The richest gypsy weddings - photos and personal impressions

The richest gypsy weddings - now it sounds completely different from what it used to be.
Modern gypsies are degenerating and becoming smaller financially. It’s becoming less and less common to see a truly rich gypsy wedding in Russia. In Romania, Slovenia and some other countries of Eastern Europe, there are still rich gypsy families, but in our country they are literally dying out. In the USSR, the Roma felt at ease; in the 1990s, they also found a place in the sun, and then the Roma simply did not fit into the new economic realities. Nowadays you see less and less a rich gypsy with a huge belly, and accordingly weddings are becoming more modest. But I managed to attend the richest and most luxurious gypsy weddings of the 1990s. I was very young at the time, but that didn’t make the memories lose their vividness.

So, the richest gypsy weddings. Why do gypsies even want to flaunt their wealth and where does their love for gold come from?

Gypsies have long loved and valued gold; it has a sacred meaning for them. In addition, it so happened that it was very convenient for the gypsies to store their savings in gold. Previously, many gypsies constantly traveled from city to village, from village to city, they engaged in various trades, fortune telling, theatrical and circus performances, fraud and theft.

In such a life, gold was the most convenient asset. Gold is easy to carry, easy to hide and bury, because gold is not afraid of rain, snow, cold and time. Therefore, they had different traditions associated with gold. For example, a son had to double the gold left to him by his father.

Gypsies wore a variety of items, sometimes wearing 3-5 gold chains, massive earrings, rings and bracelets. At the same time, heavier items could be hidden under clothing. We have all repeatedly seen very fat gypsies with large bellies. Gypsies love to eat, they have a whole cult of food, but in addition to their own volume, some Gypsies wear a wide belt of thick fabric under their clothes.

This belt acts as a bag; it has several fastening flaps where you can hide gold. Gypsy women stuff their belts with coins, gold chains, and sometimes gold orders. I know of a case where a gypsy woman carried about 8 kilograms of gold in her belt.

This is the reason for the love of gold. If we talk about vanity and display of wealth, we can note the following - the gypsies could rarely boast of high cultural development, serious knowledge, even education. Back in the 1990s, I met adult gypsies who had difficulty writing and reading!

The Gypsy lifestyle and environment did not require them to strive for science, real art and culture. Rare gypsies could show off their artistic talents and some skills in fortune telling and magic. But human nature is such that most people need to be proud of something, and sometimes boast. Therefore, they were proud of their wealth, which was primarily expressed in gold and other jewelry.

This is where the richest gypsy weddings originate. Rich gypsy families sought to become related to each other; they held very lavish, colorful weddings. And the poorer gypsies were jealous and also sought to demonstrate their success.

During a gypsy wedding, it is customary to give rich gifts. Today it is difficult to surprise with gold jewelry and a rich table, but in the past it made a strong impression. I remember very well the richest gypsy wedding I was able to attend.

The tables were laden with a variety of dishes. Gypsies are very fond of whole roasted pigs, rabbits, smoked turkeys, jellied beluga meat and sturgeon, which is served in basins at weddings. They do not respect vegetable salads, preferring fattier, more filling foods.

An important component of a rich gypsy wedding is the cake. Gypsies are very fond of huge cakes, which can sometimes be one and a half meters in diameter and two meters high!

A 19-year-old gypsy woman got married in a $200,000 dress. How the newlyweds celebrated their wedding

It's no secret that a wedding is an expensive pleasure.
But the wedding of one couple from Slovakia breaks all records of extravagance. So, meet the newlyweds: 19-year-old Evka and 20-year-old Lucas.

The world learned about the union of these two loving hearts from a video on YouTube, which Evka herself published.

I must say that the wedding was celebrated on a truly grand scale.

The video begins with a romantic story starring newlyweds. Lucas knelt down and proposed marriage to his beloved. Everything is very touching and sweet.

Naturally, Evka says the cherished “Yes,” because she has finally met her happiness.

The young people carefully prepared for the most important day of their lives.

For example, the bride's parents cut their precious diamond into a dress worth 200 thousand dollars. It just rightly emphasized Evka’s beauty, and at the same time the condition of her father.

By the way, the gold thread embroidery on the dress is handmade, and instead of sequins, precious stones sparkle.

It’s not a sin to add such an outfit with gold jewelry and shoes to match the dress.

Surely, the relatives could not get enough of how smart and beautiful they grew up to be. Why not pamper her a little on her wedding day?!

The groom's parents, apparently, are far from the last people. Lucas' snow-white suit was also embroidered with gold threads.

After the official ceremony, the celebration moved to the restaurant.

They did not skimp on tables for guests and family. Here you could find a dish for every taste, and in cosmic quantities.

The groom decided to immediately show what a caring husband he would make, so he hand-fed Evka.

Well, after the refreshments, of course, there are dances and fun competitions.

The attention of everyone present was focused on the bride.

In particular, at the moment when she was bombarded with banknotes.

During the first dance, the guests surrounded Evka on all sides and lifted the hem of her dress, while other guests filled it with money. This is what I understand, entertainment for successful people.

As a gift for the bride, a whole dress was made from banknotes. Evka in dollars and euros fluttered like a butterfly around the hall. It’s a pity there weren’t any shoes to go with this dress, so I had to flit around barefoot.

Light as a feather, she rushed to a secluded place to count the gifts.

And now the most awaited moment of the wedding has come. The bride and groom are left alone and begin... That's right, unpacking and counting the gifts.

Something tells me that the newlyweds will not be disappointed with the amount of gifts.

By the end of the evening, Evka changed the bride's dress into a more modest, but no less luxurious evening outfit.

