A wedding celebration in Uzbekistan is distinguished by an abundance of delicious food and drink. According to tradition, the event lasts about a week and is one of the important events in the family.
Even if the matchmaking process took place outside the homeland, the wedding event must be held in Uzbekistan. Before getting married, future spouses undergo a series of rituals, which last for several days. There is another custom - searching for a bride. This is a mandatory ritual performed by older family members.
Matchmaking and engagement
The wedding itself is preceded by several important rituals, including matchmaking, engagement, bachelor and bachelorette parties. And it all starts with finding a bride. Uzbeks take this process very seriously, so sometimes it drags on for months or even years. The search for a bride is carried out by the female half of the family: the mother of the future groom, his grandmother or sisters. The groom can also take part in this process, but although his opinion can also be taken into account, the final decision on the choice of the future wife always lies with the senior members of the family.
Interesting! Often the parents of the bride and groom know each other well, and the decision about the future wedding is made many years before the celebration.
When choosing a potential wife for their son, parents pay attention to the social status of the family, education, upbringing and reputation of the girl, and also take into account the opinions of others about her parents and relatives. It is important that they are respected in society and not be seen in any scandals. In terms of social status, the bride's family should be no lower than the groom's family, and ideally higher.
After choosing a suitable candidate, matchmaking takes place. On a day previously agreed upon with the girl’s parents, matchmakers are sent to the chosen one’s house, whose goal is to evaluate the girl’s hospitality and cleanliness, and to look at her ability to run a household. The bride's family sets the table with lots of food and drinks, and the future wife looks after the guests and makes sure everyone is fed and happy.
According to tradition, future relatives come to an agreement on the third visit of the matchmaker. On this occasion, a special cake is broken, which symbolizes the seriousness of the intentions of both parties. After this, the engagement date is set, which is called fatiha-tuy in Uzbek and is a magnificent celebration at which the girl and her mother receive gifts from the groom’s parents. The following are traditionally given as gifts:
- expensive fabrics;
- meat;
- national Uzbek sweets;
- money.
Parental blessing
Blessing the newlyweds for family life is one of the most important stages of an ancient wedding. In the old days, it was unthinkable to get married without the approval of older relatives. It was believed that without parental approval, young people would not see happiness and prosperity in family life. The blessing was given by the parents of the young, or their godparents, and in case of their absence or death, by the most respected senior relatives and guardians. The ritual is divided into two stages.
First blessing
The newlyweds receive it from the bride's parents on the morning of the wedding day. That is, immediately before visiting the registry office or the sacrament of wedding in the church. In the old days, this ritual was performed long before the wedding, on the day when the groom’s matchmakers received the consent of the bride’s parents for the marriage. But today the tradition of matchmaking is practically no longer used. How does the ritual work?
The young people ask for a blessing from the bride's parents after the groom has paid the ransom for his beloved, passed all the tests that the relatives and bridesmaids could think of, and handed her a bouquet. During the entire ceremony, the girl is forbidden to cross the threshold of the house or go outside. It is believed that beyond the threshold the bride no longer belongs to her family, she begins a new life. They bless in different ways. An ancient custom dictates that an embroidered towel should be laid out, on which the newlyweds kneel.
And the parents are holding in their hands an old, prayed-up icon, with which they baptize the newlyweds, saying kind parting words. Today you can get by with just good wishes and mutual hugs: parental approval is very important for children, even if they are already quite adults.
By blessing, the parents fully accept their daughter’s chosen one into their family and approve of her choice.
Second blessing
It is given to the young family by the groom's parents. According to established traditions, newlyweds must acquire the official status of a new family by going through the marriage procedure at the registry office, or by getting married in a temple (depending on national and family traditions). Previously, the ritual was performed on the threshold of the groom's house, where he brought his young wife. The action itself almost completely copied the morning blessing, except that the parents chose their own words. Today it is permissible to hold a ceremony at the site of the festive feast - in front of the entrance to a banquet hall, bar or cafe, in a forest clearing or on the shore of the sea, lake, or on board a ship.
