In ancient times, the parents and the bridegroom's blessing were obligatory, without him no one would be married. Today, this ceremony has lost its importance, but still many newlyweds are eager to receive the blessing of their parents at the wedding.
Blessing of parents at the wedding
The rite of the parents' blessing consists of two stages: before the wedding (registrar or wedding) and before the celebration.
- Before the wedding, the bride and groom receive the blessing of the bride's parents. It happens usually after a ransom, when the groom has already overcome all the tricky tasks and got to the bride, but before leaving her house. Compliance with the last condition is mandatory - a new life will begin beyond the threshold, therefore the first blessing of the couple should be obtained before leaving the parental home. The bride's parents say the parting words and wishes to the young couple. This is considered a sign of approval of the daughter's chosen one, and not just a wish for a happy life. The first blessing can be received on the day of matchmaking. But today this tradition is not observed so often, so usually both young people receive both blessings on the day of the wedding.
- The second blessing at the wedding the newlyweds receive from the groom's parents. This happens after returning from the REGISTRY (church) in front of the entrance to the banquet hall or the groom's house. The groom's parents pronounce warm words and wishes for a happy life to the young family. Parents can express their blessing in congratulations during the banquet. It can be a poetic congratulation or a story about the good qualities of a daughter (son), at the end of which parents say that their children will be sure to be happy in marriage. Traditionally, the father of the bride should start talking, but not all men are verbose, therefore it is allowed that the role of the narrator is taken by the mother.
Blessing of parents in the Orthodox tradition
In the Orthodox tradition, the rite of blessing also takes place in two stages - first approval from the parents of the bride, and then wishes of happiness from the groom's parents.
- In order to prepare for the rite according to the Orthodox tradition, it is first necessary to find out if everyone desires such a form of blessing. It is worth remembering that only christened people participate in the Orthodox rite. If there are unbaptized, then they must be baptized before the wedding. For the blessing it will be necessary to acquire icons (for the bride - the icon of the Mother of God, for the groom - the icon of Christ the Savior). In families honoring the traditions of Orthodoxy such icons are inherited. The bride and groom must kneel down on the towel, and the bride's parents pronounce the words of blessing and perform the three times the cross of the icon before the couple. After the groom and the bride kiss and go to the registry office and the temple for the wedding ceremony.
- After marriage registration, the newlyweds are blessed by the groom's parents. Before the entrance to the banquet hall the rug "carpet of well-being" spreads.
In front of the carpet path the mother of the groom stands up with bread and salt in her hands and the groom's father holding an icon in her hands. Young stand on the rug, and the father of the groom blesses them with an icon and says parting words. What to say, parents decide, the main thing is that the words "bless, congratulate, wish" were present in the speech. This action the groom's parents show their approval of the marriage and express the hope for the happiness of both children in their family life.
The icons with which the young were blessed are put on the table for the time of celebration. After these icons go to the newlyweds and become family relics. Subsequently, these icons are inherited by children.