THE WEDDING TRADITIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE

RUSSIAN NORTH

Alina Savina
 INTRODUCTION
It is an interesting fact that every country has its own traditions
and customs of wedding. Even within a country, there could be
variations among regions based on tribal, ethnicity and religious
affiliations. Some of them can seem very extraordinary.
 THE CHUKCHI
In Chukotka there is a bloody wedding custom. As soon as the
bride arrives by her own reindeer accompanied by her close
relatives to the groom's tent her deer must be sacrificed to dusk
and dawn for a marriage to be happy. A number of manipulations
are performed with the blood of this deer.
 THE YAKUTS
In Yakutia there is a ceremony of blessing. The bride and groom
are placed in different yurts and the shaman fumigates the couple
with birch bark smoke, reading a prayer. It means cleaning of their
souls and bodies from the presence of evil spirits. After that the
bride and the broom meet and go around his future house.
 THE NENETS
The Nenets have the similar tradition – the rite of purification by fire of
evil spirits. Before entering the house, the newlyweds step over the fire
at the entrance to the chum. After that the bride makes the first fire in
her new home. From how the fire flares up depends on whether this
marriage will be blessed. Moreover, alcohol at a Nenets wedding is
strictly prohibited.
 THE NANAIS
The Nanais have other rite of purification. They go through the tunnel from
the bunches of fern spread over their heads. It is unusual that the bride’s
wedding dress consists of several colourful ones. They are worn one on top of
the other, and each is decorated with many embroideries. One of the
ornaments is a family tree with birds that personifies the souls of unborn
children.
 THE EVENKI
The Evenks have an unusual ceremony of matchmaking. The matchmaker
offers a leather bag with tobacco to the bride's mother and father. If they
agree, they fill a pipe and light it. In case of refusal, the bride’s parents fill a
pipe with their own tobacco.
 THE KARELIANS
In Karelia the ceremony of dressing the bride is accompanied by
lamentations and crying songs. It means the bride’s parting with
girlhood, girlfriends, relatives and native home. It is believed
that the more the bride sheds tears before marriage, the less she
will cry during marriage.
 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I can say that although the wedding traditions
of the people of the Russian North are a bit different, but
shamanism has in common them.