SEX TRADITIONS OF ANCIENT SLAVS: THE FIRST WEDDING SEX
The question of wedding and sex is very important in any culture, and Slavs had a very specific opinion about it. It's very interesting for me to discover some cultural facts of my nation and others as well, because our past is background for our future.
My friends, this time I'd like to share some intresting facts about ancient traditions of my country.
The first wedding night in Russia was arranged in a special way and had a lot of differences from the similar tradition of other nations. The peoples of Africa, Europe and India had the right of the first night to intimate contact of the bride with a stranger. Often it was an elder of the tribe, a noble gentleman, or even just the first one to meet. In Rus, the right to deprive a girl of virginity traditionally belonged ONLY to her future husband.
The wedding ceremony in Rus was a complex sacrament, combining Christian and pagan traditions. The time of the wedding was always carefully chosen.
Slavs had their first wedding night during the wedding, so it was very important to schedule a wedding for the date allowed by the church. According to Orthodox laws, you can not have sexual relations in fasting and on church holidays, so no weddings were scheduled for this time.
It always happened on the territory of the groom, as the girl after the wedding moved to live with him. For the newlyweds relatives prepared a high bed on a strong wooden base. The mother or sister of the groom could also make the bed.
Many ritual objects were put on the bed to protect the newlyweds. Such talismans included small rye sheaves, flour sacks, mattresses. Above, the bed was covered with a snow-white embroidered blanket. Under the bed several logs, a skillet, a poker, a juniper branch were laid. These items were supposed to save a couple from all evil spirits. Logs symbolized the future offspring.
In the bedroom the newlyweds were shown off by a whole crowd of guests: friends, matchmakers, relatives and in general anyone who wanted to participate in a noisy and cheerful act.
When the bride and groom were left alone at last, at first they ate bread and chicken. This food was supposed to give the couple fertility. After eating, the girl had to take off the guy's boots. Thus, she showed humility to her future husband and showed a willingness to obey him. She also had to ask her husband for permission to lie down with him. And only then they had sex.
Not so simple, right?)
The most important thing in all this ritual was the demonstration of a bride's shirt with blood stains. If the bride kept her virginity before the wedding, she was considered honest. Otherwise, she brought shame not only to herself, but also to her parents.
The whole ritual needed to be strictly observed, otherwise the new family was threatened with infertility and poverty.
As we can see, nowadays everything is different. Today Russia has full freedom in sex relationships before marriage, unfirtunately, often it happens very early, at the age of 13-16. By the way Slavs considered a girl of this age absolutely ready for adult life and family.
Modern Russia has nothing from these past traditions of wedding and first night. Now the first wedding night is not full of sacral sex and love but of money and profit because just married count money which was presented as wedding gift for them-)) Or they just sleep because they were too tired after crazy wedding day)
There are only small hints that remind us of what we had in the far past: for example, the bed for just married is prepared by mothers often, or brides have some talismans for lucky family life... Though I will tell about these traditions and beliefs in the next part, if you are interested.
Was it interesting for you, my friends?
Do you know your nation's traditions of first wedding night?
There are many similarities to lots of other cultures that worked on yoking and man to a woman's needs.
What the man brought to the marriage is easily seen. What the woman brought ephemeral and fragile.
Too bad feminism threw this most precious thing on the dung heap, telling women its the sexual revolution.
I'm not a fan of feminism)
don't you think women's role in family life is great and not so fragile?
I am not sure what you are speaking about. (and I am unsure I got across what I was speaking about)
There are areas where women are very strong. (like men are strong in picking up and moving things) A families emotional welfare is one place where women are exceptionally strong. So, not at all comparable to fragile.
I speak of fragility, like you would think of a rose. Once opened, it is only with us for a little while, and strong winds or heavy rain will make its life shorter. Very fragile.
A woman's sexuality is very fragile and easy to corrupt. Women are designed to take things in. This includes all the energies of all the men they have slept with. Women with higher men counts are less fertile and much more likely to have sexual organ problems. (and more unlikely to be happy in a marriage)
The other piece, that almost no one talks about, is the society of a husband/wife dynamic.
Without a wife and family, a man will work at about 20%. That's all he needs to in order to survive himself. A man with a wife and family will work much harder, and thus the society benefits from the extra production. But, in exchange, the wife and family need to be his. With each other partner then woman has had, this bond is diminished. 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5th...
So, our current society asks men to perform at 100%, while getting a wife that is 10% or less.
And, the most important thing is that the man is raising his own children. That bond is extremely important. This is the reason infidelity is so bad for society. Currently, according to a technician who does blood samples at a hospital. 1/4 of children are not the father's. Just based on blood types.
Really interesting stuff, and well-written. Thanks for sharing.
thank you so much!!) I try to choose nice topics)
In the timotocuica culture the domination and slave sexual is normal.
where is it?
Very fascinating read, love reading about traditions and history and it's extra interesting as I come from Russian background and know how incredibly traditional our culture can be, even to this day. Really enjoyed your research and personal notes on this particular tradition, thank you for sharing!
you're welcome) thank you!
Another fascinating and obtuse article ! thank you
How sad though that whatever the culture, the woman is always treated as an object owned by a man to obey him. No wonder these days, wome sadly are still treated as second class citizens due to these ancient and mainly religious traditions.
Hope you are well and had a wonderful Christmas a few days ago.
Take care always :-)
thank you for warm words!)
I liked this post :)
How old were they usually when they marry?
thanks! in the past it was very early - 15-16 years old was ok
Very informative post! You often find ancient traditions strange when studying history. Thanks!
Same for Nigeria where I am from.
This is as a result of neglect in our culture and traditions. So many things have changed. Wedding nights have become just a normal night like others. There's nothing new to the new couples. Also, these days, marriages don't last like they used to.
Thank you @taliakerch for sharing this.
I agree with you..
Almost india has also tradition like similer to that. Well todays these tradition are going to end. It is normal in the world now . @taliakerch
I have read in India the right to have sex with a wife was given to not a husband but another man, it's wrong?
Enjoy the vote and reward!
which vote?)
Who says that. It is fully wrong. I really astonished
Im follow. hehehe