You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
INSIGHT TAROM Prim\var\/Spring 2007 57<br />
ziua bun\...<br />
“Farewell“...<br />
PE}ITUL, ~N CASA MIRESEI<br />
~n cazul `n care doi tineri se pl\ceau sau interesele de familie o<br />
cereau, p\rin]ii b\iatului trimiteau un om mai h‚tru la p\rin]ii fetei pentru<br />
a anun]a inten]ia lor de a veni `n pe]it. Adesea, cel care sosea `n pe]it<br />
era chiar tat\l t‚n\rului. ~n ziua cu pricina, alaiul pe]itorilor pornea spre<br />
casa fetei, unde, la intrare, rosteau o scurt\ cuv‚ntare. Erau pofti]i `n<br />
cas\, unde, `n jurul mesei cu bucate stropite cu vin, se purtau discu]iile<br />
despre zestre, p\m‚nt [i se fixa ziua nun]ii. Se duceau tratative [i pentru<br />
g\sirea na[ului, care, de obicei, era na[ul de botez al b\iatului. Urmau<br />
preg\tirile de nunt\, care culminau `n s\pt\m‚na dinaintea evenimentului.<br />
Uneori, hot\r‚rea de a face nunta era deja luat\, pe]itul fiind doar o<br />
formalitate sau un prilej de petrecere.<br />
FEDELE{UL, CU DANS<br />
De regul\, este o petrecere la casa miresei, `n seara de dinaintea<br />
nun]ii, la care particip\ prietenii viitorilor miri, al]i invita]i. La `nceputul<br />
serii, tinerii lucreaz\ ornamentele ce vor fi puse `n brazii de nunt\, din<br />
materiale aduse de miri. Petrecerea nu `nseamn\ mult\ m‚ncare (se<br />
servesc cozonaci), ci mai degrab\ b\utur\ [i dans.<br />
asking-in-marriage, the “callings“<br />
to the wedding, the splitting of the<br />
unleavened bread, the bride’s<br />
meal, the dowry dance, the bringing<br />
of the bride, the parents’ forgiveness,<br />
the religious service, the<br />
Big Dinner, the prayer, the moment<br />
when the bride wraps up her<br />
head with a scarf and... the primary<br />
path.<br />
THE “ASKING-IN-MARRIAGE“<br />
When two young people liked<br />
each other or if the families’ interests<br />
called it, a trustful person of<br />
the groom’s part went to the bride’s<br />
parents to ask for their daughter<br />
in marriage on the groom’s behalf.<br />
Most often, the groom’s father<br />
was the suitor. When the day<br />
of the “asking-in-marriage“ came,<br />
the suitor went to the bride’s house<br />
accompanied by several others.<br />
Before entering the bride’s house<br />
they stopped and held a short<br />
speech. They were then asked to<br />
come in, invited to eat and drink<br />
while discussing about the dowry<br />
and finally set up the wedding<br />
day. Negotiations also took place<br />
when deciding who the spiritual<br />
father of the wedding should be.<br />
Usually, the groom’s godfather<br />
had the honor to also become the<br />
spiritual father of the new couple.<br />
Then the wedding preparations<br />
would follow. Sometimes the<br />
decision to go along with the wedding<br />
had been taken a long time<br />
before the “asking-in-marriage“<br />
and the ritual was just an opportunity<br />
to party or a formality.<br />
BIND TIGHT WHILE DANCING<br />
The night before the wedding,<br />
there is usually a party at the bride’s<br />
house where all the couple’s friends<br />
are invited. When the evening<br />
comes, the young guests must prepare<br />
the ornaments that are to decorate<br />
the wedding firs. The party<br />
however does not mean eating a lot<br />
but rather drinking and dancing.<br />
A FIR FOR PROSPERITY<br />
In the morning of the big day,<br />
the groom and his friends decorate<br />
the firs with various objects, including<br />
fruits and bake rolls. Then some<br />
bachelors carry the decorated<br />
firs to the spiritual father’s house<br />
where one of the firs must be tide<br />
to the gate. The wedding procession<br />
goes then to the bride’s house<br />
where the last fir is placed.<br />
The fir is a symbol of vigor and<br />
youth and its decorations symbolize<br />
the prosperity of the new family.<br />
THE DRESSING UP OF<br />
THE BRIDE AND GROOM<br />
The music, the wedding guests<br />
and the wine bottle are the ingredients<br />
of the moments prior to the<br />
religious ceremony. The houses of<br />
the groom and bride are truly<br />
vivid. Two rituals take place at the<br />
same time in different places: the<br />
groom is shaved and the bride is<br />
dressed up. Both rituals symbolize<br />
the first steps towards the family<br />
life and they take place while the<br />
guests dance and sing. The<br />
® ®