I happened to attend a Dagestan wedding. It is always interesting to look at the customs of other nations. Frankly, until I began to travel to the Caucasus often, I had a lot of stereotypes in my head about how Caucasian feasts are held.
Some of these stereotypes were formed by the film "Prisoner of the Caucasus", the other part - by the behavior of some Caucasians in our streets.
Therefore, I imagined the Dagestan wedding as abundant tables, endless toasts, horns with wine, frantic Lezghins with the number of dancers from three hundred people and shots from machine guns and bazookas into the sky.
It turned out that this is not the case at all. Order reigns at the wedding, which is ensured by the toastmaster, which the Avars call "Tsevekhan" (correct if I wrote it wrong). Like the word "tamada" this word means "leader, manager".
Dancing is also not chaotic. There is a special wand, which is a wooden base, decorated with embroidered fabric. Traditionally, it is made by the bride. The wand serves as a "relay baton" which is passed to the next dancer.
But what struck me the most was the food. I was expecting anything but tables like this.
Look carefully at the table of the bride and groom. Do you notice anything unusual? If Shurik had got to such a wedding, no troubles would have happened to him. And he wouldn't feel sorry for the bird.
After the abolition of Soviet power, the revival of Islamic traditions began, so now even huge feasts can do without alcohol.
Like us, there is a secular registration of marriage - the registry office, and spiritual (nikah) - in the mosque. As far as I understand, unlike Christianity, the bride and groom may not appear in the mosque, representatives of the parties may come to the mullah for them. Spiritual registration is mandatory, while secular registration is optional.
Traditionally, the wedding is done at the expense of the groom. And the bride is not given away with a dowry, but the groom comes with a ransom. As I was told, it is customary to call a ransom a "suitcase" - because they give a whole "suitcase" or "chest". But this is already a tradition. Previously, it could be costumes, fabrics, jewelry, and the like. Depending on the well-being of the groom, gifts could be given to both the parents and close relatives of the bride.
In the city, weddings are celebrated with a large one-day feast (usually), and in the villages, as of old, I can celebrate from Friday to Sunday inclusive.
Remarkably, they are not invited to weddings. It's just that the rumor about the event spreads around the village, and everyone who deems it necessary will come. If you have a strained relationship with someone, then he most likely will not come, but he will give a gift through someone, because it is inconvenient.
Dagestanis love to celebrate weddings lavishly and cheerfully - with songs, dances and lots of treats. Although quiet religious Muslim celebrations are held, where there is no noisy music and alcoholic drinks. A wedding in Dagestan gathers a lot of people - from several hundred to a thousand people and even more. Everyone comes, including distant relatives, colleagues and neighbors. Any fellow countryman can drop in without an invitation.
Of course, the celebration is not devoid of folk traditions and customs, however, many of them are no longer observed:
- In the old days, a girl could not afford to choose her betrothed herself. Her parents did it for her.
- The Dagestan wedding began with the theft of the bride. Now this happens when the father and mother do not want to marry their daughter. Since a girl who spends the night with a man brings dishonor to the family, the parents have to give their consent.
- The bride was obligated to cover her head with a scarf and open it only the next day after the wedding fun.
- Previously, the blood of a ram was shed on the bride's feet in front of the groom's house.
- Toward the end of the festivities, the girl was taken to the newlyweds' room. There she waited for her future husband, who entered at midnight. After the wedding night, the bride's relatives carried out a bloody sheet to prove her innocence.
Similar customs can be found among other peoples. Now, if they are observed, then rarely. At the same time, it should be taken into account that many ethnic groups live in Dagestan with their own national culture and traditions. Their wedding customs may differ.
One of the well-established customs of this people is a two-time wedding. The main action takes place in the house of the betrothed. The bride's parents are not present. Therefore, the Dagestanis celebrate before this one more small wedding - at the house of the betrothed, so that her father and mother participate in this fateful event in the life of their daughter.
Preparation for the holiday
The Dagestan wedding begins with the main preparation - fundraising - as soon as the child is born. This explains the scope of the holiday. Before its onset, young people should not meet often, and even more so sleep together.
Immediately before the wedding, all relatives are engaged in predetermined duties. There are chores associated with choosing a venue for the holiday, buying wedding dresses, compiling a list of treats, inviting guests, etc.
