internationalmarriage

On the eve of the celebration of Ivan Kupala Day village folks would roam through the forests in search of paporot flower, an elusive and magical flower that brings ukrainian marriage customs wealth. Unmarried women, wearing a Ukrainian wreath, would be the first to enter the forest.

The groom must go to the bride’s parents’ house and offer a ransom to get his bride. The bridesmaids protect the bride from getting “stolen” without a ransom. First, the groom offers something valuable, usually money or jewellery for the bride. The parents of the bride bring out a woman or man dressed as the bride and covered with a veil, so the groom can’t see her face. If the bride’s parents meet the bridegroom at the door with a pumpkin, it means that his offer of marriage was not accepted by either the bride or by her family, and the pumpkin is something for him to carry, so that he doesn’t leave empty-handed.