Newlyweds who do not want to follow the old canons can include blessing ceremonies in the banquet script. Under the guise of one of the first toasts, parents will talk about the wonderful qualities of their children entering a new life, wishing love and harmony in family relationships, prosperity and prosperity. You can arrange the blessing in poetic form or even put on a small performance, showing children's photos and videos, the story of the newlyweds' acquaintance and love.
Traditions
At the end of the engagement ceremony, the wedding date is set and active preparations for it begin. According to national tradition, the wedding is paid for by the groom's family, however, in modern large cities, especially in Tashkent, it is no longer uncommon for all expenses to be divided in half between both families.
According to long-standing traditions, the future wife should receive a rich dowry from her parents. They begin to prepare it almost from the moment the girl is born, in order to be able to provide her with a large amount of fabrics, carpets, towels, bed linen, clothes, household items and dishes, etc. before marriage.
Shortly before the wedding ceremony, a bachelorette party is traditionally held at the bride's house, to which all the bride's relatives and friends are invited. It is fun, with lots of treats, dancing and songs, and the hero of the occasion receives gifts from her friends.
Nikoh tui
Nikoh tui
- this is the main part of the ceremony: a wedding feast, a magnificent feast with songs, dances and competitions. The newlyweds are presented with gifts, and up to 500 people - relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbors - gather at the festive table.
Grandiose celebrations are associated with huge expenses, so in 2019, Uzbekistan even passed a law according to which a wedding should not last longer than a day, and there should be no more than 200 guests. How strictly it is observed is a separate question.
Traditional pilaf
Plov is a national Uzbek dish that necessarily accompanies any major event in life, be it the birth of a child or the end of military service. Even such an important event as a wedding cannot do without it. Every Uzbek wedding begins with the preparation of traditional pilaf or “nahor oshi”. Traditionally, it is prepared in the bride's home. In the old days, on the eve of the wedding, the groom's family transferred a huge amount of food to the bride's house: live sheep, tens of kilograms of rice, onions and carrots. All night, the bride's relatives prepared pilaf from these ingredients in giant cauldrons, so that there would be enough for not only relatives, but also neighbors and just acquaintances. It is cooked exclusively by men, both from the groom’s and the bride’s side: they are also invited to the festive breakfast. It lasts about 2 hours, and, in addition to the main dish, tea and cakes are also served at the table. While guests are treated to pilaf, invited artists entertain them with national songs and dances. Uzbeks consider ignoring an invitation to a morning pilaf or being late for an event a manifestation of extreme disrespect for the hosts.
Peculiarity! In modern Uzbekistan, the tradition of homemade morning pilaf is gradually becoming a thing of the past, remaining mainly in small villages. In big cities, more and more often, guests are invited not to the bride’s house, but to a cafe or restaurant, where professional chefs prepare the dish, and the groom’s relatives pay only the cost of the ingredients.
Customs
A wedding in Uzbekistan is a holiday that is distinguished by its special scope and many traditional rituals that have developed over many centuries. Wherever the wedding takes place: in a small village or the capital, it is always celebrated for several days, each of which is filled with certain traditional rituals. All of them must be followed strictly.
When the groom comes to pick up the bride at her house, he is also treated to pilaf. After this, in the mosque or right in the house of the future wife, the newlyweds undergo the religious ceremony “nikoh”, during which the imam reads prayers, and the bride and groom take oaths of fidelity and respect to each other. Guests must be present at the ceremony.
Note! In modern Uzbekistan, a religious ceremony is necessarily preceded by official registration in the registry office, but the Uzbek people attach much less importance to it than to the above-mentioned Muslim rite.
An extremely important custom is to hold a wedding ceremony in Uzbekistan, even if the matchmaking and engagement of the newlyweds took place on the territory of another country. On average, the number of people invited to a celebration is usually about 250-350 people, including not only close relatives and friends, but also neighbors, work colleagues and even casual acquaintances. This is explained by the fact that Uzbeks are extremely hospitable and strive to share their joy with everyone around them. The table is literally bursting with various treats, and the celebration takes place in an atmosphere of general fun, songs and dances. In order to preserve the memory of such an important day, a professional photographer is always invited to a modern wedding in Uzbekistan.
