Traditions and customs of the Azerbaijani wedding

All countries sacredly honor the traditions and customs of their ancestors in many areas of life. Of particular interest in this regard is the wedding ceremony, which in each country has its own characteristics. Azerbaijan, where it is extremely responsible for creating a family, is no exception. Azerbaijan wedding is preceded by a large preparation, including many ceremonial actions.

The wedding ceremony in Azerbaijan consists of many ceremonial rituals, ancient rites, which are held before and after the wedding. In terms of scope, a wedding in this country is characterized by breadth and splendor. As elsewhere, in Azerbaijan, modernity imposes particularities on mores that have acquired a freer character.

Priority in choosing a future bride belongs to a man. But the opinion of the parents is strictly taken into account, the future groom must obtain their consent to the union with the girl he has chosen. Young people follow the opinion of their parents and never mind them. Disapproval from parents often changes a guy’s plans.

The appearance and attractiveness of a girl always plays a big role. The young man shows the girl to his parents, after which his family asks about the girl and her family. If the guy’s parents find something that doesn’t suit them, they immediately tell him about it.If the girl is satisfied with her parents in everything, then one of the relatives is entrusted with collecting more detailed information. The elder sister of the groom, his aunt, grandmother can act as a matchmaker.

Gathering information, the matchmaker pays great attention to the material condition of the girl’s family, figuring out whether the future husband will be able to provide his wife with the appropriate conditions for family life. The social position in the society of her family is also important, whether she enjoys respect and authority. The personal qualities of the bride are also taken into account. The traditional Azerbaijani upbringing requires the girl to honor her parents and all relatives, and to take care of younger members of the family.

The following qualities of the future bride are revealed:

• modesty and social behavior;
• economic abilities;
• culinary skills;
• her state of health;
• educational level.

There are some limitations:

• a Muslim woman cannot marry a Gentile, while a Muslim man can marry both a Christian and a Jew;
• Marriages with blood relatives in a straight line are strictly unacceptable.

After observing all the points and approval by the parents, the girls send one relative to the family to find out the opinion of her parents. It is her father who must approve this union. After receiving the approval of the father, they begin the matchmaking ceremony.

In Azerbaijan, matchmaking also has its own specifics: it consists of two stages - small and large matchmaking. Small matchmaking begins with the conversation of the father of the young man with his whole family. Everyone expresses their opinion, to which they listen. And only after that matchmakers are sent to the bride's family.

As a rule, a mother and three relatives of the groom (adult sisters, aunts, grandmother) participate in small matchmaking. After a joint decision is made by the women of both families, fathers of the families meet to continue the matchmaking. Young men must be accompanied by three men: either relatives, or people respected by everyone. The father expresses to the father of the young girl the desire of his son to marry her.

The second step - great matchmaking - begins with a discussion of the Azerbaijani wedding by the groom's family. Women from the groom's family visit the girl in order to find out her desires regarding the future wedding. After that, the date of visiting the matchmakers is appointed.

Repeated matchmaking takes place solemnly and festively in the presence of guests. Matchmakers are put on the most honorable place and generously treated with various dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine.

The bride cannot be present at the big matchmaking, she is at this time with her mother, who takes her to her friends. The girl's returning mother during the matchmaking remains silent, thus expressing her concern for the future of her daughter.

Relatives of the girl are unhurried conversations with the matchmakers. The ceremony takes place in a warm atmosphere and at first extraneous topics are discussed: urban or rural events, news, weather. And only after that the main question is asked about consent to the wedding. The father of the Azerbaijani woman blesses the young, and one of the sisters is in a hurry to tell the good news to the bride who can return home only after the matchmakers have left.

Parents congratulate their daughter, who, as usual, should cry - this portends a happy family life.

Then they carry out the rite of betrothal, and also twice. A small engagement is carried out in the house of the bride. The entrusted groom puts a ring on the bride’s finger, and a scarf on her head.After he eats half of the sweet treats brought to him, the rest he carries to the groom.

After the messengers leave the bridegroom, a hen party is arranged for the bride: they set the table with all kinds of sweet dishes that symbolize a happy life and prosperity in the family.

After a while, the second betrothal passes. It is widely celebrated with the invitation of not only relatives, but also friends and neighbors. The bridegroom's family presents gifts to the bride. Then both families discuss the size of the ransom and the terms of the contract, which stipulates the amount of monetary compensation in case of a possible divorce.

Modern life has somewhat changed the requirements for the rules of creating a family. In Russia, international marriage unions, including Azerbaijani and Russian, have now become commonplace. Such a marriage is possible if the relatives of the groom do not mind the Russian-Azerbaijani wedding.

