Tatar wedding

The people of Tatarstan, settled throughout the territory of Russia - a nation with a rich culture and historical heritage. Language differences, national rituals, created over many centuries, leave a definite imprint on the lifestyle of each Tatar. The uniqueness of the nation is clearly manifested in the wedding traditions that are reviving today. Tatar wedding is the most important event in the life of a future Muslim family. The rich national customs of the ancient people make such a holiday truly distinctive and interesting.

Preparing for the celebration

Preparations for the Tatar celebration begins long before the official date of the wedding. Before the marriage, with the blessing of the mullah, there is a matchmaking and collusion between the parents of the future newlyweds. Young people in the negotiations do not participate. The matchmaking process is divided into three stages:

• bride looks,
• the story of the groom
• negotiations between the parties.

Representatives of the newlywed are the matchmaker (yaus) plus one senior relative. If the first two stages of matchmaking were successful, then at the last stage the parents of the groom join them. During the final wedding negotiations, the parties discuss the material and other aspects of the life of the new Tatar family: the future residence of the newlyweds, the obligations of the parties to purchase furnishings for young people, the income of the groom, the amount and composition of bride fees and other issues.

By tradition, the ransom must be paid in full or before the wedding day. The composition of kalym may include gold jewelry, sets of winter and summer clothes, bed linen, dishes, a certain amount of money. The bride’s wedding dowry is not negotiated during the course of the conspiracy. If the parties agree, then the newlyweds are informed about the positive outcome of the negotiations, the date of engagement is appointed. Then begins the discussion of the Tatar wedding celebration, which includes:

• Wedding ceremony Nikah - Muslim marriage, which is held in a mosque or in the house of the bride. It consists of prayers, reading of the Qur'an, spiritual instructions and instructions. The marriage sacred vows are given either by the newlyweds themselves or their representatives.
• Marriage registration in the registry office, which legally holds the family union. The application takes place on the day of the engagement, after which the bride is considered the married girl (Yarushkin kyz).
• Tatar wedding (Tui) - a holiday that lasts for many days, first in the house of the bride, then in the house of the groom. In the modern version of the wedding celebration can spend a few days in the banquet hall of the restaurant.

If the bride and groom are well acquainted, the parents on both sides and the participants agree to the wedding, then the conspiracy and engagement are carried out in one day. In the house of the newlywed laid festive table. Parents of the future spouses discuss the terms of the conclusion of a marriage, exchange gifts. After completion of the transaction and the engagement begin to prepare for the Tatar wedding celebration.

Preparation of the Tatar festive event takes on average from 3 to 5 weeks. The groom collects and partly pays the dowry, buys gifts for the bride, her parents and close relatives for the wedding. The bride and groom completes the preparation of the dowry, which she began to prepare in her teens. Parents, close relatives on both sides are busy organizing a wedding celebration.

Decoration of the venue of the celebration

Tatar wedding is celebrated for many days. Decoration of the venue of the celebration depends on the taste, desire, religious preferences of the groom, the bride and their parents. Popular as standard wedding decorations, such as balloons, garlands and complex flower arrangements, as well as national decor: embroidered tablecloths, dishes with Tatar patterns, small pads with ornaments. Particularly religious couples decorate the wedding premises with elements with spiritual instructions, parting words in family life from the Koran.

Musical accompaniment

The musical accompaniment of the Tatar wedding celebration is chosen in accordance with the format of the event, tastes, preferences of newlyweds and relatives. Popular musical compositions of modern performers in the Tatar and Russian languages. Both melodious and incendiary folk songs and eternal musical wedding symbols, for example, March of Mendelssohn, are widely used.

Traditional Tatar dresses newlyweds

Traditional Tatar dresses newlyweds differ from the usual European outfits. The bride is a symbol of modesty and virtue of the wedding. The white outfit of the bride and groom should cover the entire body as much as possible, including the arms, neck and decollete, see the photo below. A long wedding dress (as an option - a tunic with pants) must be complemented by a headdress, for example, a scarf, which completely covers the hair. It is permissible for the bride to leave the hands and face open, all other parts of the body should be hidden from the eyes of outsiders with spacious clothes made of thick fabric.

There are fewer demands on the side of the Tatar groom than on the bride's dress. A newlywed at a wedding can be in a classic suit of black, dark blue or any other color, complemented by a white shirt and tie. Tips for choosing a groom attire for the Tatar celebration are almost the same as recommendations for a European wedding. The only feature is the obligatory headdress for the newlywed: skullcap.

Tatar wedding scenario

The successful holding of the Tatar celebration depends on a well-thought-out scenario, which must necessarily include wedding customs and traditions. For the celebration to be fun, interesting, the guests liked it, agree with the master on all the subtleties and nuances that you want to take into account at the celebration. For your convenience, we offer a ready-made script with replicas of the main actors, taking into account the basic wedding rituals.

