Wedding traditions and customs in Transylvania: complete guide

In every area of ​​the country there are different wedding traditions and customs that have been respected for decades and handed down from generation to generation. In several areas of Transylvania many of these customs are still present, weddings are organized in a traditional and medieval way at the same time. Transylvania with the chosen customs is the perfect mix of cultures brought over time by the Saxons and Szeklers, which transforms the organization of the Transylvanian wedding into a unique event, full of symbols and history.

If you have recently received a wedding invitation in Cluj, Satu Mare or Bihor, you will surely know the traditions that you might encounter in these areas of the country. And since we don’t want to participate uninformed in such an event, in today’s article we will tell you about wedding traditions and customs in Transylvania, which are still preserved here, especially in rural areas. Follow our guide and discover the traditions of a wedding in Transylvania!

Wedding traditions in Transylvania

As mentioned above, the wedding in Transylvania is an event marked by ancient traditions, passed down for generations. Here are the traditions that mark the development of a wedding in Transylvania!

The choice of his godparents

Wedding traditions in Transylvania require that the godparents of the wedding be relatives of the groom or the groom’s baptism, so at each Transylvanian wedding they are elected by the family. The godparents have the obligation to bear the costs of the wedding candles, the ecclesiastical tax, but also of all the bride’s accessories, from the veil, to the jewels and the flowers.

Preparation of wedding invitations

In the past, future spouses invited their closest friends to the wedding, through a ritual that took place in several phases. They took place a month before the wedding, 14 days before, but also in the week of the big event. In ancient times, young people who were to get married were accompanied by a vulture and a group of girls and boys dressed in popular costumes, who went from house to house. Everyone had a ploze full of wine or pike, and whoever confirmed participation in the wedding had to drink a sip of the drink offered by the young people.

This tradition is currently preserved only in some rural areas of Transylvania, because now most couples prefer to send wedding invitations in writing. Whether it is parchment wedding invitations, velvet wedding invitations or invitations with floral motifs, these must contain the date of the event, the places where the religious wedding and the wedding party will take place, the names of the spouses and godparents, but also the dress code.

Tradition dictates that the wedding invitation should be sent immediately after the engagement, but currently the young people of Transylvania send the invitations much earlier, to give the guests time to prepare for the event. A tradition that has been maintained in Transylvania over time is that of personal wedding invitations. Thus, the spouses and parents go to visit relatives and friends, personally offering their envelope with the announcement of the event.

Alai wedding

The wedding in Transylvania officially begins from the Casa Nașilor, starting with the fighters to the groom’s house, and then going to the bride’s house. A tradition preserved for generations, endless in Transylvanian weddings is the ornamentation of the wedding tree. It is decorated with colorful ribbons, garlands, bows and zurgălăi, and a cozonac or apple is placed on top. Tradition dictates that this fir tree is placed at the entrance to the courtyard of the groom’s house during the party.

Always before the wedding, the bride’s friends gather to sing the «corona», while at the groom’s house several knights gather for the symbolic shaving of the young man, with the sap or the seam.

The chicken dance

Another tradition common at weddings in Transylvania is the «chicken dance», which takes place right in the middle of the wedding party. A Romanian hen is depicted above the bride and the godfather has the role of paying for it. Tradition means, in practice, the redemption of the bride from her parents. After the hen dance, the godfather will cover the bride’s head with a nipple, and the rest of the guests will bring gifts for the young newlyweds.

Sursa photo: Shutterstock

Wedding customs in Transylvania

There are many wedding customs in Transylvania and most of them are still practiced in many similar events. Here are what wedding customs and traditions you can expect if you attend a traditional Transylvanian wedding!

Table arrangement

At weddings in Transylvania no one sits at the table until all the guests arrive. Then, the brides and godparents serve a glass of champagne in front of everyone, which is then served to the guests. Tradition says that the pieces will keep bad luck in the lives of young married people. Furthermore, the spouses must sit at the head of the table, and in some regions of Transylvania there is the custom of eating milk or cream on the same plate, to have beautiful and healthy children.

The Mount of Love

As a rule, on the day of St. Elias, a girls’ fair was held on Mount Găina. There, the young people displayed their dowry to impress it on the flames, who in turn wore silver or gold belts.

The wedding flag

In addition to the wedding tree, in Transylvania there is also the decoration of the flag, which takes place a week before the famous event. The wedding flag is decorated by the bride and groom’s friends, and then, after the decoration, the bridesmaids and gentlemen dance around the flag, next to the bride and groom.

The bride’s bouquet

On the wedding day, the Bride’s friends gather at her house to sing the «crown» and for the so-called «bride», while at the Bride’s house the symbolic shaving takes place, which is then raised three times with the chair.

Sursa photo: Shutterstock

Other wedding traditions and customs in Transylvania

The traditions and customs of marriage in Transylvania continue with the most diverse games: concealment – which involves the presentation before the groom of three false brides, the kidnapping of the bride by the village priest, with her redemption by the groom, the redemption of the chicken and the disguise of the bride. Here are other habits to take into consideration in a wedding in Transylvania:

• In the Transylvania area it is best for weddings to take place in winter, after the holidays and until the beginning of Easter. I have already told you when there will be no weddings in 2022, so you can orient yourself based on this aspect.
• The petition in Transylvania is called «invoia» or «cut», because the parents had to «become» to the marriage, that is, accept for the wedding.
• The bride’s dowry was prepared by her mother and included bed linen, carpets, tablecloths, fabrics, all kept in a wooden box painted with floral motifs. The father prepared the money, the land and the animals.
• For three Sundays in a row the priest announced the young people in the village.
• At the exit of the wedding alley, a rope was tied on the road and the groom had to give money to be cut and clear the road.

If you too have received an invitation to a wedding in Transylvania, now you know what wedding traditions and customs you need to prepare for. Some of them are still preserved in rural areas, while in urban environments they have undergone changes over the years.

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