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The expression “holy wedding sacrament” speaks for itself. Be sure to use the rules and signs given in this article for a wedding in order to protect a young family from troubles, quarrels, poverty, envious people and ill-wishers. Under no circumstances allow anyone to turn the wedding ceremony with the Merciful God into a bad performance, a farce.
What is the meaning of a wedding
A wedding is a church sacrament, the meaning of which is to invoke God’s blessing on a married couple. In addition, the church invites the Lord to become part of the new family, and the newlyweds themselves to become involved in God. It is not for nothing that in this regard the family is called a small church, where the husband is the head and symbolizes Christ, and the wife is like a Church, betrothed and subordinate to the savior.
A family has its own mystical life, its own rituals and services in the form of joint prayer, caring for each other, raising children, and spiritual development. Therefore, for believers, a wedding is not just a beautiful ceremony and a tribute to tradition, but a conscious, responsible and important step.
What can interfere with the wedding?
Not every marriage is made in heaven. In some cases, you may be denied a wedding procedure.
For example, when one of the spouses:
- been married three or more times;
- an inveterate atheist who gets married only because his beloved asked for it;
- not baptized.
There are many other reasons, but these are the most common. By the way, many people consider pregnancy an obstacle to getting married, but this is not the case. A woman in a position can get married.
Church rules for the wedding ceremony
The life together of a man and a woman must begin with spiritual preparation. The Church recommends that persons wishing to get married undergo a 7-day fast, during which they must pray intensely. A day or two before the sacrament, you need to visit the temple, repent of your sins in confession, attend the service, and go to communion. Of course, these are not requirements, but only recommendations, but they are worth listening to. It’s not for nothing that for centuries our ancestors strictly observed these rules.
It must be borne in mind that the sacrament is not performed every day. Therefore, before planning a wedding, you need to check with the temple whether the celebration will take place at a time when the ceremony is not performed.
For example, it is forbidden to get married during any fast, during Easter and cheese weeks, during the entire period from Christmas to Epiphany, on the eve of the temple, great and twelve holidays, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Exceptions are possible, but they can only be made for serious reasons and with the permission of the ruling bishop.
Basic wedding rules
During the ceremony, the rules must be followed not only by the bride and groom, but also by the guests. It is unacceptable for people to enter the temple after the ceremony has begun. All invitees must be warned to arrive a little earlier than the specified time.
Men and women cannot stand together. Representatives of the stronger sex stand on the right side, and ladies stand on the left of the newlyweds. It is forbidden to walk around the church until the wedding is over.
The rules that the newlyweds themselves must adhere to deserve special attention:
- Before the wedding, you need to talk with the priest and get permission from him to conduct the ceremony. Not all couples are allowed to participate in the ceremony. For example, if newlyweds belong to different religions, they will not be married. The priest may also refuse if the bride or groom is under 16 years of age.
- When choosing a date, you need to make sure that there is no fasting during this period.
- Wearing provocative clothing is prohibited. The bride should wear a white dress and a veil covering her head.
- You cannot be distracted by extraneous thoughts during the sacrament. All attention should be concentrated on the priest.
- You can only cross yourself with your right hand.
What to prepare before the wedding
A wedding in the Orthodox Church takes place according to established rules; in addition to them, there are also folk signs that are also worth paying attention to. Before performing the sacrament, you need to prepare several items:
- The image of Christ and the Virgin Mary for the blessing of the newlyweds. Previously, these shrines were passed on from one generation to another. According to legend, the older the wedding icons are, the happier the couple’s life will be. But if they are not there, there is no need to be upset. You can simply purchase images in a church shop and pass them on to your children in the future, thereby creating a good tradition.
- Rings. They are a sign of an eternal, indissoluble union. According to legend, the husband's ring should be gold, and the wife's should be silver. Gold symbolizes the light of the sun, to which a man in marriage is likened, and silver is the sign of the moon, a lesser luminary that shines with the reflected light of the sun. However, in ancient times, not everyone could afford such a luxury, so the church did not forbid purchasing rings made of brass or other inexpensive material. At the same time, it was believed that a smooth ring, without carvings or stones, meant a good life.
