5 options why a wedding is called marriage?

In Ozhegov's dictionary

WEDDING, s, gen. pl. -deb, f. Marriage ceremony. Celebrate or (obsolete and simple) play a wedding. He will heal before the wedding (said as a consolation to someone who is hurt or in pain; colloquial joke). Prepare for Malanyin’s wedding (so much that you can’t eat it all; simple). * Silver wedding - twenty-fifth anniversary of married life. Golden wedding - fiftieth anniversary of married life. Diamond wedding - seventy-fifth anniversary of married life. || diminutive-affectionate wedding, -i, genus pl. - side, g. || adj. wedding, oh, oh.

Matchmaking and engagement

Main articles: Matchmaking

and
Betrothal
Matchmaking is a wedding ceremony consisting of the groom proposing his hand and heart to a girl in front of her parents. The future groom can participate in matchmaking either directly himself or by sending matchmakers to the parents of his chosen one. As a rule, the delegation includes: the groom’s parents, immediate relatives, godparents, close friends, and sometimes respected strangers.

Betrothal is a preliminary agreement on marriage, which previously had and partially still retains not only everyday, but also legal significance.

Matchmaking and betrothal were absent among peoples with weakly institutionalized marriage, for whom marriage was reduced to a simple agreement between young people.

In Vasmer Max's dictionary

Ukrainian wedding wedding, svayba, blr. wedding, other Russian, Russian-tslav. wedding (Izborn. St. 1076), Bulgarian. matchmaking, Serbohorv. wedding, Slovenian svȃdba, Czech, Slvts. svadba, Polish swadźba, n.-luzh. swajźba, swajba. From matchmaker, actually “matchmaking”; see Sobolevsky, Lectures 104; Mi. EW 332. Unacceptable due to Russian-Tslav. evidence of rapprochement with lead, lead, contrary to Zheltov (FZ, 1876, issue 1, p. 20). People's also welding under the influence of welding “to quarrel” (Appel, RFV 3, 87).

Reflection in culture

The husband flies away from his wife. 1912 postcard by Paja Jovanovic “The Wedding of Tsar Dusan”

In music

The “Wedding March,” written by Felix Mendelssohn for William Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” was widely used as a musical accompaniment for a wedding ceremony.

Another famous example from the classics is the wedding chorus “Our Lord is good...” from Richard Wagner’s opera Lohengrin, usually performed without words, in an instrumental arrangement. The latter is more often used at weddings in Europe and America, while the Mendelssohn march is more popular in Slavic states [ source not specified 826 days

].

In songs

Ceremonial

• Tapio Rautavaara - “Häävalssi”[15] (Wedding Waltz)

Merry

• “Wedding”, (Spanish Muslim Magomaev)[16]
• “Hurmalan Häät” from the film “The Little Inn on a Raft” (1952), Spanish. ensemble Kipparikvartetti

Sad

• “There was a carriage at the church” (performed by The Golden Ring, Zhanna Bichevskaya)
• Viikate - “Mintun ja Vernerin häävalssi”
• “Alien Wedding” (performed by Andrey Derzhavin)
• “Vorotechka” (performed by Ivan Kupala)

Ironic

• “Wedding”, performed by the group “Sector Gaza”, album “Hellraiser”.

To the cinema

• Wedding (list of films with the same name)
• 1950 - Wedding with a dowry (USSR)
• 1967 - Wedding in Malinovka (USSR)
• 1994 - Four Weddings and a Funeral (Britain)
• 2002 - My Big Greek Wedding (USA)
• 2003 - American Pie: The Wedding (USA)
• 2004 - My big Armenian wedding (Russia)
• 2005 - If the mother-in-law is a monster (USA)
• 2007 - Chuck and Larry: Fireman's Wedding (USA)
• 2007 - 27 weddings (USA)
• 2008 - Superdaughter-in-law - some features of an Uzbek wedding are shown
• 2009 - Bride Wars (USA)
• 2011 - Melancholia (Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany)
• 2011 — Exchange wedding (Russia)
• 2012 — Report from a wedding (Spain)
• 2013 - Bitter! (Russia)
• 2018 — Happiness! Hello! (Russia)

In the dictionary D.N. Ushakova

WEDDING, weddings, birth. pl. weddings, women Marriage ceremony. | Celebration of marriage. “He came home from the wedding in the evening a little drunk.” Pushkin. Celebrate the wedding. Play a wedding (reg.). | collected People present at the marriage celebration (·reg.). The wedding is on its way. • He will heal before the wedding (colloquial) - a humorous consolation to someone who has hurt himself or cut himself. For Malanyin’s wedding (bake, fry, cook, etc.; simple) - a lot, so much that you can’t eat it all.

