Gypsies are the most mysterious and mysterious people of our planet. They pass on their customs and traditions from generation to generation, thereby preserving and disseminating them. Therefore, many of their rites have ancient roots. Gypsy weddings, which are celebrated with a grand scale and pomp, have a particularly unique flavor.
How to choose a pair
In a gypsy environment, marriages are created very early. Parents are very worried that the young ones do not go for a walk and do not “spoil”.
It is not customary for gypsies to go on dates, discos, parties. Often dating of future young people takes place at other weddings.
At gypsy weddings, it is a tradition to call young people into a dance circle for a performance. They dance in turn, and each performs his own ritual dance, depending on his temperament. And in this way, the young are eyeing each other.
Most often, parents enter into a marriage agreement when the children are very young. But there are times when they get to know by "random randomness." For example, they learn that in another city there is a bride for marriage, they go to that city and stay for the night. In the evening they are talking at the table, and if the girl is suitable in all respects, they will marry her.
Currently, these customs have softened a little, but the role of parents in choosing a couple is still quite significant, as each family prefers to see people from decent and noble families as their future relatives.
Pre-Wedding Traditions
In gypsy society, the customs of the caste system are adhered to, such as exists in India.
Before the wedding, there are special customs (some of them directly depend on the situation in society and the well-being of families):
- The icon of the young is blessed only in very wealthy families, the middle and lower layers - with bread.
- If the parents do not approve of the choice of the young, the practice of "theft of the bride." She is stolen and taken to a young man’s house. After that, a very modest wedding is played, and all the expenses for the celebration are borne by the bride.
- If there is mutual agreement, then a considerable kalym is paid to the bride's relatives, and after that they go for a wedding for three days. The ransom is a kind of compensation to the bride's family for the loss of her assistant. Parents partially return this money as a gift to young people.
Matchmaking
It is with this ritual that preparation for the wedding begins. Parents themselves look for spouses for their children. As a rule, the decision to unite families, adults take when the bride and groom are just children. It is then that it is determined when the wedding will be and how much the father expects to receive for his daughter.
During the rite of matchmaking, two attributes are always present:
- A birch branch, it is hung with money, gold, coins.
- Loaf. It is baked according to a special recipe by the relatives of the bride. Presented on a beautiful rushnyk.
Matchmakers with the bride’s father come to the table, and if the father permits to put on the table the traditional attributes, then he agrees to the wedding.
It should be noted that during the matchmaking, women are not present in the room, the “contract” is concluded only between men of two families.
After the ritual, preparation for triumph begins.
Wedding color
In gypsies, the red color is a symbol of joy, happiness and passion. It is necessarily present in the clothes of the newlyweds, guests, and it is with this color that they decorate the holiday.
Flags of red color are hung in the houses of the bride and groom, a red ribbon is an obligatory attribute of the costumes of all men, the groom has red and white.
Time and custom of celebration
Gypsy weddings are held at any time of the year, but most of all they love the summer season. An ancient tradition is connected with this preference, earlier low tables were set and guests sat on the ground, which was covered with carpets.
Currently, of course, all weddings are celebrated in cafes and restaurants. But the love of summer festivities remained.
The holiday lasts three days, the richest gypsy wedding can last a week.
On the first day there is a bachelorette party, which includes a ritual of bargaining, but this is just a tribute to tradition.
After that, everyone sits at the tables. Moreover, for women and men they are covered in different sides of the hall, even the bride and groom do not sit together. After a certain time, the matchmakers shake hands, kiss, hug - which means that the agreement is finally concluded.
The time of the ritual gypsy dance at the wedding begins. The groom's father invites the bride, then they call young friends and girlfriends into the circle. The first day, as a rule, ends after the dance, as the most important and crucial day is ahead.
The second day is the day of the wedding itself. In the morning, relatives and friends help the bride dress up. In her house, music plays, sing songs, set the table.
The bride puts on a wedding dress and dances in front of the guests. After which they carry her in her arms to the groom's house.
A banquet is arranged in a young house or in a restaurant. Before the festive table, the bride and groom are blessed with an icon and bread, they give expensive gifts, and poured water with sweets under their feet so that the life of the young people is sweet and happy.
During the banquet, the young people are escorted with songs and dances to a separate room to perform the ritual of the wedding night.
On the third day, lamb soup is sure to be prepared. They pronounce traditional greetings and make the dowry public. Nowadays it is gold, money, jewelry. So the girl’s family demonstrates to the guests that she didn’t come to her husband’s house empty-handed, and in case of a divorce, she will be able to take her things with her.
Customs and Features
Gypsy wedding has a number of features:
- The family of the groom pays for the banquet. To play the best gypsy wedding, parents begin to save money since the birth of the boy. A gorgeous wedding is a matter of family honor, therefore they approach the preparation very seriously and responsibly.
- Holiday tables are amazing. They burst with food, alcohol pours the river. But no one gets drunk, because it's a big shame in the community.
- Men usually wear formal suits. Married women wear traditional clothes and cover their heads. Single girls can come in a pantsuit.
- At a beautiful gypsy wedding, a fraternization ceremony is always held, which symbolizes the eternal connection of the young. Small incisions are made on their fingers, then they are crossed, so their blood is mixed.
- Couples do not formalize marriage. But among Orthodox Roma, wedding is a must.
Custom "Honor Removal"
The first wedding night takes place during a wedding celebration. A special room is being prepared for the young. Directly next to her are two witnesses.
After the guests take out a tray with a sheet, and the bride appears in the hall, already dressed in a red dress, with a covered head and apron.
If the bride was not innocent, the marriage is dissolved immediately, and the family is covered by terrible shame. The family will even have to change their place of residence, and the girl, most likely, will never marry.
