Contents
- Groom notifies parents of desire to marry
- Matchmaker or Matchmaker
- Requisites
- Matchmakers
- Bargain
- Feast
- Conspiracy of marriage
- Contests
In ancient times, most marriages took place by prior arrangement of parents. Matchmaking was an interesting and beautiful custom, in which the bridegroom should be presented to the bride, describing the merits and best qualities. Now young people themselves choose a mate, but the tradition of getting married to their parents is still married. Learn the bridegroom rite: a scenario of fun games, contests, rituals, this will help you have fun.
Groom notifies parents of desire to marry
Previously, a noisy ceremony of matchmaking took place as follows: the matchmakers and the groom came to the gates of the bride’s house, they opened the doors and were invited to the room where the girl’s parents and their closest relatives were sitting (sister, brother, grandparents). The matchmakers were tasked with presenting the man in a better light. If he was rich, it was necessary to praise his merchants and financial opportunities, if the man was working - golden hands. The ceremony itself began with the words that the matchmakers said: «You have a product - we have a merchant». After the bride came out, dressed in her most beautiful dress, and the matchmakers asked the question: «Is the girl skillful?» The girl took a broom, pretended to sweep the floor, gave a home-made thing to her future spouse. Everything went in a half-joking manner. At the matchmaking, negotiations were also held on the dowry, the wedding was discussed. Despite the attitude of the parents towards the narrowed, during the first matchmaking, as a rule, he was refused.
The modern ritual of matchmaking is the arrival of a bride narrowed into the bride’s house with a bouquet of flowers for the future mother-in-law and expensive alcohol for the father-in-law. There he announces a desire to marry, asking for blessings for marriage to their daughter. As a rule, a visit is official in nature, but it doesn’t interfere with making the matchmaking a fun performance where you can invite other relatives and friends.
Matchmaker or Matchmaker
The matchmaker and matchmaker, who will participate in the rite, must be on the part of the bridegroom, although this rule is often violated. If someone from the bride’s relatives (for example, brother, uncle, sister) is well acquainted with the future son-in-law, they themselves can represent the man. It’s good if everyone will have similar costumes that fit the concept of the script.
Requisites
Props depend on which matchmaking scenario is being conducted. It can be musical instruments, various gifts for the mother and father of the bride, rushnyks, balls of thread, feathers, small trees, a hammer, pillows. Matchmakers, as a sign of generosity, the monetary viability of the narrowed, can roll a barrel of overseas wine, which immediately open for a feast.
Matchmakers
With this begins the ceremony of matchmaking - «matchmaker first cup and first stick». Before they enter, they bow. Only after crossing the threshold, the matchmakers should, with the help of hints, sayings, approach the main topic of conversation - the future engagement. Further, the matchmaking scenario provides for songs, games, praise of the narrowed. Then the hosts set the table, treat the guests with bread and salt, have dinner, when a certain time comes - give their answer.
Watch the video of the ceremony, which will help to clearly understand how to conduct a matchmaking:
Bargain
Before the feast in Russia there was always a bargain. Usually, the bride was not present at this stage of the matchmaking, in order to avoid delicate moments: discussing the dowry, the financial condition of the groom, and the distribution of wedding expenses. Could casual concern a question of a possible date of an event. Only after bargaining did they call the bride. Within the framework of the modern celebration, bargaining can also be held, but humorous.
Feast
A feast is not only the consumption of food, drinking vodka, wine, but also the time when funny games, contests, rituals are held according to the script. During it, the mother and father of the bride, as a rule, give consent to the union, after which the groom puts a gold ring on the girl’s finger and the engagement is considered to have taken place. Then the relatives kiss the young, and the guests open the champagne to celebrate the beginning given to the new family.
Trials of the bride
Trials for the bride are comic. She needs to show her abilities that will be useful in the household. The groom’s side asks the girl to give her a dish to try, demonstrate embroidery, sweep the floor.
Loaf cutting
According to the old Russian matchmaking scenario, the narrowed one brings the loaf to the bride. Accepting this gift, she agrees to the engagement. Then the future spouses take a knife and cut the product in half - if they can cut the loaf the first time without taking the tool, it becomes a sign that their life together will be happy. Instead of a loaf, the modern version allows the use of a delicious cake. Loaf for the ceremony of matchmaking in the photo:
Speech of the groom
The matchmaking scenario necessarily provides for the groom's speech. After friends or relatives have presented the man in a better light, the time comes for the suitor to cast his voice. He must tell the parents of the bride about his love for their daughter, tell about how he will protect her, respect, value.
Presentation of gifts what to give
Gifts for matchmaking can be different: flowers, fruit baskets, chocolate cake, jewelry for the girl and her mother (the future mother-in-law can give the bride a necklace or chain), alcohol, souvenirs. The main gift is a wedding ring.
Honey drinking
To prove his love for the bride, according to the script, the following ceremony is carried out: narrowed to the bottom, he must drink a glass of honey.
Conspiracy of marriage
Previously, this part of the scenario involved a discussion of financial issues - the amount of dowry, the cost of the celebration, the material security of the groom as a whole. The modern rite allows you to skip this stage.
Contests
Fun contests will be a great addition to the noisy matchmaking script - read a few examples below.
Question answer
This game will show how well the future spouse knows the bride. He will be prepared with several questions that he must answer correctly - her favorite dish, color, date of birth, angel's day and others.
For parents
For matchmaking to be fun not only for young people, but also for parents, a competitive scenario is used.
- The fathers of lovers leave the room, and the leader asks the mothers questions: how long their braid was during the wedding, how many guests were present, where did they meet.
- Then they call men who must answer the same questions..
The pair that wins all or most of the answers wins.
Wedding song
The scenario of this competition is as follows: the guests hum the passages of all the wedding songs that they will remember. The winner is the participant who will sing more than others.
Signs
The holiday was held after sunset, so that unclean forces could not penetrate the house. It was believed that the marriage would be happy if, after the groom left, all sharp objects were tied. After the guests left the house, the bride was shown to cry a lot, so that after the wedding, lead an uninteresting life. Matchmaking is an old tradition and a real theatrical performance. The ritual can be an interesting stage in preparing for the wedding, an opportunity for two families to get closer.
Will you celebrate matchmaking? What ideas did you like? Tell us in the comments.
