Bulgaria is a land steeped in tradition. Many of its ancient traditions, including its wedding traditions, are still practiced today.
Bulgaria has established a tradition of weddings for more than a hundred years now. They made sure that it would play a special role in their culture. Amazingly, people were able to adapt and keep this tradition of theirs up to this day. Normally, weddings would be the intertwining of two lovers as one, or for some, it could be a celebration of love between two souls. But for Bulgarians, it’s more than that – it will also be a union of two families and the beginning of a common history among them.
Bulgarian couples frequently opt for a traditional wedding ceremony over a typical European-style wedding. They want to return to their roots and learn more about their indigenous culture. A fact with Bulgarians is they are fortunate in that their folk weddings are colorful, cheerful, and magical. The church wedding ceremony is another famous method of getting married in Bulgaria. However, the most stylish weddings combine both of these ceremonies to make the event as fancy and festive as feasible.
1. The Rites of Pre-engagement and Full-engagement
Traditionally the prospective groom would send his closest friend to his intended’s home to ask her father for his blessing.
If the father agreed to the marriage he would then ask his daughter three times if she wished to marry. If she answered “Yes” all three times then she was considered pre-engaged and the prospective groom was invited to the house.
The actual engagement takes place on a holiday or on a Sunday. Relatives and neighbors are invited and a small feast is held.
It is during this meeting that details of the marriage are agreed upon. An agreement made during this engagement feast is considered legal and binding. The engagement lasts from one day to a year or even longer depending on local customs. Just before the marriage ceremony is to take place the groom’s friends throw him a bachelor party and the bride’s friends throw her a party as well. This is a time for the man and the woman to bid their single friends farewell.
2. Pre-wedding Rituals
At the same time, the husband-to-be’s best man must make the wedding banner. There is a great deal of ritual associated with the wedding banner. The pole for the banner must be from a fruit-bearing tree and the 6-foot-long pole must be chopped from the tree with a single ax stroke. An apple or an onion wrapped in foil is pierced onto the top of the pole, and a hand-woven kerchief is attached to the pole along with colorful ribbons, ivy, and strings of popcorn.
Early on the morning of the wedding the groom’s family and friends gather at his home. His friends pour barely over him and fire rifles into the air to ward off any evil spirits. This is also where the groom bids farewell to his parents and asks for their blessing. There is then a procession to the best man’s home. The procession is joyful with much dancing, music, and singing. The groom presents the best man with wine and a baked chicken – and from that point on the best man’s word is law as far as the wedding plans go. The best woman (often the best man’s wife) and the best man then lead the procession to the bride’s house where they present the bride with wine, the bridal veil, candles, and baked candies.
Once the wedding party arrives at the bride’s home there is much merrymaking and the bride is locked in a room and only the best woman can visit her until the groom and the best man bargain to be let in. The best woman then tries to put the bride’s veil on three times; twice the bride rejects the veil and only accepts it on the third attempt. Finally, the bride and groom are led outside, each holding the end of a long woven cloth where more rituals are performed to keep evil spirits away from the couple. Then the soon-to-be bride throws a dish filled with wheat, coins, and a raw egg over her head. If the dish smashes into many pieces it is considered good luck.
The procession from the bride’s house to the church is noisy and cheerful. Fireworks are often set off, there is the beating of drums, and the procession often stops to dance. However, it is considered bad luck for two unmarried brides-to-be to meet face-to-face, so if two bridal processions are winding through the streets they take great care not to meet each other.
3. The Marriage Ceremony Rituals
It is considered good luck for the bride and the groom to each step into the church with their right foot first.
The wedding ceremony itself is often rather short, but interspersed with folk songs. After the wedding ceremony concluded, the newlyweds exchanged both rings and a kiss. Following this was the tradition of 'foot stepping.' In this custom, the first person to step on their partner's foot would be seen as the dominant one in their marital relationship.
4. The Reception
In days past there would be a loud and boisterous wedding procession to the groom’s house for the wedding reception. In modern times the reception is generally held in a restaurant. It is at the reception that the groom’s mother traditionally meets the new family.
She lays a long, white hand-woven cloth at the door for the newly married couple to enter and she throws flowers in their path as a symbol of health, happiness, and purity in their new life together.
The groom’s mother feeds the newlyweds a sweet honeyed cake and wine and wishes them a long and sweet life together.