Tired, but the happiest newlyweds in the world watch as relatives hand out generous tips to waiters and musicians.

How much food is eaten, how many drinks are drunk...

The wedding took place for 4 whole days.

This is the average gypsy wedding in Slovakia.

Of course, if a person has money, he can use it as he wishes. But sometimes this is not done for pleasure, but only to show off to others.

The most unusual dresses of brides at gypsy weddings

Some of the gypsy wedding dresses are so unique that they deserve special mention. Let's look at the most colorful dresses of gypsy brides and appreciate their pomp in the photo.

The heaviest outfit

In Great Britain, one gypsy bride became famous throughout the world by choosing a dress for her wedding that weighed more than 60 kilograms. This was Rebecca Marham, who was 39 years old at the time of the marriage. She wore an outfit that was shaped like a meringue cake, the skirt had a square shape, and the satin bodice was decorated with rhinestone roses. The bride completed her look with statement earrings, a necklace and a diamond tiara. Which fully reflects the wedding traditions of the gypsies, according to which the bride should simply shine at the celebration!

The most expensive gypsy wedding dress

One of the most expensive bride's outfits at a Romanian gypsy wedding belonged to a 19-year-old girl named Evka. Her wealthy parents “sponsored” the dress for 200 thousand dollars or 12 million rubles in conversion. Interestingly, all other costs for organizing the celebration were 4 times lower than the cost of the outfit.

This price for the dress is due to the fact that it was hand-embroidered with gold threads, as well as hundreds of precious stones. This gypsy wedding was remembered by the guests for a long time not so much for its scale as for the appearance of the young bride.

The most grandiose gypsy wedding dress

If you thought that nothing could be more magnificent than Rebekah Marham’s outfit, then here’s the dress of the American gypsy Tatiana? The cost of this masterpiece was 40 thousand dollars. Although the weight of the clothes is “only” 50 kilograms, nothing can compare with the grandeur of this outfit.

Marriage bonds of the freest. How do gypsies get married in the 21st century?

She is 14, he is 12, instead of horses - a white Hummer and Priors, instead of a tent - one of the most expensive banquet halls in Astrakhan - “National”. This is what a gypsy wedding ceremony looks like in the 21st century. What remains unchanged is a lot of gold, patriarchal ideas about family and hundreds of guests.

Masha Chashnikova put on her best clothes at once and went for a walk at the matchmaking ceremony of the Astrakhan romances. We tell you what is most important at a gypsy wedding, is there any place left for traditions, how to show off correctly and how much gold should be given so that there is no shame.

Gypsy wedding dresses: the most expensive and unusual

Gypsy brides know how to surprise. And the photos of the outfits they chose for their wedding are direct confirmation of this. Bulky and heavy, extremely expensive, with electric light bulbs... We present to your attention gypsy wedding dresses - the most expensive and unusual.

Exclusive outfits of gypsy brides:

1. Rebecca Marham and her dress weighing more than 60 kilograms. History is silent about how comfortable this gypsy bride felt at her wedding. But her wedding dress can definitely take prizes in the top of the most exclusive ones. But it attracted the attention of journalists not because of its cost. The “secret” of his success is his weight. 39-year-old Rebekah put “armor” weighing 63 kilograms on her fragile female shoulders. The dress was a square-shaped skirt that looked like a meringue cake, and a satin corset decorated with two huge rhinestone roses. The bride herself admitted that it took her 20 minutes to put on her outfit. I wonder how long it took the groom to undress his new wife during the gypsies' wedding night?
3. Evka and her $200,000 dress. It was perhaps the most expensive gypsy wedding. A dress worth 12 million rubles for the bride cost 4 times more than the banquet itself. The design of the outfit, as they say, is not for everyone. And such a high cost is justified by the exclusive decor - hand-embroidered gold and precious stones. The look was complemented by gold jewelry and shoes, in the decoration of which this precious metal was also used. By the way, Evka's fiancé Lukas was not far behind his beloved. His snow-white suit was also decorated with gold embroidery.
4. Sam and her "electric" dress. It would seem that it is very difficult to surprise wedding fashion connoisseurs. But Sam Norton, a 17-year-old gypsy bride, succeeded. At her wedding there was no dress embroidered with gold or an abundance of decor made of precious stones. Her pink outfit was memorable for its mechanics - butterflies on the bodice that moved, and electronics - light bulbs in the hem. In order for this design to appear before the guests in all its glory, the bride made certain sacrifices. First, she had to endure physical pain. In order for the designers’ idea to come true, the girl’s entire body was tightly bandaged with fabric, so that her ribs were compressed. Secondly, she practically did not eat or drink anything all day, so as not to want to go to the toilet. Because a trip to this room would take half an evening. By the way, in order to shine in such an unusual dress, she even risked her life. Due to the electrical structures, the outfit could easily catch fire, so a person with a fire extinguisher in his hands did not leave Sam.

Not every bride will decide to wear a gypsy-style dress on her most important day in her life. But some ideas in the design of these outfits can be borrowed, says the portal www.svadbagolik.ru.

"Real gold"

The Hummer limousine, which will later be generously illuminated in the video with golden rays, cheerfully rolls towards the Kremlin. Several dozen girls and the future bride could hardly fit inside. The crowd, picking up the folds of multi-colored chiffon dresses and rustling furs, comes out near the white stone and takes a long photo in the Brotherly Garden.

Photos: Pavel Simakov

The girl in green with a selfie stick and the largest amount of jewelry especially stands out. I am allowed to touch a finger-thick chain with a pendant depicting Medusa, the symbol of the Versace house, surrounded by seemingly giant rhinestones. The medallion is cool on the fingers and takes up almost the entire palm. There are a lot of scratches and scuffs on the reverse side. Another chain, a smaller one, seems quite modest and insignificant with such a neighborhood.

