How did the first wedding night pass in Russia, and why did many girls drown themselves in the morning after it
Nowadays, such an event as on wedding night, most people no longer attach serious importance. In Ancient Rus', most women married innocently, so the first night with a lawful husband became a really important event for them if everything went smoothly.
5 PHOTOS
1. However, far from always, the first solitude with the legal spouse was ideal. One of the reasons for mutual dissatisfaction was the small deceptions of future brides. Since portly women in the body were valued in Rus', overly slender women had to dress up in countless skirts in front of potential suitors. During the wedding night, the truth was revealed, but it was already impossible to change anything after the wedding.
2. Regardless of the real appearance, and hidden defects, if the bride married an innocent, the husband had to endure her presence until the end of his days.
In addition, most often the moral customs of that time did not at all allow potential spouses to see and communicate. The decision to marry was made by their parents, and the consent of the future newlyweds was not required for this. Usually, girls were given in marriage as early as 12-13 years old, so as not to keep them as girls for too long.
3. Firstly, it allowed poor families to quickly get rid of an extra mouth, and secondly, it deprived the girls of the opportunity to step on the sinful path of vice before marriage. For the first wedding night, a sennik was prepared for the young.
An important condition was the absence of land in it. Of course, a forced marriage could not always cause mutual attraction among the newlyweds during intimacy. However, the bride had to try to overcome the obstacles and interest her husband, because otherwise, her fate was sad.
4. If the husband did not succeed on the first night, the bride was obliged to drown herself in the morning. For her, it was an indelible shame for life, which all the neighbors would immediately know about. This custom was abolished only with the advent of Christianity.
If a girl married already experienced in relationships, she had to carefully hide this indelible shame. Therefore, in order to deceive the groom, such girls cut roosters and imitated innocence, taking advantage of the husband's inexperience.
5. Thus, only a few girls managed to become happy in marriage. Even if after the wedding night the husband was satisfied with his bride, he always remained the head of the family for her. A woman could not argue with her husband or grumble at her fate. She was obliged to obey all the whims of her husband in order to remain a decent wife, respected in society.
Keywords: Wedding night | Wedding | Marriage | Ceremonies | Culture | Asia | Russia | Couples | Husband | Bride