Let's talk now and figure out what the essence of the Moldovan wedding is. After all, for every person around the globe, a wedding is the most important step in the future married life. In order to make this event memorable for a lifetime, they try to make it as beautiful and interesting as possible, so they plan and prepare for the wedding celebration in advance. Many still adhere to all rituals and make their weddings in the traditional style. How exactly such weddings take place, we will now talk with you, describe in detail each of the rites.

Like any celebration, the wedding begins with fuss, din and utter commotion. Just before the wedding celebration, all the fuss begins not a couple of days, but a year before the appointed date, which is also very long and carefully chosen. All this is due to the fact that on the chosen day, the newlyweds may have a post or some kind of holiday. The day itself is easiest to choose using the church calendar, because this way it will be possible to avoid problems in the future that may arise during the wedding. After the day is chosen, the bride and groom begin to discuss and decide on all financial costs, they agree on everything among themselves and allocate the amount that they can spend on the wedding celebration. After that, they are determined with a list of necessary guests from both sides and begin to look closely at the ceremonial halls. The church where the wedding ceremony will take place is also chosen. Then, six months later, they begin to choose witnesses, most often they are the best friends of the young, who should not be married. After the young, it is worth taking a closer look and choosing nanashek. According to the traditions and customs of the Moldovan solemn wedding, couples who are married (a very good sign) can become nanashki, they should also preferably be younger than the parents of the young and older than themselves. The family that is chosen for nanashki should live in peace and be prosperous, because they were considered an example for the young. A very responsible task fell on the shoulders of the nanashka, which they had to carry out all their lives - they became good advisers and good support for the young family.

A very interesting ritual in Moldova was how the groom is dressed.
It all starts with the fact that from the very morning the groom was helped to dress by his faithful friends and the most important assistant - the witness. Then they all went together to pick up the nanash who were waiting for them at home, because the very invitation of the nanash to the wedding also had to go through the ceremony. The young man had to bring with him rolls, which were supposed to lie on a large national towel, which, preferably, had to be embroidered by hand. In turn, the imprisoned parents accepted them and showed with this gesture that they agree to become nanash for the bride and groom and help them in family problems all their lives. Of course, even earlier, the Nanashi were aware that they would be planted parents, but these are the conditions of traditions and rituals in Moldova. After the nanashi have accepted the loaf, they all go to pick up the bride.
In Moldova, as in most countries, the bride and groom choose their witnesses, who throughout the wedding will have to help them in everything and support them in everything. The groom could choose anyone to be a witness (vornichel), but most often it was either the brother of the young man or his best friend. The bride, in turn, also chose a witness (boyfriend) from her best friends, sometimes the bride's sister could become her.

The very process of preparing the bride for the wedding celebration was very interesting. This tradition exists in almost all nations, and in all cases, the bridesmaids and, of course, the witness help the bride in her collection. The whole dressing process was very beautiful and was never done without songs. With the help of the song, the young woman sang and said goodbye to her old life, she said goodbye to games, girlfriends, parents and, of course, to the dearest and closest home in which she grew up.
When the groom came for the bride, before he took her away, a ransom was usually asked for the bride. Nanashi, the witness, the groom's friends, and the groom himself stood in front of the bride's house, a witness stood on the threshold and made a ransom in accordance with all traditions. Also, based on custom, a knife was stuck in the door frame and it was pulled out by the witness only in cases where the bride was completely ready to marry this young man. If it happened that she did not agree, then the knife was not drawn out and the groom was not allowed to see the bride. After the groom crossed the threshold and received his long-awaited bride, their parents had to bless them, and then they all went together to the church for the wedding or immediately to the place of marriage registration - the registry office. When the young people were already married (legalized their relationship), very often they went to the graves of soldiers or went to the monuments and brought them flowers. This tradition came from ancient times, only then they worshiped and brought flowers to the graves of their ancestors. After such a walk, the young and all the guests were invited to the solemn table and continued the wedding fun.
The celebration at Moldovan weddings is also accompanied by multiple traditions and rituals. So before entering the solemn hall, the bride and groom should be met by their parents with kalachs and salt, which should have been kept on a traditionally embroidered towel. Young people, in turn, should bow to them and break off as large a piece as possible and dip it in salt, as they say, annoy each other for the last time. The bottom line was to enter into a life together as if from a new leaf, and live long, happily and in prosperity. After the ceremony, they enter the hall, followed by everyone else. Then the young people go into the hall and take their places. And the invited guests are already met by witnesses and imprisoned parents. Guests, in turn, usually enter in pairs or families. At the same time, they congratulate the young, give them flowers and gifts. The toast itself and wishes to the young should be spoken only with a full glass of red wine. After all the accepted congratulations, the word is given to the bride and groom, who thank all the guests for congratulations and gifts and invite them to the festive table. Then almost everywhere everything is repeated, but there are exceptions to the written script. The most basic thing that can greatly distinguish a wedding in Moldova from other weddings is that they must have dances and dance competitions to the national Moldovan music, and even better when it happens live. A Moldavian wedding must be accompanied by a variety of joke contests, necessarily ransoms of the bride, and in some cases even the groom.
Moldavian weddings are also famous for the fact that when midnight comes on them, the witnesses, together with the planted parents, perform a ceremony of gifts to the bride and groom. The essence of this ceremony is to collect as much money as possible for a young family, because it is this first amount that will be considered their foundation in creating a family. Of course, very often young people spend the money they receive on home improvement or on their honeymoon trip. The rite of collecting money itself is as follows: the nashka is given a huge basket in which he must collect money. He with this basket should bypass each guest. The guests, in turn, raise a glass of red wine, which the parents of the newlyweds should give them, say a toast and put money in the basket. Often there is no specific amount to give, everyone throws as much as he can or how much he wants to give to the young. Also, before the guest pronounces his wishes to the young, the musicians must play a melody, which is different for each guest. After collecting the money, the toastmaster or relatives of the newlyweds invite everyone to dance. And nanashki, together with witnesses, at this moment are counting the donated money. Then, after dancing, the collected amount is announced to all those present, and the young people bow and thank the guests for the donated money.
Toward the end of the wedding celebration, everyone gathers to conduct such a ceremony as undressing the bride. The essence of this ceremony is as follows - all wedding jewelry, namely the veil, is removed from the bride. The wedding bouquet is also removed from the groom. Usually, the newlyweds should give the veil and wedding bouquet to an unmarried girl and a single guy. After that, the musicians play national slow music, according to which the owners of wedding attributes must dance.
After the end of this ceremony, another begins - the bride must necessarily tie her head with a scarf. To do this, the groom sits down on a chair and puts a pillow on his knees. Then, the bride comes up to him and sits down on this pillow. The bride is tied with an apron and a scarf. This ceremony indicates that the bride has already become the keeper of the hearth and has become the mistress of the house.
Then the ceremony of giving gifts to the young begins. If the guests chose bedding or sets as a gift, then they should be put on the young, tied with them, or laid out around the young family. After that, the young seven tries to get to the guests through a bunch of gifts, after which they all go dancing together. Then the bride has the honor of cutting the cake, which should be distributed piece by piece to all the guests. It is advisable to take the cake from the hands of the bride - this is considered a good omen.
In Moldova, the wedding is usually celebrated for two days. On the second day, only the closest and dearest people come. The bride must go out to the guests in an apron and scarf. Also, the most basic and traditional attribute of the second day is hot chicken broth, which is called zama. Then the holiday proceeds according to the usual scenario.