“My grandfather gave it to me. Yes, real gold. No, it’s not hard at all,” the girl proudly declares and smiles.

“And she’s a matchmaker too,” her friend clarifies, while the green dress twirls in front of the camera, showing off all its splendor.

The bride herself, Raika, behaves very modestly. A tall, thin girl with huge eyes is similar to the heroines of Pre-Raphaelist paintings - the same strict beauty and universal languor. Towering over her fiancé, she only smiles at the corners of her mouth when 12-year-old Parno awkwardly sniffs a large bouquet of roses and walks away embarrassed.

On the face of the sixth grader, like the girl, there is no romantic sparkle or awareness of the seriousness of what is happening. It seems that Parno would be happier now playing video games or going on adventures with friends. True, he still behaves in a dignified and businesslike manner, not like teenagers, he looks more like an energetic little man in a three-piece suit.

How does matchmaking and engagement work?

Like many eastern peoples, gypsy families sometimes match girls long before they are born or negotiate about a future marriage when the future newlyweds are still babies and children. It is believed that the sooner a girl moves to her future husband, the better.

Therefore, sometimes the bride’s parents gave a ten-year-old girl to someone else’s family, and after 5-6 years she became a wife. Of course, parents on both sides strive to become related to decent, rich people.

In the case when her relatives come to pick up the bride, the girl is shown to the guests, but matchmaking is carried out exclusively by men. A mandatory attribute is a tree branch decorated with paper money or coins, presented to the father of the future newlywed. He also appoints a considerable ransom (often the groom’s parents begin to save money and jewelry from his birth).

If an agreement is reached, the men eat the freshly served pie. This means that the engagement has taken place.

The daughter has no right to object to her father and must accept his will and the husband he has chosen for her.

But rules exist to be broken: if the groom has no money, and the bride’s relatives are rich people, then he can simply kidnap his beloved. If the desperate man was not caught, then the couple went into hiding, and after a while the young people were recognized as husband and wife.

It was unwell for the one who did not have time to hide with his stolen loved one: he could pay for it with his own life. Fortunately, this custom is not supported in the 21st century; it remains only in the form of a beautiful dramatization: the beauty is “kidnapped” by a daring guy on a dashing horse. Aren't these great shots for great photos?

Gypsies do not favor marriages with strangers, but there are exceptions, then the person is accepted into the community, and he becomes one of their own.

“Happiness and health!”

The red-cheeked boy spends a long time fiddling with a bottle of champagne. On the lawn, he opens the cap and throws out the container. Alcohol, foaming, spills across the sidewalk. An adult in turquoise and pink approaches the child and takes him by the hand, leading him to the dancing crowd. The boy sees the white stone for the first time. The groom's large clan came to the ceremony from the Stavropol Territory.

“We’ll give you gold, I won’t say how much. Well, 1-2 kilograms. I myself got married at 15, I had a gorgeous wedding. Of course, the rings are real. Yes, one whole kilogram probably weighs,” the groom’s relative proudly declares.

A luxurious wedding is traditionally organized by the groom's relatives. But gypsy weddings are not always celebrated with gifts from numerous relatives.

But today is just a rehearsal. The main Astrakhan baron, Grigory Savchenko, in a red and blue suit, throws up his hands, assuring that this is matchmaking. Such early marriages are prohibited in Russia, but Romans who are adherents of such marriages have found a way out and marry their children at the age of 12-13, and the wedding itself takes place after adulthood. So that future spouses get used to each other, reconcile and get married. Brides are sometimes kidnapped, but this is rare when relatives do not give the go-ahead or do not agree on a ransom.

They get married only after finishing school, the elder firmly assures us. When asked if everyone is studying at school, he talks about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have completed at least nine grades. At a distance, several dozen girls and women hung with decorations, who obviously skipped classes today, are having fun.

Gypsies marry virgins. When asked if this also applies to guys, they nod diligently. The girl’s innocence is still tested by a red spot on the sheet and, if the bride turns out to be “spoilt,” there will be shame and financial costs. Divorce in communities is rare. Love comes during marriage, the Romals are sure, the main thing is that “we knew the family, it was in good standing, and we agreed on a ransom.”

“What kind of childhood do you ask them, they’ll grow up... I’m making sure that there are no weddings when they’re young, 12-13-14 years old ,” the baron explains, twirling his powerful mustache.

Celebration

It so happened that the gypsies, wandering and settling in any place for a long time, assimilated with the local population, adopting their traditions and even religion.

That is why among these people there are many followers of the Orthodox faith, therefore, a wedding ceremony is held between the young.
There are no more formalities for marriage. Parents bless the young with an icon and bread (of course, only among Christians).
The bride is sure to wear a new dress that the groom buys for her. It is believed that the main adornments of a girl are modesty and innocence. Therefore, the newlywed sits silently throughout the celebration, without raising her eyes, the newlyweds try not to even touch each other. The guests are having fun, singing, the tables are laden with treats.

Despite the outward “daring”, at such holidays there are very rarely fights or similar incidents associated with too much alcohol. In general, seeing a drunk gypsy is rare.

The first wedding night took place in a very peculiar way. Towards the end of the celebration, the newlyweds retired. Afterwards, the “carrying out of honor” took place - the guests were shown proof of the newly-made wife’s purity (a bedspread or sheet).

If the girl turned out to be “damaged,” then the festivities were interrupted, and her family was considered disgraced. It was almost impossible to get married later. This custom has not yet become obsolete.

