“The wedding sang and danced” - these words are familiar to everyone, and not by hearsay. Of course, not everyone can afford to organize noisy celebrations, so often newlyweds prefer to sit with a modest family somewhere in a cozy restaurant. And the saved money, as an option, can be spent on a romantic trip or furnishing a family nest.
It is quite logical, only if we are not talking about Caucasian weddings. Here everything is different - money flows like a river, no one counts the guests, and magnificent celebrations, instead of one day, stretch for three.
Magnificent festivities at a Caucasian wedding
Caucasians are an ardent and generous people, but they live by their own rules and laws. Even if the wedding turns into a real ruin for the family, it will still be held at its best. The customs of the highlanders remain unchanged even now, in the age of Lexus, tablets and Versace suits. Marrying a son or giving a daughter in marriage is not an ordinary event, so the preparation for the wedding event takes place in earnest. So, everything in order.
Caucasian wedding scenario: what is special?
Matchmaking according to Caucasian customs
It all starts with matchmaking. If previously parents selected a couple for their children, now young people have finally received the right to independently choose a life partner. Usually, young families are created almost from school, but late marriages also happen when a career “interferes” with life.
Traditions are the basis of a Caucasian wedding.
Setting a date for a Caucasian wedding
Next, the groom's relatives set the wedding date and approve the number of guests. Although, this value is more relative, since any passerby can come to the feast. Not empty-handed, of course. Usually, the doors of a hospitable Caucasian home open to at least 200-300 guests, or even more.
Kalym for a bride in the Caucasus
The size of the bride price is also agreed upon in advance, but it is given on the first day of the wedding, when the groom comes to pick up the bride. True, sheep have long ceased to be considered the main “currency”, giving way to crisp banknotes.
How many days does a wedding take in the Caucasus?
Well, then three days of general fun, where the tables are bursting with a variety of dishes, and the walls tremble from the unbridled lezginka. Caucasian toasts at weddings are another ritual that literally all freedom-loving mountain residents master perfectly.
Caucasian bride
As you know, Eastern culture differs significantly from Western culture. For people living in the Caucasus, the girl is a model of chastity. If this is so, then she immediately receives the respect of others. Otherwise, the girl will be shunned, and it will be more difficult to find a chosen one in such a situation.
The bride at the wedding must behave quietly and modestly; she must not laugh loudly, drink, make noise or have fun. In fact, the girl acts more as a decoration of the celebration than as its culprit. As already noted, kissing newlyweds is unacceptable; it is considered an intimate thing. The question arises: what happens at a Russian-Caucasian wedding? Of course, it all depends on the situation. In most cases, Caucasian tenacity prevails, and the word “bitter” is not shouted at the event.
Customs of a Caucasian wedding
Wedding “Bitter!” prohibited
At a Caucasian wedding you will never hear shouts of “Bitter”. Firstly, such liberties are not acceptable in Muslim customs, and the groom has the right to touch the bride only on the first wedding night. And secondly, it happens that at the holiday the newlyweds sit in different rooms and purely physically cannot kiss each other.
Caucasian bride is modesty itself
The bride should behave quietly, modestly and preferably remain silent during the entire wedding ceremony. Here is another discrepancy with European generally accepted behavior. No prepared joint dancing, throwing a bouquet or drinking champagne from a shoe. One continuous innocence and chastity. But guests are allowed everything. By the way, many young people have the opportunity to make new acquaintances at the weddings of their friends or relatives.
At a Caucasian wedding, guests are only from the groom's side
Having mentioned relatives, one more feature of Caucasian weddings should be mentioned. The bride's parents and her brothers never participate in the festivities. The only exceptions are the bride's sisters, who are allowed to come to the upcoming wedding. It is they who bring the newly-made wife a dowry and what the girl will need for the first time from things and household utensils in the new home.
Bride and groom at a Caucasian wedding
Wedding customs and traditions of the Caucasus
Each of us has heard at least once the amazing stories of Caucasian weddings. This is not surprising, because such an event is always celebrated on a grand scale! Caucasians are very hospitable and, despite the huge diversity of cultures and customs, there are among them those that are characteristic of all peoples and, at the same time, unique to the whole world.
Matchmaking
One of the traditions observed from time immemorial is matchmaking. It is very important and significant for every Caucasian family. Previously, the decision to get married depended only on the parents. Today this tradition has been preserved, but consent to marriage remains with the young. Matchmakers set a date in advance and come to the bride’s house, where they are solemnly greeted at a lush table. After a while, the matchmakers come again to find out the girl’s decision. If she agrees, preparations for the wedding begin.
Guests at the wedding
Many pre-wedding traditions of the peoples of the world are familiar to us, for example, drawing up a guest list. However, the scale of the Caucasian wedding is truly amazing. After the bride has given her consent, the families discuss the guest list. In the Caucasus, family ties are highly valued and friendship is revered. Therefore, a lot of people are always invited to a wedding, among whom may be the most distant relatives and old acquaintances. The newlyweds may not know even half of the guests. But this does not prevent the wedding from being magnificent, loud and friendly.