Moldova is a small country located on a hilly plain between Ukraine and Romania. The complex, changeable fate of the Moldovan people is reflected in cultural traditions and holidays. People here have been farming for centuries, and many customs are associated with the wheel of the year, fertility and seasonal work. From ancient times to the present day, hospitable, hospitable Moldovans have carefully preserved their cultural heritage and the wisdom of their ancestors. A Moldavian wedding is the embodiment of the rebellious spirit of a small country, a time when you can touch the amazing traditions of this people with trepidation, plunge into the atmosphere of primordial folk festivals.

The inhabitants of Moldova are very careful about their heritage and are happy to share the heritage of their ancestors with everyone who wants to hear and see. This friendly, hospitable people welcome fun and holidays with plentiful refreshments. At the celebrations, melodious folk songs are necessarily sung, energetic, incendiary dances are danced. And how beautiful and original are traditional dresses decorated with embroidery! It was in Moldova that carpets of incredible beauty and masterpieces of hand embroidery were created.

Traditional marriage rituals

Wedding celebrations were traditionally scheduled in the fall. After the end of the harvesting campaign, the most suitable time came for festivities with the whole world, and with all the breadth of the soul. The bins were bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables, and young wine was ripening, and the main hard work in the fields was over.

A wedding in Moldova has never been started in haste. From the conspiracy of the young to the wedding day, a year passed, or even more. All this time, preparations were made for the grandiose action and the subsequent feast. Every little detail was scrupulously taken into account, and the date of the wedding was chosen with all care: it should not have happened on fasting or unfavorable days. Marriage witnesses and Nashaul advisers were chosen. They could only be a strong married couple, older than the newlyweds, but younger than their parents, who would help the young during the celebrations, and then begin to give wise advice in family life.

Matchmaking and engagement

The ancient traditions of the Moldovan wedding imply an obligatory ritual of matchmaking. For this, favorable days were necessarily chosen - Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, but not on major church holidays or on fasting days. Matchmakers were sent to the house of the chosen girl, and the presence of the groom was not required. They painted in colorful expressions all the virtues of a young successful hunter who spotted such a coveted prey. In allegorical speeches and careful observance of the time-honored ritual lies a sacred meaning: only in this way will the future family be protected from misfortunes.

If the girl's parents gave prior consent to the marriage, then her personal item was transferred to the groom or his representative. Then followed a stormy bargaining between both sides, when a ransom was demanded for the bride, sometimes very serious. As soon as the parties came to an agreement, a date for the final agreement was set. This time, usually up to two weeks, was given for reflection and weighing all the pros and cons. At the end of this period, the agreement could either be confirmed or terminated without mutual claims. After that, an engagement was scheduled. Usually preparation for it was about seven to ten days.

On this day, the bride's relatives paid a return visit to the groom's house, making sure that everything said about him by the matchmakers was true. And the young hunter is a really worthy choice, that he is a strong master with skillful hands and will be able to adequately support his family. The hospitable hosts served a plentiful feast, and a leisurely conversation began. They discussed the details of future wedding celebrations, the list of guests, the day and the dowry of the bride were appointed.

