There are a
treasure trove of rituals and traditions that originate from Romania and people
from different regions practice these in varied forms. The important ceremonial
rituals practiced as part of a wedding are heavily dependant upon which region
the couple come from.
One ritual/tradition that we came across takes place in the hours leading up to the wedding when the bride is preparing for the day. While she is dressing, the bridesmaids and best friends all gather and assist her. This is a very important part of the preparation and can be a very emotional and moving moment for the bride and those closest to her.
As they prepare her for her ceremony a song, "Say farewell bride to
your family and house"- "Ia-ti mireasa ziua buna" is played and
with an overflow of emotion, is often accompanied by tears and embraces
from all present. We found a rough translation of the lyrics:
Song of the Bride:
Say goodbye bride to your mother, to your father
To your sisters, to your brothers, to your garden with flowers
To your friends and neighbours, to the games or lover
Cry bride, today is the day
It's time to forget your father and love your husband
To forget your mother and to love your mother- in- law
To forget about your sisters and to love your sisters-in-law
You will go with your husband and you will leave behind everything you had.
Today with many couples living together before they are married, much of this
significance can be lost, but for those who are coming from their parents home
to join their husband in a new home and a new life, this rite of passage is
still very special.
The Wedding Gurus xx
