One of these ceremonies is actually the fresh new washing of your own bride to be, which was utilized for casting an enchantment more their unique husband to be, to ensure however like her forever:

Constantly, 50 % of so it number are kept in currency additionally the other half during the things (elizabeth.g., silver, gold, pearl, foods, attire, horses, carriages, servants, an such like.). In case your woman didn’t come with brothers, the fresh new dowry may source utile even is land.(13) New dental arrangement of one’s dowry within dads finished the age „courtship.“

The next thing of the betrothal try the fresh „greeting.“ On an excellent pre-developed time, the brand new groom-to-become came to their betroth’s household „inside the a flush top“ with their dad or elderly sister. they were fulfilled because of the girl’s father who seated all of them off regarding the fireplace, toward residence’s greatest benches (the fresh bride-to-getting, but not, stayed concealed). The brand new contractual data, describing new purpose so you can get married in addition to details of the new dowry was in fact exhibited and you can closed. No priest is establish at this enjoy (even if in the event the both parties had been illiterate, a beneficial clerk would be present). Brand new sgovor had no spiritual definition, but is just a business exchange. Adopting the finalizing, gift ideas were exchanged and the girl’s dad shown the fresh house’s icon into tourist so you’re able to kiss. The team up coming gone into straight back room — an internal prepared room where the feminine, becoming usually segregated on the dudes, were gathered (except the long run fiance herself who had been prohibited to be present) — to satisfy the fiancee’s mommy also to compliment her. She kissed the new bride to be and her feamales in change used their own example. The routine finished, new tourist departed.(14)

A short time afterwards, new boy’s mommy found this new bride’s household for the „inspection“ to look for the character and you may chastity of your own girl. Upon passage her approval, the newest boy’s mother gave the brand new fiancee a ring. Later, she may also post the girl a mix, certain fruits, and lots of headwear with the servants.(15)

There can be a separate sequence away from incidents suggested during the historical documents. The Church failed to agree having betrothals take place additional of Church and you may necessary that sgovor plus the investing off rings occur in a church and get sanctified of the a beneficial priest. Since Levin teaches you, betrothals have been will addressed once the granting formal permission to fornicate. The new Church noticed, for its part, whenever partners was planning to has actually sex just before relationships next it might as well result in the betrothals because the joining just like the marriage by itself: „This new church stored one to a promise prior to Goodness and you can witnesses will be getting upheld; an official guarantee to get married try binding up on each party.“(16)

Quickly till the marriage, it actually was well-known to set up a ritual shower [ bania ]. Adopting the bride’s ritual ablution, the ‚charmed water‘ are cautiously conserved and given to the husband for pursuing the relationships.(17)

Even though the Church is strongly opposed to so it routine (simply because of its pagan origins), you’ll find evidence which survived towards sixteenth century.

The fresh new conservation of one’s pre-Christian community regarding the ‚charmed water‘ in tenth so you’re able to fifteenth-century relationships traditions are explained of the focus of one’s bride to help you profit the like and you can passion of their coming companion from the means of phenomenal traditions

Another type of pre-matrimony customized was the latest „maiden’s team“ — a sort of medieval bachelorette group — where the feminine gathered to your bride to be the evening until the relationships. Nowadays it had been antique to get rid of the fresh girl’s headcovering [ kokoshnik ] and you may comb-out their particular locks. Their own unmarried tress (the icon from maidenhood inside the medieval Russia) was braided the past day.(18)