Towel for a wedding: why is it needed and what should it be?
A wedding towel is an integral part of traditional wedding paraphernalia in Russian and Ukrainian culture. The very concept of "towel" came from paganism and took root in modern rituals. There is nothing destructive in its verbal meaning, on the contrary, "rushiti" - translated from the Ukrainian language means to set off on a journey. For newlyweds, this is very symbolic. Together they step from the towel onto a new, joint path, hand in hand, with the belief that they will walk it this way to the end.
A traditional towel, as an object, is a woven rectangular cloth made of linen or hemp fabric. The edges of the canvas are framed by woven or embroidered patterns and compositions. In ancient times, the bride herself embroidered the patterns on the towel for the wedding ceremony. The girl put all her hopes and dreams associated with marriage into embroidery. Such products were unique, like every embroiderer, with her own worldview and talent.
It was believed that the wedding towel, which is embroidered by the bride's hands, is an example of her diligence and hard work, a powerful guardian of the newlyweds' union and a symbol of the longevity of the concluded union.
In Russia, up to 40 towels were used for the marriage ceremony, decorating them with icons, a wedding "cortege", outfits of witnesses. Among them was a special towel brought by the bride to the house of the faithful.
During the modern ceremony in the church, five types of towel are used: two of them cover the wedding icons of the newlyweds; one is placed under the loaf; you also need a small fabric cut with embroidery, tie the hands of the newlyweds and the main wedding towel, spread under the couple's feet during the ceremony.
Previously, those who were married had to kneel on a towel at the altar. Today, newlyweds are allowed to step on an accessory in shoes.
How to choose?
According to the embroidered symbolic wedding attribute, they suggested how the joint future of the newlywed couple would develop. Of course, the choice of such an accessory was taken very seriously and meticulously.
At the wedding ceremony, the towel should only be made of a continuous seamless cloth, without lace and decorative inserts. The integrity of the ornament is important, which is considered a symbol of a long and happy marriage life, without breaks. The durable fabric can be washed after the ritual and stored for use on all anniversaries in perspective.
As the beliefs say, it is worth buying or making a wedding towel with embroidered geometric figures in an ornament or with a pattern of plant motifs.
The pattern does not have to be symmetrical. The embroidery can be located on both sides or on one side. The main thing is that the middle is untouched. The center of the towel is God's place, where the fabric is always without embroidery, clean of the "thoughts" of embroiderers. This is because the people to be married stand on the matter with their feet exactly in the center, which means that they can stain happiness. Any inscriptions on such an accessory are also unacceptable.
No standards are applied to the size of the towel, but it is important to take into account that two people must freely fit on it - the bride and groom.
By tradition, a snow-white towel or a canvas with a pink tint is chosen for the wedding. These colors personify the purity of thoughts and tender feelings with which the future husband and wife, by the will of God and with his blessing, will go hand in hand forward to a new life in a different status.
In a sacred interpretation, the white background of the embroidery means the clouds of heaven, onto which the newlyweds will ascend at the ceremony to conclude an alliance before the face of God.
Embroidery symbols
It is believed that the drawing and symbols of a wedding towel have a force that influences the future life of newlyweds in the same family. The right and left edge of the towel was allowed to be decorated with different symbols. For a long time, there are a lot of them, and they carry a sacred message in the embroidery of a wedding attribute:
- an asterisk with eight corners is a sign that personifies God and the sun;
- wavy line - a symbol of eternal life;
- grapes - read prosperity and fertility to spouses;
- mallow - chaste girlish beauty;
- viburnum - the attractiveness of the bride, a sign of love and youth;
- a pair of doves with their beaks turned towards each other - loyalty and sincere love of the young;
- flower buds - to procreation.
Traditions and beliefs
The wedding towel is surrounded by a halo of traditions, many beliefs are associated with it.
At the wedding, it is customary to watch vigilantly so that, apart from the young, no one steps on the sacred towel. There is a belief that this will tarnish the happiness of the newlyweds.
If the newlyweds step on the towel with their soles, something from plant patterns is appropriate on it: viburnum, grapevine, leaves, but birds and flowers should not be depicted there. Such requirements have appeared recently - since the time when young people increasingly began to stand on embroidered fabric with their feet.
There are many rules regarding embroidery on a towel, but the main thing is that you can only embroider until dark, being in full health and in a wonderful mood.
Negative thoughts and worries in this process harm the energy invested in the embroidery of symbols. It is important to make sure that the towel is neat from the inside out, because the family life of the young will be the same!
What is the difference and where to buy?
If the bride has no talent for embroidery, and her relatives are far from this art, it is allowed to buy a wedding towel. In this case, you should prefer a handmade product instead of a factory towel.
Hand embroidery will cost more, but the hands of the craftswoman keep the "live" energy, which will benefit the marriage union.
Inexpensive wedding towels in a wide range are offered by online stores. These are standard machine-embroidered cotton models with embossed lace.A budget product will "pull" only 300 - 1200 rubles.
For the work of private craftswomen (depending on the material, the parameters of the towel, the volume and quality of the work performed), you will have to pay at least 500 and more than 3000 rubles.
Highly artistic pieces in piece versions, sewn with silk thread, will "pull" the amount of 5,000 rubles and more.
In wedding salons, newlyweds are offered different models: without embroidery or with factory embroidery, uncomplicated hand-made embroidery and perfect exclusive from skilled embroiderers.
What to do with a towel at the end of the ceremony?
After the wedding, all paraphernalia, including the towel, are carefully stored in the house of the couple. Someone hangs it up for show, as a decoration and memory of a touching event, while others keep it away from prying eyes, believing in the omen that a towel must be rolled into a tube in order to protect the family from the evil eye and the influence of evil spirits.
The towel, where the feet of the newlyweds stepped under the arches of the church, gains the power of a family amulet and turns into a symbol of an unbreakable union.
It is customary to get it and use it on all anniversaries of life together.
For more information on how to choose the right towel for your celebration, see the video below.