If chastity was confirmed, the bride changed her clothes, put on a scarf, a red dress, this meant that she became a wife. Many people remember the mysterious, slightly frightening scene of the gypsy wedding from the old film “Yesenia”, when small incisions were made on the wrists of the young people.

Then they were placed next to each other, “mixing the blood,” as a sign that the bride and groom were becoming one in blood.

Such a ritual was actually carried out, and sometimes it still takes place today. Festive festivities last 3 days.

Due to the huge number of guests, the newlyweds receive the same number of gifts, which provides the newlyweds with everything necessary for living together. It is interesting that on the wedding day the newlyweds can be given alcohol (which is immediately placed on the table), although gypsies drink little.

The desired gift is gold jewelry; gold has long been considered a currency, a dowry, and property. When migrating, it was impossible to carry bulky things with you, or as much jewelry as you wanted.

Men and women sit separately, the newlyweds do not dance together. But otherwise, song and dance are constant companions of the wedding celebration.

“Everything is very clear and beautiful”

A videographer with a nickname from the 2000s - ViP AzEr has been filming weddings and celebrations of local Roma for several years and only in Full-HD. Marif's (that's the guy's name) videos are stuffed with special effects like they came from PowerPoint presentations, but clients are delighted. His Youtube channel has accumulated nearly a hundred videos, each with tens of thousands of views. The video of Katya and Lasha’s wedding alone received more than 200 thousand views, and the total amount of views on the channel was 3 million. Almost everyone was made according to the same pattern - a large house with carpets, icons, a plasma wall-to-wall, limousine rides and hours of dancing in a banquet room hall

Photos: Pavel Simakov

Roma communities live separately. Romals see the world in black and white and clearly divide it into strangers and their own, not allowing outsiders in. A wedding is one of the few public events. For a few days, the community is hospitable to the rest of the world and a loophole appears through which you can squeeze through and get in touch with a complex, original ethnic group. That’s why wedding videos sometimes gain millions of views on Youtube, like clips of modern rap artists, and federal TV channels beg to be filmed.

“Come on, come into the house,” the bride’s mother smiles, “(flash) What is this, why is he taking pictures? That’s it, go away, I’m offended,” she waves her hands and widens her huge blue eyes.

The richest gypsies in the world

The richest gypsy, the “King” of the Romanian gypsies Florian Cioaba (his title was inherited from his father) has up to 50-80 million euros per year. In the early 2000s, the richest Roma found himself at the center of a European scandal when a court forbade him to marry his 12-year-old daughter to a 15-year-old groom. Cioaba bombarded even the Strasbourg court with angry demands, but it remained adamant: the daughter must wait until her 16th birthday. Last year, Romanian authorities allowed the richest Roma, Florian Cioaba, to establish a local Roma court, where the administrative affairs of his subjects would be heard according to his “laws.”

About 300 families belong to the Koldash clan, and at least half of them have houses worth more than 3 million euros.

The total income of the richest gypsy and his clan is close to 300-400 million euros per year. It consists of donations from ordinary gypsies to the common fund (deductions of up to 5-10% of criminal and semi-criminal income), smuggling of cigarettes from Romania to Western Europe, hotel business and trade.

A similar picture is observed among the Roma “elite” and other countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Even in impoverished Moldova, the rich gypsy “baron” Arthur Cerari and his clan earn up to 20-40 million euros a year.

And in Kosovo, the clan of “baron” Nedjmedin Neziri - up to 100 million euros per year (Kosovo gypsies mainly trade in Germany and Austria).

Like most of the rest of the “elite” of Eastern Europe, as well as the former USSR, the richest gypsies deliberately demonstrate a luxurious lifestyle, literally swimming in gold (up to 55 kg of gold was spent on the interior decoration of the house of the gypsy “king” of Romania, Florian Cioaba).

Of the super-incomes of the richest gypsies, only crumbs go to the “people”, and even then - mainly for some dirty deeds. The super-luxury of the richest gypsies and the people subordinate to them do not cause indignation: secretly, most of the lower classes dream that one day they too will be able to become owners of a golden toilet and the “right of the first night.”

The richest gypsy millionaires in Eastern Europe are the perfect example for libertarians. They achieved everything themselves, without the help of the state. They don’t pay taxes, but they don’t demand anything from the authorities.

The richest gypsies in Eastern Europe live in complete freedom - from the prejudices of marriage laws, with weapons, etc. “Gypsy Shrugged” is probably what Ayn Rand today would call her manual book about the ideal life of a libertarian.

Gypsy weddings: customs, traditions and rituals

Gypsies are perhaps the most mysterious people. They pass on their customs and rituals from generation to generation, which earns them great respect. But holidays, and especially gypsy weddings, rightfully receive special attention! And such interest becomes a kind of impetus for holding and decorating a wedding in the style of gypsy traditions.

The portal for brides www.svadebka.ws invites you to learn more about the wedding customs of the gypsies and, perhaps, take note of some traditions, diversifying your own celebration.

The meaning of the bride's red dress

The camps have preserved the tradition of marrying off girls early. 16-year-olds often come to matchmaking. The innocence of the bride is the main condition for concluding a union. They check it on the spot, on the night of the second day. The couple goes to the room chosen by the matchmakers. At the end of the wedding night, the “judges” bring out a sheet or shirt of the bride with traces of blood to the waiting guests. According to eyewitnesses, matchmakers can carry out an additional check - spraying vodka on the fabric. “Correct” blood should blur, animal blood should darken.

