A Ukrainian marriage is an event that combines both national and religious cultures. It is a large, sophisticated festival with many meaningful rites and customs https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/st-valentine-s-day.

The festival begins with the elegant commitment, when the man goes to the couple’s parents ( for exact- sex or genderqueer couples this is done with both sets of parents ) with a bottle of horilka asking for her hand in marriage. The groom’s household and older married gentlemen called starosty follow him. If the parents accept the commitment, the wife drapes a rushnyk around her hubby- to- been and they all drink horilka along.

Before the chapel service, the bride and groom receive gifts from their families and guardians during a standard ceremony known as Blahoslovenja. They bow and change gifts, quite as wedding breads called korovai that symbolizes career and fertility. During this part of the ceremony, it is also popular to provide the pair with a set of catholic images that they must position at home and take care of, as a symbol of their new obligations.

As the couple exits the ceremony hall, they are presented with a towel that has been nicely decorated. They are supposed to step on it and superstition ukrainedate com says that whoever steps on it first heads the household.

Once the wedding celebrations are over, it is common for the newlyweds to spend a few days at their parents ‘ houses. They are showered with gifts and pampered by their family and friends. During this time it is customary to play some light- hearted games like putting a towel on their heads and running through the house or throwing salt at each other. This helps to relax the atmosphere and prepare for their married life.