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.