Wedding Traditions of Eastern Europe’s Northern Region

Wedding traditions in Eastern Europe has so much history to it that a history book on this subject

alone can be written. For the countries of Estonia and Lithuania, they may include some of the

oddest traditions of them all.

Estonia

The country of Estonia may in fact have the oddest wedding traditions of any other country. How

much is still in existence is hard to say, but the following traditions have at one time or another,

existed. Then again, they may still be in practice to this day.

– Spitting in certain areas such as the sauna, stable, well or barn is considered bad luck for the

couple and may lead to poor health as this spitting practice is forbidden.

– To ensure the couple good faith along with understanding, the couple is casted with lead.

– A stranger is to walk away carrying with them a nutsack. In this sack is what the couple

considers their troubles.

– On their way to the ceremony, it is not uncommon for the wedding procession to come across

obstacles. Prior to proceeding, the couple needs to offer a bottle of spirits to the culprit creating

the roadblock.

– As the couple continues their walk to the ceremony, they are to toss coins on every road and

crossroad they encounter. This symbolizes wealth to the couple.

– In the event a wedding guest should accidently step in cow waste, they are guaranteed an invite

to the couple’ s first child’ s christening.

– While walking with his bride, if the groom should curse it shows that he has still not matured

from his youth. As a sign of growing up he must then walk clockwise around his bride ten times.

– At the wedding, if the bride gives her scarf, or stocking, to anyone means she wants them to

watch guard of her bedroom door that night.

– Much like the garter belt toss, a groom-to-be is predicted. However instead of tossing the

garter, after the bride tosses her bouquet, the groom is then blindfolded by the men. After the

men spin the groom around and around, he then walks until he reaches a single man and places

his top hat on him. He is then considered the next to marry.

– At the wedding, if the bride is kidnapped by the groom’ s friends, he has to attempt to save her.

The kidnappers give the groom several tests to achieve this rescue.

– One of the fathers will go under the table where the food is laid out to see if there are any

demons under there to corrupt the food. However, if there is a demon found the father will give it

a glass of vodka. While the demon is drinking the vodka, the father will kick the spirit so that it

flees away.

– After the reception, any food that was left over is to stay on the table till the next morning.

Therefore, lingering spirits can partake in the food.

Lithuania

– A marriage ritual starts with a matchmaker putting the couple together and then ensuring that a

dowry is taken care of.

– With so many families living a ways apart, Lithuania is broken down by region. Each region

handles engagements differently. It will also depend on whether or not the couple knew each

other prior to the engagement or if it was from the arrangement.

– The bride then officially says good-bye to her home and family; often with farewell music

playing. She is then introduced the groom’ s home.

– Before the bride arrives to her groom’ s home, her dowry chest will be delivered. Items, such as:

clothing, towels, bed clothing and others items have been put away in the anticipation that this

day would someday come.

– One of the bride’ s first orders of business after entering the groom’ s house is for her to place

a red towel next to the stove on the hearth. This will allow her to be in good graces with the

home’ s spirits.

– The bride will also hang sashes in different areas of the house and present her groom’ s parents

with gifts such as sashes, towels and material.

– As a symbol of her childhood, the bride will enter the church for the ceremony wearing a

wreath of rue. The wreath will then be removed by married women and will replace it with a

headdress that represents a mature woman.

– After all the ceremonies are done, the atgriztai takes place. The bride goes to her parent’ s home

for a short visit, but instead of being treated like family, she is treated as a guest.

Wedding Traditions of Eastern Europe’s Northern Region
Wedding traditions in Eastern Europe has so much history to it that a history book on this subjectalone can be written. For the countries of Estonia and Lithuania, they may include some of theoddest traditions of them all.
Estonia
The country of Estonia may in fact have the oddest wedding traditions of any other country. Howmuch is still in existence is hard to say, but the following traditions have at one time or another,existed. Then again, they may still be in practice to this day.
– Spitting in certain areas such as the sauna, stable, well or barn is considered bad luck for thecouple and may lead to poor health as this spitting practice is forbidden.
– To ensure the couple good faith along with understanding, the couple is casted with lead.
– A stranger is to walk away carrying with them a nutsack. In this sack is what the coupleconsiders their troubles.
– On their way to the ceremony, it is not uncommon for the wedding procession to come acrossobstacles. Prior to proceeding, the couple needs to offer a bottle of spirits to the culprit creatingthe roadblock.
– As the couple continues their walk to the ceremony, they are to toss coins on every road andcrossroad they encounter. This symbolizes wealth to the couple.
– In the event a wedding guest should accidently step in cow waste, they are guaranteed an inviteto the couple’ s first child’ s christening.
– While walking with his bride, if the groom should curse it shows that he has still not maturedfrom his youth. As a sign of growing up he must then walk clockwise around his bride ten times.
– At the wedding, if the bride gives her scarf, or stocking, to anyone means she wants them towatch guard of her bedroom door that night.
– Much like the garter belt toss, a groom-to-be is predicted. However instead of tossing thegarter, after the bride tosses her bouquet, the groom is then blindfolded by the men. After themen spin the groom around and around, he then walks until he reaches a single man and placeshis top hat on him. He is then considered the next to marry.
– At the wedding, if the bride is kidnapped by the groom’ s friends, he has to attempt to save her.The kidnappers give the groom several tests to achieve this rescue.
– One of the fathers will go under the table where the food is laid out to see if there are anydemons under there to corrupt the food. However, if there is a demon found the father will give ita glass of vodka. While the demon is drinking the vodka, the father will kick the spirit so that itflees away.
– After the reception, any food that was left over is to stay on the table till the next morning.Therefore, lingering spirits can partake in the food.
Lithuania
– A marriage ritual starts with a matchmaker putting the couple together and then ensuring that adowry is taken care of.
– With so many families living a ways apart, Lithuania is broken down by region. Each regionhandles engagements differently. It will also depend on whether or not the couple knew eachother prior to the engagement or if it was from the arrangement.
– The bride then officially says good-bye to her home and family; often with farewell musicplaying. She is then introduced the groom’ s home.
– Before the bride arrives to her groom’ s home, her dowry chest will be delivered. Items, such as:clothing, towels, bed clothing and others items have been put away in the anticipation that thisday would someday come.
– One of the bride’ s first orders of business after entering the groom’ s house is for her to placea red towel next to the stove on the hearth. This will allow her to be in good graces with thehome’ s spirits.
– The bride will also hang sashes in different areas of the house and present her groom’ s parentswith gifts such as sashes, towels and material.
– As a symbol of her childhood, the bride will enter the church for the ceremony wearing awreath of rue. The wreath will then be removed by married women and will replace it with aheaddress that represents a mature woman.
– After all the ceremonies are done, the atgriztai takes place. The bride goes to her parent’ s homefor a short visit, but instead of being treated like family, she is treated as a guest.