She then holds a loaf of freshly baked bread over her head and invites the couple to each pull one end of it; whichever one gets the bigger piece will have the biggest role in the new family.
And then the music and the dancing begins.
Dancing is a large part of the Bulgarian wedding reception ritual. In some parts of the country, it is even customary for the bride and groom to dance to receive their wedding cake.
5. The Making of the Wedding Flag
When there was a big wedding, Bulgarian forefathers used to hang flags in their homes. It was usually hung high in the groom’s house for all to see, facing the sun, as a symbol of good fortune for the bride and groom. The origins of the wedding flag can be traced back to a forest where the groom cuts down a tree with one blow as a symbol that the couple will not remarry. The tree itself is an important thing to look for. It was thought that it should bear fruits (pears, apples, and cherries) and be healthy. It would be a bad omen if it became dry or dead. The tree branch was then stitched with red or red and white fabric at the groom’s house before being delivered to the bride’s house, where she and her friends sang songs to ward off any negative energy it might carry.
What’s fascinating is that after the marriage ceremony, the godparents destroyed the flag – either by breaking it, hiding it, or throwing it in the water – so the newlyweds would not see it. In some Bulgarian regions, it was so cautiously disposed of that not a single thread fell off of it, preventing people from casting dark magic and bringing bad luck to newlyweds.
6. The Long Walk For Wedding Invitation
The wedding invitation ritual was born hundreds of years ago as a result of the cohesion of people in Bulgarian villages. The groom, the bride’s siblings, and all their relatives would have to go around the village inviting people. The groom would put on his best clothes and walk from house to house, offering a sip of Bulgarian wine or rakija. They accepted the offer when the host took a sip. As another sign of invitation, the bride’s mother would bring apples and give them to the hosts. In some Bulgarian regions, families will even invite the dead if someone has recently died. They would place apples on their graves, inviting them to join the living in celebrating the wedding.
7. The Bride’s Braiding and the Groom’s Shaving
The woman is braiding hair and wedding styling.
One of the most sacred ceremonies for the bride was braiding her hair. It represents her transition from a girl and a maiden to a bride and a soon-to-be wife. On the wedding day, the braiding was usually done before sunrise, with the bride sitting with her face to the sun. This is done to attract fertility.
The bride’s friends gathered around and sang songs about her leaving her home while braiding her hair. The braiding itself was done either by the godmother, or by her friends, but both of their parents had to be alive for good fortune.
Grooming was a vital part of the wedding rituals as well. The groom began the wedding day early in the morning, sitting outside under a tree. He began by washing with clean water from a nearby spring. The groom’s godfather, groom’s brother, or barber would then begin the grooming process. It was always done from right to left because it was thought that the right side was associated with good fortune and the left with bad.
8. The Red Veil and the Bride’s “Theft”
You may have heard of the stealing of the bride, but here is how it used to happen.
Following the braiding, the bride was veiled in front of the fireplace with a red veil. She’d then put on her wedding gown and wait for the groom and his brother to pick her up. They would try to enter the house, but the bride’s family would refuse unless they paid a fee. Following that, the groom’s brother entered the house and brought the bride’s shoes full of coins, which he placed on her feet, beginning with the right. She was then taken away from her home while wearing the red veil. If anyone saw her face, it would be a bad omen for the couple. The wedding procession would then begin, winding its way through the entire village and ending at the groom’s house.
9. “Kumove”
The “kumove” in Bulgaria are most often a couple and close friends of the newlyweds.
In Bulgaria, the “Kumove,” or Godparents, are usually a couple and close friends of the bride and groom. The “Kumove” should typically be an older family who will serve as spiritual “parents” and guidance counselors to the newlyweds.
Conclusion
It can be said that Bulgarian Wedding Traditions are filled with joy and hope for good fortune. So, if you want to have a unique wedding, you can check out these traditions of theirs.
Bulgarian wedding traditions are steeped in history and culture, making them a unique and beautiful way to celebrate your special day.
From the engagement traditions of giving gifts to the post-wedding tradition of sending off the newlyweds with good wishes, these customs will add an extra layer of meaning to your big day.
Whether you incorporate all or just some Bulgarian wedding traditions into your ceremony, they will make it even more memorable for everyone involved.
Watch the video below to learn more about the bulgarian wedding traditions.
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