The newlywed selects furniture for the future home and generally equips the home environment. Most of the pre-wedding troubles go to the parents of both. On the eve of the holiday, they, in particular, commemorate the deceased relatives, and also make sacrifices so that the young ones live happily.
Pre-wedding engagement of newlyweds
Engagement traditionally begins with matchmaking. It's also called collusion. Dagestanis make it unspoken, only close relatives gather. They usually meet in the evening so that no one can see. First, matchmakers from the groom visit the house of the betrothed. They come with gifts. After that, the parents of both parties agree on holding the wedding.
Among other things, such details as dowry, the size of the ransom (kalym), the day of the celebration are discussed. A Dagestan wedding should not fall on other celebrations - the birthdays of the future spouses, their parents and Muslim ones, like Eid al-Fitr. Then the groom himself comes to the companion's house, the newlywed with her father and mother also visits her future spouse.
Modern Dagestan weddings are distinguished by such an engagement. There is another option - matchmaking takes place when the future newlyweds are still children. Their desire is not taken into account. This is the so-called "lullaby" conspiracy. The groom's father receives a gift from the bride's parent, which is a kind of vow for a future marriage. The first option is now much more common. After the engagement, the future spouses go to the registry office and submit an application.
Features of wedding dresses
There are no special requirements for newlyweds' attire, but it is worth noting that Dagestan wedding attire is one of the most expensive in the world. The bride's dress is certainly long, puffy, it is decorated with jewels, it looks very elegant and is quite expensive.
As already mentioned, the modern Dagestan wedding bypasses some of the customs and the head of the betrothed is now not always covered with a scarf. Often, on the contrary, girls are given chic hairstyles. However, the young woman stocks up with two outfits - a modern white wedding dress and another traditional Dagestan one. The fun doesn't just last one day.
The groom puts on any modern suit, which should be stylish and solemn. As in the case of the bride, there may be one more - national with a hat. In it, the newlyweds perform a folk dance.
Traditions of celebrating the first day of the celebration
According to the tradition of the Dagestan wedding, the holiday takes place in two days. The interval between them is equal to a whole week. The first day of the holiday is modest. All females are invited to the bride's house, including bridesmaids and neighbors. They sing songs of the Dagestan people and "mourn" the girl who leaves her home. For her, there comes an exciting moment of parting with her former life.
In the middle of the holiday, the groom arrives with a company of relatives. Under folk songs, they present expensive gifts to the betrothed, such as jewelry, fabrics, clothes, and treats. The gifts are then placed in the wedding chest. Their cost depends on the wealth of the groom. Then the betrothed will take this chest to a new house. As long as she doesn't go anywhere.
Traditions of celebrating the second day of the celebration
The second marriage begins seven days later. There are different options here:
- The groom's father goes after the bride in the afternoon. He pays her parents the so-called ransom, and also gives the girl a mirror and a candle - for a happy life for the newlyweds. She is dressed in a wedding dress. Then, according to tradition, she leaves with the groom's father and his other relatives to the house of her beloved. There, the newlyweds are sprinkled with sweets and coins, sometimes with flour, they give honey to taste. All this in order to make life sweet and happy.
- According to another scenario, the groom comes with a noisy meeting of relatives to the bride's house. Here they are given honey. Then he takes his beloved to him.
The real fun begins in the boy's house. Although the holiday can be celebrated in a restaurant or a banquet hall. Dagestan rural marriage can even take place in the fresh air. The place, in any case, looks luxurious. Tables are lined with lots of food and treats. Men and women sit separately.
Throughout the evening, the Dagestanis dance. Lezginka reveals the national character of this people. Such events are not complete without it. And everyone can dance it - from young to old. A specially invited person starts - aravul. Then the men pick up, then the sister of the newlywed, and after her other women.
Second day
There is a tradition according to which the newlywed dances next to the men. Those, in turn, circle around her and load the young woman with money. In general, guys and girls dance separately. Contemporary music is also often played at the festival. The wedding is marked by the dance of the newlyweds.
