Armenian wedding: customs and traditions

Armenian wedding is a very fun celebration of huge proportions. Such a wedding is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Of course, the modern celebration is already different from the event, which was held several centuries ago, but still the spouses observe the basic traditions and customs. It is necessary to consider in more detail the specifics of holding a wedding with Armenians, as well as what are its differences from the celebrations of other nations of the world.

Matchmaking is an indispensable stage that precedes the very celebration of the wedding. Earlier matchmaking was obligatory, but today many young people adhere to this tradition. The bottom line is that the groom must notify the parents of the future bride about his intentions. For this, the mediator is sent to the girl’s house or, as they call her, a matchmaker. In Armenia, the mediator is styled midjnord kin. She can only be a woman from the groom's family. She must be respected, have a good position in society. Even the mother of the groom can successfully cope with this role. It is very important that the matchmaker is known to the parents of the future bride. Initially, the matchmaker comes without an open offer, she carefully and unobtrusively tries to find out the attitude of the parents of the future bride in general to marriage, as well as to the groom.

After the so-called pre-matchmaking, matchmakers are sent to the parents of the future bride. - Relatives of the future groom. Only men participate in the negotiations. Matchmakers tell the purpose of the visit and ask permission of the future bride's father to marry. The decision is left to the father, who can hint at both consent and refusal. The father has no right to immediately agree to the proposal of the matchmakers, because it is believed that then he wants to quickly give his daughter in marriage. Only at the second meeting, the father is already expressing his consent, the conditions of engagement are immediately discussed, which is the next step just before the wedding itself.

The betrothal is a rather important stage of pre-wedding preparation. It is after the engagement that the parents of the bride and groom begin to communicate closely, spend more time together, helping the young with organizing the wedding. The grinding takes place on a prearranged day. Parents of future spouses gather in the groom's house, while his family is responsible for the treats. At the festive table, Armenian toasts are usually heard, in which guests wish young people a long and happy married life. But this feast does not last all day, because then everyone goes to visit the bride's parents, where they are also waiting for the festive table.

According to Armenian customs, the most important on the engagement is the seated father, or connotation. Usually, the godfather of the groom or a worthy man from his family is invited to this role. It was the honor that was honored to lead the bride and her friends to the table where the bride was presented with luxurious jewelry. After this, the cavor announces that now the future newlyweds are engaged, while the groom must decorate the ring finger on his left hand with his beloved exquisite ring with a pebble.

It is on the day of the engagement it is customary to negotiate the date of the wedding. It is discussed what the dress of the bride will be like, what attributes will be used during the marriage ceremony itself, with attention being paid to elements that are specific to the Armenian wedding.Another ceremony ends this day, during which the girls sing sad songs, because now the future bride has to say goodbye to her father’s house, since after the wedding she will move to the house of the future husband. It is accepted that the last melody of "Uzundara" sounds, and when it ends, the bride must leave the parental home.

Armenians follow traditions, especially when it comes to weddings. Preparation for this rather important and unique day also has some interesting customs and traditions.

• Bride bride. After the engagement, the bridegroom should come back to the bride's house, but not alone, but with her relative. He must treat his beloved mother and sisters with various sweets. After that, the next morning, the future mother-in-law treats the children of the neighborhood with sweets, while she acts as a bride. If this tradition is observed, it means that now young people can see each other openly before the wedding.
• Kyasum trill. This is another unusual, but very interesting custom. Its essence lies in the fact that the parents of the bride and the groom meet to discuss monetary issues relating to the wedding. It is worth discussing how many will be invited from each side.

When all traditions and customs are observed, the most important thing in preparation begins - the material stage. Usually organizers are hired for the organization. They should find a room, purchase decor to decorate the whole celebration, create a menu for a banquet feast, send invitations to guests, create a script for the celebration itself. They are necessarily responsible for the organization of weddings in the church, because it is there that the union at the Armenian wedding is made before the official marriage.

Most Armenian weddings take place in the fall or early winter. This period is the most favorable for the celebration, since the entire harvest is already harvested, the young wine is ripe. According to Armenian customs and traditions, the bridegroom's relatives should bring the dress to the bride. On the wedding day, close friends and relatives of the bridegroom, led by Kabor, come to the bride's home - they take the bride from their father's house. This action is accompanied by noisy songs and fun music.

