The cheerful and joyful nature of the people in this country is directly reflected in the celebration of all family events. Wedding traditions play a special role, as do traditions related to family and children. In , the tradition of matchmaking, known as “svatannya,” is still preserved.
The groom’s family gathers a group of people close to the family, called “starosty” or elders. The elders go to the bride’s house to ask for her hand in marriage. This group often includes the future mother-in-law and father-in-law. They inspect the house where the bride grew up and the conditions in which she was raised.
To ask for the bride’s hand, they must prove that the family is ready to provide for the bride as well as or even better than her parents. After consultation, the bride’s family brings out a hand-embroidered towel made by the bride herself (nowadays, it’s possible to buy a ready-made one). This symbolizes the agreement of the bride and her family to the marriage.
If the bride and her parents are not ready for the marriage, the elders are presented with a large pumpkin, a sign that it has ripened in contrast to the bride. However, nowadays, many couples start dating long before matchmaking, so most answers turn out to be positive.
The wedding celebration itself takes place in several stages, stretching over several days. Initially, the parents of the newlyweds greet them outside the groom’s house with a large, church-blessed loaf of bread. This is done to ensure prosperity and order in the family.
Amazingly, this tradition is still followed to this day. Breaking the loaf, accompanied by songs and joyful shouts, marks the beginning of the wedding celebration. Noisy dances to modern songs are followed by traditional folk songs from the older generation. The sacred tradition of lighting the home hearth is also observed. The bride’s mother removes the bride’s veil—a sign of innocence and purity—and ties a scarf symbolizing that she has become the mistress of her own home.
The mother passes on a lit candle—the family hearth of the newly formed family. A significant tribute is paid to folk music and songs. All guests, regardless of age, joyfully engage in dancing to familiar Ukrainian folk songs from their childhood. And what does it look like? Let’s watch in a video from a modern wedding!
