For centuries, it has been one of the most important and at the same time most lavishly celebrated events in life. Many couples decide to throw a lavish party for several hundred people, often ending up with a large loan to repay. A wedding is an important moment also because of the traditions that have been cultivated for centuries. How many of them have survived to this day? Photos from weddings and performances of traditional customs can be found in the gallery at the top of the page.
Before the wedding, you had to find a partner. It was like “making a deal”
Although there were love marriages, much more often we had to deal with a marriage contract, or rather a business contract, the purpose of which was to unite families, property and business.
Matching couples was like striking a deal or negotiating an economic contract. Ultimately, it was the parents who decided with whom their daughter or son would start a family. It happened that the young people, before the matchmaking began, did not know each other at all
– writes Marcelina Obarska on . The maiden, a matchmaker, dealt with matchmaking, but also with finding a wife for a “client”. This function was most often performed by a man, but also by a woman. During the negotiations at the potential bride’s house, the matchmaker usually brought vodka, which had a “salutary effect” on the course of the negotiations. Once the maidservants were deemed successful and the deal had already been concluded, the handshake took place.
Matchings, engagements, unweavings and buyouts. Not all wedding traditions in Poland have survived
Engagement today is a romantic moment that brides and grooms are waiting for. How was it before? There was no ring and no champagne. The engagement party was simply an official confirmation of the desire to get married, after which one could proceed to the next stages. It happened that it was then that the future spouses met for the first time. Immediately after the engagement, announcements were made, which were made during three consecutive masses.
A staging of ‘Wedding in Upper Silesia’ performed by a regional group Photo National Digital Archives
Unbraids were an inseparable element of pre-wedding. While the men celebrated their bachelor party, the women mourned the end of their bachelorhood. The bridesmaids were undoing the maiden’s braid, singing songs, not always cheerful ones. There was also dancing and music, and sometimes the groom unbraided the braid. Then they tried to make his task as difficult as possible.
On the day, the groom had a difficult task. Before the future spouses were blessed by their parents, he had to “buy out” his future spouse. To this day, this custom is still found in Silesia, for example. The groom had to gain the bride’s approval by using money, valuables, gold, sweets, delicacies or alcohol. You also had to prepare for expenses while going to church. This one was blocked by gates that are also well known today. A bottle of alcohol was enough to be able to drive further.
‘Gate’ at a highlander wedding Photo National Digital Archives
Traditionally, Oczepiny did not resemble today’s games. The most important thing was the cap
After the wedding, everyone went to the wedding reception. However, there would be no wedding without caps. Traditionally, they took place at midnight, when the bride was led to a side room accompanied by traditional songs. The bridesmaids took off her wreath, then her long braid was cut off or her hair was shortened. The wreath was replaced by a wedding bonnet. Various games were sometimes held during the oczepiny, although they were far from what we know today. The bride “ran away” from the bonnet that her bridesmaids or married women wanted to put on her. Married men invited to the wedding protected her from being slandered.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