The groom, having come to the house of the future wife, presents it to her relatives "blue" - This is a variety of fruit dishes, goodies, spirits, jewelry and, of course, a dress for the bride. Kavorkin is the wife of Kavora, who also plays one of the important roles on the wedding day, because she is the one who dresses the bride in festive attire. According to traditions, it is customary for Armenians to give gold jewelry and money to young people for a wedding. But on this day, gifts are not only those who get married. A large dish with traditional treats gets the favor from the mother of the bride.

Modern Armenian weddings are distinguished by great merriment, it is customary to have fun and dance, sing wedding songs. But according to traditions, the bride's mother does not participate in the dances, because she is sad that her daughter has already grown and leaves her father's house. The dance of the bride and groom is not an important element, it can be seen quite rarely. The peculiarity of the Armenian wedding is that the bride is dancing with other guys that day, which allows her to check her loyalty to her future husband. If a young woman behaves with dignity, not paying attention to other men, then she receives gifts from them.

After the official marriage, it is customary to meet the young family with honey, and lavash is thrown over their shoulders. This custom says that the life of the newlyweds will be sweet. And it is also customary to sprinkle marriages with flowers, candy, grain, and even nuts with raisins. Armenian toasts deserve special attention, because they are a real decoration of this unforgettable day. The toasts of Armenians are very beautiful, poetic, usually combined with various Armenian parables.Metaphors with landscapes of the surrounding nature are used in toasts, because Armenia is a very beautiful country rich in unforgettable landscapes.

Formal marriage is only half the battle, because all couples are sure to get married. This ceremony also has many traditions and customs. But most importantly, during the wedding between the young no one passed. Usually, this is monitored, because at the wedding there are a lot of people who are quite inattentive to this requirement. During the wedding, over the heads of the youngs, the crown holds the sheath and sword crossed between them. It is believed that the metal is able to protect the young family from various adversities.

According to traditions, the Armenian wedding is celebrated for three days. Usually at a wedding celebration it is customary to slaughter the bull, and use its meat to prepare various delicious dishes. At the festive tables there is always a kebab, an abundance of fruits and herbs. On the wedding day they give gold jewelry and, of course, money. Usually donated money for the wedding collected mother of the bride. It is worth noting an interesting tradition of donation, which lies in the fact that all gifts, except money, are given away to relatives by the groom.

At the wedding, Armenians are forbidden to speak young after a toast "bitterly", and this rule also applies to other nations. The main reason for the ban "bitterly" at a wedding is that it is ugly to show your feelings in front of everyone, especially since there has not even been the first wedding night. The bride is still innocent, so the groom can only kiss his beloved on the cheek after the marriage in the registry office. Usually every toast at the feast ends with the word "carcass."

• Sending a dowry. According to this Armenian rite, the parents of the newly-made wife send all the gifts of the young to their home. Today this tradition is already more game-like.
• Washing the head of the bride. Armenians had no right to see their mother and daughter after the wedding. Only on the first Saturday after the wedding could a mother come to her daughter to help her wash her hair, while she took a shampoo and a comb with her.

• Making a fire. This custom is held today. After the wedding, bonfires are lit, through which unmarried girls and boys jump under the cheerful songs.
• Farewell to the house. This ritual is more formal today, but many adhere to it. The father takes his daughter out of the house after the wedding, because now she moves to live with her husband. The bride's father holds her hand and passes it to her husband's father. During this celebration, sad music plays. The girl thanks her parents for everything, kisses their hands.

• The wedding night. According to tradition, there should be no one in the house where the young will sleep. Relatives went to spend the night with friends. Only bridesmaids could eavesdrop at the door of the house. On the first night, the young were forbidden to shout. After the first night, the guy felt shy, so he went to friends, and only in the evening his parents brought home. The bride had to prove her innocence, so after the first wedding night she showed the groom a bloody stain on the sheets. After that, they gave her silver coins and apples, and her mother - wine and chicken.If the wedding night was successful, then they made several shots in the air. But if the bride could not prove innocence, then she had to undergo a disgraceful ritual. She was put on a donkey, while backwards, and allowed the animal along the main street of the village. Such a shame was seen by all the villagers.

Review of the Armenian wedding, see the next video.