SLFK 212, February 24, 2004
Last class - courtship in the Soviet period
As they will recall, Soviets tried to control everything
And same with courtship
They did not quite manage to control, but did restrict
At least it all took place in a limited area with more reliable adult supervision
Please note how this fits with Douglas' points about dealing with anomaly
Courtship was anomalous from the Soviet point of view
Then what has happened in the post-Soviet era
Essentially the klub system still continues
No return to the rented houses, at least as far as I know
In urban areas, people go the klub, if there is one
Usually one per city district
They hang out in the courtyards between buildings, sort of like the summer version of courtship
There are western-style clubs and bars now
Nothing of this sort in the Soviet era
Big holiday now - that is for the whole village, but also very much aimed at encouraging courtship among the young
The 2 Ivan Kupalos
Comment on different approaches to documenting ritual - what I and other Western scholars try to do versus the Minyonok approach
The Ivan Kupalos are lots of fun, but very dangerous
The inadvertent sacrifices in Berlozy
Danger of courtship and the death wedding
If someone dies before they marry
Not a little kid and not an old single person, though there are very few people who do not marry at all
But someone from age 12 on at least through the 20, maybe older, though not that I know
Funeral celebrated as a wedding
Person has to be married
So, if they did not manage this in life, must do it in death
Will go through the steps later
Essentially the whole thing - bread, wedding dress or suit
Ring - earlier out of wax, now out of gold, like a wedding ring
Funeral procession through the streets, but the young man or young woman who was the boy/girlfriend or fiancé of the deceased walks with the coffin, as they would in a wedding train
Living person who escorted the deceased in a death wedding is allowed to marry after a while
Story of the couple in Velykyi Khutir
She dies in an accident
His photo is placed in coffin and problem is the photo
She "claims" him after he is already married (to another) and has a child
Other stories of courtship problems
Girl who stands on the ritual towel instead of the bride
Couple who cannot marry because groom is Communist and her dad insists on a church wedding
Lets go on to the happy resolution:
Couple pairs up and decides to marry
Formal request for marriage
Do Ukrainian, Russian, reconstructed background
Bride capture
Parental choice as part of alliance
Ukrainian
Potential bridegroom goes with one or 2 adult men
Have to be happily married; no separated men, no widowers
He stays outside and they go in, or all three go in
They bring vodka and bread
Circumlocution
About roosters and rams and the like
Less reticence on the part of the bride
She and the groom arrange the meeting ahead of time
They agree on the day when he will show up with his men
She makes sure mom and dad are at home and that she looks nice
After the svaty make the request on the groom's behalf
She is usually actually called out by her dad and asked if she agrees to this
She is supposed to dig at the stove and act shy, but agree
Here, to say yes, the bride's family trades the groom's bread for their bread
Essentially exchange of one for the other
And they accept the vodka or rather share it and all drink to the bride and groom
Giving a pumpkin as a way of saying no
Literal? Or euphemistic?
Second meeting: not just the groom's party and the bride's immediate family, but a delegation from each side
Basically negotiate the details of the wedding
Who will give what gifts to the couple
Who will invite how many guests
And these are in the HUNDREDS
Date of the actual ceremony
Pre-Soviet
Registration of the marriage in the appropriate office - can be done right away
Then the church and home ceremonies about one month later
Soviet - no church ceremony (ask them if they know why)
So civil ceremony (the signing of papers) takes the place of
And then big blow-out in the home
Actually in 2 homes, hers and his
The whole thing happens one week to one month after agreement
Post-Soviet
Church service is back
So they have the civil ceremony on the stage of the klub on Saturday and the church ceremony on Sunday
And parties after both ceremonies
Basic steps - pre-Soviet and early Soviet
Bread baking - ceremonial
Women invited, dress up nice
Can only be happily married women
No separated or divorced, not even widows
Songs during the bread baking
This happens at both houses - that of bride and that of groom
Small breads used to invite the guests
Bride walks around village with 1 or 2 friends inviting first relatives, then friends to her house
Groom does same
Can invite people from neighboring villages
Devich vechir
Last party of girlhood
Making hil'tse and other decorations
Used to have church wedding on Saturday so that the couple goes to church as a married couple for the first time on the Sunday; not now
After devich vechir - all go home
Next morning, groom picks up bride and takes to church
Then takes her to her house and he goes to his
Big party at both houses
He leaves his house in a special train blessed by him mom
Impediments to the train's passage
Straw, sometimes lit
Table and demand for ransom
Special fight at the gate
Or buying the bride
Takes her to his house and special welcome, by his mom or by both parents
Party with rebraiding of hair
Consummation of marriage
Hair and consummation come in variable order
Display of some sign of virginity
Special ceremonial breakfast the next morning
Essentially her parents come over and acknowledge that she is now part of a new family
Tying the bride to a stake
Wedding today