The event is supervised by an invited toastmaster. Previously, this role was performed by one of the relatives. Various competitions are held. Guest artists perform. The case is not complete without national toasts. At a noisy celebration, men, as in the old days, shoot into the air. According to popular beliefs, this drives away evil spirits.
The next day, the bride, if she was wearing a headscarf, is allowed to take it off. Her relatives come, incl. father with mother. They congratulate the newlyweds and eat. Parents of both sides after a fun celebration exchange gifts.
The Dagestan people have their own unique traditions and customs associated with the wedding celebration, which is not only an important event for the newlyweds and their families, but also a grandiose event that is celebrated on a grand scale!
It is interesting to know what exactly the wedding in Dagestan is famous for? Then the Wedding.ws portal invites you to plunge into the wonderful world of Dagestan weddings with their unique traditions and customs!
Features of a wedding in Dagestan
A wedding celebration in Dagestan has its own characteristic features inherent in this particular nation, in particular:
The scenario of the Dagestan wedding: the main stages
A Dagestan wedding consists of several important stages, each of which has its own unique traditions, customs and rituals.
Engagement
A wedding in Dagestan begins with an engagement or betrothal, which takes place in a standard way for many peoples: matchmakers from the groom’s side come to the bride’s house and give the girl gifts. The parents of the bride and groom choose the date of the wedding, excluding the birthdays of the newlyweds and parents, Muslim holidays, in particular, Eid al-Adha. A distinctive feature of the engagement in Dagestan is that it is held almost secretly, in the evening and in a narrow circle of relatives.
When the date is chosen, the young go to the registry office to apply. Intensive preparation for a beautiful Dagestan wedding begins: the choice of wedding dresses and a banquet hall, menu coordination, etc.
First wedding day at the bride's house
According to the traditions of the Dagestan wedding, the celebration itself begins in the bride's house, where female representatives usually gather. They sing wedding songs, "mourning" the departure of the bride to the groom's house (the same can be found among the rituals at the Kazakh wedding). The bride on this day says goodbye to the parental home and former life.
In the midst of the holiday, the groom arrives at the bride's house with expensive gifts: jewelry, textiles, carpets, etc. He is accompanied by a large number of relatives who perform ritual songs and bring gifts to the bride, which they later put in a special wedding chest.
Second wedding day at the groom's house
The grandest celebration takes place in the groom's house a week after the first wedding day. It begins with the fact that the groom's father goes to the bride's house for lunch, taking a candle and a mirror with him. He gives them to the bride as a symbol of happiness for the newly-made family and pays her relatives a symbolic ransom.
The bride is dressed up in a festive attire that captivates with its beauty, since Dagestan wedding dresses are usually the most expensive in the world due to the amount of jewelry used to decorate them. Previously, the bride's hair was hidden under a scarf, but now this is rarely done. Modern Dagestan wedding hairstyles are distinguished by intricate shapes and various weaves, which makes them look like real works of hairdressing art.
The mother and bridesmaids take the bride out into the yard, having previously covered her face with a special cape, after which she, together with the groom's father and his relatives, goes to her new house.
The wedding procession is accompanied by songs and national music. Along the way, they may be blocked by acquaintances and bystanders, demanding gifts. On the threshold of the groom's house, the bride is treated with honey so that the life of the newlyweds is sweet. An unusual wedding tradition at a Dagestan wedding is the shooting of the groom's friends, which should bring happiness to the house of the young and scare away evil spirits.
A noisy celebration begins in the groom's house! A feature of the Dagestan wedding is that men and women sit at different tables. The latter are simply bursting with a huge number of national dishes.
The main event of the wedding evening is the dance of the newlyweds. Before him, the bride must dance with the men present at the celebration: she circles around each of them, and the men perform lezginka and give the young woman money that the bridesmaid collects.
The traditions and wedding customs of different peoples are very different, each has its own rituals, which they adhere to for centuries and centuries. Of course, over time, some of them may change or disappear altogether, but the main traditions remain to this day. Dagestan, as well as Chechen weddings are full of various rituals and nuances, which are interesting to learn about.
Custom 1: Marriage planning and matchmaking
In Dagestan, a daughter's marriage is planned immediately after her birth. Parents immediately begin to collect a dowry for the girl, and save up for the wedding. From this, the Dagestan wedding is considered the most crowded and noisy, because it can gather from 300 to 1500 people, that is, the whole village.
