PROJECT MEUMORIES

Wedding and family ceremonies

Many of the Bulgarian ancient ceremonies, including the wedding traditions, are still practiced today, little changed from 500 years ago. Even today many couples still observe the ancient engagement rites. BULGARIAN WEDDINGS

The engagementThe actual engagement takes place on a holiday. Relatives and neighbors are invited. The engagement lasts from one day to a year or even longer depending on local customs.

The legal and religious ceremoniesThe legal age for getting married in Bulgaria is 18 years. People under that age, but who have already turned 16, may get married with the permission of the Chair of the Regional Court .

The religious ceremony is optional and itself has no legal status.

Pre-wedding rituals All wedding rituals have a specific meaning. Most weddings in Bulgaria take place on Sunday. On the preceding Thursday the brides mother performs the ritual kneading of the bread (pitka). The rising of the dough symbolizes the creation of a new family unit.

BULGARIAN WEDDINGS

Early on the morning of the wedding the grooms family and friends gather at his home. There is then a procession to the best mans home. The procession is joyful with much dancing, music and singing. The best woman (often the best mans wife) and the best man then lead the procession to the brides house.

When the wedding party arrives at the brides home the bride is locked in a room and only the best woman can visit her until the groom and the best man bargain to be let in. The procession from the brides house to the church is noisy and cheerful. There is beating of drums, and the procession often stops to dance. However, it is considered bad luck for two unmarried brides-to-be to meet face-to-face.

BULGARIAN WEDDINGS

The marriage ceremony rituals It is good luck for the bride and the groom if each of them steps into the Ceremony Hall or the church with their right foot first.

At the conclusion of the ceremony the bride and groom exchange rings and the traditional wedding kiss. Once the official wedding papers are signed another wedding custom is the stepping. Whoever steps on the others foot first will be dominate for the new family.

BULGARIAN WEDDINGSUsually the groom carries the bride out of the Ceremony hall on his hands. It means that all her life he will take care of her.

The wedding party is usually about 5-6 hours and it is full of traditional rituals .The grooms mother traditionally meets the new family. She lays a long, white hand-woven cloth at the door for the newly-married couple to enter on and she throws flowers in their path as a symbol of health and happiness in their new life together. The marriage ceremony rituals

The marriage ceremony ritualsThe grooms mother feeds the newlyweds first with bread and salt symbolizing difficulties which they have to overcome and after a bread with honey and wine for a long and sweet life together.

The marriage ceremony ritualsThe bestman takes the word for small oration and gives the start of the party. Then the grooms mother holds a loaf of bread over her head and invites each of the couple to pull one end of it; whoever gets the bigger piece he/she will have the biggest role in the new family. .

BULGARIAN WEDDINGS And then the music and the dancing begins. Dancing is a large part of the Bulgarian wedding reception ritual. In some parts of the country it is even customary for the bride and groom to dance to receive their wedding cake.

BULGARIAN WEDDINGS Then and now

What is now Naturally, in our day the rituals from the past have been transformed - under foreign influence and as a result of the general process of modernization.

Thank you for the attention!www.desita-ivandjenev.hit.bgdesita_ivandjenev@abv.bg Bulgaria, 5300 Gabrovo, 105 Stefan Karadzha str. phone: +359 66 806073

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