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by: DavidSmythe
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In the past recent years Russian families have become much more liberal, especially when it comes to having a family blessing on a wedding. While once it was obligatory for the young couple to ask the parents first, it is no longer done in the same way it used to be. Even though that tradition isn't the same, there are many traditions that should be followed in Russian marriage.

Russian marriages are a distinct experience. Wherever you meet the Russian bride, be it on the streets or marriage agency, you ought to learn certain basic things about Russian culture and the traditions that are followed by them.

In the olden days of Russia it was quite usual for the bride and groom to be "promised" to each other at a very early age. They would actually spend their wedding getting to know each other. It was the family and the parents who made the decision that they would get married, not the young man or woman.

It wasn't until the 1960's when Americans became what is known as "hippies" that the Russian tradition of promised marriages started changing. Young people were then allowed to date, but any sexual contact was forbidden before the marriage, and they were punished severely if they were found to have had sex.

The man could visit the family of the bride and get to know them before getting permission to marry the girl. The father could approve of it or not depending on his wish. If it was approved, the woman had to then knead bread and go over to her future in laws and hand it over to them. This was a sign of being modest as well as the ability to be a great wife.

Buying a wife was not a crime. These days the practice of buying brides still exists as a tradition and not as a trade act. The man is permitted to get the woman he wishes to marry by providing wealth and gifts to her family. This way he is made to prove that he is wealthy and his ability of looking after the love of his life. Also he assures her a very good life after their marriage.

If the bride's family is against the marriage in any way it didn't mean that it was impossible for her to get married, but it was more of a challenge. There was a solution that is a tradition called "Stealing". Today it might sound funny to some, but as of a century ago stealing girls was considered a profession. Young men worked out all the plans to trick the family members who were refusing to allow the marriage.

Men were paid by the groom, his family, and his friends. This would also never happen without the active support of the bride. Then in the middle of the night she would elope with the man whom she loved. This just proves that Russian women are rebels by nature and are ready to leave everything behind, even their mothers and fathers, when it comes to love and passion.

Traditional Russian marriages also include taking their vows in front of God, and not just having formal papers signed. They want their religion to mean something, as well as their marriage. They want to prove they aren't just getting married for legal purposes.

In olden days marriage ceremony took a minimum half of an hour, but it stretched to long time like four to five hours with traditional and obligatory chants and various acts in order to obtain God's blessings. Modern couples, these days, prefer only short forms of the marriage promises instead of the longer ones. At the end of the ceremony , the families that take part in the wedding party is escorted to a Russian restaurant or a house where the guests celebrate the marriage by drinking and having delicious Russian meals with lot of happiness.

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