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ACT 3 - Post wedding
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The final day of celebrating involves fun, frivolity, and of course more food!
Breakfast of Champions (Perepiy/Перепій)
The morning after, there is a ceremonial breakfast for the Bridal Couple, called the Perepii, which translates to over-drinking or to drink again! The parents of the Bride visit her in her new home, the household of her new husband. They bring gifts and acknowledge that their daughter is no longer part of their family. In some regions, the couple is first awakened by the Groom’s family and friends and given a mock breakfast, foods that look good, but taste terrible. An example is pastries with raw vegetables, such as beets, inside. After teasing the couple, the family serves them a nice breakfast.
Gypsying (Tsyhanshchyna/Циганщина)
In the afternoon, most villages have a post-wedding carnival called the Tsyhanshchyna. After the solemn wedding service, the day before, this is a raucous celebration. Wedding guests dress in costumes as gypsies, professionals, or members of the opposite sex. Sometimes they capture either the parents or the godparents of the Bride and Groom and dress them in the clothes of the opposite gender. They parade the costumed elders through the street in a cart and dunk them in the river or other handy body of water. If the parents or godparents are not dunked into the water, they can be taken to the local pub and forced to buy everyone a round of drinks or other treats.
Two people, a man and a woman dress up to look like the real newlyweds, except in opposite fashions. Everybody at the wedding pretends not to notice the lie and they continue to celebrate just as the day before. This tradition comes from pagan times with the belief that this change of characters would turn the evil eye away from the real newlyweds and bring them more happiness in their family life.
During Soviet Times, they attempted to do away with this tradition. It would not be quashed the strength of the tradition was for a period of frivolity, providing tension release and balance, sealing the serious rite with the magic of laughter and fun. In the Tsyhanshchyna, Ukrainian traditions have preserved elements of an ancient ritual of deep meaning and magical elements.
Day After Party (Popravyny/ Поправини; Perezva/ Перезва)
~Pyrohy
On the day after the wedding, close friends and relatives gather at the Groom’s house for a “Varenyky/Pyrohy” party. Usually the guests eat left-overs from the wedding, sing old Ukrainian songs, and dance.
~Popravyny
By Ukrainian tradition, weddings are a three-day affair. On the day after the wedding, the Bride's parents host a luncheon for the guests. The purpose of these "Popravyny" is to greet the Bride and Groom on their first day as a married couple. This tradition, with a modern twist continues to this day often as a time for the Bride and Groom to open their gifts.
Go to the next Traditions section: Wedding Clothing and Embroidered Items
- Breakfast of Champions (Perepii/Перепій)
- Gypsying (Tsyhanshchyna/Циганщина)
- Day After Party (Popravyny/ Поправини; Perezva/ Перезва)
Breakfast of Champions (Perepiy/Перепій)
The morning after, there is a ceremonial breakfast for the Bridal Couple, called the Perepii, which translates to over-drinking or to drink again! The parents of the Bride visit her in her new home, the household of her new husband. They bring gifts and acknowledge that their daughter is no longer part of their family. In some regions, the couple is first awakened by the Groom’s family and friends and given a mock breakfast, foods that look good, but taste terrible. An example is pastries with raw vegetables, such as beets, inside. After teasing the couple, the family serves them a nice breakfast.
Gypsying (Tsyhanshchyna/Циганщина)
In the afternoon, most villages have a post-wedding carnival called the Tsyhanshchyna. After the solemn wedding service, the day before, this is a raucous celebration. Wedding guests dress in costumes as gypsies, professionals, or members of the opposite sex. Sometimes they capture either the parents or the godparents of the Bride and Groom and dress them in the clothes of the opposite gender. They parade the costumed elders through the street in a cart and dunk them in the river or other handy body of water. If the parents or godparents are not dunked into the water, they can be taken to the local pub and forced to buy everyone a round of drinks or other treats.
Two people, a man and a woman dress up to look like the real newlyweds, except in opposite fashions. Everybody at the wedding pretends not to notice the lie and they continue to celebrate just as the day before. This tradition comes from pagan times with the belief that this change of characters would turn the evil eye away from the real newlyweds and bring them more happiness in their family life.
During Soviet Times, they attempted to do away with this tradition. It would not be quashed the strength of the tradition was for a period of frivolity, providing tension release and balance, sealing the serious rite with the magic of laughter and fun. In the Tsyhanshchyna, Ukrainian traditions have preserved elements of an ancient ritual of deep meaning and magical elements.
Day After Party (Popravyny/ Поправини; Perezva/ Перезва)
~Pyrohy
On the day after the wedding, close friends and relatives gather at the Groom’s house for a “Varenyky/Pyrohy” party. Usually the guests eat left-overs from the wedding, sing old Ukrainian songs, and dance.
~Popravyny
By Ukrainian tradition, weddings are a three-day affair. On the day after the wedding, the Bride's parents host a luncheon for the guests. The purpose of these "Popravyny" is to greet the Bride and Groom on their first day as a married couple. This tradition, with a modern twist continues to this day often as a time for the Bride and Groom to open their gifts.
Go to the next Traditions section: Wedding Clothing and Embroidered Items