Meeting the newlyweds after the registry office with a loaf of bread speech. Words of the newlyweds meeting with a loaf at a wedding: traditions and advice. Where to get a loaf

A wedding is fraught with many rituals and traditions. All of them are very important and are carried out in order to protect the newlyweds’ family life from problems and to charge the relationship for prosperity and well-being. To perform all the rituals, you need to know how the parents greet the newlyweds after the registry office. This is a very beautiful and touching process.

Subtleties of the ritual

The meeting of the bride and groom may take place in different places, but the process is approximately the same, with the exception of some rules. This ritual has been carried out since ancient times and has changed slightly, but still the main stages remain unchanged.

So, what is the correct way to greet newlyweds?

• Initially, it is worth noting that the meeting is held by the groom's parents. It is believed that a girl ends up in a new family, becomes a part of her husband’s relatives, and they must bless them for further married life;
• Guests must form a conditional corridor, standing on both sides of the road. The young must pass through it. The first such corridor is made immediately next to the registry office. The newlyweds go out, and the guests shower them with candies, small coins and cereals. And since nothing stands still, rose petals, all kinds of sparkles and confetti were added to the objects with which the young people were showered. Such a trifle symbolizes wealth, love, and the appearance of healthy children. Guests should be warned not to throw change and candy too high, otherwise it may damage the bride’s hairstyle and generally give an unpleasant feeling. It should be sprinkled at the feet of the young;

Meeting young people in a restaurant

Usually, after the official registration of marriage, the newlyweds go to a wedding photo shoot, and the guests go to a restaurant. Guests and parents have time to prepare for the meeting of the newlyweds. In this ritual, the main role is occupied by the parents of the husband and wife, and the guests directly participate. The guests should form a corridor along which the new young family will walk, and in such a way that under no circumstances will anyone be behind them.

Walking down the corridor, the newlyweds are greeted by their parents. As it was said earlier, this should be done by the groom’s parents, but it is also allowed for the bride’s parents to be there. In fact, it’s even much simpler, because the ritual contains many small details and nuances that can be easily distributed among four people. The mother-in-law holds a tray on which there is a towel, a loaf of bread, salt, and glasses of champagne. The mother of the bride should hold the icons. The bride and groom must bow deeply to their parents.

The most interesting moment comes. Young people should try the loaf. It is believed that whoever bites or tears off a piece of loaf the most is the head of the family, but recently husband and wife each take the same piece so that there are no disagreements in the family. Then you should dip the pieces of loaf in salt and feed each other. Next, dad gives glasses to the newlyweds, they drink to the bottom, breaking them to smithereens. All actions of parents are aimed at improving the family and their well-being. After this ritual, the husband and wife enter the banquet hall, followed by the guests.

Newlyweds meeting at home

Sometimes, after official registration, the newlyweds are sent to their parents' home. The ceremony takes place exactly the same as if the event took place in a restaurant. But there is one distinctive point: after the meeting, the husband and wife enter the house, on the threshold of which lies a castle. The father must close this lock and throw away the keys.

Marriage is the union of two loving hearts. Traditionally, it so happens that the newlyweds are blessed for a happy and long life together. In ancient times, if a couple did not receive blessings from their parents, they refused to marry the newlyweds. The ritual of blessing is considered sacred and revered in the modern world. Let's talk about how to properly bless children for marriage, who should do it, and what icons should be used.

The main thing in the article

Who should bless the newlyweds before the wedding?

A wedding is a significant event for both the groom and the bride. After all, after this day they will forever be bound by marital ties. This day is also trembling and exciting for parents, since they are giving their “little blood” into “strange” hands and it is unknown how the relationship in the family will develop further. Therefore, at every wedding, parents say parting words to new life young. This parting word is called parental blessing.

Parents are the most precious people who gave life. They simply cannot wish anything bad for their child, and no matter how difficult it is, they choose the warmest, deepest and most tender words that come from the heart. Therefore, this rite is considered sacred, and during the blessing, icons with the faces of saints are used. From time immemorial there has been a tradition of blessing the bride and groom before the wedding by the latter's parents. But the couple receives a blessing from the groom’s parents after the painting or wedding.

When should we bless the young?

