"Oj chmielu, chmielu"
Title: „Oj chmielu, chmielu" - XI LO choir
Autor: Unknown
Region: All Poland
Sketch
„Oj chmielu, chmielu” is Polish wedding song
Polish traditions and customs connected with the wedding.
Throughout the history of marriage, there are hundreds of habits of the same form of the rite and the behavior of the guests at the wedding. It depends on the region, there are various forms of ceremonies at the wedding ceremony. Here are few of them…
Blessing
To fiancee’s home there arrive groom with his parents and witnesses. The bride and bridegroom kneel down in front of their parents to thank them for the education and love they received during their past life. Parents bless them, make on their foreheads sign of the cross and kiss them.
Ceremony
Couple and guests arrive to the church. In Poland, couple enter the church together, not separately. During the oath, lovers put rings on the third finger of the right hand. At the end of the ceremony the bride and groom may kiss each other.
After leaving the church the newlyweds are showered with rice, money or flower petals. Who of the spouses will collect more coins will rule at home. The guests wish all the best and much love for the newlyweds and give them bouquets of flowers and presents.
The best part – party time!
Upon arrival to the place - the groom carries his new wife over the threshold of the door. They are welcomed by parents who adopt them according to old polish customs - offering him bread and salt.
The next step is a toast. Just married couple gets a drink in bound glasses. They drink it and then throw back the empty glasses. It should be beat!
Over the threshold of the door to a new life…
Eating bread and salt
Throwing the glasses
„Oczepiny”
At the midnight it’s time to one of the most important parts of the wedding. It’s called „oczepiny”. It consists of many many competitions. One of them is choosing the new bride, and the new groom. The bride throws the veil and single women catch it. The groom throws his bow tie or tie and single man also catch it.
After midnight…
After "oczepiny" there's coming a time for a wedding cake. Mostly the cake is very big, beautiful and delicious. On the top of the cake there are figures of the couple.
Nice part of the wedding are also thanks to the parents organized by the bride and the groom. Newlyweds and their parents go out to the middle of the dance floor and lovers thank their parents for the support and all help.
The rest of the night is varied. Snacks, competitions, dancing and fun - all this things last for the morning.
„Poprawiny” - correction of the wedding party
The next day there is a special dinner for all guets who are invited. People dance and talk about last night. They spend very nice time, but it's much more calm than the wedding party.
Borrowing and colors
- Something blue (usually a garter).
- Something white (a symbol of purity of feelings).
- Something borrowed (to ensure the favor of her husbands family).
- Something new (symbol of prosperity).
- Something old (when being in difficult time, to do not need the assistance of relatives and friends).
- During the wedding bride and groom should not wear anything pink.
- The groom shouldn’t see his future wife’s dress until the ceremony.