Wedding ceremonies of the Tatars have always been distinguished by their beauty and variety. Of course, in our time, not all Tatars adhere to the customs of their ancestors. Nevertheless, many people, especially rural residents, try to ensure that their wedding proceeds according to the same rules as that of many generations of ancestors.
Wedding preparations
The Tatar, who liked the girl, sent to her parents a matchmaker (who had the name "yauchy"), accompanied by one of the older relatives in order to represent the interests and intentions of the guy. In case of parental consent, the questions about the date of the wedding, the number of guests, the dowry that the bride will receive, and the amount of kalym that the groom will have to pay to the future father-in-law and mother-in-law were immediately discussed. This was very important.
From that moment on, the bride wore the unofficial, but honorary title of "yarashylgan kyz" - "married girl".
After the family of the Tatar groom collected kalym and bought gifts and jewelry for the bride and her relatives, and the bride's family finished preparing the dowry, a wedding ritual was carried out. The future husband in front of him was supposed to be in the house of his parents, and the bride with a company of close friends - in the so-called "kiyau ey" ("the groom's house"). Such a room could be, for example, the house of the next of kin.
How was the wedding: traditions and history
At the appointed time, all participants in the wedding celebration gathered in the house of the bride's parents, where tables with dishes of national cuisine were already laid. Mullah performed a wedding ceremony according to Muslim canons. The wedding night bed was made in kiyau hey. It was supposed to carry out the rite of her consecration - "uryn kotlau". For this, the guests from the side of the bride, including males, touched the bed or sat on it.
Each participant in this ceremony was supposed to leave some money on a special dish.
The groom, in order to get to the bride who was waiting for him in kiyau hey, had to answer a number of questions and endure tests in order to show his intelligence, modesty, speed of reaction. He also paid the ransom ("kiyau akchasy").
The next morning, the young couple went to the bathhouse. Then the ritual "arch seyu" - "stroking the back" was performed. A young wife in a room where only women gathered, knelt in the corner, facing the wall and sang a sad song, mourning her former carefree life. The women in turn approached her, stroked her back, consoled her and gave advice on how to behave in marriage.
A week after the wedding, the husband was supposed to return home to his parents. The wife stayed at her parents' house, but her husband came to her every night. This continued until the husband finished building the house or paid the wife's parents the entire amount of kalym.
When the couple moved to their own home, the second wedding feast ("kalyn tuy") began, before which the wife had to perform the rite of consecration of her new home, sprinkling the corners and foundation.