The decision on marriage is made not by the girl, but by her parents in the male line, if she does not have a father, the decision is made by her older brother or uncle, and if the girl is an orphan, the judge. If the parents of the children agreed on marriage, the boy's father pledged some thing to the girl's father and the children from then on were considered the bride and groom. When matchmaking, the district, village and national family are taken into account. Marriages are arranged according to seniority, and if the older sister has not yet married, then the younger sister cannot do it earlier.
Matchmaking was carried out through a man who was respected and performed the task of a matchmaker. A direct appeal that it was time to marry off a daughter was considered indecent, so the proposal came with hints. If the girl's parents agreed, then after such a matchmaking, the groom could give the bride gifts, it could be fabrics, and things, and it was obligatory to give a ring. After the marriage or if the groom refused him, the gifts belonged to the girl, if the marriage was refused by the girl, they had to return all the donated things in double size. By agreement, the groom could visit the bride, they could even sleep together, but before marriage
Interesting Facts: since preparations for the wedding have been going on for many years, it truly amazes with abundance and wealth. When celebrating a Dagestan wedding, it is customary to show all your wealth and be guided by the rule - the more expensive, the better.
Custom 2: Wedding
At the engagement, the parents of the bride and groom set the wedding day, the young go to apply to the registry office and pre-wedding chores begin. When the groom's parents cannot afford an expensive wedding, then in order to save money, the bride is stolen, otherwise one should negotiate with the bride's relatives and pay them a large kalym.
When making a marriage, the groom must also pay kebin-hak or bride price. Kalym is the property that the bride received, such as blankets, bedding, fabrics, and outerwear that she wore on the day of the celebration. In some villages of Dagestan, money or livestock were demanded as kalym. Kebin-hak is the monetary security that was included in the marriage condition. In the event of a divorce by the husband, or his death, the bride was entitled to a payment, the amount of which could not be less than her mother received by marrying her father.
One of the brightest manifestations of the culture of Dagestan is the dress of the bride. The dress should have been as closed as possible, including the hands. The dress could have been made of white, containing red and black colors. The red color symbolized purification and well-being, and the black one gave alms to the ancestors. The main decorations of the bride were silver items that protected from the evil eye and evil spirits.
Today, the traditions of the Dagestan wedding are a little forgotten, so after the young people have signed in the registry office, they go to the mosque to conclude a Sharia marriage. There were secret rites of maleficence against marriage which were carried out during the period of marriage in order to harm the young. Therefore, as a protective measure against magical evil forces, there was a rite, for example, a special prayer of a protective nature was written on three hard-boiled and shelled eggs. The first egg was to be eaten by the groom, followed by him, the second by the bride, and the third they shared and ate in half. This rite was supposed to protect the young from illness and weakness.
After a short walk, the young people go to a restaurant for a celebration. The celebration begins with a bow and gratitude to the parents. There were many dishes on the festive table, such as manti, dolma, khinkali, pilaf and greens. Young people accept long congratulations, hold dances. The solemn feast passes after midnight, but the wedding does not end, but moves to the groom's house, which he must have in order to marry.
In each village, a toastmaster was chosen, the host of the wedding, who was appointed for one year, he entertained the guests with jokes, held contests and dances. In some villages, it was customary to walk a wedding from 3 to 7 days, and the first three days the bride and groom spent at home, where preparations were in full swing, and on the fourth day the bride was brought to the groom's house.
Interesting Facts: if the bride is ready to go to the groom's house, a messenger is sent, who arrives with the head of a bull on the barrel of a gun. On the way to fetch the bride, the groom's friends often arranged horse races or gunshots.
Custom 3: Entrance of the bride to the groom's house
According to ancient customs, a few weeks before the bride enters the groom's house, the bride and groom are invited every day by their relatives, who treat them and the honorary retinue. All this is accompanied by dances to the tambourine, songs, comic poems. Currently, newlyweds are invited by relatives after the wedding.