Hashar
The Uzbek people are famous not only for their hospitality, but also for their readiness for mutual assistance. In sorrow and in joy, people try to stick together and willingly help each other. There are many examples of traditional mutual assistance.
For every Uzbek family, a very important event is the construction of a new home. Of course, experienced specialists are invited for this. But there comes a time when you need to quickly complete a certain amount of work and this requires many workers at the same time. Many people come to the aid of those under construction: relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances... This is where the Khashar tradition comes into force. This is the name given to joint work in favor of one or more persons.
When people are notified about hashar, no one, as a rule, refuses. It is discussed in advance what type of work needs to be completed and in what time. Together, a fairly large amount of work is completed, which ends with a common lunch or dinner.
Khashar is often organized when it is necessary to help lonely old people, the sick or disabled - for example, in renovating a house or planting a vegetable garden.
Representatives of many nationalities take part in the work. It’s not just Uzbeks who build an Uzbek house—Koreans, Russians, Tajiks, and Tatars also participate. And if a Korean or Russian needs help, then the Uzbeks will also willingly come to hashar!
Greeting the bride - a beautiful Uzbek tradition
After marriage, the girl leaves her parents' house and goes with the groom to his house, where her father, mother and other relatives of the groom are waiting for her. A white fabric path is laid out at the entrance to the house. When a young wife passes through it, she is showered with coins and sweets and is wished happiness in her family life. It is from this moment that the magnificent wedding celebration begins. The next morning, the official reception of the bride into the new family takes place - “kelin salom”. The groom's relatives gather in the courtyard and present the young wife with expensive gifts, and the newlywed bows deeply to everyone in response.
Wedding day
In the middle of the day, dressed in wedding attire, the groom must arrive at the house of his future wife. She meets him with her face covered with a veil so that there is no evil eye.
Before going to the registry office, the young people participate in a religious ceremony called Khutbai Nikoh. This is a kind of wedding that is performed by the imam. The couple dresses in national costumes, bows their heads, listens to prayers and pronounces their promises to love and honor each other throughout their lives. After this, the young people are declared husband and wife before God.
The ceremony of farewell between the bride and her parents is one of the central ones in an Uzbek wedding. This is a very touching moment when a girl is preparing to leave her father’s house, forgetting about her carefree youth. Her parents mourn her passing, but wish her happiness. Together with the girl, they send the Uzbek bride’s dowry and everything that the young wife may initially need to run the household. Often this is kurpacha, which is an Asian type of mattress, a set of towels and various household utensils. At this point, the couple receives a parental blessing before the wedding.
The bride leaves her parents' house, accompanied by her friends, and goes to the groom's house. The moment she crosses his threshold is considered the starting point for the start of the wedding celebration. But before this, another ritual takes place, when the young people make three rounds around the house. This is a symbol of their purification and a sign of the beginning of family life.
The groom's relatives and guests sing Uzbek songs when they welcome the daughter-in-law to her new home. They cover the path to it with a white tablecloth and the newlywed must walk along it. At this moment they shower her with sweets and money, wishing her a happy marriage.
Wedding dresses
What modern Uzbek newlyweds wear largely depends on the region in which the celebration takes place. In large cities, such as Tashkent, the trends of European weddings are very strong, which also extend to the outfits of the young. If you look at photos of modern Uzbek weddings, you can increasingly see the bride in a fluffy white dress, and the groom in a formal suit. In small villages, where traditions are especially strong, weddings take place in national costumes. The wedding dress is made from khan-atlas, and on top of the girl they put on a silk robe and sleeveless vest, embroidered with gold and precious stones. The bride and groom wears an openwork kokoshnik on her head, and her face is hidden by a veil or openwork veil. The groom must wear an Uzbek robe, which is called “sarpo,” and a skullcap. According to tradition, his suit is paid for by the bride's side. An important feature of a newlywed's outfit is a large number of rings, bracelets and other jewelry. According to popular beliefs, they will help protect a girl from envy and the evil eye and bring happiness to a young family.