- Two clean embroidered towels. They are thrown onto wedding dresses.
- White towel. Those getting married stand on it during the sacrament. Today, a towel can be replaced with a small rug.
This is interesting! According to the legend, whoever of the couple manages to step on the towel first will be the head of the family.
Don't give candles to others
The newlyweds themselves must light the wedding candles; others should not be allowed to do this.
Never throw away used candles, much less give them to someone. They need to be preserved and cherished like the apple of your eye. As long as the candles are stored, the marriage is preserved. They also give a woman positive energy during childbirth.
The same applies to the towel, which the newlyweds stand on when entering the church. It, like candles, must be stored very carefully.
What signs to pay attention to before getting married?
There are many signs and superstitions associated with the wedding ceremony. Many of them have survived to this day. The most popular beliefs:
- After the bride leaves for the wedding, the floors in the house need to be washed. According to the sign, after this the girl will not return to her parents, that is, she will remain with her husband forever, the marriage will be strong.
- Before the wedding, the couple must take an oath of love to each other near the well. It symbolizes bottomless happiness.
- Young people should go to church one way and return another. It was believed that in this way it was easy to confuse evil spirits that could harm the couple. After all, the dark forces cannot approach the temple, so they will wait for the young people on the way home.
- It is fortunate for the bride to cry before the wedding.
- Under no circumstances should young people turn around before entering the temple. According to popular signs for a wedding in a church, such an action promises a quick separation. And since there were practically no divorces in ancient times, the reason for separation could be a long-term departure, a serious illness, or even the death of one of the spouses.
- You cannot cross the path of a couple going to a wedding - the life of the newlyweds will not work out.
Read also: Positive and negative signs about black cats
There are also several other signs that our ancestors attached special importance to.
Newlyweds' health
Both the bride and groom should be completely healthy and feel great at the wedding. If on this day one of them suddenly falls ill or his long-standing illness worsens, the ceremony should be postponed. Otherwise, according to legend, these sores will bind a person for life.
On leaving home
Before the bride and groom go to the wedding, new locks are placed on the thresholds of their houses. As soon as the newlyweds cross them, parents or godparents should close the locks and throw the keys into a pond or bury them in a secluded place. The locks are then given to the couple, who must keep these items as a symbol of eternal, unbreakable love. It was believed that such castles were reliable amulets of family happiness.
On a note! This tradition, slightly modified, continues to this day. Nowadays, newlyweds close the lock themselves (usually by hanging it on a bridge railing) and throw the key into the river.
For the weather
People said that if it rains on the wedding day, it means that the couple’s family life will be calm and happy. It is especially good if it rained during the sacrament - this was considered a blessing from higher powers.
But severe frost or heat on the day of the ceremony is an unfavorable sign. According to the sign, the newlyweds will often quarrel among themselves, and conflicts with the relatives of the other half are possible.
Wedding traditions
Wedding
The church itself regulates a number of rules related to the conduct of the sacrament. They are all known:
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- those entering into marriage must profess Christianity;
- official registration is carried out in advance at the registry office; unmarried couples cannot be married due to the primacy of the marriage registered by the state;
- those entering into marriage must be of legal age;
- The sacrament is not performed during Lent and on some holidays.
There are certain traditions in the choice of rings, in the style of the bride and groom's outfit. You will also have to prepare icons and invite a married couple known for their strong union as witnesses. But in addition to official traditions, the wedding gave rise to numerous signs and customs.
Signs during the wedding ceremony
Our ancestors noticed any, even minor, events that occurred in the church during the sacrament, and connected them with subsequent family life. Some signs that were paid attention to during the wedding are still relevant today.
