What traditions are we talking about?
- Matchmaking
- Blessing
- Wedding
Matchmaking is a custom that existed in ancient Russia. The groom's godparents were the matchmakers, and they went to the bride's house. They gave gifts, brought wine, praised the groom, talked about both his wealth and his knowledge and skills.
The bride's parents, who wanted to refuse the marriage, gave the matchmakers a pumpkin, and those who wanted to agree, accepted their bread, cut it, and served it to all participants in the matchmaking. Today this custom is practically not performed.
Nowadays, matchmaking is symbolic; the parents of both parties no longer decide whether there will be a wedding; rather, they meet to discuss the details.
Blessing for marriage . The custom of asking for blessings from parents is still alive, however, everyone has long forgotten that, first of all, blessings are asked from the godfather and godmother. This means that godparents must say their first “wedding” words even before the wedding.
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The godfather blesses the young with the help of an icon, and the godmother’s task is to offer bread and salt to the young. Previously, it was customary to give the bride a piece of fabric for a wedding dress. Nowadays it’s quite possible to just buy something ready-made for your goddaughter.
Wedding . If the bride or groom does not have a natural father, or he simply did not come to the wedding for some reason, his godfather replaces him. He participates in the ransom and the feast, sitting next to his mother, and during the wedding, holding crowns over the heads of the newlyweds.
When the wedding is over, the godfather must bring the godson by the hand and say: “he took the baptized one, returned the married one.”
Congratulations on your wedding day from your godfather
Once upon a time I held a baby in my arms, And as a child I read a book to her. He gave her dolls for her birthday, I always idolized her. Today the goddaughter became the bride, And the main culprit of the ball. I raise a glass to you, I wish peace to your home. Let the groom carry you in his arms and often present you with gifts. And accept congratulations from your godfather, May your family home be successful.
From your godfather today, on this bright holiday, please accept my congratulations, young people! I wish that your feelings grow stronger, that your son will be born soon! Of course, things won't always be easy! But together we can overcome everything! Let each of the toasts sounding now be fulfilled by no less than a third! May tomorrow's dawn be sweet! Today, in this room too, it’s bitter!
Beloved goddaughter! Congratulations from the bottom of my heart on this magical day! You are the most beautiful couple and deserve all the happiness in the world. May the new life you begin be full of love, happiness and understanding. Let there be no problems or difficulties that you cannot overcome together, with patience, respect and great love. And may your dreams come true every day.
More congratulations in prose →
They just make toast out of me! After all, I’m still godfather! I raise my glass, So that it’s even hot In the off-season, you’re in bed With cold radiators! So that they are inseparable, Like a computer with a faithful mouse: The desired file is safely with the first click in the faithful So that the wife can open it! And send it to sleep mode, Kolya coped brilliantly with the task assigned in the program! And it’s also important to wish for paper bills! So, gossip, come on! Call for a loaf!
The godfather sends you congratulations on these wonderful moments! I wish you well and family warmth! So that the groom loves the bride, So that you are always together! They gave birth to many children and adored each other! Fortunately, let the road lead, There will be a lot of money! So that everything in life happens on time, Very bitter - congratulations!
We were born on the cross, This means a lot, That’s why I always follow your path, That’s why this wedding is special for me. Be happy, our groom, with your sweetheart!
Today is the wedding of the godchildren, I wish them unforgettable days, Nights like a fire, bright, Tender and hot hugs. Let life go well together, Let a great miracle happen, May you have goodness and strength, mood, prosperity, love, pleasure!
You were a lively boy and had a character like a lion's. Whatever you had your eye on, you immediately got it. You achieved everything through hard work, And then you were proud, That you managed to do everything yourself, Outshine everyone. I was proud of you too. You are my godson, oh my God. But today you have now bought yourself a “diamond”. Your chosen one is a beauty. And this is not the only note. You are suitable for each other, I see your merit in this. Be happy together, and we will shine with a gift. Receive our congratulations. Plan new ideas.
I’m marrying you off like my own daughter! And it seems that only recently I carried you in my arms as a breastfeeder! And I alternate joy with excitement, And not finding words, I can’t feel my feet under me, To express happiness in words! Congratulations to you! God called you my daughter! Life is so short - fleeting, Now you are anointed for happiness! I wish you to keep the bonds, to find an island of comfort! All this will immediately come true when I finish my congratulations!
"Bitterly! Bitterly!" - I shout, I want to congratulate you! To wish that they live together, that they have everything they need, that they kiss each other, that they never get tired! So that they love passionately, tenderly, So that love is boundless! So that they go to the godfather, talk! To live to be a hundred years old, my congratulations - hello to you!
Well, well done guys, you’ve decided to take a serious step, now hold on, Let our congratulations be shared equally, If you’ve decided to be a couple, then share!
