Ukrainian wedding traditions are rich in symbolism and involve various rituals. The groom must offer a ransom to the bride's family to "buy" her, which can involve money, jewelry, or liquor. If the first person presented is not actually the bride, a higher ransom is demanded. Another ritual is the engagement, where the groom requests the bride's hand from her parents, presenting a gift of horilka liquor. Blessings from family are also exchanged. During the ceremony, crowns are placed on the bride and groom's heads to signify a new kingdom. Who steps on a ceremonial cloth first is said to wear the "pants" in the marriage. Bread is also given as a blessing to the couple.

1. UKRAINE WEDDING
TRADITIONS
THE PERFORMANCE
HOMEWORK

2. The Ukrainian wedding is one of the
most symbolic celebrations of Ukraine
culture. Traditions and customs for
Ukrainian weddings are numerous and
have evolved through the ages. National
traditions are dominant in Ukrainian
wedding ceremonies.

4. The groom must go to the bride's parent's 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. When the groom realizes that it’s not his
bride, he asks for his true love, and the family demands a
bigger ransom because she is valuable. Then, the bride's
family offers the bride to the groom.

5. The Ukrainian wedding traditions
start with a formal
engagement. During the
engagement rituals, the groom
and older married man, come to
the bride’s parents to ask for her
hand in marriage. The groom
presents a bottle of strong liquor,
called horilka, as a gift to the
family.
horilka, based on a
basic traditional
recipe of grain
vodka

6. This is a ritual that
typically takes
place shortly before
the ceremony and
involves the parents
and grandparents
giving their
blessings to the
couple.

7. Viewed as the most sacred
portion of the ceremony,
the bride and groom
exchange vows while
crowns are placed on their
heads to signify the dawn
of a new kingdom.

8. Traditionally, the person that steps on the cloth
first, will wear the pants in the family, so to say,
and have the final say throughout the marriage.

9. It’s a large round braided bread baked from
wheat flour often decorated with various
symbols and figurines that’s given to the
bride and groom as a blessing.