Crowns
In the sacrament of weddings, the crown did not appear immediately. Initially, it was a royal attribute, because only the ruling person could wear such a dress. In the popular consciousness, reign has always been associated with happiness. Therefore, later crowns appeared in the church, because a wedding is an individual happiness for everyone. In addition, the crown is also a symbol of martyrdom, since marriage is not only joy. The couple will have to go through bitter and even tragic moments.
According to legend, the sign of widowhood is often young during the ceremony. If the crown falls from one of them, he will soon be a widow/widower.
Another belief says that when a priest reads prayers, young people should say mentally:
“I’m getting married, but my illnesses are not getting married, all my illnesses are going away.”
If this is not done, the diseases with which the marriage was married will remain with the couple forever.
Wedding candles
Regular church candles are not suitable for the ceremony, since special, larger ones are used for weddings. There are many signs associated with them:
- You need to keep the remains of ritual candles for the rest of your life. They protect the peace of the family, serve as protection from quarrels, witchcraft, and gossip.
- Whose candle burns the most during the wedding will die before the other spouse.
- If a woman suffers greatly during the birth of a child, she should light her wedding candle - the birth will be easier.
- During the wedding, the candles crackle - family life will be difficult. Burn evenly and quietly - the marriage will be happy.
General rules
Wedding ceremony
Wedding in a church: signs are very different. As experts say, it all depends on what you believe in and how strongly. Wedding is a ritual that appeared many years ago. During this time, the wedding gave rise to numerous signs and superstitions, which people still believe in today. All signs of a happy wedding have both positive and negative sides. Today there are many different customs, each religion has its own rights and established canons.
- The first thing you need to understand is what rules were set for such an event. The most important rule is that a man and woman, already established husband and wife, should only be Christians who once learned all the secrets of Baptism. There are cases when priests perform a ceremony together with other representatives of completely different religious denominations. If children appear in the marriage, then they must be baptized according to all the rules of the church.
- The second rule, and a very important one, is that the wedding can take place only after the couple officially registers their marriage in the registry office. This is a relatively new and rather strange rule, since this has never happened before. People could shine their marriage before the face of God. If for some reason this is not possible, then there is an opportunity to come to the priest and personally agree on the wedding and explain why you cannot officially register your marriage.
- In addition, remember that weddings take place only after eighteen years of age. Unfortunately, the priest cannot give in to this rule, although again, this was not the case several centuries ago.
Signs about a wedding dress
Both today and in ancient times, a wedding dress was of great importance for a girl. Sometimes it was the only expensive outfit in a girl’s life. It is not surprising that many signs were associated with such a thing:
- Before the ceremony, the girl should not see herself in a full-length wedding dress, otherwise the wedding will not take place.
- It is impossible for the future spouse to see the outfit before the wedding. According to legend, a husband who sees a dress ahead of time will cheat on his wife for the rest of his life.
- Before leaving the house, you need to pin a pin on the wrong side of the dress. She will protect the girl from the evil eye and evil wishes.
- The dress must have an even number of buttons, otherwise the spouse will cheat.
- The bride's outfit should not be separate, that is, consist of a skirt and jacket. Wedding clothes are only one-piece, otherwise divorce is inevitable.
- The belt of the dress should not be decorated with flowers - the birth will be difficult.
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Ancestors believed that a wedding dress should be elegant, but modest. According to the sign, if the bride wears a revealing outfit, family life will not work out, the girl will face loneliness, suffering, and tears.
Engagement (wedding) rings
The first wedding item people buy is engagement rings. The wedding ring represents a divine, indestructible union, because there is no way out of the ring, it is inextricable. There are a lot of signs associated with the rings with which husband and wife are subsequently married before God. I think that it will be useful for you, my dear readers, to know these signs.
- Wedding rings cannot be purchased on the wedding day; they must be purchased at least three days before.
- Buy rings only together, as a couple. If you buy rings when you are alone, then you won’t be able to make a couple either.
- It is considered a bad omen if the purchased rings turn out to be small or large. Even if you change them to the right size, it will not help you, there will be no peace and love in your family.