Matchmaking

Matchmakers arrive at the bride's house. Parents meet guests, escorted to the house to start negotiations. According to the ancient wedding tradition of Tatar, all conversations at the first stages are conducted allegorically, so that evil spirits do not spoil the collusion. Present: the matchmaker, the uncle of the groom, the father and mother of the bride.

Father of the bride:

- Hello, dear guests! What is it for?

Swat groom:

- Hello! Thank you for your hospitality! We have a good cause for you! We heard that you own a treasure - an uncut gem of high purity, amazing unearthly beauty. It's true?

Father of the bride:

- People say different things. How do you care?

Swat groom:

- We would like to take a look at the treasure. If the rumors are true and we like it, then we want to offer your jewel a worthy setting. It will not only multiply the value of the treasure many times, but also keep it from any dangers and troubles for a long time.

Father of the bride:

- Many people turn to us with similar offers. Why do you think your frame will be the best?

Swat in detail begins to praise the groom, his uncle complements his story about the merits of the future spouse: loving, caring, earns well, honors and respects elders, has no bad habits, religious, etc. After the story, the matchmakers are shown the bride, then proceed to discuss the wedding kalym. The size of the initial Tatar ransom representatives of the groom will know in advance from the parents of the newlywed.

Swat groom:

- People tell the truth! Your treasure really has a unique beauty, worthy of only the best. We want to offer a good price that will compensate for your loss.

Father of the bride:

- But we do not sell anything! Our treasure is very precious to us. We appreciate it, cherish, cherish. How much are you willing to offer if we decide to sell?

There is an active, long wedding auction for the bride. Swat, the uncle of the groom trying to bring down the price, the parents of the bride and groom to increase the cost of the Tatar kalym. When the preliminary conspiracy is completed, the parties agree on the next meeting and say goodbye. At the last stage of the Tatar matchmaking, there are parents on both sides who discuss in more detail the material issues relating to living together, the life of a young family, including the organizational moments of the wedding.

Bride price

According to the Tatar tradition, on the wedding day, the bride's parents take the future spouse from his house and take him to a special room to his future wife, which is called the groom's house (kiyu aye). Previously, for this purpose, a temporary room was specially built near the house of the newlyweds' parents, now they are renting a hotel room or a separate apartment. In addition to the bride's ransom, the bridegroom, who runs at this stage of the Tatar wedding ceremony, this room is intended for the first wedding night of the newlyweds.

The wedding procession arrives at kiyu aye. Relatives, friends of the bride do not let the bridegroom through until he fully pays his dowry or does not pay the extra amount of money. Leading the ransom either wedding master of ceremonies, or a relative of the bride and groom. Tatar wedding begins with the meeting of the groom and his relatives with the words of the leader:

- Hello, dear guests! Introduce youreself. What is it for?

The groom calls his name, replies that he came to pick up the bride.

The wedding presenter takes out a piece of paper, symbolizing the marriage contract, begins to verify the data:

- Yes that's right. I have written: Ruslan (the name of the groom) is obliged to pay a predetermined fee in the amount of 50,000 rubles. for Dinara (name of the bride). Did you cook the feces?

The groom, together with the witness, begins the payment of the wedding kalym. The presenter checks the list, accompanying the actions with comic remarks, praises of the gifts of the bride and groom. The main sum of money, large gifts of the Tatar kalym can be handed over to the bride's parents before the wedding, and during the ceremony, payment is made in the form of small and symbolic gifts, taking into account ancient traditions. For example, the groom may bring with him decorative barrels filled with honey and butter, donate jewelry, etc.

After the payment of the Tatar kalym is completed, the presenter continues to conduct comic wedding contests. Interesting ideas are given in the article " Competitions for the purchase of the bride ." Having successfully passed all the difficulties, the tests on the way to the newlywed, the groom takes his betrothed from Kiyau Aye Then the newlyweds, along with relatives and guests of the wedding, go to the Nika ceremony.

Nikah

Tatar wedding ceremony is held either in the mosque or in the house of the bride. The ceremony is attended by the mullah, the newlyweds, and close relatives of the newlyweds. The rite lasts about an hour, held in silence with the doors closed. Mulla takes place at the head of the table, the newlyweds settle down on the male half or opposite it. The wedding ritual begins with a prayer, during which the bride and the groom stand. Then, in accordance with the prescriptions of Islam, the newlyweds take a marriage vow.

The wedding ceremony ends with the proclamation of the newlyweds lawful husband and wife in the face of Allah, spiritual promptings, prayers from the Koran. At the end of the sacred ritual, relatives give gifts to the mullah, congratulate the newlyweds on a legal Muslim marriage. After the Tatar rite Nikah, the wedding procession is sent to register the marriage in the registry office.

