The values of the Gypsy community have deep roots, so the wedding celebration has a special flavor. The first wedding night of the Gypsies, unlike many nations, takes place during the wedding festivities and requires special confirmation. Surprised? We invite you to learn about the most non-trivial wedding customs and features of the gypsy first wedding night.

In order to better imagine the colorful wedding celebration of the gypsy clan and its unique rituals, Svadbagolyk.ru will introduce you to several strict laws that are still in force:

According to tradition, marriage between gypsies takes place at a young age. And if for European youth, a wedding at the age of 19 is quite a rare phenomenon, because, allegedly, it is early, then a bride from the gypsy family at that age is already considered an old and useless virgin. Therefore, Gypsy marriages are concluded at the age of 15-18 years.
Matchmaking may well happen at the moment when the children of two families are in infancy. If the bride, for example, was betrothed at the age of ten, she can live in the groom's family until the age of fifteen, after which the wedding will take place.
The word of elders in a gypsy family is law. Therefore, the choice of the candidate for the bride and groom is carried out by the parents, mainly the father. The bride's consent during matchmaking is considered formal, since she will not dare to go against the will of her relatives.
A gypsy wedding does not require a trip to the registry office, because divorce in families is not provided for. The celebration of the wedding celebration usually lasts three days and includes about 300 guests. Absolutely all expenses are borne by the groom's family, therefore, when a boy is born in the family, it is necessary to immediately start collecting money for the wedding. It is interesting that, on the contrary, the wedding in India is traditionally paid for by the bride's side.
Men and women must sit at separate tables, especially the bride and groom, such is the gypsy law. According to tradition, on the second day of the wedding, the newlyweds sit next to each other at the same table.

Gypsy rituals after the first wedding night

"Taking away the honor"
The key rite at a gypsy wedding is considered to be the customary ceremony or "taking away the honor" after the first wedding night. The newlyweds will be bound by marriage bonds forever, but before this event the bride needs to prove her innocence. Young virginity is a mandatory condition for marriage. How is it checked? There are three versions-assumptions:

The newlyweds are secluded in a special room where the courtship (the first wedding night) takes place, after which a sheet with characteristic traces confirming the virginity of the girl is brought out to the general view of the gypsies.
The bride leaves with three respectable women who preserve her virginity using a sheet wrapped around her finger. The groom does not participate in this ritual.
According to some opinions, the first wedding night takes place right on the banquet table with the guests. For the sake of justice, let's calm down in a hurry - this version is considered the most ridiculous and implausible.
During the absence of the newlyweds, some gypsy families arrange theatrical performances - they snatch the stolen bride from the groom. It looks very natural, so there is an opinion that a gypsy wedding without a fight is not a wedding. However, drunken showdowns are completely unacceptable. Although festive tables are broken by a variety of dishes and alcohol, getting drunk at a gypsy wedding ceremony is tantamount to shame.

After the gathering of the young, a blood-stained sheet (according to another version, a shirt), sprinkled with red ribbons and flowers, is brought to the guests on a tray. The women participating in the honor ceremony congratulate and thank the bride's relatives for their decency, and red ribbons are given to each member of the groom's family. The bride herself, after the first wedding night and the gypsy custom with takeaway, changes into a red dress and from this moment becomes a woman. There are those who braid their hair. Now she must walk only with her head covered. An Azerbaijani wedding bears some resemblance to providing evidence of the bride's chastity.

Interesting: If there is no proof of innocence, the marriage is dissolved immediately, and the girl remains unmarried forever, which is a heavy burden for gypsies. In addition, the family of the spoiled bride faces lifelong shame and it is better for them to leave their hometown immediately. There are cases that a girl still manages to get married, but it costs a titanic effort of the family.

Rite "Brotherhood"

Immediately after the first wedding night and the "bringing out of honor" is followed by the rite of blood union or "brotherhood". The newlyweds make incisions with a sharp knife on their hands and join the two blood together. From this moment on, everything in life is divided in half for them, including household duties. They are forced to raise children together and are considered relatives.

Gypsy wedding customs and rituals are significantly different from our usual standards. Strictness and obedience are the basis of relations between parents and children. The most important dignity of a gypsy bride is honor