- You also cannot make (order) rings for yourself from the rings of relatives and friends. Rings are not made from scrap or rings of deceased people.
- Do not get married with a ring left over from your previous marriage, otherwise this marriage of yours will be unhappy.
- Correct rings are those that do not have any engravings or stones on them. Wedding rings must be smooth. That ring with a stone, even a diamond, is not suitable for getting people engaged.
- Before the wedding, the bride should take off her gloves - the wedding ring should not be worn on fabric.
- Only the groom buys both rings. If a woman buys a ring for herself, and he buys it for himself, then there will never be agreement in such a family.
- Rings are never shown to anyone before the wedding, and certainly no one is ever allowed to try on a wedding ring. Otherwise, the spouses will suffer betrayal.
- In the old days, newlyweds, before going to bed, put the rings in their cups, in a honey drink and drank together. This action is not entirely safe; if you are careless, the ring can be accidentally swallowed.
When is the best time to perform the ritual?
People have noticed that marriages concluded on a certain date are often happy. Other days, on the contrary, are unfavorable for performing the ritual.
Day
According to the sign, if the wedding took place on Red Mountain (the first Sunday after Easter), then the marriage will be long and strong. It was believed that this was the best time for a wedding, so many sought to get married on this day.
Also favorable are the days between the Petrov and Dormition fasts and from Epiphany to Maslenitsa. But a wedding in May, according to legend, will only bring suffering. People say: if you get married in May, both of you will not live, but you will have to suffer.
On a note! It has been noted that a couple who got married not in a church, but in a monastery, separates very quickly, and the day of the ceremony does not have any significance in this case.
Time
It is believed that the best time for a wedding is from 10 am to 2 pm. Marriages concluded during this time period are successful. But it is not recommended to carry out the ceremony in the afternoon - life together will be boring, gray, joyless.
Bells ringing
Hearing bells ringing after the wedding is fortunate. Previously, ringing accompanied every sacrament, but today this will have to be additionally negotiated in the temple. However, it is worth doing this, because, according to popular belief, the ringing of a bell informs heaven about the birth of a new family, and at that moment all the angels pray to God for the health and happiness of the couple.
Selecting a day according to the Orthodox calendar
To agree on the time of the wedding, either the future spouses themselves or their parents come to the temple. It is a good sign if the discussion is conducted directly with the priest. The usual time for a wedding is after the Divine Liturgy - from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They try to make sure that the ceremony takes place without other couples, otherwise someone else’s negativity may transfer to the newlyweds.
The wedding should not coincide with any church celebrations or fasts. A particularly strict ban applies to the following days:
- Christmas time;
- Easter fast;
- the day of the Presentation;
- birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross;
- Ascension and Trinity;
- Protection of the Holy Mother of God.
Many of the holidays are not tied to a specific date. It’s easy to get confused in them, so before the wedding they clarify this information with the priest so that the holiday does not fall on one of them.
Clothing requirements
The newlyweds' wedding clothes should be decent, neat, clean and, if possible, elegant. In this case, the color of the groom’s suit does not matter, but the bride’s dress should be light, preferably white. The girl's head must be covered with a scarf, a light openwork shawl or a veil. It's good if your shoulders and arms are also covered.
This is interesting! It is believed that the bride should not wear pearl jewelry (they were called “mermaid tears”), otherwise she will have to cry a lot later.
Mothers of those getting married should wear light-colored outfits. According to legend, the dark shades of their clothes are a sign of the children’s imminent separation.
Signs during the ceremony
When going up onto the church porch, the newlywed should be very careful. The wedding dress is usually long, so the bride may accidentally step on the hem or trip. This is a bad omen that promises quarrels with your spouse and his relatives. Stepping over the threshold, the girl must mentally say:
“I take joy and happiness with me, I leave sorrows and troubles at the door.”
A couple needs to enter the church with their right foot and leave with their left.
