The Romanian wedding is full of traditions and symbols. However, as time goes by, Western traditions begin to make their presence felt more and more, merging with the authentic ones in an event with a slightly eclectic air.
Here are the most famous Romanian wedding traditions:
petition
In ancient times, matchmaking was an important tradition. The groom would go to the bride's parents to receive their blessing to ask for the bride's hand in marriage. Usually, the groom would go to the girl's parents' house with his parents and other relatives or friends. Nowadays, matchmaking has been replaced by engagement, but it is still practiced symbolically in certain regions of the country.
Choosing godparents
After the engagement, another important step follows – the choice of the spiritual parents. In ancient times, in the traditional Romanian wedding, the main godfather had an important role, perhaps even more important than the young bride and groom. The bride and groom go with a plocon to the godfathers, the plocon representing the gift offered by the bride and groom to the spiritual parents as a sign of gratitude for accepting the service. According to tradition, the godfathers bear the expenses for the bride’s veil, candles and the religious wedding.
The beating of the fir trees
This tradition full of symbols is still preserved in some areas, especially in rural regions. On the morning of the wedding, the groom, along with his friends, decorate the trees with apples and wreaths as symbols of abundance. The tree symbolizes youth. The procession consisting of the groom and his friends sets off for the godparents' house where they will knock on a tree at the gate, then they set off for the bride's house where they will knock on the last tree.
Groom's Shaving
On the day of the big event, at the groom's home, this tradition takes place. The groom is symbolically dressed and shaved by the godfather or the best man, as a symbol of his transformation from a boy to a man. After this ritual, the groom, along with the wedding procession, sets off for the bride's house.
Bride's cooking
While the groom is shaved by his groomsmen, the bride is dressed and arranged by her mother and friends. When the groom arrives with the godfather and the entourage, the godmother places the veil on the bride's head, and the bride places the cockades on the chests of the groom, godfathers and parents, with the bridesmaids then taking care of pinning the flowers on the chests of the other guests.
The bride's hour
It is a ritual that is still practiced, even in urban areas, in front of the apartment building. The procession wraps the bride's hora in front of her ca, and the godmother breaks a cake over the bride's head and distributes a piece to each guest. This custom is said to bring good luck. After that, the procession leaves for the church.
Bride stealing
It is probably the longest-standing tradition that is still preserved today. During the party, a daring guest takes advantage of the groom's absence or inattention to steal the bride. To bring the bride back, the groom and/or the godfather must perform certain tasks, much to the amusement of the guests.
Horseradish soup
The party can't end abruptly, so after a few hours of rest, friends, godparents, and parents gather at the bride and groom's or in-laws' house for this post-festive feast. In ancient times, the potroace soup was held to celebrate the bride's virginity.
The modern wedding retains only a shadow of the old traditions. Some of these are reinterpreted in a modern style to better integrate into various themes.
Which of these traditions would you integrate into your event?
