An Uzbek wedding is a vibrant event with a lot of national treats, cheerful music and interesting rituals. The wedding customs of this people were formed and consolidated over many centuries, and today Uzbeks continue to honor and perform them.
Like a wedding in Azerbaijan, an Uzbek wedding is considered a special event for parents and newlyweds, which is why they prepare for it long and carefully. What is she? Svadbaholik.ru will be happy to tell you about this wonderful celebration.
Matchmaking and engagement
Often, relatives begin to look for a bride for a young man as soon as he turns 18. Sometimes searches drag on for a long time. When choosing a bride for their son, parents first of all pay attention to:
- social status,
- the level of education,
- upbringing,
- housekeeping skills.
If the bride meets all the requirements, the first stage of marriage in Uzbekistan begins - matchmaking. To do this, matchmakers are sent to the girl’s house. The bride's relatives greet them cordially and generously treat them. On the first visit, matchmakers have the opportunity to evaluate the bride, her upbringing, and ability to communicate with guests. Uzbek wedding traditions require three visits by matchmakers to obtain consent for marriage.
As a sign of agreement, representatives of the two families break the cake. Then the engagement is celebrated at the girl's house. The bride's parents arrange a celebration, generously setting the table, and the groom's relatives present the girl with sweets, fabrics and money.
Daughter-in-law in an Uzbek family
Even if they have their own apartment or house, for the first few months after the wedding, the newlyweds settle in the house of their father-in-law and mother-in-law. During the first three days after the wedding, the daughter-in-law is freed from household duties, during which time she gets used to the new home and new relatives. Then, according to ancient customs, almost the entire household is entrusted to her: she must clean the house, prepare food for the whole family and take full charge of everyday life. In such a situation, the daughter-in-law has no rights and is completely subordinate to the mother-in-law, becoming practically a servant. The Uzbek mentality is such that it is the young wife who must adapt not only to her husband, but also to his entire relatives, especially her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
The future life of a young wife in her husband’s family depends on the relationship between new relatives, their characters and how strictly they observe the customs existing in the country. In many modern Uzbek families, the daughter-in-law becomes a full member of the family and enjoys sincere respect from relatives. There are many positive examples of marriages where the daughter-in-law lives in harmony and harmony with her husband and his relatives.
Traditional pilaf
Preparing morning pilaf is an important ritual with which the wedding begins (in Uzbek it is called “Nakhor oshi”). Only men should serve food on the table. The event can last several hours. The cheerful feast is accompanied by traditional music, songs and dances. Women are not present during this action. They perform the ceremony separately. It is called “Khotin oshi”, which translates as “pilaf for women”.
Uzbek music for a wedding
There is a lot of singing at weddings.
We have prepared a selection of the most famous wedding songs:
- Yor-yor.
- Nozli is buzzing.
- Nargiza.
- Muhabbat.
- Tuylar muborak.
- Joja Larim.
- Ishonmasman.
- Zhonim.
- From Yor Dort Bo Cher Serkh.
- Taslim Bo'ldim.
- Soladun.
- Firtina.
- Bojalar.
- Sen borsan.
- Xiyonat.
- Um semum.
- Asta-asta.
- Namangan apples.
- When I saw you, I realized...
- I miss you …
A wedding is a fun celebration where there is a lot of dancing and singing.
Uzbek wedding dresses
Despite the fact that today Uzbek brides can afford to wear wedding dresses according to European fashion, many still continue to adhere to traditions and prefer national costumes.
To sew a wedding dress, a type of silk fabric is used - khan-atlas. A velvet camisole, hand-embroidered with gold threads, is worn over the dress.
Uzbeks believe that jewelry is the best amulet against the evil eye. Therefore, the Uzbek bride tries to wear as many rings and bracelets as possible. This has some similarities with the traditions of a Tamil wedding.
An important detail of the bride’s image is the “tiplya-kosh”. This is a type of kokoshnik. It is richly decorated with embroidery and pendants. When the bride comes out to the groom, a “bolimpush” is held above her head. This is a large embroidered cloth, symbolizing patronage in marriage.