The couple receives an official blessing in How does this happen? The young man comes to pick up the bride and the first thing he does is buy her from his girlfriends and relatives. After the ransom is completed, when the groom has “proved” that he is ready to give everything for his beloved, the young woman is released to the groom and preparations begin for the Wedding Palace or church for the wedding. Before leaving, the future father-in-law and mother-in-law bless the newlyweds with the icon, wishing them happy and long life married life.

Concerning blessings from the groom's parents, they receive it after the painting or wedding, upon arrival home (in modern interpretation, this is a restaurant where a banquet is held). They meet the newlyweds with icons and give parting words not only to their son, but also to their “acquired” daughter. Since the bride is part of this family, the groom's parents, with their blessing, recognize her as part of their family and commit to her as their child.

As the ancient belief says: “only after parental blessing can a strong, real and happy family be created.” After all, it is believed that the parent’s word is endowed with mysterious power and how it is pronounced will affect the future new family.

Where are the young blessed?

It was already noted above that the bride and groom receive two blessings on their wedding day:

• the first from the bride's parents before the trip to the registry office (church);
• the second from the groom's parents after the ceremony.

Accordingly, the answer to the question of where the blessing ceremony should take place is simple. The young people receive their first parting words in the bride's parental home, and the newlyweds who have already taken place receive the second blessing at the house of the groom's parents. Since in the modern world they practically no longer “walk with the whole village” in a hut in their parents’ house, parting words from the father-in-law and mother-in-law are often received in a restaurant where a banquet has been ordered for the guests.

What icon do the bride's parents bless the newlyweds with?

It is customary for the parents of a young person to give their parting words while holding in their hands Icon of the Kazan Mother of God. In the Orthodox Church we especially honor this image, since the Mother of God was, and is still considered, the intercessor of the Slavic people. Such an icon is considered female, because they pray that it will protect the house from evil forces and misfortunes.

Interesting fact: At the instigation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the holy image of the Kazan Mother of God was sent into space in 2011.

What icon do the groom's parents bless the newlyweds with?

As for the meeting of the newlyweds by the groom's parents, this happens with icon of the Savior in hand. In Orthodoxy, such an image is called the Savior Almighty; the icon depicts the Son of God, who holds the open Gospel in one hand, and with the other gives a blessing to everyone looking at him. They turn to this icon both in difficult times and in moments of joy, and also pray for the well-being of the family.

Traditionally in Rus', this icon was the first to be brought into the newlyweds’ house.

Today, it is allowed for the newlyweds to meet the parents of both the groom and the bride after the wedding ceremony. At such a meeting, two icons are held in their hands (the icon of the Kazan Mother of God is brought to the restaurant by the bride’s parents), but the ceremony of blessing is carried out by the groom’s parents in the face of the Savior.

How to properly bless the groom's young parents?

There can be two scenarios for blessing newlyweds who have already taken place.

• In the first version, only the parents of the young man greet the couple with the icon of the Savior.
• In the second, the parents of both the bride and groom greet the newlyweds with two icons.

The images must be wearing towels, since it is not recommended to take them with bare hands. Traditionally The image of the Savior is held by the groom's father. He says parting words first, then the mother gives her blessing. The newlyweds cross themselves with the icon three times, and the groom is allowed to kiss the image first, then the bride.

If both sets of parents are meeting, then the father of the groom and the mother of the bride can be placed in the center with icons. And on the sides, for example, the father of the bride with champagne and the mother of the groom with a loaf of bread. In this case, both pairs of parents can give a blessing to the new family in turn and bless them with two icons, baptizing the young three times and letting them kiss the icons in turn, starting with the groom. After the blessing ceremony, the newlyweds are served a loaf and salt, as well as glasses and champagne.

How should the bride's young parents be blessed?

The first blessing, held before going to the registry office or church, is held at the bride's home, after the groom has passed all the tests. It can be carried out in different ways.

• If you follow all the rules and traditions, then only the bride and groom, parents and godparents are present at the blessing.
• Modern rules are not so “strict”, so everyone participating in the ransom and guests are invited to the blessing ceremony.

The blessing itself goes as follows. The girl’s father gives the mother an icon of the Mother of God, the mother takes it with a towel and gives a parting speech to her daughter and son-in-law, after which the father speaks. At the end of the speech, the girl’s mother baptizes her daughter with the icon three times, then her son-in-law three times. In conclusion, the two young people are baptized with the icon three times, thereby the mother-in-law recognizes that they are a couple. Next, he gives the icon a kiss, first to his daughter, then to his son-in-law. Young people must cross themselves before leaning against the image.

