Russian Wedding Traditions

Introduction

Many people in Europe or in North America may be under the impression that Russian weddings aren't much different from the weddings that they usually hold. The cultural barrier between Eastern and Western Europe, however, is very real, and the cultural barrier between the North American and European countries is even greater still. Many people from these cultures would be surprised at what they saw at a traditional Russian wedding, especially when it comes to Russia brides.

The Bride's Ransom

In many weddings in the West, the parents give the bride away at the wedding ceremony. Russian brides will experience something more dramatic in some cases. Their parents will pretend to steal or kidnap them, and the parents will demand for the groom to provide a ransom in order to win back the bride. The groom will offer something of high symbolic value, and he will have rescued the bride from her parents in the process. Naturally, this event is highly staged in advance and the people attending the ceremony and participating in the ceremony know what is happening, but it is a solid dramatization.

Bread and Salt

The bride and groom are offered bread and salt at the wedding reception. The bread and salt serve as symbols of longevity, prosperity, and vitality in Russian culture. The bride and groom both take large bites from the bread. It is said that the person who takes the largest bite is going to be the true leader of the family.

Smashing the Champagne Glasses

When the wedding reception starts, a person who is important in the lives of the bride or groom will make a speech and declare a toast to the new couple. After the toast is complete, everyone throws their champagne glasses to the floor. It is actually considered good luck if the glasses successfully break once they hit the ground. The shattering of the glass in unison creates powerful symbolism.

Couples' Tourism (Progulka)

Before the reception of the wedding, it is customary for the bride and groom to actually tour the city in a limousine alone or with some of their friends. They will see a lot of the sites of the city, as if they are sharing their union with the rest of the community. This is the first time that they will be seeing these sites as a married couple, which makes the event especially symbolic.

A Two-Day Wedding Reception

Often times, the wedding receptions in some cultures will last for a few hours. For many Russian brides and grooms, they will last for two days. The second day of the reception, which will follow a brief rest period, will involve singing, dancing, drinking, eating, and fighting. In many ways, this part of the reception will be even livelier than the first.

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