Folk Culture

The Bulgarian Wedding

The traditional Bulgarian wedding is one of the most important and central ceremonial moments, in a series of national rites and rituals, connected with a person’s life. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the Bulgarian wedding ritual had been preserved in its entirety as a series of festivities, rich with elements of folk drama. These festivities consisted of a pre-marriage, marriage and after marriage rites and rituals. Today, nearly all of the original rituals have been preserved.
A Small Engagement (visit to the home of a prospective bride)

The engagement marks the beginning of the wedding cycle. Even the most ancient Bulgarian traditions required the bride’s agreement. Until the 1940’s there was one exciting ritual that preceded the wedding. It was called “sgleda” or a prearranged meeting between young people considering marriage. The young man sent his closest friends to the home of the chosen young girl. Usually they brought “rakia” (a home-made whiskey), a small bouquet of “zdravets” (an evergreen flower, a symbol of health and prosperity) as well as samll gifts for the girl and her father. The father of the girl, considered the master of the house, offered the guests a drink. If he approved of the matchmaking, he would give his blessing. Then he asked his daughter three times whether she was ready to get married. If she confirmed that she was ready, her family sent small gifts back to her future groom. This was an important prerequisite to the real engagement.
The Engagement

The engagement was held at the girl’s house, either on a specially chosen holiday or on a Sunday. Relatives and neighbors were invited. The feast was lavish. They were wined and dined. An important moment during this ritual was the agreement on the wedding’s details. Therefore, this ritual was the equivalent of a legal act. The period between the engagement and the wedding lasted from one day to a year or even more. It depended upon the local customs.
Hen’s Party, Bachelor’s Party or a “Farewell Dinner”

There were two farewell parties that took place in the pre-marriage part of the wedding rituals. One party was thrown at the groom’s house and the other at the bride’s. With the beginning of the 20th century, these parties lost their original ritualistic meaning. However, the parties still signify the separation of the single person from the group of unmarried men and women. The week prior to the wedding was full of many interesting rituals. Unfortunately, most of them are no longer practiced.
Kneading of the Ritual Bread, the Wedding Three

On the Thursday prior to the wedding, the ritual kneading of the bread (pitka) was performed. At the heart of this ritual lies the magical interpretation of the yeast mixing with the dough, symbolizing the creation of the new family. During the same week the Bulgarian tradition required the preparation of the main wedding requisite –the wedding banner. Somebody close to the groom was usually in charge of preparing it )often this was a brother or a cousin). The pole for the banner is gathered from a fruitful forest or orchard tree and the branch must be chopped off using one swing. The pole was usually 2 meters long. A hand-woven kerchief was often attached to the pole and an apple, quince or an onion were wrapped in tinfoil and pierced on top of the pole. The wedding banner was also decorated with strings of popcorn, bunches of zdravetsmade of, ivy and box-shrub which were tied with interwoven red-and white-colored (martenitsa) thread. This wedding banner takes part in the tradition even today, preserved in some regions.
Braiding the Bride’s Hair & Shaving the Groom

A very important part in the wedding rituals was the braiding of the bride’s hair and all the hair styling which was performed by her girlfriends. Another, similar ritual was the shaving of the groom. Both these rituals were accompanied with dances and music. Their purpose was to protect the young couple against evil spirits. These were the last rituals that preceded the wedding. These rituals are still performed today, but rarely. The rituals described below are still preserved and followed, especially in small towns and villages in the countryside.
Taking the Best Man

Early in the morning, on the wedding day, all the guests from the groom’s side gather at his house. These guests are his relatives and friends. Usually, there is a table set with light snacks for the guests. The central part of this ritual is the taking of the best man. The best man and the maid of honor (called “the best woman”) are usually a married couple, close friends of the young couple. The process of “taking the best man” from his own house is very festive, joyful, accompanied with music and dances. The groom, together with his friends, heads towards the best man’s house, followed by the musicians playing the music and the joyful crowd, who dance all the way. There is another table set at the best man’s house for the guests. The groom brings him a wine vessel and a baked chicken. From that moment on, the best man’s word is law. The procession heads towards the bride’s house; the best man brings his own wine vessel, the best woman brings the bride’s veil, the candles and small baked candies.
Taking the Bride

