A wedding is a very serious step for newlyweds. A wedding is a blessing in heaven, as people say. In front of witnesses - relatives, friends and, of course, God - the marriage takes place.
There are a huge number of signs about weddings, about marriage, about weddings. This does not mean at all that everything will happen as the sign says - far from it. It all depends on the circumstances and timing and the strength of your heart and soul. Let's try to reveal the main signs of a wedding. Wedding signs can be divided into general signs. Signs before, during and after the wedding, signs about the road to the wedding, signs about the wedding ring, about the clothes of the bride and groom and much more.
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What is the meaning of a wedding
A wedding is a church sacrament, the meaning of which is to invoke God’s blessing on a married couple. In addition, the church invites the Lord to become part of the new family, and the newlyweds themselves to become involved in God. It is not for nothing that in this regard the family is called a small church, where the husband is the head and symbolizes Christ, and the wife is like a Church, betrothed and subordinate to the savior.
A family has its own mystical life, its own rituals and services in the form of joint prayer, caring for each other, raising children, and spiritual development. Therefore, for believers, a wedding is not just a beautiful ceremony and a tribute to tradition, but a conscious, responsible and important step.
The role of witnesses at a wedding
First, it should be a good friend who will always support the newlyweds in all their endeavors. Signs during a wedding indicate that witnesses are one of those people who can influence your union. For a process such as a wedding, it is customary to take people who are married and have children. They already have experience of married life and can share it with you. They will never envy your happiness, since they have their own. We can consider these to be a kind of “mentors” from God.
Just like the couple who is getting married, the witnesses must be baptized. If one of the participants in such an action is not baptized, the priest has the right to refuse to perform the ceremony. Choose very carefully and well, if you believe the signs, then the witnesses will be in some mysterious way connected with the newlyweds, and if one of the witnesses is reckless or irresponsible, then your marriage will be like that. You will forever be connected to your witnesses.
Church rules for the wedding ceremony
The life together of a man and a woman must begin with spiritual preparation. The Church recommends that persons wishing to get married undergo a 7-day fast, during which they must pray intensely. A day or two before the sacrament, you need to visit the temple, repent of your sins in confession, attend the service, and go to communion. Of course, these are not requirements, but only recommendations, but they are worth listening to. It’s not for nothing that for centuries our ancestors strictly observed these rules.
It must be borne in mind that the sacrament is not performed every day. Therefore, before planning a wedding, you need to check with the temple whether the celebration will take place at a time when the ceremony is not performed.
For example, it is forbidden to get married during any fast, during Easter and cheese weeks, during the entire period from Christmas to Epiphany, on the eve of the temple, great and twelve holidays, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Exceptions are possible, but they can only be made for serious reasons and with the permission of the ruling bishop.
What to prepare before the wedding
A wedding in the Orthodox Church takes place according to established rules; in addition to them, there are also folk signs that are also worth paying attention to. Before performing the sacrament, you need to prepare several items:
- The image of Christ and the Virgin Mary for the blessing of the newlyweds. Previously, these shrines were passed on from one generation to another. According to legend, the older the wedding icons are, the happier the couple’s life will be. But if they are not there, there is no need to be upset. You can simply purchase images in a church shop and pass them on to your children in the future, thereby creating a good tradition.
- Rings. They are a sign of an eternal, indissoluble union. According to legend, the husband's ring should be gold, and the wife's should be silver. Gold symbolizes the light of the sun, to which a man in marriage is likened, and silver is the sign of the moon, a lesser luminary that shines with the reflected light of the sun. However, in ancient times, not everyone could afford such a luxury, so the church did not forbid purchasing rings made of brass or other inexpensive material. At the same time, it was believed that a smooth ring, without carvings or stones, meant a good life.
- Two clean embroidered towels. They are thrown onto wedding dresses.
- White towel. Those getting married stand on it during the sacrament. Today, a towel can be replaced with a small rug.
This is interesting! According to the legend, whoever of the couple manages to step on the towel first will be the head of the family.
What signs to pay attention to before getting married?
There are many signs and superstitions associated with the wedding ceremony. Many of them have survived to this day. The most popular beliefs:
- After the bride leaves for the wedding, the floors in the house need to be washed. According to the sign, after this the girl will not return to her parents, that is, she will remain with her husband forever, the marriage will be strong.
- Before the wedding, the couple must take an oath of love to each other near the well. It symbolizes bottomless happiness.