What should you say when blessing the newlyweds for a happy marriage in front of the registry office?

There are no specific words for blessing. Parents say from the bottom of their hearts everything they want to wish the newlyweds. They also give instructions for further life together, wish you many happy years of married life. When blessing, speech is limited only by the imagination of parents who wish only good things for their children. For example, you can look at the texts of blessings parents give to their children.

Words of blessing from mother to daughter before wedding: text

Words of blessing from mother to son before wedding: text

Words of blessing from the mother of the groom to the newlyweds at the wedding: text

Words of blessing from the mother of the bride to the newlyweds at the wedding: text

Video: How to bless the young?

Well, to summarize, we note that after the wedding, the icons remain in the family of the newlyweds. They become a family heirloom, which is designed to protect and protect this family from adversity, disease and sadness. Believers place images in the corner or above the bed. Those who are not so devout keep the icons in a certain place without displaying them. According to tradition, these icons are inherited by children at their wedding.

Here is a short excursion into the traditions and rituals of blessing young parents; perhaps you will be interested in reading about this too.

As you know, participants in any event remember its beginning and end best. For guests who were not present at the marriage registration, the beginning of the wedding celebration is the moment the newlyweds arrive after the registry office at the banquet hall, so the meeting of the newlyweds is perhaps one of the key components of the holiday. Of course, the meeting scenario largely depends on the preferences of the newlyweds, on the theme of the celebration and on some objective factors (for example, the time of year and weather play a significant role), however, a certain set of mandatory elements of the ceremony has developed, which will be discussed below.

Loaf

The most traditional way of meeting newlyweds is with a loaf of bread, which is primarily due to tradition: just as in ancient times, parents greeted newlyweds with a loaf of bread after the wedding, and today, the groom’s mother holds the ruddy, richly decorated bread in her hands when the newly-made spouses come to the restaurant after registering their marriage in registry office and walks.

Of course, in many ways this ritual continues to remain, let’s say, sacred: the mother-in-law, offering bread and salt, seems to accept her son’s young wife into her family, while the mother-in-law holds an icon in her hands to bless the newlyweds. The bride and groom, according to tradition, must cross themselves, bow to the icon, break off a piece of the loaf, dip it in salt and give it to each other to eat, then thank their parents and kiss them three times.

Salt, by the way, is an obligatory element of the meeting: according to one version, future tears are eaten along with it, according to another, the young people symbolically “annoyed” each other for the last time in order to live in peace and harmony in the future. Interestingly, the salt shaker should also be present at the celebration dedicated to the 25th anniversary of marriage; However, the meaning of this attribute is somewhat different - the salt shaker represents a pound of salt that the couple ate together.

However, today the meeting with a loaf of bread has in many ways become nothing more than a symbol, so there is no talk of any strict observance of all the rules prescribed by tradition. For example, instead of an icon, the mother of the bride often holds a tray with glasses of champagne or a plate of honey, symbolizing the sweet life. Well, breaking off pieces of a loaf has long turned into a competition: whose piece turns out to be larger will be the master of the family.

However, often young people do not break off pieces, but bite them off, striving for family leadership. Perhaps this procedure causes fun among the guests, but, frankly speaking, it does not look entirely aesthetically pleasing, especially in photographs and videos in which the newlyweds, including the tender, ethereal bride, are captured with their mouths wide open or with bread crumbs on their lips .

It seems that for the sake of elegance and aesthetics of the beginning of the holiday, it is still worth breaking off pieces of the loaf, or even better, to give up the competition and, in order to maintain traditions, try the loaf, cutting off two small pieces in advance, which the newlyweds can easily take, salt and quickly chew.

Rushnik

Most weddings are not complete without an embroidered towel, symbolizing the long and bright journey of the newlyweds. As a rule, a loaf is placed on it, folding the edges of the towel towards the center. However, when newlyweds meet, towels sometimes perform other functions.