Words from the godfather at the wedding
After the “transfer” of the godson into the hands of the parents, the role of the godfather at the wedding is considered fulfilled, and the godfather is considered to have fulfilled his duty, guiding his spiritual son/daughter on the true path, because for the Orthodox the family is a small church.
However, in addition to the spiritual role at the wedding, the godfather also performs a ritual one. For example, the bride and groom riding. Previously, it was customary to give young people a horse covered with a luxurious carpet and ride them on it.
At modern weddings, people ride in cars that are decorated with bows, balloons, dolls, soft toys and other wedding paraphernalia. The godfather is obliged to pay for both the car itself and these decorations.
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A godfather has not only responsibilities, but also rights. For example, he participates in competitions along with his own parents, including the “mother-in-law and father-in-law skating”
If the godparents do not go to the wedding, then the godson must light candles in the church for the health of the godmother and godfather.
Godfathers
What should a godfather do at a wedding? Although there are no specific responsibilities for spiritual fathers, if they wish, they can also take an active part both in preparation for the wedding and in the event itself. The newlyweds and godfathers will be glad if the godfathers take upon themselves the search and hiring of a car for the bride and groom, the organization of transport for the guests, the search and hiring of musical accompaniment for the celebration, a photographer and video filming, and assistance together with the groom’s godmother in the ransom of the bride. Spiritual fathers can help witnesses keep order, calm down overly cocky guests in a timely manner, and, of course, take an active part in the fun. In the absence of the father, the godfather is obliged to replace him.
Words from the godmother at the wedding
The godmother, along with the godfather, occupies a place of honor at the wedding. She takes part not only in the wedding itself, but also in its preparation. The ritual of blessing by godmothers (yes, yes, two at once) can be called more magical. Their goal is to prevent “damage”, “evil eye” and other similar adversities.
It is believed that the godmother is responsible for the goddaughter until the wedding.
The presence of godmothers on both sides is a very serious support for the newlyweds, because these are one of the most important people in their lives.
- From a very early age, the bride's godmother is the girl's best friend, her advisor and mentor, which is why her presence is so important.
- The task of the groom's godmother before the wedding is to be an example of a woman and mother for him, to teach him to love and respect himself, his own mother and his future wife. At a wedding, more than anywhere else, her approving glance is needed.
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Traditions
In ancient times, godparents occupied the responsible position of divine mentors for spiritual children. The imprisoned mother was the best friend, mentor and role model for her godchildren. And the “second father” replaced his own father in matters of matchmaking and wedding organization.
Nowadays, matchmakers are the parents of the bride and groom in relation to each other. But in fact, previously it was the named parents who were matchmakers. The groom's spiritual mentors went to the girl's house for the purpose of matchmaking, and there they were met by the godfather and mother of the bride with bread and salt or a pumpkin in case of refusal.
When the proposal was accepted, the matchmakers blessed the future married couple for marriage. Also, imprisoned parents served bread and salt to the young as a symbol of family well-being. By the way, according to tradition, baking a wedding loaf was also the responsibility of the bride’s godmother.
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Previously, a young bride from her godmother received a piece of fabric for a wedding dress from her godmother - now this process has been transformed into a joint trip to a wedding salon. The duties of a spiritual mother include, from early childhood, teaching a girl chastity and the science of housekeeping and preserving the family hearth. And the groom’s mentor was supposed to become a model of femininity and teach the boy to love his own mother, grandmother, sister - female representatives of the family and transfer this love to his future wife.
At a wedding, the named mother has quite a lot of responsibilities, starting with choosing a dress for her goddaughter and ending with replacing her own mother if necessary. Also, during the wedding, spiritual parents held the crown over the newlyweds (this responsibility is now often transferred to witnesses).
These parents take an active part in decorating the house for receiving the newlyweds and their marriage bed. In addition, young people do not expect formal gifts from their spiritual mother and father, but gifts as for their own children, at least an expensive gift in conjunction with their own parents - an apartment, a car (but, of course, one should not forget about the financial situation and demand the impossible ).
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Responsibilities of godparents and their words at a wedding
The godmother begins to participate in the wedding from the moment of its preparation. If the natural mother is absent or ill, then the godmother has special responsibility.
There are a lot of traditions and customs that define the role of godparents. Their differences mainly lie in the distribution of roles between natural mothers and spiritual ones.
Here is a list of things that the mother and godmother should “share”:
- bringing out a loaf of bread and treating the newlyweds to it;
- embroidery of towels;
- escort of newlyweds;
- decoration of the groom's house and wedding bed;
- participation in matchmaking;
- transferring the family hearth to the young and lighting candles for him;
- holding crowns over the young (this honorable duty can be entrusted to both witnesses and godparents).
Godparents at a wedding are a sign of special spirituality and touchingness of the ceremony. It is necessary to understand how much effort the godparents put into both raising the newlyweds and the wedding itself, and prepare a worthy answer to them. Spiritual parents will expect gifts from “godchildren,” even symbolic ones and words of gratitude.