Because of the size of the dowry, it used to be a lot of controversy. Usually, the girl was given luxurious hand-embroidered carpets and rugs on the floor, embroidered towels and linen, and kitchen utensils. The guy's parents, for their part, allocated a plot of land, materials for building a house, a workhorse and tools.

Preparation period

The choice of nahauls was approached with great care. Not every couple was suitable for such a responsible role. And without their presence, the marriage could not have taken place at all - this is just as indispensable an element of a Moldovan wedding as newlyweds. The chosen married couple must necessarily have family ties with the young, be happy in marriage. Also, an important criterion was their strong financial position and readiness to help and instruct the young family.

Invitation cards were lovingly baked by the hands of a young hostess rich products - bagels, kalachi or gingerbread. Ignoring the invitation was considered a serious insult, therefore, without a serious reason, such a responsible mission was not refused. In fact, these people became the second parents for the newlyweds.

Nowadays, good acquaintances, friends of parents or married couples from among the same age of the newlyweds are invited to play the role of nahauls. After that, an application for registration of marriage is submitted to the registry office, a banquet hall is selected and booked if the wedding is planned to be held in a restaurant, and the scenario of the holiday is specified.

Traditional attire and modern attire

The national wedding costumes of Moldovans are masterpieces embroidered by hand with amazing patterns. It takes a lot of time and effort to make them, but it's worth it - no purchased dress can be compared with the exquisite simplicity and amazing patterns of folk wedding vestments. Silk, dyed cotton threads, beads, beads are used for embroidery. The base is white, on which red, black and blue patterns are sewn. Shirts, sashes and trousers are sewn for the groom, the dress for the bride must be embroidered along the hem, collar and sleeves, an embroidered apron and belt are tied.

Modern newlyweds can also order outfits in the atelier, but there the embroidery will be machine-made. Also, the classic outfits of the bride and groom are quite popular among urban youth.

Moldavian wedding customs

The traditional celebration began with a visit to the home of the Nashauls. A festively dressed groom, bowing, respectfully held out a freshly baked muffin on an embroidered towel, asking to become planted parents. In the meantime, relatives and friends looked into every house, calling all the neighbors to the wedding. After that, the groom, accompanied by nashauls and witnesses, went for the bride.

In the girl's house, they were met by the gates locked with bolts and very resolutely minded men of the family. The groom and best man stepped forward and reverently told the old legend about the king and the beautiful forest fairy. And they said that a long and difficult road led the young prince to the house where his beloved lives. The gates were opened, but the trials of the groom did not end there.

Rite of Vestment

Before the wedding, the bride was dressed by her friends in an outfit brought by the groom. Ritual songs of farewell to the girl's life, to parents and stepfather's house were sung. When ready, she went out to the groom and guests, presenting her gifts on an embroidered towel - a shirt and belt, completely made by her.

Bride ransom ritual

Before seeing the bride, the groom had to go through difficult trials prepared for him. A sharp knife must have wove into the joint. If the bride agreed to the wedding, her witness removed the blade, and the groom got the right to lead her down the aisle. The bridesmaid and his best man, with the feasible help of the nahauls, arranged various tests and competitions, where the groom appeared as a skilled hunter, an excellent worker and a good owner, and the bride acted as a quivering hunted doe and a beautiful fairy fairy.

The house greeted the guests with a parade decorated with embroidered towels, garlands and wreaths of flowers, ribbons, canopies of richly embroidered fabrics, carpets and paths. On the tables there were always sweet muffins - kalachi, bagels, gingerbread.

Now ancient traditions are diluted with modern inclusions. Questionnaire posters are drawn, poems suitable for the occasion, comic songs and quizzes are composed. Competitions are taken as those with whom even great-grandparents married, as well as modern ones.

All the undertakings in the bride's house depend entirely on the bridesmaids, it is they who set the tone for the holiday.

Wedding ceremonies and modern marriage registration

The wedding in the temple was necessarily preceded by confession and Holy Communion the day before. Also, preliminary discussions were held on the value and sanctity of family ties. The bride entered the temple only with her head covered; for this, a shawl or veil of the finest workmanship was prepared. Never entered the temple drunk or even sipped wine.

Before the marriage ritual, the young people broke rolls and treated all the single guests. As the wedding train left the gate, the mother of the bride threw wheat grains and small sweets after them to ensure well-being and harmony.

Solemn feast and folk dances

Moldova is famous for its hospitable, generous people. Weddings walked with all their hearts, with tables that were bursting with a wide variety of dishes. Both cold and hot dishes of national cuisine, young wine, fruits and berries were sure to be present.

Stuffed peppers, mashed beans, entrecote and zrazy were traditional dishes. Vegetable soups with meat or fish broth, broth with vegetables and eggs were also served. A huge amount of sweet pastries rose on flat dishes. These are various kalachi, pies with fillings, fried cakes and rolls.

An obligatory attribute of a Moldavian wedding is songs and dances. Not a single identity can do without them. Live music, beautiful staged voices, melodic national songs and incendiary round dances - well, how can you sit still here? To this day, ritual dances remain obligatory for performance: “Veils”, “Shirts” and “Masks”.

