Russian Wedding April 30, 2006
Click on photos to ENLARGE.
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When this American lad T.J.
proposed to Veronica, he did
not know her parents would host a shortened traditional old Russian
costume wedding reception, somewhat like a "Mardi Gras" or
maslianitsa. Her
father Victor is Russian, mother Tanya is Jewish —
both immigrated
from Baku, Azerbaidjan. They held a simple non- denominational
wedding. Afterward people wore funny bright-colored masks and costumes
and join in a festival of drinking, eating, games and dancing.
Sometimes as a joke, men wore women's clothing and vice a versa. These
traditions
predate Christianity when people needed to drive away the evil spirits.
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Parents greet guest with bread and salt on a towel, khleb-sol'. Usually
guests tear off a piece of bread, dip it in salt and eat. |
But for a wedding,
whomever takes the biggest "bite" leads the family. The bride won!
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L to R: Bride's
brother and family, sister, mom and dad, bride and groom, groom's
mother, and jester — petrushka.
T.J.'s had to go to work just before this photo.
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After the bride
cut a ribbon to enter the hall, they see their cake, an
old party saying and a wanted poster.
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Petrushka is the
main entertainer and witness at the
wedding.
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Guest singing a song in the Italian language.
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As a joke, cross- dressing guests steal the seats of
the bride
and
groom, who must undrego interrogation or bribes to get their seats back.
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1st test: Cloven fruit —
pull a toothpick and say something nice about your spouse.
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2nd test: Dress baby together each with one hand
tied. |
Mother and father of bride sing a dedication to the
new family. |
Russian girl from Harkov dancing in the costume of a
Persian Princess.
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Everybody drink and dance.
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Father of bride dances with
mother of groom and her sister.
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Kids in costume too.
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Bride and baby.
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