- Young people should go to church one way and return another. It was believed that in this way it was easy to confuse evil spirits that could harm the couple. After all, the dark forces cannot approach the temple, so they will wait for the young people on the way home.
- It is fortunate for the bride to cry before the wedding.
- Under no circumstances should young people turn around before entering the temple. According to popular signs for a wedding in a church, such an action promises a quick separation. And since there were practically no divorces in ancient times, the reason for separation could be a long-term departure, a serious illness, or even the death of one of the spouses.
- You cannot cross the path of a couple going to a wedding - the life of the newlyweds will not work out.
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There are several other signs that our ancestors attached special importance to.
Newlyweds' health
Both the bride and groom should be completely healthy and feel great at the wedding. If on this day one of them suddenly falls ill or his long-standing illness worsens, the ceremony should be postponed. Otherwise, according to legend, these sores will bind a person for life.
On leaving home
Before the bride and groom go to the wedding, new locks are placed on the thresholds of their houses. As soon as the newlyweds cross them, parents or godparents should close the locks and throw the keys into a pond or bury them in a secluded place. The locks are then given to the couple, who must keep these items as a symbol of eternal, unbreakable love. It was believed that such castles were reliable amulets of family happiness.
On a note! This tradition, slightly modified, continues to this day. Nowadays, newlyweds close the lock themselves (usually by hanging it on a bridge railing) and throw the key into the river.
For the weather
People said that if it rains on the wedding day, it means that the couple’s family life will be calm and happy. It is especially good if it rained during the sacrament - this was considered a blessing from higher powers.
But severe frost or heat on the day of the ceremony is an unfavorable sign. According to the sign, the newlyweds will often quarrel among themselves, and conflicts with the relatives of the other half are possible.
Signs before the road
The following signs and superstitions before the sacrament are distinguished:
- If the bride and groom swear eternal love to each other in front of the well, their marriage will be happy and strong.
- Before leaving the house, a lock is placed on the threshold. It is closed immediately after the newlyweds walk out the door. The key is thrown away on the way to the temple. The lock itself remains in the house. It is a symbol of the love of the newly-made family.
- The bride's tears before the ceremony are considered a good sign. The main thing is that they are caused by joy, not problems. For example, she may be touched by the warm words of loved ones.
- After the groom has taken the girl from the house, she is forbidden to turn around. If she breaks the ban, life with her husband will be dysfunctional.
- On the way, it is unacceptable for someone to block the path, otherwise some kind of obstacles will always arise in family life.
Signs during the wedding ceremony
Our ancestors noticed any, even minor, events that occurred in the church during the sacrament, and connected them with subsequent family life. Some signs that were paid attention to during the wedding are still relevant today.
Crowns
In the sacrament of weddings, the crown did not appear immediately. Initially, it was a royal attribute, because only the ruling person could wear such a dress. In the popular consciousness, reign has always been associated with happiness. Therefore, later crowns appeared in the church, because a wedding is an individual happiness for everyone. In addition, the crown is also a symbol of martyrdom, since marriage is not only joy. The couple will have to go through bitter and even tragic moments.
According to legend, the sign of widowhood is often young during the ceremony. If the crown falls from one of them, he will soon be a widow/widower.
Another belief says that when a priest reads prayers, young people should say mentally:
“I’m getting married, but my illnesses are not getting married, all my illnesses are going away.”
If this is not done, the diseases with which the marriage was married will remain with the couple forever.
Wedding candles
Regular church candles are not suitable for the ceremony, since special, larger ones are used for weddings. There are many signs associated with them:
- You need to keep the remains of ritual candles for the rest of your life. They protect the peace of the family, serve as protection from quarrels, witchcraft, and gossip.
- Whose candle burns the most during the wedding will die before the other spouse.
- If a woman suffers greatly during the birth of a child, she should light her wedding candle - the birth will be easier.
- During the wedding, the candles crackle - family life will be difficult. Burn evenly and quietly - the marriage will be happy.
Signs about a wedding dress
Both today and in ancient times, a wedding dress was of great importance for a girl. Sometimes it was the only expensive outfit in a girl’s life. It is not surprising that many signs were associated with such a thing:
- Before the ceremony, the girl should not see herself in a full-length wedding dress, otherwise the wedding will not take place.