One of the moments of bringing the bride into the groom's house is sprinkling her with nuts, coins and sweets. In some villages, on the way to the groom's house, flour was poured on the bride, which meant that she would not feel the need for anything in the new house. Upon entering the house, the bride was treated to honey so that the life of the newlyweds would be sweet. Closer to noon, the celebration began, and in the evening - dancing and gifts were presented to the bride.
As night approached, the mentor gave the bride advice on how to spend her wedding night. When the newlyweds are alone, the groom asks the bride if she really wants to be his wife. If the bride agreed, the groom fulfills his marital duty. On the fifth day of the wedding, the couple report that the night went well and the festivities continue.
Interesting Facts: Today, two types of weddings are held in Dagestan - an ordinary one, where the holiday is in full swing, music, dancing, fun, and a more restrained wedding of deeply believing Muslims, where alcohol and loud music are prohibited.
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The Republic of Dagestan is the most multinational region of the Russian Federation. More than a hundred nationalities live in the "country of mountains", in close proximity. Each of these ethnic communities brought their own traditional values, gradually giving rise to that kind of way that can be observed to this day. From village to village customs are modified, remaining largely similar. Dagestanis honor traditions, preserving all the richness of folk culture in our age of change. A Dagestan wedding today is a unique age-old tradition, hospitality and a unique national flavor, adapted to modern realities.
Hospitality traditions are very strong in Dagestan. The set of rules that has existed for centuries prescribes goodwill and attention to the guests to the hosts. Houses of Dagestanis are always open to dear relatives, neighbors, friends. Even a stranger who accidentally got into the village is accepted as their own relative.
Despite the influence of Islam adopted by the inhabitants of Dagestan since the reign of the Turks and Persians, there is a special, careful attitude towards women here. Some researchers believe that initially matriarchy reigned in the local tribes. Emphasized respect, up to naming in the third person, the attitude of the wife towards her husband, is adjacent to the prohibition for the weaker sex to engage in heavy physical labor. The polite wisdom of women can always cool the hot heads of male debaters. Also, in Dagestan, wearing a veil was not accepted, on the contrary, girls and women dressed brightly, with numerous head ornaments.
A wedding in Dagestan is not just a union of two loving hearts, it is an occasion for all relatives and friends to gather for an amazing celebration. During this period, two separate families merge into a single whole. New relatives actively get acquainted, communicate. In the old days, local villages lived from wedding to wedding. All the surrounding villages gathered for the landmark event, guests from remote areas came. The wedding was celebrated in several stages, and the preparatory period began with the birth of children.
Acquaintance and collusion
In the old days, it was customary to conspire children from the cradle. And this is not a whim: with the restrictions imposed by wedding traditions, it was quite difficult to find a suitable couple in the region. Basically, this custom flourished among wealthy families. The father of the young groom gave a valuable thing as a pledge, and the children were considered conspired.
The most frequent was the collusion of boys and girls in adolescence and adulthood. The bride was looking for older relatives and parents, including all friends and neighbors. The girl had to demonstrate certain qualities: diligence, restraint of emotions, knowledge of etiquette. Physical health, the absence of deformities and mental illness among relatives, the origin and well-being of the family were also important. Before the wedding, the young could not know each other at all.
In modern Dagestan, young people have the opportunity to make acquaintances on their own. But even now, young men and women listen to the opinion of older relatives, and marriage without the blessing of parents is unthinkable.
Another traditional way to get married was to steal the bride. Such a move made it possible to avoid huge expenses for the ransom and arrangement of the wedding, as well as to marry against the will of the relatives of the chosen girl. As a rule, the refusal followed if the applicant for the hand and heart of the daughter was lower in the social ladder, from an impoverished family or from a family with which there was enmity. A girl who spent the night under the shelter of a stranger was considered disgraced. If she managed to escape before dawn, then it was believed that the girl managed to defend her honor. If not, the relatives had no choice but to agree to an immediate wedding. However, angry relatives could also declare blood feud for the shame of their daughter and sister, which did not alleviate the fate of the unfortunate woman, who was losing hope for a worthy party. Bride kidnapping these days is punishable by law, and usually happens by mutual agreement, like a beautiful antique ritual.