During the ceremony, the bride and groom cannot look into each other's eyes, otherwise, according to legend, there will be frequent betrayals in the family. You shouldn’t look around either; it’s better to look down or direct it at the priest.
It’s good if a healer is present at the wedding, who has undertaken to protect the newlyweds from possible damage and the evil eye. She must continuously repeat to herself:
“Our Lord, save your servants (names of those getting married) from all evil with the life-giving cross, the Holy Spirit and the prayers of all intercessors.”
If she manages to say this forty times, then no one will be able to harm the couple, even if forty black sorcerers came to the temple specifically for this purpose.
In the temple
It's important to follow the rules
The chosen ones are present at the wedding in the church. According to church traditions, parents do not go to the church church for the wedding procedure itself. The godparents of the newlyweds are present there. The participation of blood parents ends when the newlyweds are escorted out of the house, when they give a blessing. The blood parents remain waiting for the young couple at home.
Among the basic rules for a wedding are the following:
- It is very important that no one crosses the couple’s path to the altar, as this is a bad omen. Someone who crosses the road takes away family happiness from a young couple.
- During a wedding, according to folk traditions, a linen path is laid under the feet of the newlyweds. The groom must step on it first in order to be the master of the house. An uninformed bride should tell about this so as not to get into trouble.
- Signs during a wedding prohibit the bride and groom from looking into each other's eyes. This is a sign of family quarrels, troubles and family betrayals.
Wedding crowns
Crowns are placed on the heads of the bride and groom. This church attribute is a prerequisite for the ceremony, otherwise it is believed that if they are absent on the newlyweds, the wedding itself is not approved by God.
Despite the fact that church crowns are very heavy, witnesses must withstand the entire wedding ceremony and not drop them, since according to popular superstition, anyone who drops such a crown will become a widower.
Candles
By the candles lit in the church during the broadcast procedure, you can find out which of the spouses will live longer. Whose candle burns out further will live longer. Sometimes church candles begin to emit a characteristic strong crackling sound. In such cases, people complained that the life of the young would be turbulent.
After the wedding
Immediately after the wedding, the newlyweds must go home to bring happiness to their doorstep. It is not recommended to drive around the city or immediately go on a trip or restaurant. This can be done later, but first you must go to the joint house.
It is customary to greet newlyweds with a loaf of bread specially baked for this purpose. After they break off a piece, the bread must be removed and not give a crumb to anyone, otherwise, according to legend, the couple will often quarrel. Only spouses or their parents (if the parents are not alive, godparents) can eat the loaf.
Returning after the wedding, the wife needs to touch the door frame and mentally say:
“I was a fox, now I have become a lioness! Neither my husband nor my new relatives will be able to offend me, and the Most Holy Theotokos will help me.”
The sign says that after this action the husband and his parents will always be kind to the young woman.
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At the table
The Church does not recommend drinking a lot, dancing or singing at the table after the wedding. The feast should be modest so that the newlyweds, their relatives and friends can feel the solemnity of the moment, calmly rejoice for the couple, wish them a good journey together, joy, and happiness. The newlyweds themselves were forbidden to even touch alcohol, otherwise their children, according to legend, would be dependent on alcohol. There are other beliefs regarding the feast:
- Spouses should sit on a fur coat with the fur turned upside down - this will bring prosperity.
- You need to take the tablecloth with you from the table and, without washing it, put it in a secluded place. If on each wedding anniversary the spouses lay it on the table, then they will live without parting until the end of their days. During the first labor pains, the wife should sit on the tablecloth - the birth will be quick and easy. No one should be allowed to rent a wedding tablecloth, as it is a talisman against troubles, quarrels and separations.
- If the bride spills alcohol on herself during a feast, the husband will drink a lot in the future.
- If the bride wants the family to always have prosperity, she should propose the first toast to her father-in-law, and if she wants peace and good relationships, to her mother-in-law.
- If part of the wedding attire (glove, scarf, tie, etc.) is lost or stolen during the feast, the couple will quickly divorce.
