Lidzhi Amikov, About Wedding Rituals

Abstract

Lidzhi says that various rituals that people perform at weddings are all done for the wellbeing and happiness of the newlywed. Early in the morning, members of the groom’s family light candles and ask ancestors and gods to bestow blessings on the groom and the bride. Lidzhi warns that by not following traditions and rituals people may anger the supernatural, and as a result the newlywed will suffer. Here are some rules that should not be neglected. A delegation that brings the bride to her new house should always include a paternal uncle of the groom. The bride’s maternal uncle can accompany her to the groom’s house on the day of the wedding. Traditionally, the mother of the bride should pay a visit to her daughter in a week’s time after the wedding. But today mothers come to their daughters the next day or on the same day of the wedding. Since it is believed that the bride symbolically dies for her natal family on the day of the wedding, she is given a new name and identity in the house of her husband. Since the bride cannot symbolically die and be re-born on the same day, her mother should not pay her a visit on the day of her wedding. Lidzhi says that sometimes couples do not have children. There could be various reasons and explanations for this. For example, if certain rituals were performed by the wrong categories of people, the spirits of ancestors may become offended and abstain from blessing the newlywed. Hence it is important to follow all rules strictly, especially during weddings. Lidzhi contends that it is also wrong to offend ones’ parents, because if they die in this state of mind, it is a big sin for the offender. Lidzhi says that the cause and effect rule governs the workings of this world. If one sows an apple seed, Lidzhi explains, it will grow into an apple tree, and not into a banana one.