Firstly, a towel is necessary if the meeting program includes a blessing from the parents: it covers the icon with which the newlyweds are blessed. Secondly, at some weddings a large towel is laid out in front of the door: as in the case of a loaf, this is a way to determine who will be in charge in the house - the one who steps on the towel first. Probably all newlyweds already know how to avoid disagreements: the groom must take the bride in his arms.

Another ritual is associated with spreading a towel in front of the newlyweds: according to Slavic mythology, a special role in the house is assigned to the threshold - the border between the family territory and the outside world. There are many superstitions associated with it: you can’t talk across the threshold, you can’t pour water, you can’t sweep the house away from the threshold, you can’t hit it, and other, other superstitions. At a wedding, the groom carries the bride over the threshold in his arms so that she does not accidentally touch the floor and thereby encounter evil spirits. And in order to protect the newly-made husband, a towel is spread in front of the threshold (in our case, in front of the entrance to the banquet hall).

Glasses

Another detail of the meeting of the newlyweds, which has become almost obligatory, is the breaking of glasses before entering the restaurant. Dishes, as you know, beat for happiness - and when else can you dream of a happy future if not at a wedding? Happiness in this case is not a well-fed life, as it might seem, but the absence of quarrels, because breaking plates often accompanies a stormy showdown. Let this dish be the first and only one that the young people will break on purpose - something like this might sound like the toast that accompanies this action.

However, the custom also has another meaning - you should not relax! Yes, a wedding is a wedding, but life is not only a holiday, it is also difficulties that we have to overcome together. The sound of a glass breaking should serve as a reminder that there is no need to give in to problems. By the way, in the Hebrew tradition, the groom did not throw the glass, but stepped on it with his heel - this personified victory over all adversities.

Besides, is it possible to do without spirits and otherworldly forces that are just waiting to prevent the wedding from taking place? You need to outwit them by breaking the dishes - let them think that they managed to do a little mischief after all, and leave the young people alone. It is interesting that, according to Russian custom, when the newlyweds met, the father of the bride brought them two glasses of vodka. The young people put them to their lips, but did not drink, but poured them out over their left shoulder (behind which the demons were hiding, while the place of deployment of the angels was behind the right shoulder). Vodka got into the eyes of evil spirits, neutralizing it, however, only for the duration of the holiday.

Finally, breaking glasses is another way of telling fortunes “for a boy or a girl.” It is believed that if they break into small fragments, a girl will be born first, but if they break into large fragments, there will be a boy. According to another version, the number of fragments determines the number of children that will appear in the family.

By the way, just as at a banquet the glasses of the bride and groom should be different from those used to serve the tables for guests, so you need to break “special” glasses. This, of course, is a trifle, but it is precisely details like these that ultimately make up the overall impression of the holiday. However, the main thing is that the dishes break easily, that is, you should give preference not to crystal glasses, but to glass ones.

Even during the celebration, do not forget about safety rules. Firstly, you only need to break glasses on the street; enclosed spaces, especially small ones, are far from the most suitable place for this. Secondly, the toastmaster or witnesses must ensure that the guests present at the ceremony have moved away to a safe distance. And it’s even better to carry out the ritual with minimal losses: after drinking the champagne, wrap the glasses in beautiful napkins, put them on the ground and break them with your heel.

The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon usually accompanies the opening of a new building, institution, event - in a word, some kind of undertaking. The red ribbon is a symbol of success, a symbol of a new stage, expectations and hopes. It is not surprising that this custom has found its place in the scenarios of modern weddings, and the ribbon does not have to be red at all - by and large, any color can be used that is in harmony with the color scheme of the ceremony or with the shades of the bride’s dress.

Very often, it is not just a swing of scissors (it is important to check that they are sharp!), but some kind of symbolic action. For example, the number of children is judged by the number of resulting segments (who said that the tape can only be cut in one place?). By the way, a small red ribbon is present in the wedding tradition of Turkey; True, not at the celebration itself, but during the engagement. She connects with each other wedding rings the bride and groom and thus symbolizes that from now on nothing can separate them, and the connection between them will be eternal.

Guests meeting the newlyweds at the banquet hall line up in a living corridor and arrange a real rain for the newly-made spouses - say, from rose petals. Beautiful and romantic, isn't it? In addition, it is also popular, easy to organize - in a word, complete advantages. According to tradition, the mothers of the bride and groom begin the sprinkling first, and only then do the rest of those present join them, but it is not at all necessary to follow these rules.