Preparation period
Since divorces in Dagestan are extremely rare, the choice of a soulmate is approached with all responsibility. As soon as a young man or his family decides on the candidacy of the future bride, the family council carefully evaluates the girl, her behavior and reputation, looks at the well-being of the family, makes inquiries about her relatives. If everything suits, matchmakers are sent to the parents of the chosen one - the parents of the groom, older relatives or friends. Among the Avars, on the contrary, they invite the girl's father to the house. The matter is not limited to one visit: a decent girl cannot give an answer immediately, and cases of refusal are not uncommon when the groom does not suit the girl’s relatives or herself.
As soon as the issue is resolved positively, the groom's mother puts rings and a bracelet on the hands of the bride, after which the girl is considered conspired. Next comes the engagement ceremony.
Betrothal in Dagestan
The groom, accompanied by relatives, arrives at the girl's house with gifts. Previously, there was a custom when these gifts, along with a girl's dowry, were hung on ropes for everyone to see, in some villages it has survived to this day, so skimping is not accepted. On this day, not only the engagement takes place. The parties agree on the amount of dowry, redemption for the bride and bride price. Also, wedding dates are set.
A characteristic feature of a wedding in Dagestan is the holding of two celebrations with an interval of a week. This custom is easy to explain: in the old days, with the adoption of Muslim customs, wedding feasts were held separately for men and women. Moreover, parents could not accompany their daughter and attend a feast in the house of the groom's parents. And I wanted to attend the wedding of my own blood. Here they arranged separate feasts. At the appointed time, the groom and his friends would come to the "women's" wedding and take the bride, accompanied by her unmarried sisters, to a new family life. Having lost its original meaning, the tradition has survived, having undergone changes. Now they play two weddings, each time gathering all the guests.
Dowry and dowry
Money for dowry and dowry begins to be collected from the birth of a child. Household supplies, fabrics, jewelry are also prepared for the girl. For the wedding of the young man, the parents must provide a luxurious feast and separate housing, gifts and money for the ransom of the chosen one. The size of the ransom and dowry has not been established: in each specific case, the parties agree according to their position in society and well-being. At the same time, it is not customary to demonstrate stinginess and greed.
Traditional outfits of the young
Modern newlyweds prefer the classics - white dresses, suits, or traditional folk-style vestments. Often brides appear in both versions, fortunately, a double celebration allows this. The requirements for the dress of the bride are quite strict. The dress should be long, elegant, emphasize the grace and beauty of the girl. The fabric is chosen expensive, jewelry is selected. Veils and bedspreads are not accepted in Dagestan.
For young men who want to pay tribute to traditional dances, they also need a second, national outfit with an obligatory furry hat. It is in this vestment that he will lead his chosen one in the incendiary dance of the newlyweds.
Features of a traditional Dagestan wedding
In Dagestan, family ties are of great importance. A wedding in Dagestan gathers a huge number of guests, from several hundred to several thousand. Distant relatives, kunaks, acquaintances and acquaintances of acquaintances come. Entrance to the solemn feast is free, anyone can come in and congratulate the newlyweds, taste the treat. It is customary for young people to give significant sums of money, which will be used to acquire housing and farming.
Features of a modern wedding in Dagestan
At the request of the spouses and their relatives, the wedding can be modest, according to Muslim customs, without alcohol and with separate tables for men and women. Or familiar to us, noisy, with fun, dancing, music and a plentiful feast. They usually celebrate either in the banquet halls of restaurants or in the courtyards of houses. The main requirement for the venue of the feast is that it must accommodate everyone.
Registration at the registry office is carried out during the second day of the celebration. Since the number of guests is prohibitive, preparing for wedding celebrations is a very responsible matter. Even just picking up a menu so that everyone has enough and the guests are satisfied is a rather difficult task. But, in fact, a double wedding is walking around, doubling the costs and problems of preparation!
Holding wedding events
After the engagement, preparations for the celebrations begin. This is mostly done by parents. And the bride must equip the house or apartment where the young family will live. Housing is acquired by the groom's side. If, due to the financial situation of the young, it is planned to settle in the house of the groom's parents, then the girl will ennoble the allocated wing or rooms. In addition to a dowry for their daughter, parents purchase household appliances and furniture.