From the engagement to the time of the wedding, it usually takes several months to prepare for it. There are customs to carry out at this time and other no less interesting ceremonies. Long before the wedding, men of two families set a date for the wedding celebration and determine such important moments as the menu, musical accompaniment, and the number of guests.

During the preparation for the wedding, the groom's family gives the bride various gifts: beautiful fabric, ornate dresses, scarves of various colors, decorations.

On the eve of the celebration, a dowry is being transported to the groom's house. This is done by any of her male relatives (brother, uncle), whom the mother of the groom must present with a gift.

The beginning of the Azerbaijani wedding takes place in the house of the bride. Loud-sounding music announces the start of the holiday. Gradually, the house is filled with guests who give gifts, and before you sit down at the table for a meal, each of the guests must pay by dropping money in a cauldron.

National wedding songs and music are played throughout the day. Only relatives of the groom dance with the bride. The holiday lasts a long time, and in the evening the groom's family goes home to prepare the celebration in their home.

The groom goes for the bride. Upon the arrival of the groom, a ceremony of seeing the bride off is held. In exchange for a gift, parents give the representatives of the groom the key to the room where the bride is staying. Having blessed the daughter, the parents cover her head with a veil, tie a red ribbon on her waist and take him out of the house.

A bonfire has already been built near the house, around which the bride is surrounded 3 times so that she and her husband always have light and warmth in the house. Other ritual actions are also carried out:

• so that her house has reliable walls, stones are thrown after her;
• so that young woman is not overcome by sadness and longing, water is poured under her legs;
• so that the son is the firstborn in the family, the girl is allowed to hold the boy in her arms;

• the blood of the slaughtered lamb is applied to the dress and smeared with the bride’s forehead so that it is easier for her to enter a new family and establish good relations;

• so that life is rich, rice, sweets, small sweets are strewed on the bride’s head.

After these ceremonies, the bride is led to the groom to go to his house, and girlfriends and guests are hindered, demanding a ransom.

As the wedding procession approaches the groom's house, the bride takes off her shoe. So she warns of her arrival. On the doorstep of the groom's house, she smashes a plate with her foot.

The mother-in-law should stroke the daughter-in-law on the head so that they have consent. The celebration continues with the groom in the house.

Every young couple wants to look the most beautiful on their wedding day. Therefore, they pay great attention to their outfits, which they choose carefully and for a long time.

In the old days, the problem of choosing what to wear for the wedding was not before the groom. It has always been a national wedding attire.Currently, young people choose clothes in the European style - usually a three-piece suit.

The “butterfly” gives a more solemn appearance instead of a tie and a buttonhole in a buttonhole. Sometimes the groom puts on a skullcap.

Azerbaijani brides can now dress in a national bright red outfit or choose a dress of some other color. The dress should look modest, but beautiful and luxurious. It is sewn from expensive and exquisite fabrics, decorated with embroidery, lace and other decorative elements.

There are a number of features that are followed when choosing a dress:

• it should be modest cut, have long sleeves and a closed chest;

• in the outfit of the bride must be something red.

The wedding decoration of the bride is characterized by the brightness of the outfit and makeup, the splendor of the hairstyle. A mandatory element is a lace veil, often brides put on a crown, earrings, necklaces, pendants as decorations.

Before the wedding, the bride is decorated with intricate henna patterns on her hands.

Since there are close and distant relatives of the two families at the wedding, everyone tries to look as good and smart as possible. Older men most often adhere to strict suits. Young people can afford a more democratic and free style.

Women try to dress smartly and festively, and girls prefer bright outfits. But everyone must abide by the main rule: you cannot outfit the bride’s wedding outfit with your outfit.

The Azerbaijani wedding is celebrated on a grand scale, and holiday tables are bursting with treats, which are not only tasty, but also aesthetically decorated.

The menu is distinguished by a variety of meat dishes from beef, various poultry, but lamb is preferred: kyufta-bozbash, dolma, kebab, kebab, shawarma and, of course, barbecue.

An obligatory traditional dish is pilaf, there are a lot of ways to cook it.

Cutting a variety of vegetables and pickles not only cause appetite, but also represent a kind of table decoration.

There are a lot of fruits and national sweet dishes on the tables: baklava, kurabye, sheker-borax.

Many soft drinks - sherbet, doshab, from alcohol, Caucasian wines, cognac and the national drink - mulberry brandy are preferred.

It has been customary to give gifts to the bride in Azerbaijan from the moment of matchmaking.

At the wedding celebration, the young decided to give money. Before entering the house or premises where the wedding takes place, they put a specially decorated box or box where guests put some amount of money. It may be different, but less than 50 manat is not accepted. In addition to money, the groom's family gives a young set of jewelry.

In addition, household items for home furnishing and decoration can also be donated.

You will learn more about the traditions and customs of the Azerbaijani wedding by watching the following video.