Interesting customs and signs of the Moldavian wedding

Moldovans attach great importance to various signs and zealously observe them so that the life of the newlyweds is cloudless and happy.

• If during the period of “thinking” after the matchmaking, the groom’s parents or he himself abandoned their intentions, the bride could conduct a special ceremony “on the stove” and marry the guy to herself against all odds. For his part, the rejected groom could simply steal his beloved.
• In the south of Moldova, the bride could live in the groom's house after the engagement, but in the north - only after the wedding.
• Each guest had to not only present a gift to the young, but also to explain in detail to everyone what exactly his gift was. This custom contributed to the creation of a strong, indestructible bond between the newlyweds and relatives.
• On the eve of the wedding, on Thursday, a little boy and girl sifted flour through a sieve with a couple of coins. They took coins as a payment, and kneaded dough for rich rolls from flour.
• The ritual of sewing a dress shirt for the mother-in-law was necessarily carried out. Measurements were taken, and the girl had to sew and embroider a gift before the wedding day.
• With the blessing of their parents, the young must necessarily kneel on a sheepskin - this promised wealth and happiness.
• The ransom of the bride was carried out and is still carried out not only with money, but also with sweets, pastries, symbolic little surprises.
• Following the birth of a child, a christening was always scheduled with carefully chosen godparents. And all godfathers who came to congratulate the newborn on baptism, there could be up to fifty.

The final chord of the wedding ceremony was the “undressing of the bride”. Women removed a wedding veil from an already married woman and handed it over to the maiden. The groom, meanwhile, passed the boutonniere to a single friend. In return, a veil or scarf was thrown over the head of the young wife, which henceforth showed her married status. And those young man and girl who received gifts from the newlyweds had to dance a joint dance.

After the wedding: the beginning of a new life

The day after the wedding night was dedicated to the parents. It started at lunchtime and continued until evening. Guests gathered in modest, almost casual clothes. Parents and nahauls collected old, unnecessary things that needed to be flogged with nettle rods or smeared well in mud. Chicken broth with noodles was served on the table. On this day, they rode all over the neighborhood in carts, held outdoor games, sang and danced.

The Moldavian wedding is the brightest illustration of the ancient culture of this people. Original, full of charm and ancient wisdom, it captivates with its beauty and overflowing fun.

Newlyweds who live in big cities are increasingly celebrating their wedding celebration according to European canons. But in the outback, in small towns and villages, national traditions still live, they are revered, so they try to spend all the holidays according to beautiful rites.

Moldovan wedding traditions

The Moldovan wedding is distinguished by fun, humor and many ancient customs. Preparation for it begins a year before the appointed date. The wedding date is chosen in accordance with the church calendar, bypassing the time of fasting. Young people and parents determine the amount of expenses for the upcoming holiday, make a list of guests and witnesses, choose ours. Nanashi at the Moldovan wedding are significant figures. They are a symbol of happiness, family hearth. These should be middle-aged people, from a strong and prosperous family. Nanashi must help the new family with advice, support it in difficult times.

When the appointed date arrives, the groom, dressed for the upcoming celebration, goes for nanashi. According to a long tradition, on a long towel embroidered with a national ornament, he gives the spouses a fresh fragrant kalach. If the bread is favorably received, it means the consent to be ours. Although everything is decided in advance, but such is the tradition, and no one breaks it. There are several other important figures at the Moldovan wedding: witnesses from the side of the bride and groom. They are called vornichel and buddy. Gathered together, they go for the bride.

Bride dressing and ransom at a Moldovan wedding

A beautiful and important ritual at a Moldovan wedding is the dressing of the bride. Her friends help her in this, and the ceremony itself is accompanied by a song in which the girl says goodbye to her stepfather's house, sisters and brothers, young friends, games.

When the groom, accompanied by witnesses and our wife, arrives at the bride's house, there, according to tradition, she is ransomed. On the eve of the door jamb was stuck a knife, which symbolizes the gate. If the bride agrees to marry a young man, then the boyfriend takes out a knife and lets the groom go ahead. Parents bless the young and all together go to church or the registry office. Many couples visit places of military glory and lay flowers at the monument. After that, the guests gather for a banquet.

The wedding starts...

The theater begins with a hanger, and the wedding - from the threshold to the banquet hall. At the entrance to the hall, a young couple is met by their parents. They hold kalachi, from which the newlyweds break off pieces, dip them in salt and treat each other. Thus, they are trying to “annoy” each other in advance so that this does not happen in family life. Guests are greeted at the entrance by nanash and witnesses. Guests come in pairs. With a glass of homemade wine, congratulations are pronounced to the young, they are wished health and a strong family. In response, the young couple thanked everyone and invited them to the table. The holiday is gaining momentum. Music is playing, everyone is dancing, participating in competitions, eating. A prerequisite for a Moldovan wedding is folk music performed live.

Around midnight, guests begin to give gifts to the newlyweds. Young people with nanash go around all the guests, and they give money. For each guest, a national melody is performed, and he, in turn, congratulates the couple on such a significant event. The fun with dancing and singing resumes again. When the money is counted, the amount is loudly announced to everyone.