- It is impossible for the future spouse to see the outfit before the wedding. According to legend, a husband who sees a dress ahead of time will cheat on his wife for the rest of his life.
- Before leaving the house, you need to pin a pin on the wrong side of the dress. She will protect the girl from the evil eye and evil wishes.
- The dress must have an even number of buttons, otherwise the spouse will cheat.
- The bride's outfit should not be separate, that is, consist of a skirt and jacket. Wedding clothes are only one-piece, otherwise divorce is inevitable.
- The belt of the dress should not be decorated with flowers - the birth will be difficult.
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Ancestors believed that a wedding dress should be elegant, but modest. According to the sign, if the bride wears a revealing outfit, family life will not work out, the girl will face loneliness, suffering, and tears.
Signs on a wedding dress
Signs on a wedding dress
Before the wedding, a small pin is placed on the bride’s dress, as well as on the groom’s suit, to ward off the evil eye of the young family. The sign that a wedding dress should only be worn on the wedding day should never be allowed before. There is also a sign that the bride should not see herself completely in a wedding dress before the wedding ceremony.
It is advisable that the bride wear a veil before entering the church so that her eyes are not visible. Only in the church can it be removed. During a wedding, the bride usually wears a headscarf. So, according to one of the signs, she should watch him closely. If he falls, her husband may cheat on her or he may leave her.
When is the best time to perform the ritual?
People have noticed that marriages concluded on a certain date are often happy. Other days, on the contrary, are unfavorable for performing the ritual.
Day
According to the sign, if the wedding took place on Red Mountain (the first Sunday after Easter), then the marriage will be long and strong. It was believed that this was the best time for a wedding, so many sought to get married on this day.
Also favorable are the days between the Petrov and Dormition fasts and from Epiphany to Maslenitsa. But a wedding in May, according to legend, will only bring suffering. People say: if you get married in May, both of you will not live, but you will have to suffer.
On a note! It has been noted that a couple who got married not in a church, but in a monastery, separates very quickly, and the day of the ceremony does not have any significance in this case.
Time
It is believed that the best time for a wedding is from 10 am to 2 pm. Marriages concluded during this time period are successful. But it is not recommended to carry out the ceremony in the afternoon - life together will be boring, gray, joyless.
Bells ringing
Hearing bells ringing after the wedding is fortunate. Previously, ringing accompanied every sacrament, but today this will have to be additionally negotiated in the temple. However, it is worth doing this, because, according to popular belief, the ringing of a bell informs heaven about the birth of a new family, and at that moment all the angels pray to God for the health and happiness of the couple.
Getting ready for the temple
- According to tradition, parents always blessed the kneeling bride and groom with a family icon. It was considered a good sign if the young people, having venerated the image, bowed at the same time - this meant that harmony and complete mutual understanding would reign in the family.
- After the bride left the house, the parents diligently washed the floors in all the rooms so that the girl would settle down in the new family and would not return: she went out and her traces were washed away.
- In the old days, only the godfather and mother were supposed to accompany the newlyweds to the temple, and relatives were supposed to wait for the newly-made spouses at home and prepare the feast. But now times have changed, and if parents definitely want to go to a wedding in church, signs will no longer argue.
- A lock was placed under the threshold of the house through which the couple crossed, going to the temple, and then they closed it tightly and threw away the key: what was locked could no longer fall apart.
- The total number of vehicles in the wedding cortege had to be odd.
- It was considered a very bad sign if someone crossed the road of the wedding procession.
Clothing requirements
The newlyweds' wedding clothes should be decent, neat, clean and, if possible, elegant. In this case, the color of the groom’s suit does not matter, but the bride’s dress should be light, preferably white. The girl's head must be covered with a scarf, a light openwork shawl or a veil. It's good if your shoulders and arms are also covered.
This is interesting! It is believed that the bride should not wear pearl jewelry (they were called “mermaid tears”), otherwise she will have to cry a lot later.
Mothers of those getting married should wear light-colored outfits. According to legend, the dark shades of their clothes are a sign of the children’s imminent separation.
Signs during the ceremony
When going up onto the church porch, the newlywed should be very careful. The wedding dress is usually long, so the bride may accidentally step on the hem or trip. This is a bad omen that promises quarrels with your spouse and his relatives. Stepping over the threshold, the girl must mentally say:
“I take joy and happiness with me, I leave sorrows and troubles at the door.”
A couple needs to enter the church with their right foot and leave with their left.
