A Traditional Ukrainian Wedding


	A Traditional Ukrainian Wedding by Olga Ternoway (From the book Our Legacy: History of Smoky Lake and Area. Used with permission. A copy of this book can be purchased from the Smoky Lake Museum or the CN station.) The traditional Ukrainian wedding followed a definite pattern. When a young man fell in love with a young woman and wanted to marry her, he would ask two of his best friends to come with him to meet her parents. The friends were called starosteh (match makers). They would explain to the parents why they had come. The parents would then ask their daughter what her opinion was. Sometimes the girl agreed. If she didn't, the parents sometimes would force the daughter into marriage. In some cases the parents would pre-arrange the marriage of their children. When the matchmaking was arranged and was satisfactory, the parents of the groom had the priest of their church announce the engagement three times at three different church services (banns); then the date was set for the wedding. Two weeks before the wedding the groom and his bride would start inviting their guests to the wedding, going from house to house with a horse and buggy or a team of horses. Then they would choose their bestmen, bridesmaids, candle girl (sweetewka), and matron of honor (matka. and battko). They would also decide about their orchestra, for both homes (the weddings were held at parents' homes). The bride's parents paid for the orchestra at the bride's home. The bouquets for the guests were made ahead of time by the bride's maids and relatives or friends who were called svashkeh. All flower arrangements were hand made. The parents on both sides would hire a cook to prepare the food for the wedding feast. Sometimes they would have to borrow dishes and pots from their neighbors. At that time the food was served in deep dishes. No forks or knives were laid out, only spoons, and were not provided serviettes. All ate from the same dish. The preparation for the wedding started an evening before. A flower was sewn on the groom's hat. It was started by his mother then passed on to the matron of honor and relatives. Each took turns in sewing. This decoration also had barvinok and silver coins sewn in. During the sewing, many songs were sung, one being: Tie die mamko holkoo holkoo Tie neteechkoo showkoo, showkoo Die showchikoo cherlenoho Do barvinokoo zelenoho Tre lestouchkee barvinochkoo Stefanoveh na holovochkoo Do sobotoo navsay vachir A oo nadilkoo navsoo dnenkoo A ponadilok oozsha naklenkoo The bride's veil was sewn by her bridesmaids at her home. The tradition was the same. The start was by her mother passing unto her bridesmaids with songs such as: Tie die mamko holkoo holkoo Tie netichkoo showkoo, showkoo Die showchikoo cherlenoho Do barvinkoo zelanoho This was called zavodineh. The guests ate and sang till the wee hours of the morning. Also the day before the wedding, the gates were decorated by the bestmen with pine trees, pine bows and paper streamers. On the day of the wedding the matron of honor would adorn the bestmen with shawls (sherenkeh) to be worn over the right shoulder. Corsages were pinned on the left. On the day of the wedding, the team of horses that brought the wedding party to church were all decorated with streamers. The parents did not go to the church with the bride and groom. On the groom's side the bestmen brought a gun and would shoot straight up in the air saying "Veevat" several times. It was a happy occasion, and there were lots of songs to be sung, regardless how far the bridal group had to travel to church and back home. In the meantime the guests arrived at the wedding (the gentleman with a kolach and the lady with a chicken). During the marriage ceremony the couple knelt on a towel, which was brought by the matron of honor. The crowns were held over their heads by matron of honor and first bestman (battko). Crowns were made of barvinok and live flowers. After the marriage ceremony, the groom, matron of honor, bestmen and sweetilka all went to the groom's home for a meal. The bride, with the bestman and her bridesmaids went to her home. Each set of parents met their children with bread and salt and gave them their blessings with the orchestra playing the wedding march. After dinner, the groom came with his entourage to the bride's place to take her home with him. They were met by the bride's parents with bread and salt and wine, with the orchestra playing the wedding march. They were all treated to a drink with the parents' blessing. After the meal the table was cleared, the bride was asked to join the groom and preparations began for gift-giving. Before the donation began, the bestmen tried to cover the bride with the shawl she had worn over her shoulders