Stained fabric is a sign of the bride’s chastity and the decency of the family. Passing the test means that you can also woo the rest of the girls. If the test fails, the family will face shame. Unmarried relatives of the bride become “outcasts” for the gypsies. Often people have to move to another city or even region.

A red dress means that the girl has passed the test, and the third day of the wedding can begin. At this time, the dowry is demonstrated - only the bride can take it during a divorce. The showing is carried out to avoid fraud during the division of property.

The bride traditionally goes to her husband's family. According to Gypsy traditions, a young wife can meet her parents only after the birth of a child. At the same time, the union is registered in the registry office. Before the birth of her first child, a girl can communicate with her family by phone.

Gypsy wedding: features of the holiday

A traditional gypsy wedding is very, very different from a Russian style wedding. Some gypsy wedding traditions arouse genuine interest, while others cause misunderstanding and shock. But all weddings in the camp have one thing in common: the celebrations are always held on a grand scale, with cheerful dancing, singing and in a big way!

Matchmaking

It is with matchmaking that preparation for the wedding ceremony begins. As a rule, parents themselves look for future spouses for their children. The main search criteria are reputation and family wealth.

Often, parents made the decision to unite families when the bride and groom were still very young children, sometimes even babies. At this stage, it was decided how many years later the wedding would take place, and what kind of ransom the father wanted to receive for his daughter.

The custom of gypsy matchmaking requires the presence of two important attributes, without which it is impossible to observe the tradition:

1. Birch branch or bottle of wine/champagne. These items are hung with banknotes, coins or gold;
2. Wedding loaf. The pie is baked according to a special recipe by the sisters or other relatives of the future wife. It is presented on a beautiful towel.

Matchmakers and the groom's father show their “offerings” to potential relatives, and if the bride's father allows them to be placed on the table, then this serves as consent to the wedding.

During matchmaking, none of the women has the right to be present in the room; the “agreement” is concluded exclusively between the men of both families.

Color of celebration

The color red is a symbol of happiness, joy and passion among Roma communities. It is always present on the wedding day in the decorations of the holiday and the clothes of the newlyweds and guests.

Red flags are hung on the houses of the bride and groom, and red ribbon decorates the suits of the invited men. A red and white ribbon is a mandatory attribute in the groom’s clothing.

Holiday time

Gypsy weddings are held at any time of the year, but preference is still given to the summer season. The tradition of summer weddings has long roots, because previously, low tables were set up for the celebration, and guests sat on carpets laid directly on the ground.

Currently, Roma are increasingly celebrating holidays in restaurants and cafes. However, the love for summer weddings still remains.

The holiday lasts at least three days; in rich families, dances and feasts can last for a week.

On the first day there is a so-called bachelorette party. Once again the ritual of bargaining takes place, but this is simply to maintain tradition.

Afterwards, relatives, matchmakers and newlyweds sit down at the laid tables. Moreover, separate tables are set for women (including the bride) and men and the groom. After some time, the matchmakers shake hands, kiss, and this is exactly what means – the agreement is finally concluded!

The groom's father takes the bride to the first dance, after which friends and girlfriends of the newlyweds are invited to the circle. As a rule, after the dance the first day ends. After all, the most important day is ahead!

The second day of the wedding is the actual wedding ceremony. From the very morning, friends and relatives help the bride get ready. Music is played in the house, songs are sung and festive tables are set.

As soon as the bride is ready, they bring her a wedding dress. Moreover, gypsies never rent clothes. It is “inherited” from a sister/relative or a completely new dress is purchased, depending on the family’s capabilities.

Afterwards, the bride comes out to the guests and dances in front of them. As soon as the gypsy is collected and the dances are performed, she is carried to the groom’s house.

As a rule, the banquet takes place either in the house of a relative of the husband, or in a restaurant. Before the festive feast, the newlyweds are blessed with an icon and bread, presented with expensive gifts and water with sweets is poured under their feet (as a symbol of a sweet and easy married life).

During the banquet, the couple is escorted to a separate room for their wedding night. We will tell you more about this below.

On the third day of the holiday, lamb soup must be prepared. After the traditional toasts and congratulations, the dowry of the already established spouse is brought out for everyone to see. This could be bed linen, pillows, a blanket, etc., but modern gypsies prefer to display money, gold and jewelry as a dowry. Moreover, every item is demonstrated to everyone present. This is how the girl’s family shows that the bride did not come to her husband’s house empty-handed and in the event of a “divorce” she will leave with her dowry. This is how gypsy wedding rituals protect the property of the newly-made wife.

Gypsy bride price

The bride price acts as compensation to the girl's family for the loss of their helper. If previously the ransom went entirely to the bride’s family, now the parents return part of the money/jewelry to the young family.

Who pays for the wedding

Traditionally, the groom's family pays for the celebration. In order for the wedding to be bright, colorful and luxurious, parents begin saving money from the birth of their son. Often a magnificent celebration can ruin parents, but a luxurious wedding is a matter of honor for every gypsy family.

Modern wedding traditions allow gypsy families to split wedding expenses in half.

Feast

The festive tables of the gypsies amaze everyone's imagination. The alcohol flows like a river, the tables are full of food. But at the same time, not a single gypsy will allow himself to overdo it with alcoholic drinks, because being drunk means disgracing himself in the community.

Different tables are set for men and women. In the center of the room there is a table for married spouses and witnesses.

Invited men, as a rule, wear formal suits. Married women wear traditional clothes with their heads covered, while unmarried girls can afford to come to the wedding in a trouser suit.

Fraternization

A beautiful gypsy wedding always includes a ceremony of fraternization. It symbolizes the eternal bond between spouses. To do this, small cuts are made on the fingers of the young, which are crossed with each other as soon as blood appears.

