Matchmaking and engagement - past and present

A wedding is one of the most striking events in the life of every person. But not only wedding dresses, bouquets, gifts, feasts accompany this event. Traditions and rituals emphasize the significance of this action. Of course, many of them are lost, or gradually lose their significance. A vivid confirmation of this is the ritual of matchmaking.
The marriage ceremony for our ancestors was very important, and was the first step in the beginning of a life together. In those days, matchmaking occurred on strictly certain days: Tuesday, Thursday or on weekends. And the appointed day, like the way to the girl's house, was kept in great secret. The main organizers of the rite were matchmakers and matchmakers. The role of the matchmaker was in the selection of the bride. She knew everything not only about her family, dowry, but also about the nature, habits of a potential woman. Matchmakers, as a rule, were appointed from the relatives of the future bridegroom.

The marriage ceremony also had a number of traditions, for example, the sooner matchmakers reach the gate of the girl to her porch, the sooner the wedding will take place. Also it was impossible to sit during the negotiations, otherwise the girl will not soon be married.

Usually from the first time matchmakers did not agree with their parents, which did not mean a refusal - it was simply indecent to immediately agree to a marriage. The matchmakers were sent the second, and even the third time. If the future bridegroom did not like, then in no case it was impossible to refuse matchmakers in a sharp form. They called a lot of reasons, for example, they referred to the fact that the girl is still very young or that the dowry is not enough.

After the matchmaking took place, the parents of both parties discussed the wedding day, expenses, dowry and arranged bride's bridesmaids, after which they visited the groom's house, where everything ended with a feast.

But today the marriage ceremony no longer carries such deep meaning as before, it is rather a tribute to tradition, because young people themselves decide to make a marriage, appoint a date, make lists of guests, choose where the wedding will be, etc. Current matchmaking can occur both without the participation of matchmakers from the girl and the young man, and with them. Often matchmaking is as follows: young people are planning to get married, then the groom comes to the bride's house and asks her for her parents 'hands, but the organizational issues are solved immediately after the parents' acquaintance of the bride and groom. That is, in most cases, the element of the game in matchmaking is completely absent and there is only one formality.

But if matchmakers enter into the business: cheerful people are not complex, then this formality turns into a cheerful and unconstrained rite. As a century ago, at the entrance to the house, there are cries: "You have goods, we have a merchant; You have a girl, we have a fine fellow; We have a key, you have a lock. " Thus, guests immediately warn parents of their intention. Matchmakers start to praise the "merchant", telling about his hobbies, work, prosperity, plans for the future. The bride's wedding - the praise of "goods", occurs in the same atmosphere of ease and ease. Of course, it does not do without tricky questions that the bride and groom did not even discuss.

For the presentation of matchmakers follows the decision of the parents, who, of course, will agree to give his girlfriend in marriage.

The matchmaking was followed by an engagement held in the bride's house, where relatives and friends of both sides were invited. The chosen one gave the girl a ring with a stone. The bride's father announced the forthcoming wedding and the exact day was already set here. Only after the engagement, the young are officially considered to be the bride and groom. This is one of the most romantic and quivering periods, preceding the wedding.

As the tradition of betrothal exists and now. Only, of course, this ritual became more conditional, and refer to it as a beautiful custom. Today is the day of filing an application and there is a kind of betrothal that gives young people two months for a final decision to associate or not their destiny with each other.