My Ethnography- A Ukranian Wedding - Social Issues Article

By:Katie Criss

Lately I have been searching high and low for ideas that I could do my ethnography on. Well to my surprise and advantage, we had been invited to my father’s fiancés brothers wedding. [I’ll give you a second to figure that chain out.]. One week before the wedding, Darla, my fathers fiancé, was shooting out warnings that this may not be the traditional American wedding that we are used to, and wow was she right…

Before we even made it to the church I felt like I could see it from miles away. A huge steeple with what looked like an enormous gold ball was attached. As we got closer I was able to see two more of these golden ball steeples. It reminded me of the Disney movie Aladdin. It looked like a castle. Once we got inside the church there was gold everywhere. I have never saw a church so overly decorated. Behind every painting you would find this gold circleall object. At the front of the church there was an enormous golden gate that stretched from one side of the church to the other. This was made out of actual real gold. The church was not the only thing that completely shocked me, but even more so was the wedding ceremony itself.

The ceremony began with an interesting twist. Jessica and Scott entered the church together. Now to my knowledge I thought that this sort of thing was bad luck and that the groom was not suppose to see the bride until her father walked her down the aisle and gave her away. Not in this case. Apparently earlier in the day Jessica’s father had already given her a blessing at what they call a “blahsovenya”. At the time I believed that she must have lost her father and that is why they were entering the church together, but Darla informed me of the event of the blessings beforehand that I had missed out on, because only immediate family is invited, was just part of this Ukrainian tradition. The most important reason that Jessica and Scott entered the church together was because it is tradition that they enter the church as equal partners. In Ukrainian marriages, teamwork and equality are two very important aspects, and are recognized many different ways throughout the ceremony.

Now before they even begin to walk down the aisle, at the very back of the church, the priest dressed with a fuchsia scarf around him, stops them before they go any farther and has them confirm that they are both entering this freely and as equals. After they do so, there in the back of the church, the priest blessed their wedding bands and put them on each of their fingers. I was completely shocked.

Instead of having a best man or a maid of honor they have relatively the same thing but refer to them as starosties. [I think that’s how to say it.]. As they entered they carried pictures, one of the Virgin Mary, and one of Jesus Christ. Truthfully I didn’t get the full story on why these were carried with them down the aisle instead of flowers but I assume that it is just to recognize these holy figures in their marriage.

During the ceremony the priest sung everything, and mostly Jessica’s side sung everything back. The whole hour was like this. I later found out that they believe by singing they pray twice. The priest had other peculiar things about him, for instance in a very strict and bold voice he would say “Pay attention now“. Much different then I was expecting it caught me off guard a couple times. He also told this story that was about how much wine Jesus bought for a party and how he opened the cheap wine first and once the guests were all drunk he then opened the expensive wine. This was another topic that I just did not expect to be talked about at all let alone at a wedding. He incorporated food into the ceremony a lot too. The priest would also talk to the picture of Jesus Christ that was hung in the front of the church; he would turn his back to the couple and talk. It was quite different then I am use to.

Towards the end of the wedding the priest took Jessica to the picture of Mary that was located on the left hand side of the church. Jessica put flowers by this picture and kneeled down and prayed to it, and then returned to her place next to Scott.

Then came the most important aspect of the wedding, the crowning. A wreath made of vines or what they called myrtle, which symbolizes love, purity, and fertility was placed on the couple’s head to represent the dawn of a new kingdom to be ruled by the couple. They are to serve as a reminder to the couple that marriage is a partnership in Christ, and they owe it to God and to each other to live a life of honor and love. At the point in the ceremony they each placed their right hands on the gospel, exchange their vows, and become married in the eyes of God.

At this point the priest then ties their hands together and has them walk around the alter three times. These are Scott and Jessica’s first steps and husband and wife.

From here on out it is a routine wedding, the husband and wife exit together and thank everyone for coming and receive blessings from everyone as the leave the church, with their parents right beside them. Once everyone is out of the church Scott and Jessica come outside to what is usually birdseed but in this case was a whistle blowing. Then it was off to the reception.

Around six o’clock strawberries and champagne were served, and after the toast made by each of the starosties, cocktails were served. This reception pretty much lacked Ukrainian tradition other then one thing, a big decorated loaf of bread sat next to the traditional American wedding cake. The bread was explained to be a korovai and is traditional wedding bread that is meant to symbolize community. On this giant loaf of bread were little statues of two white birds, just like on the wedding cake there was a statue of a bride and groom.

This wedding of Scott and Jessica had many traditions in it, but also was not the full out Ukrainian wedding. Yet it was quite interesting. The hour-long ceremony focused mainly on Scott and Jessica as a couple and becoming a union of one.

The religion itself focused on the same things as any other tradition would just in a different manner, thus what makes it a unique religion. The traditions in the wedding ceremony were quite symbolic and very focused on letting them know that in Gods kingdom they were being recognized as husband and wife and should not betray that.

My main focus was on the ceremony itself. This Ukrainian wedding was traditional and a little bit non-traditional. Jessica wore a white dress, which is an American tradition, not the traditional attire for the Ukrainian wedding. However, this ceremony differed a lot from what I was use to and what I was expecting. This ceremony was very symbolic and was very intense on how it focused on them becoming a union of one.

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Article keywords: Ukrainian, wedding, traditions, family, tradition, expierence, bride, groom, custom

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Katie Criss is a graduate with a dual degree in Early Childhood Elementary Education, who enjoys writing and wants it to be seen! Also enjoys doing research and saving money!See this Authors Research by clicking here