Features of the holiday

Gypsy couples do not formalize their marriage. But among Orthodox communities, weddings are mandatory.

On the wedding day, the bride should be quiet and silent, symbolizing respect for her father and new husband.

The girl necessarily moves to her husband’s house, where all household chores are entrusted to her.

Specifics of the wedding event

The ceremonial event at the gypsy camp differs from the one held by the Russian people. Rituals and customs for some lead to interest. The rest fall into shock and misunderstanding. But any event in the camp is always distinguished by its scale, dances and songs.

Matchmaking process

Preparatory activities before the wedding ceremony begin with matchmaking. Most often, the father and mother of a girl or boy themselves look for a soul mate for their children. Their choice is based on the reputation and financial capabilities of the family.

It also happens when the parents of future spouses agree in advance to reunite families even before their children reach adulthood. Already at this stage, the relatives determined the date of the holiday and the amount of ransom for the girl’s father.

The customs of a gypsy wedding involve the use of two important details:

1. birch branch or bottle of wine drink. Banknotes, coins or gold are hung on such paraphernalia;
2. holiday cake. The loaf is made according to a special recipe. It is prepared by the relatives of the future wife.

The matchmakers, led by the groom's father, show their treats to future relatives. If the elder of the girl's family agrees to place them on the table, this is a good sign for the wedding.

Women should not be present during the matchmaking process. The marriage contract is concluded only between men.

Red flags are considered the main decoration of the celebration. This shade will lead to happiness, joy and passion among the gypsy people. Red jewelry and clothes are worn for weddings. Another mandatory attribute is red flags. They are hung on the bride and groom's home. Reddish ribbons decorate the suits of men who are invited to the celebration.

Weddings in gypsy families

A gypsy wedding can be held at any time of the year. But the summer months are a priority. The weather during this period is considered the best for holding a celebration. The tables are located at a low level. And guests sit down on carpets that are laid on the ground.

Recently, gypsies have begun to celebrate weddings in restaurants and cafes.

The event lasts at least 3 days. If rich relatives gather, the celebration extends for at least 7 days.

On the first day there is a bachelorette party. A ritual of bargaining takes place. Then relatives and friends sit down at the laid tables. Women and men are at different tables. After some time, the matchmakers shake hands and at the end kiss.

The bride is escorted to the first dance by her father. Then friends of the newlyweds are invited to the circle. The dance ends the first day.

The next day of the wedding celebration arrives. At this time, the marriage process takes place. In the morning, the bridesmaids begin to help the bride get ready. Music plays in the house, songs are sung and festive tables are set.

Once the bride is ready, she puts on her wedding dress. Gypsies never rent clothes. She inherits it from her older sisters. If a girl is the first in the family to get married, then she gets a new dress.

Then the future wife, dressed up, appears before the guests and begins to dance. After the ceremony is completed, she is carried to her husband’s home.

The feast most often takes place in the groom's house or restaurant. Before sitting down at the table, the young couple is blessed with an icon and a loaf, presented with treats and liquid with sweets is poured under their feet. Such traditions help a married couple live long, happily and richly.

During the feast, the newlyweds are escorted to a separate room. This is necessary to fulfill marital duty.

On the third day, lamb soup is prepared. After toasts and congratulations, the parents bring out the girl’s dowry in the form of bed linen, pillows, and blankets. This is how it was in ancient times. Modern gypsies prefer money, gold and jewelry. Every detail must be demonstrated to everyone present. Thus, the family of the future wife shows that she did not enter into marriage empty-handed, and in case of discord, she will leave with her money, jewelry and gold.

Bride ransom from the gypsies

Bride price is usually understood as compensation to a woman’s family for the loss of their mistress. A few years ago, the ransom went to the girl’s parents. But nowadays, father and mother give part of the money and jewelry to the young family.

According to tradition, the groom's family pays for the celebration. To make everything colorful and luxurious, the father and mother begin to prepare financially for the event after the birth of the boy. Often, a lavish event ruins parents. But they are responsible for holding a luxurious wedding, as this speaks of the honor and dignity of the family.

Recently, it has become possible to share expenses for celebrations.

Holding a banquet

Gypsies always have a rich table. There are many alcoholic drinks available. Food is available in large quantities for every taste. But, despite this, not a single gypsy allows himself to abuse alcohol. For them, being drunk means shame.

The tables of the male and female half of the population are significantly different. A table is placed in the center for the newlyweds and witnesses.

The men who are invited to the wedding are dressed in formal suits. Married women come in traditional dress, and their heads are always covered. If the girls are unmarried, then they are allowed to come to the event in a pantsuit or long dress.

Fraternization process

No gypsy wedding can be complete without fraternization. The procedure allows you to bond the newlyweds for life. To carry it out, future spouses need to make incisions on their fingers. After a little blood runs out, the fingers are crossed together.

Several distinctive features of the celebration

Gypsies never formalize their marriage. But if they adhere to the Orthodox religion, then they must definitely get married.

On the wedding day, the bride should not say anything. This will show her respect for her father and husband.

A woman must live with her chosen one. There she becomes a full-fledged mistress.

Gypsy wedding customs: the first wedding night

As mentioned above, the first marital duty is performed directly during the wedding celebration.

A room or tent is prepared in advance for a new family. Previously, two adult women from both families used to sit alone with the newlyweds; now “witnesses” are waiting for the spouses outside the room.

Afterwards, a shirt or sheet with characteristic blood stains, sprinkled with scarlet petals, is brought out to the guests on a tray. And the gypsy bride appears in the hall already in a red dress with an apron and with her head covered - now she is officially a wife!

