Ukraini
an wed
ding
traditio
ns
Ukraini
an wed
ding
traditio
ns
A wedding in Ukraine
is very different from
a traditional Polish
wedding. How does it
start? The traditional
part is sending a
matchmaker to the
bride-to-be. Next, the
parents of the groom
ask the parents of
the bride for the
hand of their
daughter.
On the day of
the wedding,
the groom must
pay a ransom
for his bride.
During this
ritual, the home
is usually
guarded by
either the
brother or sister
of the bride.
The young couple,
together with their
families, the best
man and the maid of
honour go to the
register office, where
the couple signs a
statement of
marriage.
As a sign of
gratitude, the
bride and groom
show their
respects for their
parents by
bowing and giving
them a kiss. After
the signing, all
the guests
congratulate one
another.
The groom then takes
the bride in his arms
and leaves the
register office
building,
accompanied by Felix
Mendelssohn's
"Wedding March”.
The wedding
ceremony takes
place in an Orthodox
church, since the
majority of
Ukrainians are
members of the
Orthodox Church.
A few hours before
the wedding, the
couple receives
blessings from their
parents. The
ceremony begins
with the bride and
groom entering the
church hand-in-
hand.
The priest blesses
the wedding rings
and puts them on the
finger of the bride
and groom. During
the coronation, the
best maid and maid
of honour hold
crowns above the
heads of the young
couple.
The final part of the
ceremony, which last
for about an hour, is
traditional.
The wedding dinner
for 200-300 people
takes place in a
restaurant.
Traditional songs are
sung. The tables are
piled high with food:
roast pig, smoked
and roast meats and
alcohol. The guests
take part in
numerous
competitions and
dances.
The wedding
doesn’t end until
the next morning,
when the traditional
tying of the bride
takes place.
At the end, the
young couple hand
out wedding cake to
the guests.