Interesting rituals of the Moldovan wedding

This is followed by another ritual - undressing the bride. The girls take off her veil and other wedding paraphernalia. A wedding bouquet is also removed from the young spouse and given to a friend. Those who got a veil and a bouquet dance together to a lyrical melody.

Another interesting rite, symbolizing the girl's readiness to become a wife and mistress: the young man sits on a chair, a pillow is placed on his knees. A young wife sits on a pillow, and her friends tie her a scarf and an apron. The guests again endow the couple with household items and bed linen and towels. At the end of the celebration, the newlyweds cut the wedding cake, and each guest receives a delicious piece from the hands of the new hostess.

The holiday continues on the second day. It is attended only by relatives and closest people. According to an old tradition, a young wife greets guests dressed in a headscarf and an apron. Before the feast, everyone is necessarily treated to a national dish - chicken broth, which is called deputy.

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In Moldova, at weddings that take place in villages and villages, they often resort to national traditions, including clothing. Traditional costumes in Moldova are real works of art. As a rule, it takes a lot of effort and time to decorate outfits, because they are embroidered by hand with threads and beads. The key color remains white - the main color of the wedding. However, the costume can be embroidered with red, black and blue threads.

Wedding in Moldova: dressing the young

The Moldovan wedding begins with the preparation of the bride and groom for the holiday. Friends and witnesses help dress the young. The groom is dressed first. Together with his comrades, he goes to the house of the nanash, where the ceremony of invitation to the wedding takes place. According to the custom, the groom hands over to the planted father and mother kalachi, neatly laid out on an embroidered towel. Having accepted kalachi, the married couple gives their consent to become nanashi. Further, the witnesses, who in Moldova are called vornichel and druzhka, and nanashi go with the groom to fetch his beloved.

The Moldovan bride also undergoes a dressing ceremony, in which her bridesmaids help her. The ceremony is accompanied by beautiful songs dedicated to farewell to the parental home and friends.

Moldavian bride - redemption of the beauty

A wedding in Moldova involves an unusual ritual before the first meeting of the newlyweds. You will be surprised when you find out how a bride is redeemed in Moldovan traditions. When the groom arrives at his beloved's house, an interesting custom takes place - bargaining for the bride. A sharp knife is inserted into the door jamb, which symbolizes the gate. The bride must give symbolic consent to marry. If she agrees, the friend takes out a knife from the joint and lets the groom into the house of his beloved. Then the parents bless the couple, and everyone goes to register the marriage.

Moldovan wedding celebration

The Moldovan wedding has some similar customs with neighboring countries. Some of the customs were borrowed from Ukraine, some from Romania. Since the Jewish community also lives in Moldova, both Moldovan and Jewish wedding rites can be observed at the celebration of the two peoples. Traditionally, the newlyweds meet with kalachi, just like in Russia and Ukraine - with bread and salt. A piece of kalach needs to be dipped in salt and fed to your soulmate. Then the guests treat themselves to homemade wine and begin to congratulate the newlyweds. After congratulations, the young and the guests proceed to the meal.

What are guests treated to at a Moldavian wedding?

A wedding in Moldovan villages is always magnificent tables and cheerful noisy festivities. On the table there are classic wedding cuts, as well as national Moldavian dishes, dearly loved by the locals. If the wedding falls in the fall, then expect a magnificent table, because it is at this time that the country harvests fruits and vegetables. Moldova is also famous for its delicious fragrant wine, without which no holiday is complete. If you are lucky enough to get to a Moldavian celebration, the site for newlyweds, Svadebka.ws, would recommend that you try national dishes.

Snacks:

• Gogoshary in Moldavian
• Facaluite beans

Meat dishes:

• Entrecote
• Zrazy

First meal:

• Chorba

Flour products:

• Kalachi
• Easter cakes
• Placinda
• Vertuta

Traditional Moldovan dances

Not a single wedding in Moldova, as well as a traditional wedding in Turkey, is complete without national dances. Most often, Moldovan dances at a wedding are accompanied by live music, which creates an even more soulful atmosphere at the celebration. One of the popular dances is the chora - a traditional incendiary round dance, which guests dance with the newlyweds. Looking at the active and incendiary dances, not a single guest can resist starting to dance. Also, traditional “Dance of the veil”, “Dance of the shirt” and “Dance of masks” may also be present at Moldovan weddings.

The most fun and spectacular family ritual is the wedding of the young, where the bride and groom are the main participants, the heroes of the celebration. During fasting, weddings were not held, because it is a sin. The period of weddings is closely connected with agricultural activities, when the work in the field ends, then weddings are played.

Like other peoples, Moldovans have a belief that every guy and every girl has her own betrothed destined by fate. There are many forms of divination for a betrothed. Family consciousness is based on love and mutual understanding.
The wedding of the young includes a series of customs and rituals: pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding. Despite the fact that Moldova is a small country, each region has its own traditions, for example: dishes, the nature of the engagement, the ritual of receiving a dowry, the number of wedding bands, etc. In the past, in the villages in the north, the wedding was celebrated for three days, in the center of Moldova, the wedding lasted a week with many customs and rituals. In the south, the bride left with a dowry to the groom after the engagement, and in the north on the wedding day.

