The white bird is a good flying friend!
The takeoff of a beautiful bird couple from the hands of newlyweds in love is a mesmerizing sight and will become one of the most pleasant and happiest moments.
The release of these beautiful birds into free flight is perhaps the most solemn moment at a wedding.
Our memory stores a lot. But it is much more pleasant to preserve good and sincere events. The takeoff of snow-white birds is a memory for the soul. Feel them with all your heart. By opening your palms at the same time, you will feel their soft feathers. Two fluffy balls will cause you strong emotions and a burst of energy. The look of white doves is full of tenderness and affection.
The history of the wedding tradition of releasing doves
Most historical sources indicate that the custom of releasing birds into the sky on a wedding day came to us from sunny Italy, famous for its strict morals. Every young Italian woman gave the white-winged bird freedom on her wedding day. This became a symbol of the beginning of an independent life, free from parents.
A girl who enters adulthood and leaves her ancestral home is like a bird. Free from the care of her mother and father, she begins a new life in which she will have to take care of her new family. Immediately after marriage, a young woman begins to build a family nest and tries to surround her man with love and care. With the advent of children, her care extends not only to her husband, but also to her offspring.
Where can I find pigeons and how much do they cost?
Pigeons are common birds. Finding them is not that difficult. They are in every yard and park. But such individuals are not suitable for a wedding celebration. Pure white birds are released into the sky. They are bred in special dovecotes. In some cases, they are tinted so that the color of the feathers is perfectly white.
You can rent pigeons at a special nursery or from a breeder. If the wedding is distinguished by sophistication, then birds with a good pedigree are selected.
There is one important rule. Before renting pigeons, you need to make sure there is no infection. Many people know that birds are carriers of various diseases. So be careful.
There are also cases when breeders meet young people near the door with birds in their hands. This type of service is convenient because the bride and groom do not need to book pigeons in advance. But you need to have some money with you. There is also no certainty that the young will be ready to launch pigeons, because the ceremony includes several features.
Carrier pigeons are most often used at weddings. They differ from ordinary birds in their resilience. They can travel long distances and will always find their way home.
Doves at a wedding are an affordable service. The average rental cost is 1200-1800 rubles. If the newlyweds want purebred and healthy birds at the wedding, then they will have to pay from 2000 to 2500 rubles.
Pigeons are very trainable, so they are sometimes used as actors. Example in the video.
Modern interpretation of tradition
The custom of releasing doves at weddings has remained virtually unchanged. However, now not only the bride, but also the groom takes part in a small ritual. White birds quickly rising into the air are one of the brightest and most exciting moments not only for the newlyweds, but also for their guests.
Thanks to this custom, newlyweds experience a lot of positive emotions. By releasing pigeons, newlyweds can make a wish that will undoubtedly come true. Wedding birds, having gained freedom, should bring happiness to the husband and wife in their new life together.
List of signs
They began flying pigeons at weddings several hundred years ago in Italy. This meant that the girl left her parental home and entered into a relationship with a man where love, tenderness and fidelity reigned. The launching of doves symbolizes the daughter's freedom from the guardianship of her mother and father, and her readiness to create a new family.
In some countries, butterflies or balloons are released instead of doves. Not only the newlyweds, but also the invited guests are waiting for this moment, as it is an impressive sight.
The ritual is associated with several signs.
- It is believed that if the dove flew out first and went far from her partner, then she will be the head of the family.
- If the pigeons fly away from each other, it means that there will be misunderstandings and quarrels in the family.
- Birds that fly high and fast are a good sign. This speaks of the fulfillment of the cherished desires of the young.
- If a female and a male flutter in the sky inseparably, this means that the bride and groom will have a long and happy life.
- When a bird stains a girl's outfit, it symbolizes wealth and prosperity in the new family.
- If the female flew first, then perhaps the first of the children will be a girl. If the partner is ahead of the dove, then the first-born will be a boy.
But how can you tell which pigeon is male or female? A red or pink ribbon is placed on the foot of the bird that belongs to the girl. A blue or dark blue ribbon is attached to the male pigeon's foot. But, unfortunately, not all newlyweds adhere to this rule, considering this process dangerous for birds.
Doves at a wedding - a symbol of well-being
There are many superstitions regarding the wedding custom of releasing doves. From early times it was believed that freedom given to a bird was a good start to family life. Since then, little has changed, and doves are still considered a symbol of peace and unity.
For every new couple, this custom becomes an important moment not only in their wedding day, but also in their partner’s life. It is symbolic that when releasing the birds from their hands, both the bride and groom say goodbye to their past single life.
How to fly wedding doves correctly
A dove is a delicate and fragile bird, so it would be useful to learn the rules on how to hold and release them so as not to harm them.
Someone mistakenly believes that such a fragile creature needs to be held in a tender embrace. In fact, the doves should be clasped with your hands gently , but at the same time firmly, so that they do not fly away ahead of time.
To prevent the pigeon from breaking out of the hands at the wrong moment, its paws should be placed between the fingers of the person holding it, and the wings should be carefully pressed against its body.
