The bridal service itself is frequently accompanied by both a religious and civil service, but there are many additional traditions that make up polish marriage beliefs. Some are more complex https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01775-5 than people, but all are meant to display the couple that their family and friends are united in their assistance of them and want them a happy life together.

One of the most popular polish wedding traditions is the Oczepiny (unveiling of the wedding). The opening is a major part of the union and it represents her changeover from solitary girl to married spouse. The bride’s parents, aunts, godmothers and grandmothers all join her on the dance floor in a circle and, at the command of the druzba ( band leader ), they remove the bride’s veil while the guests sing a song called Oj Chmielu Chmielu ( which some claim is the oldest known polish wedding song ).

Another traditional Polish marriage custom is zmowiny – this is where the relatives of the man and bride meet for the first time. The auberge d’ or group leader may announce the parents, who finally come to a smaller table with bread and salt. The bread symbolizes the hope that the couple does not practice hunger and the salt reminds them polish women for marriage that life may often become hard and they must learn to cope collectively.

After the lecture of bread and salt, the couple has their first toast- generally this is a shot of vodka passed from person to person. The couple drinks from their glasses and, according to tradition, whoever ends up with the glass of vodka will wear the pants in the relationship!