Perhaps the most important thing when organizing such a meeting is to choose what the rain will actually consist of. In Rus', as a rule, it was hops - as a symbol of life in wealth and prosperity. Well, today's newlyweds have slightly different preferences, although the meaning of the ceremony remains the same: the guests symbolically wish the young spouses well-being and happiness.

The most wonderful decoration of the ceremony is a rain of rose petals, which personify eternal love and beauty. Don’t forget about practical issues: white petals don’t always look great in photographs, especially against the background of the bride’s white dress, and bright red petals can leave marks if the flowers come in artificially colored (unfortunately, many flower shops are guilty of this ). The solution is to use pink petals or buy flowers from trusted retail outlets.

By the way, such fireworks turn out to be very beautiful if they consist of petals of different shades. Flower shops today are increasingly offering to purchase ready-made kits, but they can be stored until the holiday for no more than three days and only in the refrigerator.

A completely worthy replacement for living petals is paper confetti: it’s festive and very inexpensive; in addition, confetti can be of different shapes and colors (including shiny foil ones). This option, however, must be agreed upon both with the young people, who may not want to take out multi-colored paper circles from their pockets and hairstyles after the ceremony, and with the restaurant.

In many European countries, as well as in Russia, there is a widespread tradition of showering young people with grain - rice, millet, oats, which symbolize wealth and prosperity. If you can make real fireworks from flower petals, then it is better to throw grain under your feet - so that on the first wedding night the groom does not have to remove rice from the bride’s hair. In exactly the same way - coins are thrown at your feet; they are unlikely to get stuck in your hair, but the "money shower" can be quite painful.

An effective, albeit expensive, solution is “revived” fireworks made from butterflies. It is believed that if you catch a butterfly, whisper your cherished wish to it, and then release it, then everything you have planned will definitely come true. This way, a wedding can simultaneously become a day of “dreams come true” not only for the newlyweds, but also for everyone present.

Finally, wedding rain can be sweet - if the role of drops is played by candies. As in the cases with coins and rice, it is better to throw sweets, even if they are very small, at the feet of young people in order to avoid unexpected troubles. Well, to the delight of children, who, as a rule, collect these candies with pleasure. By the way, about children. It is believed that their presence during the shedding ceremony is a good omen, which guarantees numerous and healthy offspring.

Let us remind you of small details, the absence of which can spoil the impression. Whichever version of the “holiday rain” you choose, it is important to think about what guests will use to hold petals, rice or coins. Ordinary plastic bags are too mundane and ugly, so it’s worth ordering or making yourself original bags or small baskets, designed in the style of the wedding.

Living corridor

If the newlyweds, for one reason or another, decided to refuse any “rain”, this does not mean at all that they should not organize a living corridor, because such an element of meeting the newlyweds is beautiful, solemn and allows you to set a friendly and cheerful tone for the entire holiday. The bride and groom will be pleased, even if the guests simply greet them with applause and chants of congratulations, but some decorations of this “system” will not be out of place.

Perhaps the most obvious, but also the most expensive solution is flowers. To make the ceremony not only elegant, but also stylish, it is better for everyone present to hold in their hands not their own bouquets in assorted wrappers, but, for example, one rose of the same shades.

Another option for decorating a living corridor would be, say, narrow ribbons on sticks, which guests will wave in greeting when greeting the newlyweds. If you are not lazy and glue a small rhinestone to the edge of each ribbon, they will glow brightly in the sun and look even more elegant. Such ribbons are a good solution for those who want to prolong the celebration, because you can wave them for a long time (if the guests, of course, do not get tired).

In addition, in order to capture in a photo, say, the already mentioned rose petals in flight, the photographer must be quite efficient and experienced, while young people can go through the corridor of ribbons twice for a successful shot. Well, if you put the initials of the newlyweds or the image of some symbol reminiscent of the holiday on the ribbons or on the sticks themselves, they will also become a wonderful souvenir for guests.

The decoration of the evening wedding will be sparklers, with which guests will illuminate the path of the newlyweds to the banquet hall. This option is good for a holiday that takes place in winter: it gets dark early, the meeting is limited in time due to the cold, but with the help of sparklers it can be made unforgettable even in such conditions.

