Weddings are a sign of love, prosperity, and happiness. They can unite people and demonstrate strength even in our darkest moments. Amid the war with Russia,the Ukraine government reported that over 4,000 couples got married. Marriage is a sacred and special thing, and this shows that love overcomes all.
Ukraine has numerous old wedding traditions and new ones, but each of them is unique. Its rich history has helped develop traditions that will make any wedding memorable. Continue reading for the top 7 Ukrainian wedding traditions every bride should follow.
1. Paying the Ransom
This may sound like a weird tradition to start out with, but the groom must pay a ransom to visit his bride on the morning of the wedding. Guests and groomsmen can gather around the bride’s house, or the groom may go alone.
Forms of ransom can be cash, presents, or simply answering questions about the bride. Once the groom pays the ransom, he can enjoy spending time with the bride. Guests usually like to take pictures and watch this tradition. This shows how important the bride is to the groom.
2. Blessings
This is a beautiful and important ritual that Ukrainians use at weddings. Also known as Blahoslovenja, the timing and manner of blessings vary for each couple.
Some choose to have their entire families and wedding party make blessings. Others may just have their parents give blessings in the ceremony. This shows the support of the newlyweds and helps wish them a happy, wealthy, and healthy life.
3. Embroidered Cloth
This is more of a fun tradition. The embroidered cloth, or the Rushnyk, is usually embroidered by the bride or her mother. These are intricate designs that can add to the beauty of a Ukrainian wedding.
Before the couple takes their vows, the groom or bride must take the first step on the embroidered cloth. Whoever makes this move will have the final say during the course of their wedding. The groom usually gives this tradition to the wife, and it’s mostly all fun and games.
4. Wedding Toast
Toasts are a huge part of Ukrainian common wedding traditions. Even distant relatives can be found making a toast to the couple. Almost every toast will end with the Ukrainian phrase “Hirko!” which means “bitter.”
According to tradition, the only way to sweeten something that is bitter is by kissing it. So, whenever this phrase is called out, the couple must kiss. How sweet.
5. Single Ladies Dance
During the celebration, the unmarried women gather for a wedding dance. Each woman gets a chance to dance with the bride and be sat down on a chair.
The tradition states that the longer you sit, the more likely it is that you will be alone and unmarried. After sitting, the women must quickly get up and race to the paper hat to get their love life prophecy. Good luck, ladies.
6. Wedding Games
Because Ukrainian weddings focus on entertainment, they offer a bunch of different fun games for the wedding party and its guests. Here are a few fun games to play at your Ukrainian wedding:
Baby Gender Game
This is a fun game for the newlyweds because they get to walk away with a little cash. The best man and maid of honor walk around asking guests whether the couple’s first child will be a girl or boy. If they guess a girl, they put money in the bride’s bucket, and likewise for the groom.
Dance Off
For this game, the bride picks a few women to form a line standing in front of the best man. Each girl has to do a little dance for the best man, and he has to watch them closely.
After their dance, the best man must choose a body part from each woman that is his favorite or the most attractive. Once the dance is over, he has to kiss the part that he chose! Usually, obscure body parts are chosen to make this a little less awkward!
7. Kidnapping the Bride
If you are a fan of The Office, this tradition might be a beautiful addition to your wedding. If not, you might find this one a little scary.
Guests or the groomsmen may hide or kidnap the bride in an unknown location to the groom. He must find and save his wife in order to marry her. Many people add in other competitions with this. They usually deal with the ability of strength or knowledge to make sure that he is able to save his wife.
Ukrainian Wedding Traditions Bonus
There are a lot of quirky and gorgeous things that can be found at a traditional Ukrainian wedding. Here are a few smaller traditions that shouldn’t be forgotten:
- Ukrainians wear their ring on their right hand
- Traditional wedding dresses are embroidered and colorful with lots of patterns
- Brides wear a hand-woven crown that resembles a wreath on the day of the wedding
- Sealed envelopes with cash are the most common Ukrainian wedding gift
- To signify the life of the celebration, the Ukrainian wedding march is always played after the ceremony
Plan Your Traditional Wedding Today
Ukrainian wedding traditions often result in celebrations that are full of entertainment, games, and gathering of friends and family. They are so rich with culture and customs that they can often last several days.
While many people do not adhere to the customs of a traditional wedding, these rites can help you plan the most gorgeous and memorable day. Check out our different articles for the best tips and tricks on how to plan the perfect wedding day.
Wedding Details is your comprehensive guide to all aspects of your wedding. From traditional ceremonies to questions regarding the guests, our website offers you one place to do all your research.