Superstitions of German-Russians, List of

Last Update 31 Oct  2002

Stories of Supernatural and Witchcraft told by German-Russians, their Ancestors and their Descendants continued....

Superstitions Connected To Weddings

In ancient times, protection from "bad luck was needed for the bride and groom ".  The superstitious baggage the German-Russians carried were many and many seem to be  connected with the couple's religion.  The two main religions were Protestant or Catholic.  [I'm not familiar with the Mennonites to discuss their traditions, so, they will not be part of this particular article.]  The following, however, seem to be found in both religious communities and, therefore, are probably old superstitions, which have roots from times of old:

A bridesman dressed similar to the bride will confuse the evil spirits that were eager to harm the young bride.  Same was true with the best man, he, also, dressed as the groom to protect the groom from the evil spirits.

Many of our German-Russians seemed to have inherited a variety of traditions from various cultures. Such as, in  the eastern countries ,such as China , is wore the bachelor button.... The Greeks wore white... Luck was with the Romans who married in June.  The English voiced the old verse, "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue."  which was "good luck". Orange blossoms in a wreath came from Saracerns which the Crusaders brought back to Europe and was the symbol of "everlasting life".  For fertility the Greeks, Roman and Anglo-Saxons used wreaths of corn and wheat.  To protect the bride from the "evil eye" a bridal veil was used and this traditions was from the east.  To add to the veil,   a person who wears the veil of a woman who has a blessed  [happy; many children] marriage will have her own blessed [happy; many children] marriage.