Russian Courtship and Marriage
Alex Campbell, Amy Telarico, Noelle Johnson
The Wedding
- Typically two days sometimes longer
- Preparation usually takes 1 to 6 months
- Consist of:
- 1. Ransom for the bride
- 2. Orthodox marriage ceremony
- 3. Civil ceremony
- 4. The Reception
Reception
Courtship
- http://www.orthodoxweddingcrowns.com/crownhistory.php
- https://prezi.com/w5wkj6vloiqi/marriage-customs-in-19th-century-russia/
- http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/ukrainian-wedding-bread-recipe
- http://pirate.shu.edu/~knightna/karenina/abstracts/serino.htm
- http://www.barynya.com/wedding.stm
- http://www.shmoop.com/crime-and-punishment/setting.html
- http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/russian_wedding.htm
- http://www.womenrussia.com/wedding1.htm
- http://rbth.com/arts/2014/04/27/five_facts_about_the_russian_karavai_36233.html
- http://www.russia-ic.com/culture_art/cuisine/1183/#.Vq6RLtIrKmU
- http://www.russia-ic.com/culture_art/traditions/1179/#.Vq6R-NIrKmU
- http://www.russia-ic.com/culture_art/traditions/651/#.Vq6Sk9IrKmU
Orthodox Marriage Ceremony
The Ransom
- childhood courting was common (8-17)
- courtship opportunities: fall/spring harvest, dances and promenades
- under elder supervision
- matchmakers common
- once the girl is accepted, mother of the boy proposes to the father of the bride
- Men and women seated on opposite sides of table
- Close friend/family member makes a toast, after everyone throws the champagne glasses on the floor
- Round cheese and bread (plentitude of life) served to everyone
- Bride and groom at head of the table with different place settings
- Started with whole grilled swan (matrimonial love)
1. At what age was courtship common?
2. Name one criteria a woman must have to be suitable for marriage.
3. How long is a typical Russian wedding?
4. Name one part of the typical Russian wedding.
5. What hand is the wedding ring worn on?
6. How many times does the priest recite the crown blessing?
7. What do you call the ceremonial bread?
8. What food was served to everyone at the reception?
9. How many times could the bread be kissed?
- The groom and his closest friends arrive at the bride's house
- The groom must then pay a ransom to the bride's family
- He will usually have to make a couple of offers
- done in good humor
- Today couples will do scavenger hunts and make the groom answer questions about the bride
- First is the betrothal
- Exchanging of the rings
- The Crowning Ceremony
Answers
Tie Breaker Questions
10. How do Russians propose?
11. Name two criteria a man must have to be considered suitable for marriage.
1. 8-17
2. kinship, personal attributes, virginity, dowry
3. two days
4. ransom for the bride, orthodox marriage ceremony, civil ceremony, reception
5. right hand
6. 3 times
7. karavai (must be spelled correctly)
8. round cheese and bread
9. 3 times
- Was made by a happily married woman who had docile and obedient children
- Only a married man could place it in the oven
- The bigger karavai, the happier the young family would be
- Biting or breaking off pieces from the ceremonial loaf was not allowed, and it could be kissed only three times
- The bride and groom would have to each take a bite without using their hands and who ever took the biggest bite would be the head of the family
- Only a child could cut it
Criteria
- Families were very involved in the choice of spouses
- "'So they even apologize about not asking my advice and settling this thing without me! I'll say!They think it can't be broken off now, but we'll see whether it can or not'" (Dostoyevsky 39).
- wanted to make sure the couple was suitable and prosperous
- some marriages based solely on gaining wealth and social status
- "Of course, love is not especially involved, either on her side or on his..." (Dostoyevsky 34).
- significance of names
- told others the family you came from
- made it easy to judge a potential spouse quickly
The Rings
- woman
- kinship (family), personal attributes, virginity
- dowry
- men
- personal character, social status, and age
- He [Peter Luzhin] is a promising and prosperous man, has two official jobs and already had money of his own. True, he is forty-five, but rather good-looking and still attractive to women. He is in general quite a solid and reliable man" (Dostoyevsky 33).
The Crowing
- Two linked rings are the symbol of a wedding and are often put on invitations
- Traditionally they did not have engagement rings
- They were just simple gold bands
- Sometimes had little stones or platinum stripes
- Are worn on the right hand
- The second day is supposed to be more fun than the first day
- It is really just a big party
- There is drinking, singing, eating, and dancing
- The priest places a crown on the groom's head while reciting the crown blessing 3 times
- Then the priest will place a crown on the bride's head, again reciting the crown blessing 3 times
- The priest will then chant “O Lord, our God, crown them with glory and honor” while lifting up both crowns and switch them back and forth over the bride and groom's head 3 times.
- Traditionally they would wear the crowns for a week