One ceremonies is actually the laundry of bride to be, which had been useful for casting an enchantment more than their future husband, in order for he would love their particular forever:
Usually, half of it count is kept in currency plus the most other 50 % of for the things (e.g., silver, silver, pearl, food, clothing, ponies, carriages, servants, an such like.). If for example the woman didn’t come with brothers, the latest dowry might even become homes.(13) New dental contract of the dowry involving the fathers finished the newest age of “courtship.”
The next step of the betrothal is actually the latest “greeting.” Toward good pre-created day, brand new bridegroom-to-feel came to their betroth’s domestic “inside the a clean clothing” in the company of his father otherwise elderly sis. they were came across by girl’s dad who seated them off in the hearth, towards the house’s top benches (this new bride to be-to-become, but not, existed concealed). The brand new contractual data files, outlining the brand new intent so you can wed and the information on the dowry have been displayed and signed. No priest try introduce at that enjoy (whether or not in the event that both parties was in fact illiterate, a great clerk could be introduce). The latest sgovor had no spiritual meaning, but try merely a business transaction. Following signing, merchandise were replaced and the girl’s father presented the fresh house’s symbol toward travelers in order to kiss. The new group up coming gone into back place — an interior wishing place the spot where the feminine, becoming usually segregated about guys, was basically achieved (but the future bride herself who was prohibited becoming present) — to meet the latest fiancee’s mother and compliment their own. She kissed the bride-to-be along with her women in change accompanied their own analogy. The brand new ritual complete, the brand new traffic departed.(14)
A few days afterwards, the latest boy’s mom stumbled on the fresh bride’s household toward “inspection” to discover the profile and you may chastity of your own girl. Upon passage her approval, the fresh boy’s mother offered the latest fiancee a ring. After, she may additionally posting the fresh girl a cross, certain fruit, and some headwear on servants.(15)
Discover a unique succession regarding incidents ideal during the historical records. The fresh new Chapel failed to approve of having betrothals happen outside of Chapel and necessary that sgovor and the exchanging of groups take place in a chapel and start to become sanctified of the an tchГЁque femme excellent priest. Because the Levin shows you, betrothals was indeed will treated as the granting official consent so you’re able to fornicate. The brand new Church thought, for its area, that in case lovers have been planning to has actually sex prior to wedding next it may too make betrothals since the joining just like the wedding alone: “The latest church stored you to definitely a vow ahead of Goodness and witnesses is to be kept; an official pledge to help you get married try binding through to both parties.”(16)
Soon before matrimony, it actually was popular to set up a routine bath [ bania ]. Pursuing the bride’s routine ablution, new ‘charmed water’ are carefully stored and you will made available to new partner for following the relationships.(17)
As the Chapel try highly not in favor of this habit (simply because of its pagan root), there are symptoms that it lasted into the sixteenth century.
The newest preservation of one’s pre-Christian traditions with the ‘charmed water’ in the tenth to 15th-century wedding traditions is said of the attract of your own bride to be in order to victory the like and affection regarding her coming lover because of the means of enchanting traditions
A special pre-marriage personalized try the fresh new “maiden’s party” — a sort of gothic bachelorette class — the spot where the female gained to your bride-to-be the evening before marriage. Immediately it had been old-fashioned to get rid of the newest girl’s headcovering [ kokoshnik ] and you may comb out their particular hair. Her solitary tress (the brand new icon away from maidenhood from inside the medieval Russia) was braided for the past big date.(18)