Russia

1. Russia

2. Country Info • Russia or, also officially known as the Russian Federation, is a country in northern Eurasia • Population 141,930,000 • Capital Is Moscow

3. Traditional Customs • A traditional Russian wedding usually lasts about 2 days some even up to a week • Dancing, singing, long toasts, and food and drinks are part of the celebration • Best man and the maid of honor are called witnesses(svideteli In Russian) • Ceremony and ring exchange takes place on the first day of the wedding • Its common to see two golden rings on the wedding invitations they symbolize marriage

4. The Wedding Day • Part 1: Ransom the Bride: the groom comes to the brides house with his closest friends and relatives. To get the bride he has to pay some ransom to the folks on the brides side . After getting the bride, the couple gets out of the house and into a limo or car. The car groom and his crew have to deal with neighbors wanting coins, candy, and drinks. In return the neighbors sprinkle them with coins and rice. • Part 2: Orthodox Marriage Ceremony: if the couple decides to get married in the orthodox church the ceremony will last between 30-120 minutes • Part 3: Civil Ceremony: the ceremony takes place at the department of public services . At the entrance hall the couple is greeted by guests with bread and salt. They are then led by the receptionist inside the hall where the actual ceremony is held. The ceremony lasts about 15 min long and at the end the couple exchanges their rings and “I do’s” and signs the book or registry. They are pronounced man and wife and walk out to music played by the russian orchestra

5. Wedding Day (Continued) • Part 4: Limousine and Places: The bride and groom and some of their close friends and relatives go on a tour of the historic sites of the city. Some popular stops include the Red square, Grave of the unknown soldier and sparrow hills • Part 5: Russian wedding Reception: wedding receptions in Russia are very loud and last for two days sometimes longer. Include lots of music food drinks singing dancing and long toasts. • (Bread and Salt) : it is offered to the newly weds by both parents as a symbol of health prosperity and long life. Both the bride and the groom must take a bite of the bread and whoever takes the biggest bite will be the head of the family • (Wedding toasts and broken glasses): at the beginning of the reception a relative or close friend makes a wedding toast. By Russian tradition everyone throws their glasses on the floor and if they break its good luck. • (stealing the bride): the groom has to keep his eyes on the bride if not she could be stolen away by his friends and the groom will have to pay the ransom • Part 5: Day number 2: its just drinking signing and even fighting takes place. The second traditional day of the Russian wedding is supposed to be more fun than the first day

6. Who takes part in the ceremony • The grooms friends are involved when they try to steal the bride away so the groom has to pay ransom • The neighbors wait until the bride and groom come outside of the house so they can get free coins drinks and food • Relatives and friends are the main ones that will be in the ceremony including the best man and maid of honor

7. Bride attire

8. Groom Attire

9. Attendant attire

10. Russian Vocabulary • Russian Wedding Vocabulary • сва́дьба - weddingсправля́ть сва́дьбу — celebrate one's weddingигра́ть сва́дьбу — celebrate one's weddingжени́х - groomневе́ста - brideмолодожёны - newlywedsтамада́ - entertainer, toastmasterсвиде́тельство о бра́ке - marriage certificateзагс - registry officeпомолвочное кольцо́ - engagement ringсва́дебное кольцо́ - wedding ringвы́куп неве́сты - paying ransom for the bride

11. How is it different from the us? • Russian wedding last 2 days to a week when in the us it lasts a day • Games are played such as trying to steal the bride away in Russia • They don’t have bridesmaids just a best man and a maid of honor