If the bride turns out to be not a virgin, then the marriage is dissolved every second, and the family is covered in shame. In this case, the family even changes their place of residence, and the girl may never get married again.

Distinctive features of the celebration

An interesting feature of the holiday is the rite of fraternization, as a symbol of the eternal connection of young people.

Small wounds are made on the fingers of the newlyweds, and when droplets of blood appear, the hands of the newlyweds must be crossed to exchange blood.

Gypsy marriages are not registered in the registry office; usually young people get married in a church.

After fulfilling their first marital duty, the newlyweds must take out the cloth with blood stains and show it to the waiting guests. Now the bride becomes the official wife.

If there are no stains on the sheet, the marriage is canceled immediately. With such a shame, the bride’s family often moves, and the girl will never be approached for marriage again.

Rituals of a gypsy wedding, or why a gypsy bride cries

No matter how fun a gypsy wedding is, the bride and her relatives often shed tears.

And there are a number of reasons for this:

1. A married gypsy woman is forbidden to wear pants. Now only dresses and skirts are below the knee, and the head must always be covered with a scarf;
2. Meetings with friends are prohibited;
3. All household chores are transferred to the young wife: she washes, cooks, and cleans up after all members of her husband’s family;
4. If young people move to separate housing, the girl must support her family;
5. The wife has no right to contradict her husband, no matter what things are discussed;
6. A gypsy woman is prohibited from cheating, unlike men.

Centuries-old customs and traditions at a gypsy wedding are not just beautiful and interesting. Each ritual is aimed at creating a happy family life, where spouses honor and respect each other. And the meager number of divorces in gypsy communities, according to Svadebka.ws, is the best confirmation that traditional gypsy values ​​are still relevant today.

Cash expenses for a wedding

The groom's family compensates for the loss of the assistant with a ransom. Previously, all money and jewelry went to the house of the newlyweds’ parents; in modern times, parents partially return valuables to the newlyweds.

Traditional customs of a gypsy wedding require the groom to accept all expenses for the holiday. Carrying out a luxurious wedding requires significant financial investments; in some gypsy communities, saving money for a wedding begins from the moment the heir is born.

Now this issue is not fundamental, and parents can divide the money between both families.

Gypsy weddings: traditions and customs

Gypsy weddings are incredibly original, large-scale, colorful, noisy celebrations. These are protracted songs, energetic dances, bright outfits and mysterious rituals. Only Buddhist weddings can compete with them in beauty. You can also read about them on the Svadbaholik.ru portal.

Eva and Lucas

This wonderful couple comes from Slovakia. The celebration was celebrated in one of the local restaurants. Musicians, a singer and a toastmaster were invited. We prepared thoroughly for the holiday, and everything went to the highest standard: the tables were crowded with an abundance of expensive snacks and dishes.

Alcohol and other drinks were presented in a large assortment. Many wonderful toasts were said to the young people. The newlyweds were embarrassed and blushed as they accepted expensive gifts.

Then there was the traditional dance of the newlyweds. When it came time for the real dancing, the bride stood in a circle, and the guests took the ends of her outer skirt in their hands. This is where the fun began: the uncle and other gypsy relatives began tearing up 500 euro bills and showering them on the bride.

One particularly agile man even tore money with his teeth and chewed it in front of the guests. Maybe this is a custom? The first day of festivities has passed, and it’s time for the young people to rest, change their outfits and continue celebrating.

Gypsy wedding: traditions of the past to the present

This people has no nationality, but at the same time, they have a rich past and fundamental customs that are observed to this day.

Matchmaking

A gypsy wedding begins with matchmaking. Many years ago, a girl could be matched in infancy, sent to the groom’s house at the age of 7-9, and married at 13-15.

Today, more and more often, girls get married of their own free will, but still early (at 16-18 years old), and the matchmaking ritual remains unchanged. According to the customs of this nomadic people, the final word always belongs to the natural father or godfather if the daughter is adopted. In the modern world, parents usually approve of their daughter’s choice if it does not contradict any principles.

In the groom's family, things go something like this: the guy's parents go to matchmaking with the parents of the bride he has chosen. There, both families already agree on the amount of the ransom, as well as the date of the celebration and the distribution of expenses. According to customs among gypsies, the wedding is paid for by the groom's family.

Preparation for the holiday

For such an important, sometimes even the most important event in a gypsy family, like a wedding, no expense is spared, because everything should be beautiful, and most importantly rich. City residents prefer to celebrate their weddings in restaurants, while rural residents prefer to celebrate their weddings in the open air, in their own yard. But what they have in common is that an incredible number of people come to the holiday. Young people may not even know many of them. But that’s how it is with them: when the family is walking, the whole clan is walking, or even several if the guy and girl are from different clans.

The image of a gypsy bride

City brides go to the most expensive salons to buy their wedding dress and spend a lot of time there to choose the best outfit. There is no place for compromise, minimalism and modesty. The gypsy bride chooses a dress that looks like an expensive museum piece. It must be made from the most expensive fabrics, with crystals, lush drapery, etc. Such a dress should delight the guests!

The hands and neck of a young woman are usually strewn with jewelry: rings on almost every finger, ringing and sparkling bracelets, several chains, pendants and pendants on the neck, very noticeable earrings in the ears.

Local dressmakers sew dresses for rural girls. This takes a lot of time. Lots of fittings, a long process of choosing fabrics and decorative elements. By the way, the fabric used is usually the most expensive: brocade, silk or velvet.

