A very Armenian wedding
As you know, the Armenian people attach great importance to holidays and special events. This is especially reflected in the celebration of family holidays, such as a wedding. Modern Armenian wedding is very different from a traditional wedding ritual, however, some customs and rules have been preserved in our days.
So what did a traditional Armenian wedding look like before? The creation of a family in Armenia used to be a series of several events, starting from the moment of an acquaintance of the future spouses and ending with the rituals associated with the purity of the bride.
Matchmaking
In the old days, when residents of small towns and villages who were familiar with each other married their children, the matchmaking ceremony was carried out by an intermediary trusted by both families.
Today, the groom, his parents and immediate family members visit the house of the future bride to ask for her hand. Guests traditionally bring with them an engagement ring, flowers, a bottle of brandy and sweet treats. At the same time, the girl’s parents don’t set the table until the family representatives meet, negotiations are held and the groom and bride’s father come to an agreement. By the way, many modern young people don’t follow such formalities.
It’s better to visit Armenia and order tours to the sights of the country to learn more about the life and history of the Armenian people. The Umba company will help you to deal with a variety of tourist destinations and organize a private tour based on your preferences.
Engagement
After matchmaking the couple sets an engagement day that precedes the wedding. As a rule, the ceremony of the engagement is organized by the relatives of the future bride, who set the table and invite the guests, and the groom’s relatives prepare a cake and gifts, which are presented in colorful baskets with sweets and alcoholic beverages. They give the bride a ring during the betrothal feast. Guests have fun and dance all evening. In former times the engagement ceremony was held in the church, but these days the event is usually celebrated in restaurants and other entertainment venues.
Traveling in Armenia you can always witness someone’s wedding celebration in different places of the country, especially in churches and temples. The Umba hostel is the most convenient option for a stay during a short trip because comfort and high-quality services are combined with affordable prices here.
Wedding
There are no time limits for appointing a wedding day now, but in past it took place in the fall or winter when all the agricultural works were completed.
It’s difficult to single out any general traditions of the Armenian wedding ceremony, as there were different rules in different regions and segments of the population. Some customs have preserved to our days.
For example, a few decades ago the bride had to sit in the corner and couldn’t participate in the feast or dance, and the groom’s forehead was symbolically smeared with the blood of the bull that his father had killed before taking the bride out of the parental home. There were also some prohibitions. Marriages between blood relatives, people with different faiths and representatives of the same dynasty were not allowed. The groom’s mother, according to tradition, visited the bride’s parental home after the wedding and handed her mother red apples to confirm the girl’s virginity before the marriage.
Of course, the modern Armenian wedding is much different. The bride and groom are free to conduct any rites at their discretion nowadays. If you want to visit magnificent Armenia as part of your honeymoon or spend a vacation with family or friends, then Umba Apartments N1, Umba Apartments N2 and Umba Apartments N3 will be the best place for a comfortable stay during your trip.