During the ceremony, the bride and groom cannot look into each other's eyes, otherwise, according to legend, there will be frequent betrayals in the family. You shouldn’t look around either; it’s better to look down or direct it at the priest.
It’s good if a healer is present at the wedding, who has undertaken to protect the newlyweds from possible damage and the evil eye. She must continuously repeat to herself:
“Our Lord, save your servants (names of those getting married) from all evil with the life-giving cross, the Holy Spirit and the prayers of all intercessors.”
If she manages to say this forty times, then no one will be able to harm the couple, even if forty black sorcerers came to the temple specifically for this purpose.
After the wedding
Immediately after the wedding, the newlyweds must go home to bring happiness to their doorstep. It is not recommended to drive around the city or immediately go on a trip or restaurant. This can be done later, but first you must go to the joint house.
It is customary to greet newlyweds with a loaf of bread specially baked for this purpose. After they break off a piece, the bread must be removed and not give a crumb to anyone, otherwise, according to legend, the couple will often quarrel. Only spouses or their parents (if the parents are not alive, godparents) can eat the loaf.
Returning after the wedding, the wife needs to touch the door frame and mentally say:
“I was a fox, now I have become a lioness! Neither my husband nor my new relatives will be able to offend me, and the Most Holy Theotokos will help me.”
The sign says that after this action the husband and his parents will always be kind to the young woman.
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Wedding signs before the wedding
Absolutely all signs are conjectures of our ancestors, and how effective they are depends only on your imagination. By observing various kinds of signs, you reassure yourself, because you believe that your family is protected by invisible forces that can overcome all the hardships of family life. What signs exist before a wedding? What is important for newlyweds to pay attention to in order to protect themselves from their negative consequences? The newlyweds are racking their brains over these and other questions. And so there are many signs before the wedding, which we will tell you about below:
- Before the newlyweds leave the house, their parents place a padlock under their feet. After they have crossed the threshold of the house, this lock is closed and the key is thrown into the water. Such actions are characterized by the long and family life of the newlyweds, which should proceed in harmony and respect for each other;
- Water is a symbol of bottomless happiness. Therefore, many superstitious newlyweds swear an oath of fidelity to each other near water, whose feelings are as pure as the water flowing nearby;
- Typically, a bride should not cry on her wedding day, as her family risks bringing her sadness and disappointment. But, if these tears are from happiness, then rest assured that there will be plenty of such happy and touching moments in your life;
- To ensure that the bride does not suffer the fate of a divorced woman or widow, she is strictly forbidden to turn back when she leaves her parental home;
- Before the wedding ceremony or in the procession, under no circumstances should you cross the path of the newlyweds. This is marked by the fact that the family life of two loving hearts will be doomed to divorce proceedings.
At the table
The Church does not recommend drinking a lot, dancing or singing at the table after the wedding. The feast should be modest so that the newlyweds, their relatives and friends can feel the solemnity of the moment, calmly rejoice for the couple, wish them a good journey together, joy, and happiness. The newlyweds themselves were forbidden to even touch alcohol, otherwise their children, according to legend, would be dependent on alcohol. There are other beliefs regarding the feast:
- Spouses should sit on a fur coat with the fur turned upside down - this will bring prosperity.
- You need to take the tablecloth with you from the table and, without washing it, put it in a secluded place. If on each wedding anniversary the spouses lay it on the table, then they will live without parting until the end of their days. During the first labor pains, the wife should sit on the tablecloth - the birth will be quick and easy. No one should be allowed to rent a wedding tablecloth, as it is a talisman against troubles, quarrels and separations.
- If the bride spills alcohol on herself during a feast, the husband will drink a lot in the future.
- If the bride wants the family to always have prosperity, she should propose the first toast to her father-in-law, and if she wants peace and good relationships, to her mother-in-law.
- If part of the wedding attire (glove, scarf, tie, etc.) is lost or stolen during the feast, the couple will quickly divorce.
Signs about wedding rings
Wedding rings should be chosen smooth, without stones or relief patterns, so that family life is smooth, without discord. Unfortunately, most jewelry stores offer wedding rings that do not at all correspond to this canon. On the shelves you will see all rings with engravings, inlays, inscriptions and drawings. Finding smooth rings is very difficult, but if you try, you can do it!
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Wedding rings must be new. The only exceptions are jewelry that is passed down from generation to generation.
