An old Russian tradition is to receive a parent's blessing for marriage. This is a special ceremony through which the older generation approves the union of the bride and groom.
Instructions
Step 1
Traditionally, the blessing ceremony should be performed prior to the marriage registration and the ransom ceremony. For example, it can be held on the eve of the wedding day or a few days before it. Nevertheless, at present, this ceremony sometimes becomes part of the wedding program, when already engaged newlyweds are met by their parents with other guests, congratulated on the marriage and invited to the table. Decide in advance when the blessing will take place to avoid confusion during the wedding.
Step 2
Both the groom's parents and the bride's parents participate in the blessing ceremony. The father and mother of the groom stand close to each other opposite their son. At the same time, the father is holding an icon with the image of Christ in his hands. According to religious canons, the groom kneels down with a blessing. The father and mother take turns baptizing their son with the icon three times. Then the groom signs himself with the sign of the cross and applies himself to the face of Christ - kisses the icon. In the same order, the ceremony is performed by the father and mother of the bride. The difference between the ceremony in this case lies only in the icon used. This time, it should not be Jesus Christ, but the Mother of God.
Step 3
The conclusion of a church marriage also provides for other stages in which the parents of the bride and groom must necessarily participate. For example, immediately after the betrothal, the young people get married in the church. At this point, the parents should be behind the newlyweds. The groom's mother and father move closer to their son, while the bride's parents move closer to their daughter. Upon completion of the sacrament of the church marriage, the groom's parents should return home and prepare for the meeting of the newlyweds.
Step 4
The groom's parents, according to Orthodox traditions, again bless the new family after the wedding, inviting them to enter the house as husband and wife. At the same time, the father holds the icon of the Mother of God in his hands, and the mother holds a loaf with a piece of salt. Young people tear off a piece of loaf, dip it in salt and feed each other. At the same time, the groom's father baptizes the young with an icon, and the mother says: “Welcome! Bread is salt! " It is believed that this ceremony will help to make the house "hospitable", that is, generous for treats, and the young family will have everything in abundance. After the ceremony, the parents take turns hugging and kissing the bride and groom on the cheeks, and also say their parting words to them. In the old days, after this, the guests, as well as the bride and groom themselves, were invited to the table. Today, if the wedding celebrations are held not in the house, but in a special institution, the whole company can go there.
