Ukrainian Marriage And Traditions
As with most Eastern Europe countries, the Ukrainian marriage ceremony may seem a bit different for the Western civilization. The religious ceremony isn’t the same as in catholic countries, since the Ukrainians are mostly of Christian Orthodox religion. It takes longer and is mixed with national custom practices, who have been a part of the regional traditions for hundreds, maybe thousands of years.
One of the Ukrainian marriage customs is the making and decorating of a large, round piece of bread. It is called “korovai” and is made prior to the wedding by a group of women, most of which in close relation to the bride and groom. Mostly there are 7 women who participate at the making of this bread.
These women usually sing traditional songs during the making of the bread. This is a very old tradition, dating to pagan times. It has something to do with the ancient belief that corn has magical properties and is a bringer of luck and prosperity. The “korovai” bread is usually decorated with figurines, representing animals, birds or flags, pine cones, fruit, and so on. The bread has to be blessed before it is passed around to each guest.
The “korovai” symbolizes unity and family and is given to the wedded couple during the Ukrainian marriage ceremony. Each guest must have a taste of the bread, and the parents of the bride and groom are usually given a half-moon shaped piece of the bread. It is supposed to be a symbol of how families should stick together through hard times.