The traditional wedding attire for the groom - sarpo - is bought by the bride's parents. In different regions of the country, Uzbek wedding attire may differ, but it must look bright and rich. In the photo below you can see examples of Uzbek wedding dresses for newlyweds.
Traditions, rituals and customs of weddings in Uzbek in Moscow and other cities of Russia
The traditions of Uzbek weddings have been formed over centuries; in this regard, Uzbek wedding customs are considered one of the most ancient. Uzbek wedding ceremonies are famous for their scope, various rituals and are a grandiose event for all members of the newlyweds’ family. A certain series of events is envisaged with the primary task being the search for a bride. This process sometimes lasts for months and sometimes for years. One of the traditions of an Uzbek wedding is that considerable expenses for the wedding fall on the groom’s side, but sometimes it happens by agreement. The main moment of the Uzbek wedding ceremony is the moment when the woman enters the man’s house. The day usually begins with preparing Uzbek pilaf. Pilaf is prepared at home by the bride’s relatives exclusively by men. This is a very important ritual of an Uzbek wedding; it must be previously agreed upon with all relatives, loved ones, neighbors and just acquaintances. Pilaf is prepared in the morning at the end of the morning prayer, after which the men sit down at the tables for a meal in the form of tea, flat cakes and, of course, this pilaf itself.
Nikoh-tui
The Uzbek groom, dressed in a wedding suit, which according to tradition should be given to him by the bride's parents, comes in the afternoon to the Uzbek bride, also dressed in an Uzbek wedding dress with her face covered with a veil from the evil eye. First, the newlyweds get engaged to the imam, and then go to the registry office. This Uzbek betrothal is called the sacrament “nikoh-tui”; during it, prayers are read, and then the bride and groom promise each other to remain faithful.
Ritual of farewell to the bride and parents
One of the traditions of an Uzbek wedding is the farewell of the bride to her parents. After the sacrament of “nikoh-tui” has taken place and a trip to the registry office, the husband arrives with his young Uzbek wife back to her house to take her home only in the morning the next day. The bride's parents mourn their daughter, but at the same time wish her happiness in her family life. And the next morning, together with her husband, she leaves her parents’ house along with her dowry. They take with them bed linen, kitchen utensils, kurpachy (mattresses) and some other things. And at the groom’s house, the newlyweds are met by relatives who have laid out a white path in front of the porch. The wife bows to the new home, she is showered with money and a new life begins. The main wedding fun begins on this day either in the husband's house or in an Uzbek restaurant.
An Uzbek wedding is celebrated very cheerfully and noisily, many guests come. They invite an Uzbek presenter, musicians who perform Uzbek songs and music. In our agency you can order Uzbek photographers and videographers who will film all this. On the tables of the guests are traditional dishes of Uzbek cuisine, known to everyone: manti, tui palov, turup, naryn (noodles with horse meat), kazy and many others...
Kelin lard
The latest Uzbek wedding custom is kelin salom, which means greeting the daughter-in-law. The day after the wedding, female relatives come to the groom’s house, and the wife, dressed in a national Uzbek costume, greets them with bows, while receiving gifts from all her husband’s relatives and parents. Gifts can be very different: jewelry, furniture, carpets, ornaments, household appliances and much more.
Kalym
When a bride is transferred to a new family, it is believed that her working hands are lost, so the bride’s parents ask for compensation for this in the form of money or valuables, which in Uzbekistan is called kalym. It looks like a real performance, which you can watch on a video of an Uzbek wedding.
Navruz holiday
UNESCO included the Navruz Bayram holiday, the favorite holiday of all Uzbeks, in the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The roots of the holiday go deep into the period of Arab conquests and the emergence of Islam. The Almighty, according to legend, created the world in a week, and the creation itself took place on the second day, so four Tuesdays are celebrated before Navruz - the first is dedicated to water, the second to fire, the third to earth, and, finally, the most important last Tuesday. The celebration begins on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Wedding in Tashkent - a grand feast
According to ancient customs, the wedding takes place in the groom's house and at his expense. But modern Uzbeks living in Tashkent can deviate from traditions, for example, share expenses or hold a celebration in a restaurant. But in any case, Uzbek weddings are distinguished by luxury and a large number of guests. Celebrations for 300-400 people are often held in Tashkent.
