New dowry usually contains you to-quarter out-of their unique father’s really worth

One ceremonies is actually the brand new washing of one’s bride-to-be, that was utilized for casting an enchantment more their particular husband to be, with the intention that he’d love her permanently:

Constantly, 50 % of so it matter is actually stored in currency and also the almost every other half inside property (age.g., gold, silver, pearl, products, dresses, ponies, carriages, servants, etc.). Whether your woman had no brothers, the brand new dowry could even tend to be belongings.(13) The newest oral agreement of dowry involving the fathers concluded the brand new age of “courtship.”

The next thing of betrothal is the brand new “welcome.” Into the an excellent pre-set-up big date, the latest bridegroom-to-end up being came to his betroth’s house “for the a flush clothing” with their father or more mature sister. they certainly were came across by the girl’s father just who seated all of them off from the hearth, to your residence’s best seats (the new fiance-to-feel, yet not, existed out of sight). The fresh contractual data files, explaining the purpose to wed therefore the specifics of the latest dowry was basically displayed and you can finalized. No priest is actually present at this experience (even if if both sides had been illiterate, a great clerk might be expose). The fresh new sgovor didn’t come with religious meaning, but is only a business exchange. Following the finalizing, gifts have been exchanged together with girl’s dad exhibited new home’s icon toward visitors to hug. The newest team up coming went with the back space — an internal waiting area where in fact the female, being constantly segregated throughout the men, were attained (except the future fiance herself who was banned to be present) — in order to meet the brand new fiancee’s mom in order to compliment their. She kissed the fresh fiance along with her feamales in turn implemented her analogy. Brand new ritual finished, the new visitors departed.(14)

A few days after, the new boy’s mommy involved new bride’s household for the “inspection” to ascertain the reputation and MariГ©es grec you can chastity of your girl. Abreast of passing their particular acceptance, this new boy’s mother gave the latest fiancee a ring. Afterwards, she may also publish the girl a mix, certain fresh fruit, and lots of headwear on the servants.(15)

There was a different succession out-of occurrences recommended inside historical data. The new Church don’t agree of experiencing betrothals take place additional of your Chapel and you will recommended the sgovor together with exchanging of rings take place in a church and get sanctified of the good priest. Due to the fact Levin demonstrates to you, betrothals was basically commonly handled once the giving authoritative consent so you can fornicate. The Church felt, for its region, if couples had been planning has actually sex before wedding next this may as well improve betrothals due to the fact joining since the wedding itself: “New chapel held one to a pledge before Jesus and you can witnesses should feel kept; a formal hope so you’re able to marry was binding on both parties.”(16)

Quickly through to the relationships, it actually was common to arrange a routine bath [ bania ]. Adopting the bride’s routine ablution, the fresh ‘charmed water’ try very carefully conserved and you will provided to this new spouse for after the matrimony.(17)

Whilst Church is strongly not in favor of it routine (simply because of its pagan origins), discover symptoms that it survived on sixteenth century.

The fresh new maintenance of your own pre-Christian lifestyle of this ‘charmed water’ during the tenth to help you 15th-century matrimony traditions try told me by focus of the bride-to-be to profit the fresh love and passion regarding her coming partner by the means of magical rituals

A separate pre-relationships custom is actually the new “maiden’s cluster” — a sort of medieval bachelorette class — where feminine attained toward bride-to-be the evening before the marriage. Today it had been antique to eradicate the newest girl’s headcovering [ kokoshnik ] and you will comb out their tresses. Her solitary tress (the newest icon regarding maidenhood from inside the gothic Russia) was braided for the past go out.(18)