Three roads

The problem of a crossroads, choosing the right path, is one of the central ones in Russian folklore; Let’s remember at least the treasured stone with the inscriptions “If you go to the left, you will lose your horse,” “If you go to the right, ....” The newlyweds, it would seem, have already chosen their path, but their joint path in life depends only on themselves, which, in fact, symbolizes the popular scenario of a meeting in the form of three roads.

The options offered for choice may be different, but the most correct one, which does not require serious reflection, is patriarchy, equality, matriarchy. It seems that the obvious solution for the groom is to take the bride in his arms and take the middle road, choosing equality in the family.

One of the varieties of the “numerical” theme is not three roads, but four elements, with the help of which newlyweds are initiated into spouses. This scenario allows you to combine almost all the elements of a meeting at the banquet hall, which were mentioned above. The first element is earth: the young are invited to step on a spread towel, which will protect them from falls (in other words, from life mistakes). A “test by earth” can also be a joint planting - probably not a tree (it’s hard to imagine a bride in a snow-white dress and with a shovel in her hands), but, for example, a flower bulb in a beautiful pot.

The second element is fire, a sign of the hearth and family warmth. Fire can be personified by lit candles, sparklers in the hands of guests, and a passionate, “fiery” kiss of the bride and groom. The third element is water: the young people are invited to give each other water (or champagne) so that not a single drop falls between them, or drink the drink through straws from a common bowl.

The fourth element is air; it can be personified by snow-white doves, the already mentioned butterflies, and balloons. Finally, the very “fifth element” without which life is impossible is love. Well, in fact, the entire festive banquet following the meeting of the newlyweds will be dedicated to love.

Other options

The elements of meeting newlyweds listed above are the most popular, widespread and traditional. However, nothing prevents you from moving away from traditions and making the ceremony unusual and different from others. Let's try to imagine what else could accompany a meeting at a restaurant:
. Alternatives to loaf - pizza; ice cream topped with multi-colored syrups (their colors can also be played with); strawberries and cream; bagels (whose half turns out to be larger after breaking - he will be the leader in the family).
. Meeting of the newlyweds with two painted boots big size(after all, from now on they are “two boots in a pair”).
. Presenting the bride and groom with two wide glasses, in each of which a bright fish swims: they should be symbolically released into one common aquarium.
. Symbolic burying of the “axe of war” (young people bury a small toy hatchet in a flower pot).
. Presenting the newlyweds with a nesting doll, in which notes with the secrets of family happiness are hidden; in the last, smallest nesting doll, there is a note with the word “love”.
. The newlyweds are given two pieces of ice in small bowls; holding them over the candles, they need to be melted and the resulting water drained into one common glass (the ceremony symbolizes that the warmth of love melted two souls, which from now on united into one stream).
. An offer to walk along a rainbow (designed using stretched ribbons or pieces of fabric), each color of which symbolizes something: red - love, orange - passion, yellow - warmth, green - eternal youth, blue - health, blue - fidelity, purple - wisdom.
. Presenting the newlyweds with a “new family business card” with their names, home address and telephone numbers; During the banquet or after it, they can distribute these cards to everyone whom they will be glad to hear and see as their guests.

Practical points

How does the average wedding guest usually prepare for a wedding? In addition to choosing a nice outfit and the best shoes, he usually doesn't dine, trying to "save room" for the holiday goodies that will be served at the banquet. This means that the newlyweds are greeted not just by welcome, but also by fairly hungry guests who are eager to sit down at the table as quickly as possible.

Considering that the newlyweds may be delayed during a walk or, for example, get stuck in a traffic jam, this wait can become very tiring. This means that the meeting of the newlyweds should not be long. Its main goal is not to entertain the participants of the celebration (for this, the organizers of the holiday have the whole evening ahead), but to create an atmosphere, to serve as a kind of transition from the official part of the holiday to the informal one.

It is better to give up complex competitions, demonstrations of dexterity and ingenuity, and a large number of welcoming poems - such a meeting scenario will not be appreciated by either the young people themselves or the guests, many of whom, moreover, still feel rather constrained, especially considering the fact that not all of them know each other. 10 minutes is perhaps the maximum duration of the welcoming ceremony; during this time it is quite possible to prepare those present for the holiday without tiring them.