Definition of the word “Wedding” according to TSB:

Wedding - rituals accompanying marriage. In the early stages of social development - during the period of the maternal-tribal system, it was a simple ceremony. S. as a ritual formalization of marriage received special development during the period of Patriarchy, when monogamy (see Monogamy) and the settlement of spouses in the husband’s house (Patrilocal marriage) were firmly established. The main point of the cycle of wedding rituals among all nations is the transition (most often the move) of the bride from her parents’ house to the groom’s house, i.e., a dramatized image of a woman’s transition to a new family, a new clan. This act, as a rule, is accompanied by the exchange of gifts, a festive feast, entertainment, etc. Relatives of the bride and groom and special ritual persons (for example, matchmakers, groomsmen) participate in the ceremony. The content of these rituals is different. The forced abduction of the bride by the groom and his friends, the resistance of the bride and her relatives, etc. are often staged, which reflects that period in the history of marriage when a new (compared to the previous time) order of patrilocal settlement and the subordination of women to the authority of the husband and his relatives was established . During the period of the collapse of the patriarchal system, when payment was demanded for a woman who was considered as labor force (Veno among some European peoples, Kalym among the Mongolian and Turkic peoples, etc.), staging of the “sale” of the bride appeared in wedding rituals, and at the same time “Bridesmanship” arose - a ritual of examining the “bought” woman. Many wedding rituals are associated with religious ideas, have a magical meaning, are designed to protect the newlyweds from “evil spirits”, “damage”, etc. Among many peoples, for example, the Caucasus, mountainous Tajikistan, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Okrug and other places where pre-revolutionary times there was a religious veneration of fire and the hearth (the patron of the home); the transition of a woman from one family to another was accompanied by the bride’s farewell to the hearth of her parents’ home and her dedication to her husband’s home. Grain, flour, hops, nuts, etc., which are showered upon young people in the Northern Slavic, Caucasian, and many other peoples, symbolize abundance, well-being, etc. Along with the developed ritual cycle, ritual costumes for the bride, groom, and others arose. participants of S. Each nation at a certain stage of its development is characterized by a traditional stable complex of wedding rituals, combined with all types of folk art (theatrical performances, music, singing, dancing, games). Developed religious cults usually include a religious wedding rite in the wedding complex, without displacing folk rituals, the original meaning of which is often forgotten and becomes a tradition. In a socialist society, marriage is freed from both church and, to a large extent, outdated ancient rituals associated with religion and superstition, and becomes a holiday celebrating the emergence of a new socialist family. In the USSR in the 1960-70s. The tradition of solemn registration of marriage in Wedding Palaces or in the Halls of Solemn Registration of Marriages received special development. Lit.: Kagarov E., Composition and origin of wedding rituals, in the book: Sat. Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, vol. 8, Leningrad, 1929. Materials on the wedding and family-tribal structure of the peoples of the USSR, Leningrad, 1926. Nikolsky N. M., Origin and history of Belarusian wedding rituals, Minsk, 1956.

What is a wedding?

They say that marriages are created in Heaven and celebrated on Earth. So a wedding is the same holiday that tries to reflect the atmosphere of heaven when a new family is created. This is a celebration of two people becoming one. And this holiday has a special meaning only for them. A wedding is a day of happiness, and most often, such a day happens only once in a lifetime, and the happiness it brings lasts a lifetime. For a girl, there are three most important events in life: graduation, wedding and the birth of a child. These three events cannot be erased from her fate. At the prom, she wants to be the most beautiful among her friends and get more attention from others, and just feel like a princess. When a child is born, a woman becomes the happiest, because she has become a mother, and these feelings cannot be compared with anything. A wedding is when a girl not only becomes a beauty queen, she also finds a life partner who will never leave or betray her. It's like finding half of your soul, and it seems that now nothing can separate you.