In order for the doves to simultaneously fly out of the hands of the newlyweds, you just need to unclench your fingers at once. You can also push the birds up a little. Before doing this, you need to give the photographer some time so that he can capture one of the most beautiful moments of the wedding.
Photos of a wedding with pigeons
Pros and cons of custom
The tradition of releasing doves at a wedding has many advantages, but the beautiful ritual also has disadvantages. In order not to ruin a single minute of your wedding day, you should carefully consider all the pros and cons .
The solemnity and beauty of the moment when the birds fly into the sky, finding their long-awaited freedom, speak in favor of the ritual of releasing doves. The bride and groom are guaranteed positive emotions, because communication with birds gives an unforgettable experience: a feeling of calm, peace and love. All guests present at the ceremony will also not remain indifferent to the spectacle. The release of doves attracts the attention of others, causes delight and puts you in a romantic mood.
In addition to the memory of a wonderful day, the newlyweds are left with spectacular photographs with doves. A professional is able to convey in photographs the atmosphere of love and joy that the newlyweds experience when they release the birds to freedom. It is very important to pick the right moment and release the pigeons at the same time. Then the photos will turn out really interesting.
The disadvantages of a beautiful wedding tradition include its popularity. When the idea of releasing doves into the sky at a wedding first appeared in our area, it was extraordinary. Now many newlyweds are abandoning the custom, wanting their celebration to be different from others. The future husband and wife are trying to introduce something new into the custom, for example, instead of doves, releasing a bunch of balloons, a sky lantern or even butterflies into the sky .
Sometimes one of the newlyweds cannot cope with emotions and hostility towards pigeons. The emotional state of the bride and groom is of great importance, so in this case it is better to abandon this tradition.
It should be remembered that birds circling over the newlyweds and guests can stain their clothes . For some couples, this becomes a disadvantage of the ceremony, so they decide to forget about the wedding tradition of releasing doves. This problem is successfully solved in the company whose services the newlyweds decided to use. The pigeons that the couple will release on their wedding day are specially not fed the day before the wedding .
Beautiful snow-white birds can give a lot of positive emotions on your wedding day, and beautiful photographs will remind you of this event for the rest of your life. Allow yourself to feel the love and give freedom to the bird, which will bring you good luck in your family life.
Specificity of tradition
A few years ago, only a girl participated in the ritual.
In modern times, the bride and groom release doves into the sky at the same time. There are two types of ritual. The first of them involves the participation of two birds, which are held by the young in their hands. The second option refers to the launching of a flock of birds that fly out at a certain stage of the ceremony. It's like a live fireworks display. The birds are released before or after the ceremony. Sometimes the ceremony is performed several times, it all depends on the preferences of the young couple.
The pigeons are brought in a beautiful cage at the appointed time. There may be two or more. The birds are given to the bride and groom. Sometimes witnesses or parents of the newlyweds take part in the ceremony.
A few recommendations
Organizing a wedding with pigeons is not difficult. For everything to be successful, you need to take into account several recommendations.
- Before carrying out the ceremony, it is necessary to find out whether the newlyweds are allergic to bird feathers. Otherwise the holiday will be ruined.
- To prevent pigeons from staining your dress or suit, birds should not be fed the day before the appointed date.
- If the bride or groom does not like pigeons, then it is better to abandon this idea. To diversify the holiday, you can release butterflies, glowing lanterns or balloons.
- To prevent birds from becoming sources of infection, it is recommended to take birds from special nurseries.
- At a wedding celebration, snow-white doves go well with the outfits of the bride and groom.
- Photo sessions with pigeons are carried out only by experienced photographers who have special equipment.
- There is no need to delve too deeply into signs. Even if the birds scatter to the sides, this does not mean anything. Perhaps the birds simply did not appreciate each other.
You can also use colored smoke bombs instead of pigeons. Such an event will look very impressive and colorful.
Doves at a wedding are an old tradition. This ritual will always be in fashion. Birds of snow-white color will give a lot of impressions to young people and guests. In addition, this service is available to everyone, regardless of financial capabilities.
History of tradition
Everyone knows that the dove is a symbol of peace, love, purity, harmony and fidelity. But not everyone knows where the tradition of releasing a pair of snow-white birds at a wedding came from. The roots of the tradition go back to medieval Italy, where the white dove was identified with purity and purity, so on the wedding day the girl released it into the sky. This meant that the girl was ready to leave her home and begin a new independent life. Often the flight of the dove was accompanied by sad songs and mourned by the mother and sisters.
There is also earlier information: during excavations of Egyptian tombs, frescoes were found depicting the release of white doves into the sky with the news of the beginning of the reign of Ramses II.
In Rus', most often it was not doves that were released into the sky, but nightingales. This custom was supposed to bring good luck to any business. Gradually, nightingales were replaced by doves - this was also facilitated by church traditions.
On the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, many snow-white birds are released into the sky, since it was the white dove that was the Holy Spirit, the angel Gabriel, who informed the Virgin Mary about the imminent birth of Christ.
