Obrzędy weselne mieszkańców parafii Rudna Wielka w diecezji rzeszowskiej

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show the customs and rituals associated with the marriage ceremony in the parish of Rudna Wielka, near Rzeszow. The article consists of three points. These relate to: civil wedding and a church wedding, preparing of the newlyweds for the wedding ceremony and the course of the wedding Mass. This study is based on information obtained from ethnographic fieldwork on wedding rituals. The study was conducted in 2011 in the villages of: Rudna Wielka, Rudna Mała and Pogwizdów Nowy. In the twentieth century, a young couple first got civil wedding, and then the church wedding. Since 1998, the couple can have a concordat wedding. From early morning the future bride and groom were preparing for the celebration in their own homes. When a groom arrived at bride’s home, the couple was blessed and everyone went to church. At that time, the inhabitants of a village made weeding gates and they blocked the couple's way to the church. Then the best man, or father of the groom, paid for making the way to the church with vodka. When the wedding procession reached the church Mass began. After taking the oath priest confirmed the validity of a marriage, blessed wedding rings, then to sign the marriage the spouses put the rings on each other’s right hands. After Mass, the couple signed the marriage act. In front of the church the guests were throwing money at the couple since it was believed that it will bring them luck. The guests congratulated the couple and gave them presents. After that they all took a picture in front of the church, and then went to the place of the wedding.