Matchmaking. A traditional Moldavian wedding begins with matchmaking, when the groom with an older relative comes to the bride's parents to ask for her hand in marriage. There are certain forms of requests and appeals to the bride's parents. If the parents agree, the engagement follows in a week or two.

Engagement. The engagement is usually held at the bride's home. At the engagement, they discuss the nature of the wedding, propose the parents to be planted, decide how many wedding bands are needed for the guests, sometimes they agree on a dowry, etc. In the center and north of the country, only the closest relatives of the bride and groom, who are witnesses to the contract, come to the engagement. They set the wedding day, choose music, dishes, the place where the wedding will take place, decide the share of participation of guests and the contribution of parents to organizing the wedding of the young.

Answer. A few days or a week after the engagement, at the groom’s house, an “answer” is carried out (everything is finally decided). The bride's parents come to the groom with several people and with their parents, if at that time they have already been chosen and have given their consent to participate in the wedding. The decision of the young to get married is confirmed with gifts, the girl's parents give rolls, towels and drinks.

The most revered at the wedding are the bride, groom and planted parents. Being planted by parents at a wedding is a great honor. There is a beautiful custom when the parents of the bride or groom give two rolls and a towel to the future parents. Parents give these kalachs to people they want to see as planted parents at their children's wedding, thus inviting them to be planted parents, and they should consider their options and accept kalachi, which will be considered consent or refuse kalachi. In fact, it is not good to refuse to marry someone, because it is a sin to push them away from you. Young people become like children for planted parents. If the planted parents are chosen, then they can be present at the engagement and at the "answer", they have the right to express their opinion on what the wedding should be like and what gifts are needed.

During the “answer”, the wedding day and its character (large, small), wedding bands, dowry, parents’ contribution and gifts for the imprisoned parents, etc. are finally approved.

One of the most important tasks for the wedding was the preparation of the dowry. Often disputes arose during the discussion of the dowry of the bride and groom. In the center of Moldova, a girl was given as a dowry: carpets, rugs, towels, pillows, blankets, etc. In the Orhei region, until recently, girls were given a barrel of wine and a new barrel, because a lot of grapes are grown in the central part of the republic. The guys in this region were given: a place to build a house, building materials, a horse, etc. An interesting fact is that mothers everywhere prepare a blanket and a pillow for their sons, which they lay separately for their husband, in case he, God forbid, is in a quarrel with his wife. In past centuries, in wealthy families, large and expensive items were recorded on the “dowry list”.

In the central zone of Moldova, there are other pre-wedding customs: “the day of sifting flour”, “cutting out the shirt by the mother-in-law”, “washing the bride”, “shaving the groom”, etc.

"Sifting Day" is usually held on Thursday, because this day is considered good for doing housework. A boy and a girl are invited, flour and coins are poured into a sieve decorated with red ribbons, the children sift the first sieve and take the coins for work. Then the family kneads the dough and bakes kalachi for the planted parents, matchmakers, kalach for the bride and groom. The custom of “cutting out the shirt by the mother-in-law” has been preserved in the history of folk traditions, when the groom’s mother and one or two more women came to the bride and cut the mother-in-law’s shirt, which the bride had to embroider before the wedding. Each custom contains elements of jokes and humor. The shirt was cut wide, with a narrow collar "so that the mother-in-law does not talk much."

Wedding invitation. Close relatives are supposed to be invited to the wedding with drinks, this should be done by parents or young people. Especially for the invitation to the wedding, the best men of honor, tied with a scarf or towel, come on horseback with a beautiful wooden flask to invite the rest of the guests.

When one of the parents is no longer alive, they follow the tradition, on the morning of the wedding day they go to the cemetery to symbolically invite them to the wedding. This gesture is associated with belief and ethical laws of respect for the memory of ancestors.

Bride's wedding. In the past, the wedding itself was celebrated on Sunday and lasted 2-3 days. According to tradition, the wedding began in the morning at the bride's house.

Bride dressing. At home with their parents, first they dress the bride for the wedding - “dressing the bride” (if the groom brought a wedding gift in the evening - a dress, veil and shoes), and if not, then they waited for the groom to come with gifts. The bride is surrounded by friends and a woman who is preparing the bride. If the gifts are brought on the wedding day, the man delivers the wedding congratulatory speech in verse to the offerings.
In the past, the bride gave the groom an embroidered national shirt and a belt as a gift, all this was offered on a kalach, thus an exchange of offerings took place.

While dressing the bride, the bridesmaids sing a song about the moment of farewell to freedom, a smile, childhood, that she is one step away from creating a family and she will yearn for her parents, brothers and sisters, etc.

While dressing the bride, friends and relatives sing to her the sad song of the bride:
“Be quiet, bride of tears, do not shed,
We'll take you to your mother
When the cancer hangs on the mountain
and the fish will sing…

Forgiveness of the bride. In the house of the bride, a “forgiveness of the bride” is held, she kneels before her parents, asks for forgiveness and blessing to get married, says goodbye to her home. Her parents bless her. "Forgiveness of the Bride" can also be held together with the groom when he comes for her.