When you hear the word “wedding,” only tender and bright thoughts arise. On this day, the whole world becomes wonderful and wonderful for the young couple. Laughter, joy, smiles, a sea of ​​happiness - all this is transmitted from the newlyweds and fills the hearts of guests, friends and family. Dancing, competitions, splashes of champagne - this will be remembered for a lifetime. You can write endlessly about this day, although sometimes the wedding doesn’t go exactly like that.

Nowadays, many couples prefer to quietly, peacefully sign at the registry office, sit with their parents in a cafe and that’s it, the wedding is limited to that. And sometimes a cafe is not included in the newlyweds’ plans. Is it correct? It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. This is where everyone’s right to choose comes into play. A couple can be happy on this day, not only because there are a lot of people around, everything is so beautiful and solemn, but because now they can be together forever. And yet, the girl probably still has a dream in her soul of becoming a beautiful bride.

Some people do this: first they get married, and then a few years later, when they have money, they get married. No one here can say for sure whether this is right or wrong, because situations are different. Even if people don’t have the opportunity to “walk widely” and celebrate now, and being without each other is too much to bear, what’s not a way out of the situation?

It happens that this event is not joyful and cheerful for everyone. Parents. Not all of them want to send their children into adulthood. Agree, how can you now be in a house where the “little blood” no longer lives, even if it’s an adult. Previously, at any moment they could talk to her, put her on the right path, and now, the child will raise her children on her own... No matter how sad it may be, this is the spiritual law of life, and parents must be ready to let go of their child when the time comes. And instead of sadness and tears, they should be happy for him, share his happiness and let him go into life, knowing that there will be a reliable person next to him: his soul mate.

A wedding is the best holiday that should be in everyone's life. Exactly everyone, because not only the girl wants to be a bride, the guy will also definitely be pleasantly excited before this event, he will have to accept congratulations, the attention of all the guests, but most importantly, he will hear the long-awaited “yes” to the question “do I agree...”. And this “YES” will be said in front of all witnesses present at the ceremony. And this is very pleasant, exciting and touching.

What conclusion have we come to? And here it is: have a wedding when you get married! She will definitely add pleasant, kind and joyful memories to your family life. Be happy with your spouse!

In Europe[ | ]

See also: Marriage in Ancient Rome § Wedding

Yu. I. Pimenov “Wedding on Tomorrow Street” (1962)

In Russia[ | ]

See also: Russian wedding ceremony, Cossack wedding and Bashkir wedding customs

In modern Russia, a wedding usually coincides with state registration of marriage. If a wedding ceremony is performed, it is possible only if there is a marriage registration certificate from state authorities. At the same time, a wedding is more than just a marriage, it is also a cycle of significant rituals (in a Russian wedding: wedding train, wedding feast, bride ransom, etc.). Nowadays in Russia, weddings have absorbed the customs of many nations, but they are also characterized by original rituals.

Over time, new traditions appear. So, for example, the tradition of the newlyweds’ first dance appeared. The newlyweds either choose the musical composition for their first dance themselves or dance to a song suggested by the host. Many couples prepare for the dance in advance.

Belarusian wedding[ | ]

For more information on this topic, see: Belarusian wedding
Alfred Kowalski-Wierusz “Wedding sleigh train”. Western Belarus, late 19th century.

