Russian ceremony<\/span><\/a> begins.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kidnapping<\/b><\/h3>\n

For some reason, several major wedding traditions in Russia are associated with taking the bride away from her beloved groom. This ritual is very old, and it wasn\u2019t fun originally. When serfdom (debt bondage) came to Russia, a custom appeared, according to which, the serf bride had to spend the wedding night with her master. Surely, the groom couldn\u2019t let this happen, so the master sent his lackeys to kidnap the bride in the midst of the wedding ceremony. If the groom was wealthy, though, he could buy out the bride. Now, it\u2019s usually the groom\u2019s friends who steal the bride, and it\u2019s nothing more than a game. The groom can get her loved one back by paying \u201cthe kidnappers\u201d or by solving another riddle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGorka!\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is the most popular tradition, but its origin is a mystery. According to one of the versions, Russian ancestors were superstitious. They seriously believed in evil spirits that loved to spoil the fun at celebrations. These spirits hated to see people happy. That\u2019s why, trying to deceive the evil, all guests at the wedding shouted “Gorka!” (from the Russian \u201c\u0413\u043e\u0440\u044c\u043a\u043e\u201d which means \u201cbitter\u201d), thereby showing that the life of the future spouses is full of not only joy but bitter moments, as well. Hearing this, the spirits left them alone. Today, the bride and groom must kiss every time they hear \u201cGorka.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Crowning<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"\"

Have you ever wanted to feel like a monarch? Try Eastern European women dating<\/a>, and you\u2019ll get a chance to become one but just for a couple of hours. <\/span>Back in the day, the Russian tradition of placing crowns onto the couple\u2019s heads was sometimes even more important than the exchange of rings. During the ritual, the groom and his bride stand on a piece of cloth while the priest covers their heads with crowns. After that, the two must take a sip of wine from a cup. Today, the tradition isn\u2019t as popular as it was, unfortunately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebration<\/b><\/p>\n

That\u2019s the part where stereotypes meet the reality. A Russian wedding celebration is a huge feast, with endless toasts, loud music, dances, and, of course, contests. These are fun games that keep the guests entertained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, Russian wedding traditions are a fascinating mix of old, new, and weird that turns even the most humble ceremony into an unforgettable experience, both for the newlyweds and guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although the Web is actively crushing cultural barriers and destroying decades-old stereotypes, the phrase \u201cRussian wedding\u201d still makes minds of some picture a loud, bustling feast, with gallons upon gallons of vodka, red tablecloths, and bears, dancing to the sweet, cheerful sounds of the balalaika. Of course, the real picture has nothing to do with all this, except for vodka, maybe. A traditional ceremony is much more sophisticated and elaborate than it may seem, yet it has some quirks and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":48757,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5425],"tags":[1558,6081,6062],"class_list":["post-48755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-multicultural-themes","tag-ceremony","tag-russian-wedding","tag-tradition"],"yoast_head":"\nRussian Wedding: The Guide to Quirky Traditions | Multicultural Themes | TopWeddingSites.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.topweddingsites.com\/wedding-blog\/multicultural-themes\/russian-wedding-the-guide-to-quirky-traditions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Russian Wedding: The Guide to Quirky Traditions | Multicultural Themes | TopWeddingSites.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Although the Web is actively crushing cultural barriers and destroying decades-old stereotypes, the phrase \u201cRussian wedding\u201d still makes minds of some picture a loud, bustling feast, with gallons upon gallons of vodka, red tablecloths, and bears, dancing to the sweet, cheerful sounds of the balalaika. 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