On the same morning, the groom also conducts a ritual of “forgiveness”, when the groom asks for forgiveness from his parents and receives their blessing. For “forgiveness”, the groom’s table is set and a kalach and a handful of wheat are placed in the corners of the table as a symbol of abundance for the future. The groom kisses each kalach and takes a little grain from each handful and throws it over his shoulder, then he approaches his parents, asks for forgiveness and blessings.

Bride ransom. The groom, accompanied by music, best men tied with scarves and a friend decorated with flowers, comes to pick up the bride. In some villages, the groom and his friends first come to the planted parents, where they are seated at the table, then they all go together to redeem the bride.

First of all, at the gate, the bride and groom exchange rolls, one of the rolls is broken into pieces and all unmarried and unmarried people try to get a piece as a sign of happiness.

At the gates of the bride's house, the parents with wine and a beautifully woven roll meet the groom and his entourage. The parents raise the kalach high and the groom and his guests pass under it. The bride greets the groom by pouring water in front of him, which symbolizes fertility in all things. Then all the guests sit down at the table - the “bride's table”. When they get up from the table, everyone joins hands and goes out to the common choir, to the dance of the bride, where she and the groom dance the first dance, they are surrounded by the choir of youth. Then they take away the dowry (if they did not take it after the engagement), which also represents a ritual. In some villages, baked chicken is placed on top of the dowry chest so that the young people eat it themselves and do not share it with anyone. At the bride's house, the groom is asked to pay a ransom for the dowry and the bride. Between the groom, brothers and sisters of the bride, there is a bargaining with jokes, they put a knife at the door and demand a ransom.

After a symbolic payment, the dowry is taken away and the “dowry dance” is danced to a special song - ostropets. The entire dowry (carpets, pillows, runners, etc.) is taken out by the groom's friends, lifted up and dancing with him. It is an honor to have a rich dowry, the whole village will see it when they take it from the bride and take it home to the groom. People in the village have preserved the tradition of highly appreciating the diligence and skill of girls and condemning laziness and a small dowry.

When the groom leaves the house with the bride, her mother throws wheat and sweets after them so that their life is sweet and the house is a full bowl, no matter what happens, the bride should not turn around to the house so as not to return. The ransom of the bride with a dowry is a very beautiful performance that all the villagers are waiting for to see the young people, as they, with music and with the whole wedding procession, go to the registry office to register the marriage. Often water is poured in front of the young as a symbol of fertility, and the groom scatters coins. After, the wedding procession goes to the groom, but the bride's parents and her married relatives do not go with them, but gather at the bride's house and come in the afternoon.

Horses were used in the wedding cortege, on which honorary best men informed people about the wedding. The bride and groom walked, and if the groom's house was far away, then they rode in a carriage, and in winter on a sleigh. Today, the wedding procession consists of many cars decorated with flowers and ribbons.
Along with the ransom of the bride, the custom of “bride theft” is traditionally encountered, which differs in the form of the agreement between the matchmakers and the nature of the wedding.

Vulpya- (“Fox” or “Vadra”) The custom “Vulpya” is performed when the groom is from another village, and he takes the bride to him, the guys block the exit from the village with chains, stand on the barricades, preventing the bride from leaving the village and ask for payment for the bride . They put a thread in the middle of the road and ask the groom for a "vulpya" - a gift in the form of wine and money. Sometimes the groom tries to get around the main road, but all exits from the village are guarded, especially if the girl is good. They ask for “vulpya” for her, thus showing their respect for the girl.

Reception of the bride by the groom. The groom's parents are waiting for the "wedding", that is, the wedding cortege with the bride and groom. They meet the young with a kalach in their hands, treat the young with cakes, wine, nuts, jam or honey, after which they treat the planted parents and other guests. Guests walk through the gate or threshold of the house under the kalach - a sacred symbol of wealth and honor. The groom's mother takes one end of the towel and throws the towel over the young, grabs the other end so that the young are in the towel, and leads the young into the house. Appetizers are then served on the table.

Groom's wedding. With the arrival of the young and the guests, the wedding begins at the groom's house. Dancing begins, villagers come to watch. Everyone dances until evening. The guests arrive in an organized manner one by one, the most important moment being the arrival of the planted parents. They are met on the road leading to the house, the groom with the bride and musicians go out in advance and honor the planted parents, after which they all go into the yard together. They also meet the bride's parents with her relatives. When the bride's parents and relatives arrive, the first wedding table is served with appetizers.
The wedding is played in the evening. They don’t say “hold a wedding”, but “play”, because a wedding should be fun.

Table for youth. Until recently, according to tradition, in the early evening they organized a table for young people, which began with the passage of young people with burning candles, washing their hands, shaking hands and presenting gifts to the bride and groom by rural youth, after which they sat down at the wedding table.

They got up from the table and danced the chorus, and the bride and groom were in the center of the circle. After several dances, the youth went home, and at that time invited guests came. Close relatives came during the day to see how the wedding was going and, if necessary, to help the bride. The arrival of married guests was original. Each family came with a pair of rolls covered with a beautiful towel and a decanter of wine. The wife baked kalachi, and the husband carried them. The hostess was judged by how skillfully the towel was embroidered and how well the rolls were baked.
Until midnight, everyone is celebrating and waiting for the “Masa Mare” (“Main Wedding Table”).