The Belarusian folk wedding (Belor. Vyaselle), as a custom, has much in common with the weddings of other Slavic peoples. It all starts with matchmaking. The groom's relatives sent matchmakers to the bride's parents with a request to marry. Then, one or two weeks after the matchmaking, a bridesmaid ceremony followed: the bride’s parents inspected the hut and household of the groom’s parents, because their daughter would go there after marriage. On the eve of the wedding, the bride had a bachelorette party: her friends and relatives came, dressed the bride up, braided her hair, wove wreaths and sang songs. Next, another stage of the wedding ceremony is posad, during which the bride and groom were seated on a bowl covered with a casing (a symbol of prosperity), the bride’s hair was burned with a candle. Finally, the groom's friends came to pick up the bride, a festive dinner began at the bride's house, the loaf was divided and gifts were presented to the newlyweds. After all this, the wedding train with matchmakers and groomsmen set off for the groom's house. There the feast began. The wedding celebration was accompanied by the glorification of the newlyweds, songs, dramatized scenes, dances, and jokes. The wedding itself ended with the ritual of “sweet vodka” - the glorification of the young woman who had preserved her maiden honor. The ceremony took place in the groom's house after the wedding night. When organizing a feast, they sweetened vodka with honey in honor of the bride and glorified the bride’s relatives. A week after the wedding, the newlyweds visited the bride's parents. It was called callback

.

Greek wedding[ | ]

Wedding in Athens.
Louis Dupre The first of the Greek wedding rituals is matchmaking. Matchmakers are selected from among relatives or friends. The main question during matchmaking is the dowry (what it will consist of - clothes, utensils or other more serious things, such as real estate).

The wedding celebrations themselves can take place over more than one day and can be repeated again after some time (for example, after a month), and they take place mainly in the bride’s house.

A characteristic feature of the Greek bride’s attire: the head is decorated with gold threads, and the face is covered with a long pink veil.

An important moment of the wedding ceremony is the entry of a young wife into her husband's house. Each place where the newlywed finds herself (the courtyard, the threshold, the doorframe, the foot of the stairs, the top step of the stairs) is marked by special actions of herself and other participants in the ceremony. For example, her mother-in-law meets her with bread and a belt, which she places on the threshold. The young woman must step over them: if she steps over with her right foot, this is a good omen, if she steps over with her left foot, it is a bad omen. Before entering the house, the bride bows deeply three times. She draws crosses with honey or oil on the door frame or on the ceiling, or the participants in the procession carve them with their daggers[9].

For a big event on the wedding day, everyone gathers at the young husband’s house.

Spain[ | ]

A Spanish wedding is full of colorful rituals and centuries-old traditions. The wedding takes place in a church according to the Catholic rite and is legal, just like a marriage concluded in the municipality. Usually a woman does not take her husband's surname, which is why children after birth receive a double surname of their parents.

Before the wedding, the newlyweds must attend a “school for brides and grooms” at the church, where information is given about the importance of family in the eyes of the church. After graduating from school, future spouses receive a certificate giving them the right to get married.

Crimean Tatar wedding[ | ]

One of the most solemn ceremonies among the Crimeans[10][11] was a wedding, as they attached and continue to attach particular importance to the strength of the family and sought to establish it with the help of established traditions. It was believed that a man was ready to start a family at the age of 25. By this time, he should have acquired a specialty that would allow him to support his future family, have his own “separate door” in his father’s house and have some material wealth. The initiative to choose belonged to the man, but the last word belonged to the girl and her parents. Before obtaining consent, parents find out whether their ancestors intersect up to the seventh generation, and in the mountainous and forest part of Crimea it was allowed to choose a bride from one village, and in the steppe part only from another. Then there was an engagement with the exchange of gifts and, finally, a nikah (wedding), a wedding. The wedding must take place on Friday at the bride's place without the presence of the groom, and on Saturday the bride with her dowry, accompanied by relatives, is transported to the groom's house and the wedding continues on the groom's side. After the wedding night, the bride went out to her husband’s parents, kissed their hands and treated everyone to the coffee she had brought with her[12].

North Macedonia[ | ]

See also: Galichnitsa wedding

Ukrainian wedding[ | ]

N. K. Pimonenko.
“Wedding in the Kiev province”, 1891 For more details, see Ukrainian wedding rituals

A modern wedding in Ukraine (Ukrainian vesillya) is equivalent to registering a marriage in the registry office. If a wedding ceremony is performed, it is possible only if there is a marriage registration certificate from state authorities. The peculiarities of the wedding mixed pagan, Orthodox, folk and more modern rituals[13]. The Soviet past also left its mark on the structure of the wedding day. Recently, weddings in Ukrainian style have become popular. At the same time, the bride and groom sometimes dress in ethnic wedding dresses and use elements in the wedding decoration that give a national flavor (wedding towel).