One of these ceremonies try the fresh washing of one’s fiance, that was useful for casting a spell more than their own husband to be, so as that he’d love their forever:
Always, 50 % of which amount is kept in currency and other 50 % of for the things (elizabeth.grams., gold, gold, pearl, ingredients, clothing, horses, carriages, servants, an such like.). If the woman had no brothers, the new dowry may even become property.(13) Brand new oral arrangement of your own dowry between your fathers concluded the brand new period of “courtship.”
The next step of your betrothal is new “invited.” On the an effective pre-set up big date, the bridegroom-to-getting involved his betroth’s family “into the a clean shirt” with their dad otherwise more mature sis. these people were met by the girl’s dad who sat all of them off on hearth, with the house’s top seats (new bride-to-be-to-end up being, although not, lived out of sight). The brand new contractual data, discussing the brand new intent so you’re able to get married in addition to information on the newest dowry were displayed and you will finalized. No priest is introduce at this event (even in the event if the both sides had been illiterate, a great clerk could achat d’Г©pouses roumain be expose). The new sgovor didn’t come with religious meaning, however, is simply a corporate transaction. After the signing, gift suggestions had been exchanged therefore the girl’s father demonstrated the fresh new house’s symbol for the subscribers to help you hug. The class following moved on the right back area — an internal wishing area where in actuality the women, becoming usually segregated throughout the guys, have been gained (but tomorrow bride-to-be herself who had been banned to-be present) — in order to meet brand new fiancee’s mother also to congratulate her. She kissed the fresh bride along with her women in change then followed their unique analogy. The fresh new routine accomplished, the fresh new subscribers departed.(14)
A few days after, the fresh new boy’s mom concerned this new bride’s household to the “inspection” to ascertain the character and chastity of your own girl. Up on passageway her recognition, the latest boy’s mommy gave the fresh new fiancee a band. Later on, she may also publish the newest girl a cross, certain fruits, and several headwear into the servants.(15)
There clearly was another type of series out-of occurrences recommended from inside the historic records. Brand new Church failed to agree of obtaining betrothals result exterior of the Church and you can needed your sgovor as well as the buying and selling out-of bands occur in a church and start to become sanctified of the a priest. Since Levin teaches you, betrothals was indeed usually addressed because giving authoritative consent in order to fornicate. The new Chapel noticed, for its part, that if people was in fact browsing possess sex just before relationship up coming it might also make betrothals since the joining given that marriage alone: “Brand new chapel stored one to a vow ahead of God and witnesses will be getting upheld; a formal guarantee so you can marry try joining through to both parties.”(16)
Soon before the matrimony, it had been prominent to prepare a routine bath [ bania ]. Adopting the bride’s ritual ablution, the brand new ‘charmed water’ is carefully saved and provided to the new spouse for pursuing the matrimony.(17)
Although the Chapel is highly go against which habit (because of its pagan root), you will find indicators that it endured to the sixteenth century.
The new maintenance of the pre-Christian community with the ‘charmed water’ into the 10th so you’re able to 15th-century relationship traditions is said of the interest of bride-to-be so you’re able to earn the newest like and you can affection off their coming lover by a style of phenomenal traditions
A special pre-marriage custom try the latest “maiden’s group” — a sort of medieval bachelorette people — where in fact the women attained to your bride the night time before the marriage. Now it had been antique to get rid of the brand new girl’s headcovering [ kokoshnik ] and comb out their own hair. Her solitary tress (the new symbol away from maidenhood within the medieval Russia) was braided for the last big date.(18)