"Masa mare"- (“Main table”) This ritual is the most important in the wedding ceremony, if you are invited to the wedding, you can skip some rituals and stages, but you must be present at the “masa mare”. "Masa mare" begins with the passage of the imprisoned parents and young people to the "table of the imprisoned", with burning candles that are stuck into the bride's and the groom's kalach. During the feast, everyone eats, they watch how rituals are performed and how candles burn, so they judge what the life of the young will be like in the future.

Washing hands- a ritual that reminds of hygiene and demonstrates the attitude of Moldovans towards it. The cleanliness of the home, the body has always been very important. The ritual of "washing hands" begins from the moment when the groom pours water on the hands of the planted parents, and the bride gives them a towel to wipe their hands, then the planted parents pour water on the hands of the young and give them a towel. After that, the “masa mare” begins under the guidance of the imprisoned parents, who are assisted by matchmakers and honorary best men.

The tying ritual ("Legetorile"). The binding ritual is a spectacle of great significance. "Legatorile" - gifts that the bride's parents give to the ordained parents and relatives of the groom. Parents, dancing with gifts in their hands, so that everyone can see them, put gifts on the table. If among other peoples the groom has to pay bride price for the bride, as if he is buying her or paying a certain amount for getting workers, the Moldovans, on the contrary, in order to maintain the social status of a good owner who respects traditions, as a symbol of kinship with the groom’s relatives, the bride’s parents had to give gifts the groom's family.

Planted parents are tied with 2-4 beautifully embroidered and lace-tied towels, which, dancing, are presented on two rolls. In addition to towels, they also give an expensive gift, usually a carpet, and children of planted parents are also given towels, but smaller ones. Relatives of the bride and best man dance with gifts. Then they tie the groom's relatives and the people of the planted parents: men with a towel, and women with scarves.

Kalachi for matchmakers or "twinning". At the end of the tying ritual, the matchmakers exchange rolls covered with decorative towels and gifts, the matchmaker is presented with a shirt, and the matchmaker is given a dress. Shirt and dress must be made from the same piece of fabric. This moment is important because they become relatives and will be called matchmakers.

Present. After that, the ritual of "gifting" begins. At the same time, the hand is given to the young through a wedding scarf to protect them from infection. First, the planted parents give gifts to the young, then the groom's parents, then the brides, then close relatives and, finally, all the other guests. Each of the guests approaches the young, shakes hands, and wishes them all the best.

Counting money - all the guests sit down at the table, and the parents and young people go to count the money, then come back and tell everyone how much the young people have collected money and thank everyone for their help. Everyone sits down at the table, and at this time everyone can make a speech. The groom's relatives dance hand in hand around the tables to keep the wedding going. Hot and cold dishes are served, the total number of which is more than 30, only cold dishes come in more than 15 types. During the “masa mare” (main table) there are breaks, after cold snacks they go out to dance, dance for 1-2 hours, then serve hot, at this time rituals related to ethics and gratitude are performed.

“They bring stuffed cabbage” - cooks with whooping and ditties bring stuffed cabbage. After that, they are paid off, in the process of a special theatrical dance, when they bring "hen for nanash (planted father)". All other dishes are served, and at the end of the feast - those that symbolically mean the completion of "masa mare" (prunes, baba, "plakie" (sweet rice porridge)), after which the ritual of "undressing and tying the bride" begins.

Women take part in undressing or tying the bride, who sing a song that the bride is now a wife, she is no longer with girls, but with women, etc.

The groom sits on a chair, a pillow is placed on his knees, on which the bride is seated. At this time, the planted mother removes the wreath and veil from her head and puts it on one of her friends, “so that she will get married soon.” They remove the flower from the groom's chest and attach it to the chest of an unmarried guy. The girl and the guy, who were given the attributes of the young, dance, and the planted mother gives gifts to the newlyweds: the bride - an apron and a scarf that she puts on her, dishes, and the groom - a shirt, etc. The rest of the women also give gifts to the young and put money for the lapel of the scarf on the head of the bride. Then the planted mother treats everyone present with wine, champagne and cake. This is also called the "sweet table" of the bride. According to tradition, the bride had to prepare a special tablecloth and 6-12 napkins for this treat.

After that, closer to the morning, "they thank the musicians." At the end of the wedding ceremony, the “gift of the mother-in-law shirt” takes place, it is put on over the clothes of the groom’s mother and jokingly instructed her to talk less.

Seeing off the imprisoned father. The planted father is escorted on the second day in the morning, with music and fun along the way. At the house of the planted father, all the guests sit down "at the table of the planted father." Thus, the wedding, which began yesterday, ends only on the second day.

Second evening after the wedding. On the second day, all relatives gather again and organize a fun comic evening, dress up and depict a wedding. For this festive table, “zamu” (chicken broth), pies, etc. are prepared. On the second evening, which is called “plate evening”, “benquet” (feast), “kale” (path), boiling water), women bring gifts for the bride: dishes, cereals, fabrics - whoever can. In the past, woolen tows were brought in so that the young mistress had something to do while she did not have her own material.

The Moldavian wedding ritual includes a number of post-wedding customs that most people try to follow. These customs emphasize respect for the imprisoned parents, who become the second parents for the newlyweds.

In the future, the young family should visit the planted parents on all holidays, help them and consult with them on all important issues.