Purchasing the bride

Before going to the klub and getting married in the civil ceremony the groom has to purchase his bride first. In order to do so he has to follow many different traditions, such as: receiving a blessing from his parents and godparents, buying his passage during “perepojiny” (stops), bargaining with the bride’s  family on a price that should be paid for the bride, and finally, he has to receive a blessing from the bride’s parents and godparents as well. After all of the traditions and rituals are observed, everybody goes to the klub. (Pidhaitsi village, 2008)

The groom has to bow three times and kiss the holy bread and an icon that his parents/ godparents are holding.

The groom’s mother ties a rushnyk over the right shoulder of the “druzhba” (the best-man at the wedding).

The “kvitka” symbolises a ticket to the wedding, and you need to pay the svashka when she is putting it on you.

During the blessing procedure parents and Godparents walk around the cars three times and throw holy water on them.

Passage can be bought with vodka or money. For the vodka, the druzhba gets a bouquet of flowers, and bread and salt.

The groom and his guests came over to the bride’s house and her relatives start bargaining with groom’s druzhba.

The whole wedding train is blessed again, this time by the bride’s parents and godparents.