Wedding procession
Looking through photos of a Caucasian wedding, it’s hard not to pay attention to the festive cortege. This is due to the fact that every couple strives to surprise their guests and make their celebration unforgettable and luxurious, and also because at a wedding there are always many invited guests who need to be transported to key points.
Two weddings
A Caucasian wedding is large-scale not only in the number of guests. Customs and traditions separate the celebration for several days. First, the celebration takes place in the bride's house, and then in the groom's house. This custom kept men and women separate and also gave the bride the opportunity to spend time with her family before leaving her father's house to move in with her husband.
Incendiary Caucasian weddings and Lezginka
“The wedding party sang and danced.” How accurately this phrase characterizes how a real wedding takes place in the Caucasus. For several days, the tables are crowded with an abundance of treats, wine flows like a river, fiery music sounds, and guests watch mesmerizing Caucasian dances. There is no place for boredom at a wedding.
Caucasian weddings and the Lezginka, revered by all, are inseparable from each other. This dance conveys the entire temperament and character of the Caucasian people. Men dance happily, showing off their dexterity, trying to stand out and impress women. Not a single wedding in the Caucasus can do without a Lezginka, like any video of this celebration. That is why this energetic dance can be safely called one of the main decorations of the holiday.
Meeting of the bride and groom
There are beautiful Caucasian traditions that have almost disappeared, but sometimes they can still be seen. One of these is the meeting of the bride and groom. According to all the rules, newlyweds should not see each other on their wedding day. They spend time with their family and close friends, and meet at the end of the celebration.
The appearance of the bride
The appearance of the bride in the groom's house is the most important and crucial moment in the life of a couple, and therefore the most solemn. The girl always covered her face in advance, which helped her protect herself from the evil eye, she only had to enter the house with her right foot, and there was always a sheep's skin laid on the floor. This ritual included many nuances that had to be observed. It was believed that if you do something wrong, the marriage will not be happy.
Meeting the bride
Caucasian weddings have another significant tradition associated with the arrival of the bride to the groom's family. The young man's mother should treat the girl with honey, which symbolizes accepting her into the house and wishing her a sweet and happy life. The bride is also generously showered with rice, sweets and coins, which, according to tradition, is supposed to bring prosperity and prosperity to the young family.
The wedding night
The bride at a Caucasian wedding is the embodiment of purity and innocence. Before marriage, a girl should not have any relationships with men. That is why the wedding night is special for her and one very touching tradition is associated with it. Before the wedding night, the bride should hug several family members, preferably children. It is believed that this will bring the newlyweds their first child, a boy.
Bride kidnapping
Time does not stand still, and many traditions are losing their strength. This is what happens with the oldest Caucasian custom, which everyone has probably heard about - bride kidnapping, but such cases still occur. If a girl refused and did not accept the offer of marriage, then the young man could steal her, giving her a chance to marry her, because after a night spent in the man’s house, she was considered defamed.
Wedding procession at a Caucasian wedding
The wedding procession of the newlyweds is a spectacle worthy of attention. The line of accompanying vehicles often numbers 20-30 purebred “steel” horses. Jeeps and luxury cars decorated with ribbons honk throughout the entire area, notifying local residents of the joyful event.
At a Caucasian wedding, both “iron” and real horses are appropriate. The main thing is that they look expensive, chic and thoroughbred.
The first car of the motorcade is a kind of “banker” and pays everyone who stops it money for travel. Every passerby can go out onto the road and fill their pockets with the Nth amount of money. After payment has been made, the wedding procession continues on its way.
Wedding Caucasian toasts
Of course, Caucasian toasts are very popular, as they have their own unique structure. First, a short story is told, and then the essence is extracted from it in a short form. Toasts have such a structure, thoughtful and interesting, in almost no other culture. In addition, all Caucasian toasts have a deep philosophical meaning. After all, any traditional toast that is pronounced at a wedding has been perfected for several centuries by the best speakers of the people. Therefore, now Caucasian wedding toasts are very popular and are a highlight at any celebration. After all, such a toast combines parting words, congratulations and an invitation to guests to raise their glasses to the health of the newlyweds.
Therefore, if you are planning to say a beautiful congratulation at your wedding, a toast in the Caucasian style is one of the best options. After all, if you simply say toasts or congratulations, they will not give such a positive result. In addition, almost all Caucasian toasts contain some bit of humor, so they are an excellent solution to cheer up and amuse guests a little.
Of course, such a performance needs to be remade a little in a modern way, however, this is not difficult. The most important thing is simply not to miss the essence. After all, the philosophical meaning of congratulations is always appreciated.
What if the bride is still kidnapped?
Bride kidnapping is one of the oldest customs in the Caucasus. And although civilization still leaves its mark, such “antics” still happen. If a wayward bride refuses an unlucky groom, or parents do not want to marry their daughter to an unpromising candidate for marriage, then the proud horseman uses his last chance - theft.
The abduction process is often carried out by the groom's relatives or friends. The girl is brought to the house of her future husband and begins to persuade her to agree to the marriage. The poor “prisoner” has no choice but to accept the conditions of her captors, since in the eyes of her family she is already considered disgraced. Even if no one touched her, a night spent in the groom’s domain will irrevocably damage her reputation as a woman.
