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Traditional Moldavian Weddings

by Iulita
Moldavian wedding is a bouquet of traditions and culture. The wedding ceremony
itself is usually an all-night celebration. A traditional wedding party is magnificent in
its arrangement and intensity. The singing and dancing continue until daybreak.

Weddings usually begin at noon. When guests arrive, they greet the bride and
groom. Most people bring bouquets of flowers for the bride and groom. In return,
they are offered a glass of Champagne or wine. Dancing starts early in the evening
before the guests sit down for a meal. We have special national dances like
Moldovan ‘hora’, ‘sirba’, ‘batuta’ and ‘jocul’. ‘Hora’ is the easiest so everyone
dances the ‘hora’.

Once all the guests arrive and socialise, young
people are asked to form a floral guard of honour as
the bride and groom head for the main table called
‘masa mare’.

Musicians called ‘Lautarii’ play "Here Comes the
Bride". When the bridal party is seated at the head of
the table, special dancers perform for them. The
dancers bring special symbols to the couple, such as
the round braided loaf of bread called ‘colac’. The bride and the groom tear the
‘colac’ into two halves. Whoever gets the biggest portion would become the head
of the family.

After a hearty meal, all the guests get
together with the bride and the groom and
dance, but first the bride and groom
perform their first marital dance.

In my country, it is a tradition to choose
“My Sweet and Tender Beast”
composed by Eugen Doga. It is a magnificent waltz.

Iulita, English Functional Skills, KW

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