How is the matchmaking. How does the marriage ceremony for Russians and Armenians take place?

For a newly-married couple, preparing for a wedding is always a stressful, very important and at the same time an interesting period. You have to do a lot of things: choose outfits, rings, place of celebration, make a list of guests, menus, think through the entertainment program ... Whole mess! But if the marriage is planned in the best traditions, traditional rites, such as matchmaking and betrothal, must necessarily take place at the preparatory stage. We will tell in detail how the bride's matchmaking takes place .

For hundreds of years it is an important rite, the purpose of which is to obtain consent to the wedding of the bride's relatives. Over time, this rite has not lost its meaning, it is popular today. Let's consider for the beginning, how matchmaking takes place among Russians.

Matchmaking in Russia

The chosen matchmakers should have known how the matchmaking is taking place, all the signs and rules. Their goal was to obtain the consent of the young girl's parents for her to marry the young man for whom they are asking. It used to happen that the girl did not even know who she was wooing, who would be her future husband. The main thing was the consent of the parents.

It all went like this: the "applicant" came to the bride's parents along with the matchmakers. They could be his parents, other relatives, friends. The conversation began with "empty", only after several visits was given a productive response. It was possible to reject the offer at once, but no one gave consent after the first visit - it was considered to be the height of impropriety. When the matchmaker refused, leaving, closing the doors with their backs, they believed that the girl would not marry for a long time. In the event that the groom liked, the bride's parents accepted bread from his hands, cut them for all those present. After that, the day of the balloting was appointed, the time when the further steps to organize the wedding will be discussed.

Another option of courtship in Russia

Specially invited matchmakers (relatives - the godfather, uncle, brothers), who know how the matchmaking should take place, came to the bride's house. Fearing the evil eye, the matchmakers announced themselves in the house after sunset. Starting with abstract topics, gradually the conversation approached the question of whether a girl agrees to marry a "candidate"? If the bride was not against, then she took a broom and started revenge towards the stove, so symbolically expressed the location to matchmakers. In case of refusal of revenge it was necessary in a direction to doors, as though driving out them.

How is the matchmaking of the Russians on their wedding day?

This interpretation of matchmaking is more of an indicative, comic character. Scenarios of this event are great. By the way, this type of matchmaking differs in that it takes place on the day of wedding or wedding, as a bride price.

The essence of the event: the bride and groom choose their matchmakers. On the part of the groom, the matchmaker (matchmaker) is trying to redeem the bride, her matchmakers try to "sell" the girl as much as possible. In this situation, the saying goes: "You have goods, we have a merchant". The groom with matchmakers, relatives, friends should buy back the bride. From the bride's side the matchmaker is waiting for him, who tries in every possible way to "not give" her beloved, stuffs the price, arranges various competitions. With jokes and jokes, the bridegroom redeems the bride, takes her out of the table, after which the joint merriment continues.

To choose a matchmaker for this case should be more carefully. It should have a fun, cheerful nature, be loud-spoken, brisk in language. This entertaining version of matchmaking should take place in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Modern matchmaking. Arrival of the groom

Now consider how the matchmaking (its first option) is taking place these days. It is necessary to approach the event with all seriousness. If young people adhere to moral principles and traditions, they consider it necessary to receive the blessing of their parents, then it is necessary to get married. The first person comes to the bride's house. Best of all, if before his arrival, the bride prepared moral parents for a friendly atmosphere in the house. Look groom must one hundred percent to make the best impression. A young man presents a bouquet of flowers to both the girl and her mother. This indicates the observance of etiquette. The bride must present the groom of the parents, starting with the father. Then, in a casual conversation, the groom talks about his feelings for their daughter, dedicates to further plans and asks her hands and heart. Next word for the parents. If they agree, then the father unites the young, combining their hands. If the bridegroom came alone, the meeting should not be long.

Return visit. Getting to know your parents

How does the matchmaking go on? Now the bride returns the return visit. Mother of the bridegroom she must give a bouquet. Also, as a gift, you can present a cake or good candy. After acquaintance with parents , the groom should start talking about feelings first, talk about joint plans, ask for parental consent. With a positive outcome of the case, there is a conspiracy to meet all together (children and parents) to discuss the conduct of the wedding itself. Although in our days, marriage agencies perform the full preparation of wedding events, in this case, parents need to agree only on the payment of their services. If parents live very far away, young people should send them pictures of their half, ask for permission to marry.

Engagement

After the matchmaking, many young couples organize an engagement. For the evening invite the closest relatives, best friends. In public, the bride and groom declare their closest people about the intention to marry. The bride is presented with an engagement ring, which she will wear until the day of the wedding. The ring is passed on from generation to generation, do not confuse it with an engagement, it has a slightly different meaning. The time from engagement to the wedding itself is considered a period for reflection. The last time you need to carefully weigh and think about whether you are ready to lose your freedom, live the rest of your days with your chosen one.

How does the Armenian matchmaking take place?

Earlier, the young man's parents, choosing a bride, turned to some of their relatives who knew the girl's family. The mediator (midrujord kin) must, during negotiations, obtain the consent of the parents for marriage. In order for the negotiations to be successful, during the visit to the post at the groom's house they hung a comb or a large spoon-a skull. After the parents agreed with the mediator, they planned an official matchmaking. It passed in a few days.

The matchmakers (patvirak) were going to the girl's house, who knew well how the matchmaking process was going. They were chosen from the male relatives on the line of the father, with them there was an intermediary, in some cases also the mother of the groom. Parents of the girl knew in advance about the arrival of matchmakers. The conversation began in an allegorical form: we came to take a handful of ashes from your hearth to mix with ours; To take a spark from our luminary for ours and the like. Most often, parents respond that they need time to think. Agree immediately was considered indecent. Sometimes matchmakers had to visit the bride's family two, and three times. Only after the father's consent the table was laid, all together drank the wine, which the matchmakers brought. Until then, it was not customary to treat guests, it was believed that if you give bread to a matchmaker, you will also have to give your daughter.

Matchmaking in our days

How should the bride's matchmaking take place in Armenia these days? In the role of matchmakers are often men. If they are counting on consent, then they bring treats: sweets, cognac, wine. In the event that there is no certainty, the matchmakers go empty-handed. The rite itself repeats the old traditions. The only weighty difference between modern matchmaking is that the consent of the bride is necessarily asked. The wedding does not take place if the girl is against. Parents of the bride, as in the old days, do not give consent on the first occasion, matchmakers have to walk several times. In the end, with a positive response, they beat the hands. The official conspiracy is called Hosk Arnel, the patrol (to fasten the word, to break the bread). As a pledge, it is customary to present a gift to the bride, more often it is a golden ring.

Betrothal

After the matchmaking takes place, at the preliminary stage before the wedding, a betrothal (nshandrek) is held. Time is appointed in advance on a conspiracy or when the father of the groom visits the parents of the bride. On the day of the month, the father sends various meals to the bride's house, invites relatives, a priest, musicians to the house. Then the whole delegation, taking a lot of treats and a wedding gift for the bride (nshan), go to the bride's house. The rite begins with greeting toasts, wishes of happiness to the young. The priest consecrates the treats and the wedding gift, after which the bridegroom passes it to the bride. As a nshana there is an ornament: earrings, a ring, a bracelet, more often silver.