Traditionally, upon the arrival of the bride, a white path is laid out, along which she will enter the groom's house or place of celebration. Guests shower the bride with petals, sweets and money, wishing her a happy family life. Nowadays newlyweds often go out together.
During the celebration, the newlyweds are seated in a wedding hut. A traditional tablecloth, dastarkhan, is laid out in front of them. Placing a variety of treats and sweets on the tablecloth is a ritual of attracting wealth and well-being to a new family.
A wedding in Tashkent is not complete without another important custom. Newlyweds should definitely eat honey during the holiday. This will provide them with a sweet and happy life.
National music and dances are a mandatory element of the entertainment program, as is the case with weddings among different peoples living in the eastern part of the continent.
Traditions
At the end of the engagement ceremony, the wedding date is set and active preparations for it begin. According to national tradition, the wedding is paid for by the groom's family, however, in modern large cities, especially in Tashkent, it is no longer uncommon for all expenses to be divided in half between both families.
According to long-standing traditions, the future wife should receive a rich dowry from her parents. They begin to prepare it almost from the moment the girl is born, in order to be able to provide her with a large amount of fabrics, carpets, towels, bed linen, clothes, household items and dishes, etc. before marriage.
Shortly before the wedding ceremony, a bachelorette party is traditionally held at the bride's house, to which all the bride's relatives and friends are invited. It is fun, with lots of treats, dancing and songs, and the hero of the occasion receives gifts from her friends.
The wedding night
Representatives of eastern countries treat the sacrament of the first wedding night with special trepidation. An Uzbek wedding in Tashkent is no exception. The groom, according to custom, must “buy” the bride from her aunt or close friend - yangi. This happens as follows.
At the end of the celebration, the bride and groom, holding hands, leave the wedding hut, but are separated for some time. The groom stays with his friends, while the yanga accompanies the bride to the bedroom, helps her change clothes and hides her behind a screen - gushanga. Only then does the groom come with his friends. In order to be left alone with his beloved, the groom, after a small auction, will have to pay a ransom to the Yanga.
You can learn about other interesting customs, for example, about the first wedding night among Muslims, on the website svadbagolik.ru.
Wedding preparations
Fatiha-Tui is the Uzbek name for engagement. Her date is set on the day of matchmaking. This event is a ceremony during which the mother of the bride receives valuable gifts from the groom's relatives. An engagement among Uzbeks is not as lavish as a wedding, but on this day you can see many valuable items in national paraphernalia. Most often, money, lamb, luxurious fabrics and national sweets are presented as gifts.
In most regions of Uzbekistan, wedding expenses are borne by the groom. However, emancipation did not pass Tashkent by, so both the parents of the groom and the bride pay for the wedding here.
Early in the morning on the wedding day, a treat with Uzbek pilaf is organized in the newlywed’s house. Only male guests are allowed to attend this festive ceremony.
Greeting the bride - a beautiful Uzbek tradition
On the third day of the wedding celebration, an important wedding ceremony is supposed to be performed - “Kelim salom”. In the morning, the young wife meets guests and relatives at her husband’s house. The girl bows deeply to everyone who comes, and the guests in return present her with various gifts. They give everything that may be useful for living together:
- carpets,
- furniture,
- Jewelry,
- kitchen utensils,
- rubble equipment.
Until this moment, the bride is considered a guest, and after “Kelim Salom” she becomes part of the new family. The third day of the celebration is also celebrated with a richly laid table, music and dancing. This is where the wedding in Uzbekistan ends!
What do you give for a celebration?
All the guests gathered at the wedding present the newlyweds with gifts. Young people receive the most valuable gifts from their parents and closest relatives. This could be furniture, household appliances, jewelry, etc. Other guests usually come to the wedding with not so expensive gifts, but they try to present something that will be useful to the newlyweds in their family life:
- bedding sets;
- services;
- photo frames.
Cash gifts have not yet become widespread in Uzbekistan. If guests still give the cash equivalent of a gift, then they give the envelope to the groom.