Tui

After the completion of the official marriage ceremony, a long celebration of the Tatar wedding celebration begins. The event is divided into several stages:

• holiday feast in the house of the bride's parents;
• moving his wife to her husband;
• wedding feast in the groom's parent's house.

According to the Tatar tradition, the parents of the bride and groom always set a festive table in their home to meet the newlyweds after the registry office. The bride and groom are seated at the head of the wedding table, the young wife sits on the right side of her husband. On the part of the newlywed, the husband's parents are located, and the parents are young next to their son-in-law. On the left side of the table are the relatives of the bride, on the right - the relatives of the bridegroom. Tatar wedding festivities begin with traditional food, national dances, contests, and entertainment.

The festive feast in the house of the bride's parents ends on the wedding night of the newlyweds at Kiau Aye. The next day, according to the Tatar wedding tradition, young people are drowned in a bath, treated with pancakes and pancakes. Newlyweds accept congratulations from numerous relatives from the bride and groom, neighbors, friends, acquaintances. After several days of celebration, the ceremony of moving a young wife to her husband’s home is held. Then the wedding feast lasts a few more days.

Moving his wife to her husband's house

Tatar wedding includes a special ritual - the transfer of his wife to her husband's house. The rite has a significant impact on the future relationship between the parents of the bride and the bride. Even at modern weddings, it is customary to observe traditional customs during the meeting of future relatives. Ritual helps the bride to show their best qualities of his wife and mistress. For the groom's parents, this is a good opportunity to demonstrate good-heartedness to the daughter-in-law, personally express wishes of a happy family life to the newlyweds.

On the day his wife moves to her husband's house, the bridegroom takes the bride from the parent's house. Young people of the Tatar wedding tradition are escorted by their newlyweds, and parents of the future husband meet. In his house the rite begins with the arrival of the procession. Under the feet of the bride, the male part of the guests puts the skin or pillow as a token of special honor to the guest, a warm greeting. The mother of the groom and the elder sister are offering the daughter-in-law bread and honey so that the relations between them are kindhearted. Relatives offer the newlyweds to dip their hands in flour, so that there is prosperity in the new family, they give a variety of animals.

Upon entering the house, the young wife performs the Tatar wedding rite of lighting the dwelling (өy Kienderү): hangs up new towels, wall cloth decorations, beautiful curtains, and spreads rugs. The ritual helps the daughter-in-law to settle in her husband’s house and demonstrate her dowry to her husband’s relatives. The wedding ceremony - escorting the newlywed by the water (su yula kүrsәtү) - the opportunity for the daughter-in-law to show her thrift, accuracy: the less she shed water, the greater respect for her. Moving his wife to her husband ends with the exchange of gifts and a wedding feast in the new house.

Wedding feast and national treats

Tatar wedding involves a wide feast with a large variety of national treats. By tradition, at the beginning of the celebration, cold and hot snacks are served, followed by shurpa - thick mutton soup and home-made noodles, the rest of traditional wedding dishes. Compote, fruit juice, carbonated and still water are served during the feast. Alcohol in the celebration of Nikah is prohibited.

Especially for the Tatar celebration are preparing two large geese, which symbolize a new married couple. According to the tradition of cutting this wedding dish, it is entrusted only to the elder man, who is appointed by the parents of the newlywed. The main task of the ritual is not to damage the bones of the bird, cutting the carcass into pieces. The carrying out of geese is accompanied by the delivery of numerous gifts, money to young spouses.

Particular importance is attached to the ritual serving, cutting of several more Tatar wedding dishes:

• gulbadia is a closed wedding cake with a multilayer filling (meat, rice, cottage cheese, raisins), which is made to order just before the celebration
• chak-chak - traditional Tatar sweet, consisting of fried dough with honey, is prepared by the bride.

Wedding gulbadiya can be butchered by both men and women. Responsible nominated parents groom. Immediately before the ritual, the cake is covered with a large handkerchief, on which guests must put money, buying food. Cut the gulbadia carefully, in one motion, into four parts, so as not to damage the middle of the wedding cake, while retaining its layering. One fourth of the cake, as usual, is taken away by the groom's parents, in order to distribute to relatives who could not attend the wedding, the other parts are distributed among guests.
Not a single Tatar wedding is complete without a chak-chak - bride's treats (kyz kүmәch). This dish is served at the end of the event along with other sweets and tea. The person who will cut the wedding chak-chak is appointed by the bride's parents. According to tradition, this role goes to the wife of the elder brother or the aunt of the bride (the Kyz Gingi). Before cutting, bargaining takes place between relatives and guests of the wedding. As in the case of gulbadia, the chak-chak is cut into four parts: one is taken by the groom's parents, the rest is distributed among those present.