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Ceremonial Wedding Table of Western Ukraine HUTZULS are th e m ountain dwellers in th e Carpathian moun tain range of W estern Ukraine. Geographically they have pre served, perhaps in the purest form , m any ancient customs, ri tuals, and traditions in connec tion w ith religious and national holidays, also fam ily life such as births, weddings, and funer als. A fragm ent of the Hutzul- ian culture is presented in the traditional wedding table. WEDDING TREE — The cen te r of interest is th e decorated tree bedecked w ith periwinkle, flowers, and paper stream ers. The custom is a carry over from pagan tim es when the tree was worshipped and regarded as a sacred-hallowed tree. B rother of the bride cuts the tree the m orn ing preceding the day of the wed ding and the bride’s attendants and lady friends decorate it the same afternoon. The decorating takes place in th e bride’s home w ith proper songs and ceremo nials. VINKOPLETENY — Follow ing the tree decorating, another ceremony takes place, Vinkople- teny, the braiding of th e bridal w reath out of periwinkle. This is a special event and is also in tertw ined w ith songs and m erry m aking. W hen the w reath is completed only then the menfolk are invited in. The custom dic tates th a t the bride’s brothers take the w reath and ride horse back to the home of the groom- to-be and bring the wedding g ift for the bride. In olden tim es th e g ift exchange was a kolach made out of hard pressed cheese which was later tied to the hand of the bride and th e groom. In recent tim es the groom gifts the bride by ceremoniously placing a ring, a challis shawl, and other gifts on top of the w reath which her em issaries brought and deliver to th e bride. PR A PEER — Banner — The groom’s entourage on th e way to church is headed by a bearer of “prapeer” a decorative ban ner. It is a stick decorated w ith money plant blossoms, and a cherry, colored shawl fringed w ith varied color wool yarn which is placed inside a bread and kolach. A bottle of whiskey decorated w ith periwinkle and flowers is also carried. A fter the church ceremony the bride and groom retu rn and enter th e home separately. The groom is greeted a t the door by the bride’s p ar ents, and proceeds to the table placing the prapeer-banner on it. Traditionally he m ust now bar te r for his bride, and usually her brother is on hand to collect. Only after this ceremony does the wedding feast get underway. POVNITZIA — Fulfillm ent — Feasting and m errym aking over, th e bride invites everyone to “Povnitzia,” a to ast of fulfill ment. (This m ight parallel the modern wedding cake cere mony) . F irst th e parents of th e bride, fam ily and all guests step up to the table to share in th e “Povnitzia.” The best m an or the bride’s brother serves each a glass of whiskey — everyone toasts th e bride and leaves her a g ift of money. Thus th e Hutz- ul bride does not receive her wedding gifts in p retty wrapped parcels. This concludes th e first day of the wedding. SECOND day of th e wedding — The bride is brought to th e groom’s house w ith th e dowry. The groom’s friends and rela tives gather and feasting conti nues. The unveiling of th e bride ceremony follows, where the w reath is replaced by a shawl denoting th a t she is now a m ar ried woman. Much singing, danc ing and m errym aking takes place. The wedding tree which was brought from the bride’s T h e In te rn a tio n a l In s titu te in D etro it, M ich., o rg an ized a n e x h ib it u n d e r th e slogan “C ustom s an d T rad itio n s.” T he U N W LA R egional C ouncil in D etro it a rra n g e d a cerem o n ial w ed d in g ta b le of H utsuls, th e U k ra in ia n m o u n ta in dw ellers. НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ — ТРАВЕНЬ, 1961. 17
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