Signs about wedding gifts
There are a huge number of signs associated with wedding gifts. The most famous of them:
- By giving an expensive antique, you can convey to the spouses the fate of its former owners. Young people should give the donor a coin, then the item will no longer be a gift, but a purchase. This will remove all possible negativity.
- You cannot give cutting or sharp objects as gifts - there will be frequent squabbles and conflicts in the family.
- It is not customary to present glass and porcelain objects. They can break and, according to legend, soon after that the family will also break.
- If the guest decides to give money, then he must do this before sunset, otherwise he will incur poverty.
- It is forbidden to give young people a portrait or photo of them together. The sign says that after such a gift the spouses will quickly separate.
- Strangers should not give red or burgundy bouquets to the bride. These shades symbolize passion, so only her husband can present such flowers to the newlywed. It has been noted that a bride who accepts this gift from strangers will cheat on her spouse.
If the veil catches fire
If during the sacrament the bride's veil accidentally flashes, this is a bad sign. According to legend, such a union will bring only tears and misfortune to the newlyweds. Treason, frequent scandals and even fights are possible. As a result, the couple will have to separate.
However, it is quite possible to avoid negative consequences. If, after leaving the temple, the spouses look together in one mirror and say: “The veil is on fire, the misfortune of God’s servants (names) does not concern us forever and ever,” nothing bad will happen.
Why does a veil accidentally catch fire?
During a wedding, a person can easily touch the candles. It seems like just an accident, but sometimes a veil that catches fire directly speaks of an unhappy life. The family will face hardships and hardships. All such signs and unpleasant events during the wedding warn of possible problems. Most likely, the marriage will end in divorce. In addition, this is a sign that the newlyweds are influenced by too many circumstances that are difficult to resist.
But sometimes I interpret the sign in a different way. Fire is considered sacred; it drives away evil spirits and cleanses from negativity. If the veil lights up, then this is a sign that the couple is marked by higher powers. Perhaps their life will not be easy, but special. If, after such an incident, your soul is still restless, you should turn to the priest for a blessing.
See the wedding
In ancient times, it was almost impossible to see how the sacrament of wedding of strangers was performed, because only the closest people could be present in the temple, the rest were waiting for the couple outside. If a person had to become an involuntary witness of someone else’s happiness, the sign promised him eternal loneliness. Even if he was married at that moment, it was believed that separation was inevitable.
Over time, the ritual became more open, and the sign acquired a different, positive meaning. According to popular belief, getting to a wedding by chance is a sign of great luck. Modern esotericists also agree with this opinion. They claim that a person who sees happy people is charged with positive energy and begins to attract positive events to himself.
Important point! You can't envy the young. You need to sincerely, from the bottom of your heart, mentally or out loud, wish them goodness, prosperity, love. Only in this case can you count on the favor of higher powers.
A large number of signs, legends, and superstitions are associated with the sacrament of weddings. Most of them have a positive meaning. But even if the interpretation is negative, you should not expect problems and despair. There is always a way to avoid bad omens. It is enough to visit the temple, pray and ask the Lord, your guardian angel and patron saints for protection.
In addition, we should not forget that any event that occurs may have a completely logical explanation that is in no way connected with mysticism, and, accordingly, it portends absolutely nothing.
Features of the time of the sacrament
As already noted, during Lent the church does not marry anyone. The same rule applies to many religious holidays. But there are other temporary prohibitions. In particular, healers do not advise getting married on a leap year. Signs of such times are attributed to unlucky periods. All couples who get married on a leap year, according to legend, are doomed to discord and subsequent separation. The same unenviable fate, according to superstition, awaits those who got married in May.
The Church denies the possibility of believing in omens; priests also consider the rules about leap years and the month of May to be an unfounded invention.
The best time to get married is the second Sunday after Easter on Krasnaya Gorka. There is a corresponding saying: “Whoever marries on Krasnaya Gorka will never get married.”