Festive table

If in the city restaurant workers are responsible for preparing dishes, in the village they cook themselves. To do this, all women in the family are called to help. The traditions of a gypsy wedding imply the presence on the tables of such dishes as:

• baked game,
• kebab with blood,
• tomatoes stuffed with cheese,
• pugacho flatbreads,
• sweet syvyako pie filled with cottage cheese, dried apricots and poppy seeds.

And, of course, a large amount of alcohol. After all, there will be a lot of people at the holiday, most of them are men. The traditional drink of this people is Moldavian wine, but today on the tables there is vodka, cognac, whiskey, brandy, martini and sometimes even good beer.

Gypsy traditions

One of the main moments is the first wedding night. The newlyweds fulfill their marital duty during the celebration.

A room or tent is prepared in advance for the newlyweds. In ancient times, mothers or grandmothers were in the same room with their spouses. But nowadays women wait for newlyweds near the door.

After privacy, guests are presented with a shirt or sheet with traces of blood. They are sure to be sprinkled with scarlet rose petals. The bride appears before the guests in a red dress with an apron. The girl’s head must now always be covered, because she has become an official wife.

If the bride is not a virgin, then the marriage is immediately dissolved, and a stain of shame is placed on the family. Then the family has to move. And the girl is doomed to loneliness for the rest of her life.

A gypsy wedding is characterized by fun. But despite this, the family always sees off their daughter with tears in their eyes.

This happens for several reasons.

1. A married woman from a gypsy family is prohibited from wearing pants. Now her clothes are dresses and skirts below the knee, and her head is always covered with a scarf.
2. You can't meet your friends.
3. Housekeeping is entrusted to the young wife. Now she cleans after every member of the family.
4. If the spouses begin to live separately, then the wife’s responsibility becomes to support the family.
5. The wife has no right to contradict her husband.
6. It is strictly forbidden for a woman to cheat.

A gypsy wedding is based on the performance of various rituals that are aimed at creating a happy life. In any case, husband and wife must respect each other.

The holiday has begun: gypsy wedding traditions and customs

The wedding of ancient gypsies lasted at least three days. This is rare to see today. The main events take place on the first day. For these people, going to the registry office is not necessary. But today, couples often go there for official painting - this makes family life easier in the modern world. However, they do this either before the holiday or after it. Painting is a pure formality, what is more important is the approval of the community and the blessing of the parents.

And so, since there is no need to go to the registry office, and the bride’s ransom, according to gypsy customs, took place before the holiday (the groom’s family transfers the ransom amount assigned at matchmaking to the bride’s parents shortly before the celebration), the fun begins immediately. There is no point in waiting until all the guests have arrived, because they can arrive throughout the evening. Everyone who comes immediately goes to the newlyweds and presents a gift. Today it is most often money. But the gypsies cannot afford to come to visit empty-handed without a gift, so they usually also give a bottle of expensive alcohol.

The important fact is that men and women must sit at separate tables - this is the law. But most of the time the tables are still empty, because during the celebration there is always cheerful, often live music and guests are constantly dancing.

Particularly wealthy families can order a star for the holiday: a singer, band, actor or comedian. If this is not possible, then in any case they invite the gypsy ensemble to the wedding.

How do they make matches in gypsy families?

Matchmaking plays a leading role in wedding preparations. Usually, for future newlyweds, parents themselves choose life partners, and the main criteria for selection are the availability of financial capital and position in society.

It is very unusual to give gifts to potential relatives during matchmaking. Potential relatives must obtain the father's consent to place a birch branch, a bottle of wine, and a wedding cake on the table.

It is noteworthy that the mother of the bride cannot take part in concluding the wedding contract.

The culmination of a gypsy wedding is the ancient rite “Carrying out of Honor”

Gypsy weddings are full of mysterious customs and traditions. In the old days, as well as today in villages, around mid-evening, a young couple retires to the bedroom, accompanied by three respected women of the community. The groom must make sure that the girl maintains her dignity and remains a virgin. After which one of the women brings out a sheet with blood stains on a tray with flowers - this is the “Bringing Out the Honor” ritual. The newlyweds come out next, and the bride accepts congratulations from her relatives.

If the bride did not maintain her honor and the sheet turned out to be clean, then the girl’s family will face shame and humiliation, and the marriage is considered invalid. In addition, the bride's parents are required to reimburse all expenses spent on the wedding.

The wedding customs of modern gypsies honor and respect the rules invented by their ancestors, however, in the conditions of holding a holiday in a restaurant, the actual action of the “Carrying Out of Honor” ritual is transferred to the gypsy wedding night. And during the celebration, the newlyweds leave only formally. After this, the bride puts on a red dress and removes her veil, thereby accepting the status of a married woman.

Blessing

Now that the girl’s honor has been proven and the marriage has been approved by the community, the newlyweds are blessed with an icon and bread. Due to the caste structure of society, only members of the upper strata of the community can hold the icon in their hands. Bread for blessing is baked by women who have a rich, large and happy family, in order to imbue it with positive energy and pass it on to the newlyweds. The bride and groom are read prayers, allowed to kiss the icon and take a bite of bread.

Sometimes at a gypsy wedding the “Brotherhood” ritual takes place: the newlyweds make small cuts on their fingers and connect their blood. From now on, the newlyweds are blood relatives, forever linked to each other.

It is worth noting that the Roma people do not provide for divorce, because... and official registration at the registry office is not required. If one of the spouses in the family is not satisfied with something, he simply leaves, or the couple may separate mutually. But this is very rare - these people have too great a sense of respect for folk traditions.

Holiday colors

The gypsy people associate red shades with happiness, joy and passion. Having this color is a must for the best gypsy weddings.

Red ribbons decorate men's outfits, and red flags fly from the newlyweds' homes.