How to meet young people with a loaf at a wedding and what to say to them?

Each culture is famous for its unusual holidays, but almost all of them have a wedding. Each nation has its own wedding traditions, since they arose a long time ago, even at the inception of the nation itself. Today, there are quite a few variations of the holidays. Our article discusses the ceremony of meeting young people with a loaf at a wedding and what they say at the same time.

No wedding is complete without refreshments. Sweet deserves special attention. Today at the wedding there must be a beautiful and large cake, but earlier, sweet pastries, regardless of size and shape, acted as a treat. Since ancient times, it has been customary to treat the spouses with a large and beautiful loaf. It is often decorated with exquisite patterns that resemble ethnic ornaments. You should pay attention to the fact that all elements of the picture have a certain meaning:

• various braids and weaves are the personification of the unification of two destinies, as well as the continuation of these destinies in a single and strong family;
• roses and viburnum fruits symbolize mutual love, mutual respect and warmth;
• swans on baked goods are a symbol of the spouses themselves that they have confessed their love to each other;
• the vine is a symbol of fertility, therefore it can also often be found on wedding bread - it personifies the wish of a young couple of healthy children.

A loaf is a round-shaped white bread that is usually unsweetened. The round shape represents the sun. Therefore, it is accepted that the loaf symbolizes the formation of a new family, their prosperity, well-being and fertility. Usually, it is customary to start a feast at a wedding with a loaf, while salt is often served with it, which personifies prosperity.

Parents when they meet young people go out with a loaf, wish them a strong family. After the official part of the wedding, the newlyweds must bite off or break off a piece of the loaf. Which of the newlyweds will have a larger piece will be the head of the new family. After that, you can treat friends and guests who came to the celebration with a loaf. If desired, the newlyweds can take him home. Sometimes a couple dries it up as a keepsake.

There is another tradition associated with the wedding loaf. According to her, the bride and groom must break off a piece of loaf, and then in turn salt it and treat each other. Such a ceremony symbolizes that newlyweds should live in peace and harmony, and now they are given the last opportunity to "annoy" each other. To leave this ceremony in memory, the remaining salt should be poured into a cloth bag, it will become an excellent souvenir.

Previously, they adhered to the tradition according to which a loaf for a wedding should be baked by the groom's family. Usually this important cooking process was entrusted to a female relative who is happily married and has children. If the groom's mother met these requirements, then she prepared the loaf. It was strictly forbidden to prepare a loaf for a wedding for widows, unmarried or childless girls and women. According to legend, an unhappy woman could pass on her troubles to the newlyweds in the process of preparing a wedding loaf.

The technology for making a loaf is not very complicated, but according to tradition, it requires a special approach. So, a woman had to sing groovy songs about pure and true love while kneading the dough. When the loaf went to the oven, she began to read prayers.

An interesting fact is that even men from the groom's family could participate in the preparation of this wedding symbol. If a man has lived in a happy marriage for many years, has many healthy children, then he gets the opportunity, after kneading the dough, to put the loaf in the oven. After this action, his participation ends, again the woman is the main baker.

In the days of ancient Russia, bread was the main product. He was associated with the well-being of the family. For this reason, the festive feast could not be open without a loaf. Usually it was baked in advance, in a few days. The dough was kneaded on wheat flour, and to decorate this loaf, various stucco moldings were made from the dough to decorate it, for example, spikelets or cones. And at the top of the loaf, doves usually admired, symbolizing eternal love.

According to the traditions of the newlyweds, after the official part of the marriage, they must be met with a loaf, and it must be in the hands of the groom's parents. Usually it was held by the groom's mother, while the loaf was located on a special towel, which was decorated with hand embroidery. It was accepted that the bride was engaged in embroidery of the wedding towel during the preparation for the celebration, while she had the opportunity to choose the pattern she liked for embroidery. Quite often, this accessory was decorated with pigeons or cockerels as symbols of the birth of a new family.

Initially, the parents met the newlyweds with a loaf near the home of the groom's parents, since it was accepted that the young began to live and build a family there. Another reason for choosing this meeting place is the fact that it was the groom's family who was responsible for preparing the loaf for the wedding. Modern weddings, of course, differ from the previous ones, and some traditions have already been forgotten or found their embodiment in a new interpretation. Today, the bride and groom, after official registration, go to a banquet; they often begin to live separately from their parents. Therefore, quite often young people are greeted with a loaf in their arms already at the entrance to a restaurant or cafe.

Special attention should be paid to the words of the mother-in-law. Her speech should be solemn, so she should be prepared in advance so as not to get confused at the main moment. Preliminary preparation will highlight the main aspects, and will also come from the heart. Of course, it is better to speak the text without prompts, but if necessary, you can read the speech. When the mother-in-law meets the newlyweds with a loaf in her hands, then her appeal should first of all be directed to her son, since this is very important for him. Initially, she should express her joy for the choice of her son, and also wish all the best to his new family.

Although the mother-in-law keeps the loaf, one should not forget about the mother of the bride - mother-in-law, since she also plays a role in this tradition. She must hold in her hands two glasses filled with a soft drink or champagne. When the young bite off a piece of loaf, they should drink from the glasses to the bottom and then break them, while throwing the glasses over their left shoulder. This will mean that happiness comes to their family.

When the mother-in-law invites the bride and groom to drink from the glasses, she should also express her joy, congratulate the children on the formation of a new family and wish them all the best. Fathers of the newlyweds also take part in this tradition. Usually the groom's father holds a tray with apples in his hands. After the champagne, the "heroes" of the occasion can immediately have a snack. The bride's father holds the icon in his hands, because it is with her help that he blesses the spouses.

Quite often, a toastmaster is invited to the wedding, who acts as the host. If the toastmaster is invited to the wedding, then it is he who comments on all the actions with the rite of the loaf, while giving the floor to each participant in this action. A professional in his field knows perfectly well how to behave and what to say when meeting newlyweds. After the wedding palace, the bride and groom usually go to a photo session, in addition, close relatives can go with them, and all other guests go to the banquet hall to wait for the heroes of the occasion. It is the toastmaster who must ensure that all participants in the ritual with the loaf are in their places, and he also gives everyone a word, directing the course of development of this action.

Parents of the spouses mainly congratulate their children, and also say words of parting words. They should speak sincerely, they should not use just memorized text, they should convey their emotions and mood. The speech of the parents can be framed in the form of poetry or in prose, the choice is up to the parents.

In order for the wedding day to go according to the script and without any "surprises", it is worth paying attention to its preparation. If we consider the tradition of meeting newlyweds with wedding bread, then you should pay attention to the following tips:

• not all parents can attend the wedding for one reason or another, therefore, the role of the mother-in-law in this custom can be performed by a relative, but only from the side of the groom or just a close friend;
• it is impossible to replace a loaf with a wedding cake, although earlier it was a loaf of ledges with a sweet delicacy on this holiday;
• The speech of the groom's mother, who meets the young with a loaf, can be presented in different forms, the main thing is that it should be a sincere and warm speech.

For information on how to meet young people with a loaf at a wedding, see the next video.