Before the groom leaves the house there are a number of rituals to be followed that are supposed to keep him away from the evil spirits. His friends pour barley over his head and shoot rifles in the air. The most common part in all of these rituals is the farewell of the groom to his parents and asking for their blessing. The order of the ceremony procession towards the bride’s house is the following: at the head of the procession is the flag-bearer, next the dancers (young men and women who play “Rachenitsa”), then come the musicians, the best man and the groom. The rest of the guests follow at the end. There is a special messenger called a “hostage” that arrives first at the bride’s house. Usually this is a man with a great sense of humor. He heralds the coming wedding and the bride’s parents sell him a rooster. The wedding rooster is decorated with a wreath of white popcorn and chili pepper hanging in the middle. The rooster’s wings are tied with a red cloth and the people usually bargain a long time on the price. The groom’s wedding guests are stopped at the front gates. They have to “play” to enter the bride’s house. After they enter, the most honored guests sit down around the set tables in the bride’s yard. Now the center of attention shifts to the young couple to be married. The bride is locked in a room, and only the best woman can visit her. Later, after they again bargain for an admission fee, the best man and the groom can join them also. The best woman’s obligation is to “veil” the bride. She veils her three times; two times the bride rejects it, on the third time she agrees to keep it. In the meantime all the wedding guests are singing and dancing outside, expecting the groom and the bride. The “hostage” continues to make jokes, play with the rooster and brag about its fruitfulness. The girls are trying to steal the rooster in order to sell it again. The groom and the bride are taken out of the house by the bride’s brother (if any) or by the best woman, each holding an end of a long hand-woven cloth. At the front door there is another set of rituals that protect the young couple from the evil spirits. The bride throws a dish (a new one and especially brought by the groom) filled with wheat, coins and a raw egg. She throws the dish behind and over her head and she doesn’t look back. It is a good sign if the dish shatters into small pieces. Then the bride knocks over a copper cauldron (pot) full of water. People start guessing about the next year’s crop yield, by the way the water is spilled. At the front gates, just before the bride and the groom leave the house, her mother splashes a bucket of water, wishing them a smooth and trouble free life. The guests are throwing coins and wheat, candies over their heads. An essential part of the wedding ceremony are the sad songs for the separation of the mother from the daughter or the bride’s separation with single life (usually when they are veiling her and taking her out). Singing is very important, almost everywhere the guests are singing: “A fir tree is twisting; a lass is saying farewell to her parents.” Usually in front of her house the groom and the guests dance the “horo.”
The Wedding Procession

On the way to the church, the wedding procession is cheerful and noisy. The drum is beating, the guests are shouting and shooting fireworks in the air; occasionally they stop on the road to dance. The bride doesn’t look back to her house. It is not a good sign if two brides (unmarried) meet on the street. It is believed that they will steal each other’s happiness. Even today there are occasions when two weddings wander around the neighborhood in order to avoid facing one another.
The Marriage Ceremony

The marriage ceremony in a church is a very important part of the wedding even though it has nothing to do with the folk rituals. In some regions the national folk customs find a place during the official state ceremony in the form of songs. The bride and the groom try to step in the church with their rihgt foot first. Another interesting moment is the “stepping” after the signing of the official papers, which means whoever steps first on the other’s shoe, he/she is the one to control and provide for the new family.
Meeting the Newlyweds

After the signing, the wedding procession used to go to the groom’s house, but in modern times the wedding party ends up in a restaurant. That is the place where all the important rituals concerning the wedding are performed. The main role has the groom’s mother meet the new family. She lays a white, long, handwoven cloth at the entrance to make a way for the newlyweds. She throws flowers and zdravets on the white path, symbolizing the good wishes for happiness and health, purity and beauty in their new life together. The newlyweds step on the white path, entering the restaurant, to be greeted by the guests. The groom’s mother greets the couple first, at the end of the white cloth, feeding them a bite of her home-made pitka, topped with honey. She wishes them a long and sweet life. Then she gives them a drink of wine with the wishes for a strong and lasting relationship. Then she takes the bread over her head and challenges the bride and the groom to compete for splitting the loaf. The winner who breaks the bigger piece wins the “bigger role” in the family. The songs that are performed during this ritual are no longer sad but jouful and lively. Usually they sing to the bride, comparing her to a sun shining on the husband’s home and a new help to the groom’s mother.

The Wedding Table

When the groom’s mother performs all the rituals, the guests sit around the tables. There is a special arrangement of the guests at the table according to their importance. The newlyweds sit at the center, the best man and the best woman sit at their sides, next come their parents. The most important role belongs to the best man again. The wedding table is a place for the dances, songs, good wishes and blessing from the guests. There are special round dances (horo) led by the groom’s father; another one is led by the best man and the bride herself. Another typical custom is the dance called “Rachenitsa,” which is danced in couples and is very energetic and playful throughout. The best man and the best woman are challenged to dance with some relatives of the bride who keep a tray with a baked chicken, a home baked round bread and a bottle of wine. The whole dance is a competition for endurance. In order to obtain these gifts, the best man and woman have to dance until the guests are exhausted. In some regions of the country, the bride and the groom have to dance for their wedding cake. There are always bottles of wine and rakia on the wedding table. The best man raises the first toast with a short speech and blessing to the new couple. After him all the guests raise a toast and give the newlyweds a blessing, together with their gifts. Traditionally the gift is something special to be remembered. Usually at the end of the wedding everybody dances the last wedding hore. After the best man leaves the party, that is the sign that it is time for the rest of the guests to leave also. He goes back to his house attended by music. In some regions, in accordance with the local tradition, people end the party at the groom’s house. These guests are the closest friends of the new family. The wedding rituals described above have different variations in different parts of Bulgaria. They turn a wedding into a folk spectacle. Overall, even today, the Bulgarian wedding is defined ethnically. At the end of the 20th century the traditional Bulgarian wedding is still lively and preserves the wealth of the traditional rites and rituals.