The second important point that cannot be ignored when planning a scenario for meeting young people is the time of year and weather conditions. It is unlikely that the enthusiasm of the guests will be caused by waiting for the newlyweds outside in severe frost or in pouring rain; in such conditions, it is better to hold the ceremony in the restaurant lobby. Of course, not all ideas can be implemented indoors, but even a meeting within “four walls”, with due diligence and imagination, will turn out to be original and memorable.

The official marriage registration ceremony has ended. The bride and groom became husband and wife. According to tradition, after the registry office, the newlyweds are met by their parents to give good parting words and wish them a long and happy family life. How to properly conduct an ancient and beautiful ritual?

How to meet young people from the registry office

How parents can welcome newlyweds if they are Christian believers

In the event that both the heroes of the occasion and their parents strictly adhere to Christian doctrine, it is necessary to act as follows. When meeting after the registry office in front of the room where the wedding banquet will be held, the groom's parents bless the newlyweds with icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary. The bride's parents are among the guests, as it is believed that their daughter has moved into her husband's house. The young wife should stand to the right of her husband, holding her arm. After the blessing, the mother of the newlywed brings bread and salt to the young couple on a long embroidered towel (rushnik). The newlyweds should take one bite of the bread prepared by the mother, without touching it with their hands. It is believed that whoever bites off the largest piece will be the “ruler” in the house. After this, the parents of the young husband bid farewell to the newlyweds, wishing them happiness in their family life, and invite all the gathered guests to the table.

It is better to first consult with the priest of the church that the newlyweds or their parents attend. He will tell you what icons should be used to greet the husband and wife, and what words are best to say at this moment

How to properly greet young people from the registry office

Of course, not all people (even believers) strictly adhere to such ancient customs. For example, all parents - both the groom and the bride - can meet the newlyweds from the registry office. You can not bite off pieces of a loaf of bread, but break them off, and at the same time not compete in their size, because the main thing is that love and mutual respect reign in the home of the young, and who will rule there is a secondary question!

In the best traditions of a wedding, after the ceremonial painting, the newlyweds should be met by the groom's parents with a loaf (bread and salt). It is believed that it symbolizes the hospitality of a large family that welcomes a new member (daughter-in-law) into the home. This is a beautiful ritual of a Slavic wedding, which is almost original form has survived to this day. In it, all participants play a certain role, they say important words, perform certain actions, according to long-standing beliefs and traditions. Let's take a closer look at what these actions are and what the scenario of this custom is.

Scenario for the meeting of the bride and groom with a loaf

According to modern traditions, while the newlyweds are getting from the registry office to the place of the wedding banquet (as a rule, this time is devoted to a wedding photo shoot), parents and guests go to the restaurant. They must make important preparations to meet the newlyweds with the loaf. All participants in the wedding celebration (the newlyweds, their parents, guests) take part in the ritual with bread and salt:

• Guests should solemnly welcome the newlyweds to the music, generously strewing their path from the car to the restaurant with coins and rose petals.
• Moms and dads sacredly bless their children at the doorstep for a long, happy family life.
• After the parents pronounce certain words, the newlyweds must tear off a piece of loaf (during this they salt it or dip it in salt, which is poured in the center of the bread) to feed each other.
• It is important for newlyweds to observe the moment of breaking off the loaf one piece at a time. This is a holy object, biting which would be gross blasphemy and sin.
• At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds take a sip of champagne and then pour the rest behind their backs to complete the ritual.

It is believed that the young one who breaks off the largest piece of bread and salt will be the head of the family. This seemingly simple ancient ritual requires careful preliminary preparations in a short period of time while the heroes of the occasion get to the place of the wedding banquet. In order not to fall on your face, it is important to find out in advance what each character in the script needs to do and what words to say. We'll look at this in more detail below.

Preparing guests for the newlyweds' meeting

Having reached the restaurant, everyone gathers on the threshold in anticipation of the main heroes of the occasion. Guests must first be prepared by placing in their hands items for showering the newlyweds: various coins, sweets, rice or wheat, rose petals. Next, all the invitees are lined up in an orderly manner on both sides at the entrance to the establishment (living corridor) for the ceremonial meeting of the bride and groom.