Signs associated with wedding doves
Since ancient times, it was believed that releasing a bird into the wild was a good omen. Since those times, little has changed in this regard. Doves are a symbol of love and unity, peace and prosperity. Therefore, the custom of releasing white doves at a wedding is an important moment for a newly married couple. They say that by releasing the doves from their hands, the bride and groom say goodbye to their former free and single life.
There are several signs associated with pigeons during a wedding ceremony:
1. If the released birds fly nearby for a long time, then the family will be strong and the life of the young couple will be happy.
2. By tying a pink ribbon to the dove that the bride will release and the groom will release a blue one, you can find out the gender of the unborn child. If a bird with a blue bandage flies higher, then the newlyweds will have a boy first, and if, on the contrary, then a girl will be born.
A shooting star or a dove taking off
There are many signs associated with the release of doves.
Before releasing the pigeons, the young must make a cherished wish. If the pigeons immediately fly up quickly, then the wish will definitely come true.
If the pigeons continue to stick together and do not fly away after they have been released, then the young ones will live in peace and harmony, and quarrels and scandals will rarely visit their home.
To determine the sex of the unborn child, ribbons were tied to the pigeons' paws. Pink - for the bride's dove, blue - for the groom's dove. If the groom's dove becomes the leader of a flying group of doves, there will be a boy; if the bride's dove, expect a girl. If the pack does not have a leader, expect twins.
A little about the traditions of the past
In honor of holidays in the ancient world, there was a tradition of freeing slaves from prison. In ancient Egyptian drawings, an image was found of the release of birds in honor of the accession of a new pharaoh to the throne. These birds were pigeons. From this event the tradition of releasing pigeons began. However, there is a more popular version.
According to another version, the tradition of releasing doves came to us from romantic and beautiful Italy. A dove as white as snow was considered a symbol of the purity and purity of the bride. The bride getting married had to release the dove from the cage. This was a symbol not only of the beginning of a more adult life, but also symbolized the departure of the bride from her parental home - the “nest”.
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The bride sang special wedding songs for the dove, which were supposed to guide the dove, help her find her way and a happy life, build her nest.
In European countries, birds were not only released from cages, but also given as gifts to their loved ones. A golden or silver cage with a bird was a symbol of the care and tenderness with which a man promised to surround his beloved, like the walls of a fortress. Yes, in those days, a golden cage was considered a positive symbol of marriage, and giving a bird in a cage was considered a kind of betrothal process. In this case, the cage with the bird played the role of an engagement ring. The “more elegant” the bird’s plumage was, the more clearly the man expressed his feelings.
Will family life be happy?
After the bride and groom have released the birds, look closely at how they fly. If they quickly flutter and smoothly rise into the air, then the married couple will have a happy life. If the pigeons stay close, then the young people don’t have to worry - they will carry their love through the years. The longer the birds fly in pairs, the longer the life of the spouses will be, the more harmony there will be in their home. If the birds do not want to fly or fly unevenly, family life will not be so calm. Important! The reason for this behavior of the pigeons may be that they were kept in a small and cramped box. Be sure to check how the pigeons are kept before releasing them.
Conducting a photo shoot with pigeons
No event is complete without a photo shoot. It is better to invite an experienced and responsible photographer to your wedding. Only he can take beautiful and spectacular pictures. To begin with, newlyweds are recommended to take photographs with birds in a cage. At the same time, the birds’ house should be beautiful and correspond to the event. The groom is asked to lift the cage a little and the future wife to look at the birds.
If a young couple wants tender pictures as a souvenir, then it is recommended that the bride and groom take the doves in their hands and look at each other lovingly. Guests should not stay away either.
The photographer must capture the moment when the pigeons fly into the sky. To do this, a specialist must have special equipment in his arsenal. Capturing such moments will not be possible with a phone or a simple camera.
It is better to conduct a photo session in an open area. Then the shots will turn out better.
What does a pair of pigeons symbolize?
At this exciting moment, lovers resemble a pair of cooing doves who will remain eternally faithful to each other throughout their happy family life.
By releasing birds into free flight, they show their readiness to part with their former single life and walk side by side along a new common road to harmony and happiness.
Holding a dove couple in their hands, the newlyweds make secret wishes in a whisper, which the snow-white bird will convey to the Creator. It is believed that if the fulfillment of these desires promises common good, then they will certainly come true.
After all, it was a dove with an olive branch in its beak, according to biblical legend, that brought Noah the joyful news of God’s forgiveness of the human race and the completion of the Flood. The Holy Spirit descended in his image during the baptism of Jesus.
Therefore, God’s favorite bird knows exactly how to “reach out to heaven” and convey the requests of a married couple.
Another feature of these amazing creatures is that they always return home, no matter how far fate throws them.
And before, the gentleman, being far from his home, sent news to the lady of his heart via pigeon mail. The messenger of happiness brought the long-awaited letter under his wing and gave it directly into the hands of his beloved.