Celebration at the bride's house
Previously, under the stepfather's shelter, a small, farewell feast was arranged for a girl to be married off. Today, a full-fledged wedding is celebrated, which, however, has its own unique features. Musicians are placed on the roof of the house. From the very morning they begin to perform ritual songs, reminiscent of hysterical crying. At this time, the girl, under the lamentations of the surrounding girlfriends, the girl is preparing to leave her parental home. She sings farewell songs, puts on a wedding dress.
By noon, a procession consisting exclusively of women leaves the groom's house. They bring treats, sweets, jewelry and hand-woven carpets with them. The groom and other men follow at a distance, singing traditional ritual songs. When guests enter the house, everything brought is put into a chest, which will then be sent with a young wife to a new place of residence. After that, the feast begins.
Entry of a girl into marriage
In the old days, it was on this day or the day before that the marriage ceremony was held in the Islamic tradition. The groom himself, the mullah and the representative of the bride, the father or an older relative were present.
Today, on the first day of the celebrations, the mother of the maiden and other relatives, crying and lamenting, transfer the newlywed to a new family. However, this transmission is purely symbolic: the bride stays overnight in her father's house.
Celebration at the groom's house
In the morning on the appointed day, the groom comes for his betrothed and takes her under his arm, to his house. The celebration itself begins in the afternoon. It is on this day that competitions are played, young people boast to each other of their strength and dexterity, competitions and funny jokes are arranged. Dances and congratulations follow one after another. At the same time, joint dances are very rare - men have fun separately from women.
Interesting wedding customs of the Dagestanis
The thousand-year-old culture of the Dagestan people is rich in traditions, signs and beliefs associated with weddings.
- The appointed wedding celebrations should not coincide with major Muslim holidays or fasting days, birthdays of the spouses and their parents.
- The mother of a young wife brings diluted honey to the young, so that life is sweet and hassle-free.
- On the threshold of the girl's house, the groom is met by his sister-in-law and performs a ritual dance.
- Before the joint dance of the newlyweds, the bride must dance with every man present among the guests. He should not touch her, only describe circles and throw coins at her feet.
A special manager-master of ceremonies monitors the order at the wedding, he also holds competitions, says toasts and monitors the performance of rituals.
Wedding feast and toasts
The law of hospitality says: no guest should leave hungry. And toasts and good wishes to the young people sound almost continuously. However, the number of toasts does not mean a command to get drunk. On the contrary, the excessive use of alcohol is severely condemned.
The toast is a rather long parable, very often passed down from generation to generation, the wisdom of the ancestors. An experienced toastmaster remembers many such beautiful stories, designed to teach young people about life, wish well-being and good relations. Congratulations are also addressed to parents and friends, as well as to all those present. Any guest at a wedding can raise a glass and say his toast. The main condition is to observe the order and not shout over the speaker.
Songs, dances and entertainment
Of course, where without the traditional lezginka? A beautiful dance during which a young man shows his dexterity, prowess and strength, and a woman must demonstrate modesty and the ability to emphasize the dignity of her partner, and all this action is performed in chic traditional dresses! There is something to see and show yourself from the most favorable side. In this dance, the indomitable spirit of Dagestan men and the gentle flexibility of women are intertwined. Everyone can and love to dance it, from kids to elders wise with gray hair.
Dance events are opened by a designated main dancer, after which all males can join. The sequence is determined by the transfer of flowers: as soon as one dancer gets tired, he passes the bouquet to another, and the applicant chosen from among the guests should not refuse one or two circles. Dances for the female half of the guests are marked by an invitation to the dance of the groom's sister. Only after her, the rest of the ladies can enter the circle.
Dances and songs at the Dagestan wedding are the most basic entertainment. They last from the beginning to the end of the festival. These are traditional national dances, ritual melodies, and modern popular compositions, and karaoke.
The beginning of family life
The morning after the second day of wedding celebrations means the transition of the girl to the status of a woman. She is allowed to remove the girl's headscarf from her head. Guests come to the young, congratulations are again heard on the beginning of family life. The people feast on treats from the bride's chest. And two intermarried families exchange expensive gifts, strengthening the ties that have been formed.
A Dagestan wedding is a magnificent celebration with beautiful music and wonderful dances. Careful attitude to folk traditions and family values make the wedding celebrations of the Dagestanis especially bright and memorable.