Korean wedding

Modern Korean wedding does not look like a vintage wedding rite, nor wedding wedding. Her new traditions have developed quite recently, in the fifties, but everyone follows them in Korea. About these traditions and go now the story.

Since the 1960s. The main, although not the only one, the place of the wedding ceremony of steel "Ritual halls" – "Esikzhzhan". Despite such an indefinite name, in these institutions are not held "Rituals" Generally, namely weddings. Quite often the wedding is celebrated in the restaurant, in the hall of which all the necessary rituals are held (exactly the same as in "Esikzhzane"). Some families prefer to spend the whole holiday at home, but these are relatively few.

In the old days, a very important choice was attached to a favorable for wedding celebrations of the day and even an hour. This choice was carried out after consulting with a gadel. In general, this custom is alive in our days, although now with the fortuneteller is more often advised of the choice of only the day (but not an hour) of the wedding. Determine the day according to the old moon calendar. Extremely unfavorable for weddings is considered a leap month, which from time to time is inserted into the Far Eastern lunarly solar calendar. During this month, the number of orders in "Esikzhzhani" decreases many times. So, in 1995. In the leap month, came to October, the number of orders in one of the most famous "Esikchzhanov" Cities Kwangju decreased compared to the usual October about 15 times.

The wedding is usually prescribed during the daytime, and the majority tends to take place on Sunday or in the second half of the day on Saturday, that is, attempted all invited to the festival. Some weddings occur both in ordinary working days, but it is quite rare. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Security in 1996. reduced prices for use "Esikzhzhani" On weekdays by 50% (these prices, like many others, are tightly controlled in Korea in Korea).

Before the wedding, the bride visits the hairdresser (a very checked event) and putting a wedding dress. Since the 1950s. The Korea includes almost a mandatory part of the wedding ritual (including non-church) luxurious white dresses, almost not distingurable from Western samples. Most brides sews a new dress. The groom at the wedding is usually dressed in an expensive costume of the western sample, sometimes – even in a fragon. Frak, as a thing is expensive, but in the usual life is not necessary, almost never buy, but renting for a time of the wedding, but you can buy a suit for this occasion.

Shortly before the designated marriage time in "Esikzhzhan" Start guests arrive. For the bride and its closest girlfriends there is a special "waiting room", Other guests immediately upon arrival pass inside, while men are waiting for the beginning of the ceremony directly at the entrance, exchanging greetings. There are also parents of the bride and groom, who also welcome arriving guests.

Korean weddings are distinguished by exceptional crowd. The marriage is made to invite relatives, including very distant, colleagues, former coarticles, so that usually at the wedding there are several hundred, and in some cases there are several thousand guests. The most crowded wedding, which I know, took place in the fall of 1994. It was a wedding of the daughter of one of the leaders of the ruling party, and more than 3 thousand guests were present on it (of course, this wedding took place in the most fashionable from Seoul "Esikchzhanov", which is located in the metropolitan airport).

Wedding – a very overhead event, but it costs it all cheaper than it may seem at first glance. Reduce the burden of expenses helps the custom that prescribes all invited to bring envelopes with money, which as gifts and are awarded young. We are familiar to us "worn" gifts in Korean weddings almost do not hand. The amounts that give in this way can be the most different, but in most cases there are several tens of thousands in the envelope (10 thousand won – about 10 dollars). Immediately upon arrival in "Esikzhzhan" Guests put the tray of envelopes with money at the entrance to the hall and sign in the Special List. By tradition, all the envelopes are necessarily inscribed, so the owners always know how generous was one or another guest.

About half an hour or hour before the ceremony appear young. First, the bride passes in "Waiting room", Where in order. Often even before coming to "Esikzhzhan" Young in full top-end closures are sent to some of the few city parks to make photos outdoors there. Generally speaking, during the wedding, young people take pictures constantly, and a luxuriously decorated wedding album is in any Korean House. In recent years, along with photographers during weddings, they often began to invite video parameters. And photographers, and video parameters remove all how much significant moments of the wedding ritual.