It is important that the ritual of showering the newlyweds does not take place too intensely, so as not to injure the newly born couple with coins or spoil their appearance. It is necessary to explain to the guests that they should sprinkle the newlyweds at their feet, as if paving the young people’s life path with wealth, prosperity, and happiness. All organizational aspects of this tradition must be carried out by the toastmaster.

Who holds the loaf and how?

After the guests shower the newly arrived newlyweds along the lively corridor, the latter step on the threshold of the restaurant. Here they are already warmly welcomed by their parents along with bread and salt. According to established traditions, the groom’s mother holds the loaf, but not with her bare hands, but on a beautifully embroidered towel. However, modern weddings depart a little from old customs, and the bride’s mother can hold the loaf.

This is due to the fact that today's newlyweds do not go to live with the groom's parents (as was the case in the old days), but begin their independent family life in separate housing. And if so, it means that both families (parents of the bride and groom) accept new members into their composition on equal terms. Both mothers can hold the loaf, personifying the reunion and unity of two families.

The role of fathers in the ritual of meeting young people

While mothers hold the main attribute of the solemn meeting of the newlyweds (loaf), fathers do not stand idle. In the hands of one of them there should be a tray with a drink, with which the newlyweds seal their union, according to custom, and snack on a cut apple in half. And the other dad holds an icon, with which parents all together bless their children for a long, happy family life.

The ritual of treating guests to a wedding loaf

After the end of the ceremony of welcoming the bride and groom with bread and salt, the newlyweds and their guests go into the hall and dance their first dance. Then the ritual of treating the invitees to a wedding loaf takes place. Under no circumstances should this attribute be sold, like a wedding cake. From time immemorial, bread was considered a holy symbol, which must be fed without selfishness, with a pure soul and heart. Therefore, the newlyweds go around the banquet table, treating each invited guest to a generous piece of loaf.

During the meal, guests should make a speech of gratitude and sincerely congratulate the bride and groom on the birth of their family. In the modern version of a wedding celebration, the newlyweds, as a rule, remain in their places, and the toastmaster with a tray and chest goes around all the guests. The tray is for distributing a delicious loaf, and the chest is for collecting gifts presented by people gathered for this occasion.

Speech by parents when meeting newlyweds at a wedding

Parents must bless their children for a happy family life ahead and give them a few instructions before they taste the bread and salt offered by their parents. It is best to prepare for this exciting moment in advance by learning a few traditional words that are usually spoken on this occasion. For each parent, according to this tradition, there is a certain blessing speech, which you can read below.

Words from the mother of the groom and mother of the bride

Your words can be spoken arbitrarily; it is not at all necessary to learn certain phrases or poems. It just has to be a speech that serves as a parting word for a happy family life. Wish your children good and pure relationships, a bright path in life together. Give them your warmth and blessing, let the newlyweds feel your love and support at such an important moment for them. See the photo below for an example.

If the loaf is held by the mother-in-law, then she pronounces the words. The speech can be in any form, for example: “Our dear children! Please accept with all your heart the loaf that we have prepared as a symbol of blessing for a long and happy family life. May it be strong, filled with love, tenderness, prosperity and prosperity!” When the words are spoken, the loaf is given to the witness so that she can bring it into the hall, placing it among the other dishes on the newlyweds’ wedding table.

Words from the father of the groom and father of the bride

The bride and groom break off and eat a piece of loaf with salt, and then drink a glass of champagne, which is on a tray from one of the fathers. There is also an apple cut in half - the young people should snack on it. Popes also do not stand silently and, as the heads of their families, make a certain speech. They should similarly support and bless their children. See the photo below for an example of words.

The fathers' words do not have to be in poetic form, just use free speech. Say your firm word to the head of the family that the groom, like a husband, must protect his beloved and be a reliable support for her. Make it clear that you, as parents, are always ready to help with advice and action at any moment of their life together.

Video: newlyweds meeting with a loaf of bread in a restaurant

Despite the fact that this ritual was carried out many centuries ago, its traditions have survived to this day. Without wedding custom Not a single modern wedding can do without a loaf of bread. This is a wonderful and beautiful ritual, thanks to which the holiday acquires special significance and solemnity, and the newlyweds pay tribute to their distant ancestors. To see and study in more detail how the ancient ritual with bread and salt takes place, watch the video in which parents solemnly greet the newlyweds with a loaf of bread at the restaurant.