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The groom must pay for the rings in the store so that there is agreement in the future family. But a young couple should definitely go shopping together.
wedding rings
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Wedding rings must be the perfect size.
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You should not let anyone try on your wedding rings! And there’s no point in bragging about them again either.
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Before the wedding, the rings must lie on the altar overnight, so you should bring them to the priest in advance.
Signs about wedding gifts
There are a huge number of signs associated with wedding gifts. The most famous of them:
- By giving an expensive antique, you can convey to the spouses the fate of its former owners. Young people should give the donor a coin, then the item will no longer be a gift, but a purchase. This will remove all possible negativity.
- You cannot give cutting or sharp objects as gifts - there will be frequent squabbles and conflicts in the family.
- It is not customary to present glass and porcelain objects. They can break and, according to legend, soon after that the family will also break.
- If the guest decides to give money, then he must do this before sunset, otherwise he will incur poverty.
- It is forbidden to give young people a portrait or photo of them together. The sign says that after such a gift the spouses will quickly separate.
- Strangers should not give red or burgundy bouquets to the bride. These shades symbolize passion, so only her husband can present such flowers to the newlywed. It has been noted that a bride who accepts this gift from strangers will cheat on her spouse.
If the veil catches fire
If during the sacrament the bride's veil accidentally flashes, this is a bad sign. According to legend, such a union will bring only tears and misfortune to the newlyweds. Treason, frequent scandals and even fights are possible. As a result, the couple will have to separate.
However, it is quite possible to avoid negative consequences. If, after leaving the temple, the spouses look together in one mirror and say: “The veil is on fire, the misfortune of God’s servants (names) does not concern us forever and ever,” nothing bad will happen.
Superstitions about weddings
The following signs for a wedding in a church are known among the people:
- Witnesses should spread a towel at the feet of those getting married. Whoever steps on it first will be the head of the family.
- When the sacrament is completed, the young people need to present the church with a gift. As a rule, these are loafs or towels made from flax. Donations in the form of money are also allowed.
- During the ceremony, the newlyweds should not look each other in the eyes. Otherwise, their union may fall apart. It is possible that one of the spouses will cheat.
- Crowns must be placed on the head. If this requirement is not met, the marriage will be considered invalid.
- According to signs, the newlyweds light the candles themselves at the wedding. Nobody should help them with this. After the wedding, the remaining candles should be saved. They act as powerful amulets that can help in difficult life situations.
- If the weather is rainy or cloudy during the sacrament, the family will be rich and happy. According to signs, it is bad if at that moment the sun is shining brightly on the street.
- After leaving the temple, the girl needs to give alms to the poor. In this way, she pays off all sorts of adversities and minor troubles.
- At the end of the ritual, the newlyweds need to look in the mirror at the same time.
- At the festive table, the young couple's legs intertwine. This symbolizes the strength of their union.
- The groom carries the bride across the threshold of the house in his arms. According to legends, in this case the girl in her new home will be respected and honored.
- At a wedding, newlyweds are prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages. If they even take a sip of something intoxicating, their children will suffer from addiction to alcohol.
- You need to leave the temple on a different route than you took for the ceremony.
See the wedding
In ancient times, it was almost impossible to see how the sacrament of wedding of strangers was performed, because only the closest people could be present in the temple, the rest were waiting for the couple outside. If a person had to become an involuntary witness of someone else’s happiness, the sign promised him eternal loneliness. Even if he was married at that moment, it was believed that separation was inevitable.
Over time, the ritual became more open, and the sign acquired a different, positive meaning. According to popular belief, getting to a wedding by chance is a sign of great luck. Modern esotericists also agree with this opinion. They claim that a person who sees happy people is charged with positive energy and begins to attract positive events to himself.
Important point! You can't envy the young. You need to sincerely, from the bottom of your heart, mentally or out loud, wish them goodness, prosperity, love. Only in this case can you count on the favor of higher powers.
A large number of signs, legends, and superstitions are associated with the sacrament of weddings. Most of them have a positive meaning. But even if the interpretation is negative, you should not expect problems and despair. There is always a way to avoid bad omens. It is enough to visit the temple, pray and ask the Lord, your guardian angel and patron saints for protection.
In addition, we should not forget that any event that occurs may have a completely logical explanation that is in no way connected with mysticism, and, accordingly, it portends absolutely nothing.