when she was getting married (pokrevalo). The bridesmaids tried to protect her from being covered and the svashkeh (guests) sang: Beela drooshka yak papeer Tremayeh oo rookahk taril A taril za terkochi Bo vid drooszbeh hroshi hkochi A tsa drooshbeh maalo maalo Nam hroshey beh beelsheh zdalo A beh se pidkovaleh i Faaynanko dansoovaleh Then the bridesmaids sang: Nasha moloda vid dobroho vidcha Me ehyee nedamo vid zosorokivcha Nasha moloda vid dobroyee mateh Me ehyee ne damo vid leva skhateh Oiy molodoho chorni broveh Die nam hroshiy hkot na pidkoveh Die te nam hroshiy hkot na pidkoveh Shobeh meh faayno dansoovaleh Then the bestmen paid the bridesmaids and the bride got covered. After that she wore the shawl at all times. The donation began with the parents going first, followed by the relatives and guests. After the donation the bestmen bought off each of the bridesmaids by giving her money to her satisfaction. In the meantime, a sister or brother of the bride sat on the trunk that was given the bride by her parents. The groom had to give them money before they could take the trousseau (here a song was sung). When that was done, the bestmen carried the trousseau to the waiting vehicle singing: Oiy die teh die teh sho maayeteh dateh A yak ne clie-eta veehoneet zkhateh Before the bride left, she sang: Neh plaach Mamko zamnoyoo Neh ooso berroo soboyoo Leshayoo slozeh po stol A sledochki podvori Boovai Mamko zdorova In the meantime, the guests gathered at the gate to stop the groom and the bride. The groom had to be prepared to give them a gallon of wine before they cleared the way. When the groom and his bride arrived at his home the best men sang "Here comes the bride", and stopped at the gate singing: Oi otvoreh moyah Mamko vorota Vezoo tobe nevistochkoo yak zoloto Oi otvoreh mayah Mamko i bramoo Vezoo tobi nevistochkoo i oobranoo The parents met them with bread, salt and wine and gave them their blessings. The orchestra played the wedding march. The bestmen carried in the trousseau singing: Devitsha loodeh sho Mama dala Dala podooshkeh, dala i skrenew Dala (bride's name) za hospodenew After the trouseau was carried in, the wedding party was led in by the bestmen. The bestman had a white flag. As they were led into the house they sang: Oi ne litay horobetz Po pid beeloo stellyou Ne kopoteh ne porosheh Melomoo vecheryou Bo meloho melenkoho vecherinka peshna Barabolya neloopiana. mamlegga skesla Hopza, hopza i sche troshka hopza zaa zaa Podevloosha na. polechoo Na polechee ser ser A ya tooyou baraboolyou po pid lavoo fer fer They also sang: Oi die bosheh dobrey chas Yak oo Iyooday tak i vnaas I schaslevoo hodenoo sa vesilyah zrobelah Yak be ne teh i ne yah Neboolobeh vesilyah Oi noo noo, Oi noo noo Rozveselim rodenoo Hopza, hopza i sche troshka hopza zaa zaa As they sang, they went three times around the table. After the third time they were seated (bride and groom in the middle of the table) and started with supper, which was served by the bestmen. Sometimes a trick was played on the couple by the cook. After the meal the groom took the bride to dance, followed by the matron of honor, bestmen and bridesmaids. The dance was held on a homemade platform decorated with streamers and pine trees. After all guests had finished eating, the gift-giving began. Again, the donation started with the parents going first, followed by the relatives and guests. When the donation was finished, the "batko" announced the amount donated. Gifts were small, mostly fifty cents, a small towel or a white plate. Then all sang "Mnohoia Lita" (Happiness for many years). After the gift-giving, some guests stayed over night while others left for their homes. Next morning when the bride got up, one of the guests asked her to sweep the floor. When she was just about to pick up the dust, he scattered it all over the floor and asked her to do it over again. This procedure might have continued for a few more times. This was meant to see how fast she got frustrated. Then she would be asked to bring a pail of water from the outside well. When she was near the house, some one would go and throw a handful of dust into the pail. She had to go back, clean the pail and bring clean water. This too could carry on for a while. On the third day the parents of the bride and their relatives were asked for "popraveneh", to the groom's home. The bride's parents would do the same a week later. After all the celebration, there was the honeymoon. The couple either stayed with the groom's parents -or started their own home with the help of their parents. Sometimes they would get a team of horses, a cow and the chickens that were brought to the wedding. Those were the happy days! Return to the Settlement Menu Return to the Smoky Lake History Archive