What do you give for a celebration?
All the guests gathered at the wedding present the newlyweds with gifts. Young people receive the most valuable gifts from their parents and closest relatives. This could be furniture, household appliances, jewelry, etc. Other guests usually come to the wedding with not so expensive gifts, but they try to present something that will be useful to the newlyweds in their family life:
- bedding sets;
- services;
- photo frames.
Cash gifts have not yet become widespread in Uzbekistan. If guests still give the cash equivalent of a gift, then they give the envelope to the groom.
The wedding night
Like other eastern peoples, Uzbeks treat the sacrament of the first wedding night with trepidation. Before the newlyweds can be alone, the groom must “buy” the bride from the yanga, who is a friend or relative. In a room specially designated for this, she helps the girl change clothes, and after that she demands a ransom from the groom for the first wedding night. Only after receiving it does Yanga leave the young people alone.
Daughter-in-law in an Uzbek family
Even if they have their own apartment or house, for the first few months after the wedding, the newlyweds settle in the house of their father-in-law and mother-in-law. During the first three days after the wedding, the daughter-in-law is freed from household duties, during which time she gets used to the new home and new relatives. Then, according to ancient customs, almost the entire household is entrusted to her: she must clean the house, prepare food for the whole family and take full charge of everyday life. In such a situation, the daughter-in-law has no rights and is completely subordinate to the mother-in-law, becoming practically a servant. The Uzbek mentality is such that it is the young wife who must adapt not only to her husband, but also to his entire relatives, especially her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
The future life of a young wife in her husband’s family depends on the relationship between new relatives, their characters and how strictly they observe the customs existing in the country. In many modern Uzbek families, the daughter-in-law becomes a full member of the family and enjoys sincere respect from relatives. There are many positive examples of marriages where the daughter-in-law lives in harmony and harmony with her husband and his relatives.
Festival
Hospitable and welcoming people live in Uzbekistan, so an Uzbek wedding is interesting and fun. It often drags on for several days, and the number of invitees can be several hundred people. At such celebrations you can see colorful Uzbek dances, ceremonies and rituals.
One of them is honey treats at an Uzbek wedding. This is an ancient ritual when young people treat each other with honey. It is believed that thanks to him their family life will be sweet. To do this, the groom first tastes the honey himself, and then gives it to his wife to taste from his own hands. At the end of the ritual, the couple looks in the mirror; it is important that they see each other there. The mirror must be completely new and no one should look into it before the ceremony.
Also during the wedding celebration, the new husband gives gifts to his wife. Most often, Uzbeks give their significant other bracelets and watches, but the man must put them on her hands personally.
Another wedding ceremony in Uzbekistan is carried out in a wedding hut. To carry it out, they use dastarkhan - a snow-white Uzbek tablecloth. It is spread out in front of the newlyweds, and an abundance of sweets and pastries are laid on top. Such actions have a magical meaning: the more dishes there are on the tablecloth, the greater the wealth in the young family.
An ancient wedding ceremony of the Uzbek people completes the celebration. The newlyweds leave the hut hand in hand and part briefly before entering a special room reserved for the first wedding night. Here the bride is met by her close friend, who performs the duties of Yanga. She helps her undress and then leaves her behind the Gushanga, a ceremonial curtain. Then the groom appears, accompanied by his friends. To go behind the curtain, he has to ransom the bride. When Yanga receives a symbolic ransom, the groom says goodbye to his friends and goes to his wife’s room.
In the first three days after the wedding, the bride is considered a guest in the groom's house and is not disturbed. After this time, it is time for the next ritual - Kelin Saloma. The girl receives guests and receives valuable gifts from them. The wife thanks the donors with bows from the waist. From this moment on, she becomes a full-fledged member of the groom's family and enters into family life.
Chuck-chuck
There must be pilaf at a wedding