A few minutes before the start of the ceremony, the guests go to the hall and searge on the chairs. Invited by the bridegroom sit down on the left (if you stand back to the door) side from the passage, and those who invited the bride’s family – according to the right. After that, the marriage itself begins. The first to the hall includes the mother of the bride and mother of the bride. They are suitable for the elevation located at the far end, on which, in fact, the whole ritual will be held, and the candles installed there. After that, they bow to each other and guests and sit on their honorable places in the first row.

Next to the hall enters the groom. Behind him appears a bride, which the father leads the hand or, if it is not, then someone from her senior relatives men. The bride accompanied by the Father comes up to the bridegroom, after which the bridegroom welcomes his future testing and takes the bride by hand. At this time, music sounds – not usual to us "Wedding March" Mendelssohn and the other "Wedding March" — Wagner (by the way, a melody is little known outside Korea). In accordance with the old traditions, which passed into the modern ritual, the bride, passing through the hall, should not make an eye. It goes around the hall with a low-tended head and lowered by a share, with all his appearance depicting meekness, which in the old Confucian times was considered the main advantage of the Korean woman.

After that, a ritual manager is suitable for the young, a figure playing a very important role in the wedding ritual. This role is made to invite some respected person who occupies a noticeable position in society. A large businessman, official, politician, university professor, and t act as a ritual manager.D. Usually, families of young people seek to invite the most high-ranking and most influential of all their friends. In addition to him, the lead, who must submit the main actors to give the necessary orders in the wedding rite. Master usually becomes from friends of the groom.

After the bride and the bride rise to the low podium at the end of the hall, the ritual manager appeals to them and to those present with a short speech, which usually lasts about 5 minutes. It is this speech that is considered a climax of the official part of the celebration. First, the head of the ritual offers young to give an oath that they are ready to live life in love and harmony. Young express their consent to short monosyllars "E" ("Yes"). After that, the manager solemnly proclaims their husband and wife. In the remaining part of the speech, the manager praises young, talks about the advantages of the bride and groom, wishes them to happiness in a starting family life.

After that comes time for greetings. First, young, standing next to each other, a deep bow welcomes the parents of the bride, then – the parents of the groom, and, finally, all guests. After that, the young together come out of the hall (this time under the sounds of a good Russian "Wedding Marsha" Mendelssohn). This is the main part of the marriage ceremony, which lasts, therefore, no more than half an hour, ends. The exit from the hall again begins photographing. The first photo is done together with a ritual manager, the second – along with parents, further – together with relatives, colleagues and coarticles.

After completing the official part, all guests go to a solemn lunch that can be conducted either in a banquet restaurant with "Esikzhzane", or somewhere nearby. However, young are not present on the banquet. After starting it, they go to a special room "PHEEBEKSILL", in which young welcomes parents and relatives of her husband, specially gathered there. For this rite and bride, and the groom remove your western outfit and change clothes to the traditional Korean wedding dress. The room also establishes a table with a treat, a mandatory element of which is the fruits of Jubub (Yuby).

The bride and the groom in turn in order of seniority are suitable for each of the relatives and, having committed a ritual bow to him, give him a charm of alcohol. The greeting begins with the parents of the groom, before which it is necessary to make two terrestrial bows and one waist bow. Other senior relatives welcomed by one earthly bow and one waist.

In response, each of those who greeted the bride in this way, presents her money that young then take with me in a wedding trip. Old custom is still common when the newlyweds in the skirt, her mother-in-law and mother-in-law throw the buzz, symbolizing male offspring, in this way, so that the wishes of having more sons. It is often found at the weddings and another custom, based on the same symbolism: the bride laughs in the mouth of the buzz, and then they drink together on the charm.

After meeting with the relatives of her husband’s husband, usually go to a banquet hall, where guests welcome. Immediately after the wedding, young go to the wedding trip.