Weddings in Slovakia   

The wedding in villages is connected with many long- running preparations and traditions.  Nowadays there are a decreasing numbers of these wedding traditions. The wedding is normally started with banns, which is reported three Sundays before by Pastor. During this time the betrothed pair has several discourses about a marriage with the pastor. One month before the wedding the betrothed pair is sending wedding cards for guests.

Once upon a time the weddings were made every day but only during a Carnival. Today are wedding usually on Saturdays and Sundays, but during all the year around. On Saturday 22^nd

 Of February I was at one wedding party in Repiskach-Brojovom Potoku. Andrej Jurgovian, brother of the chairman MS SSP, disbursed his second daughter Mary to youth Andrej Congva. The wedding preparation started early in the morning. The bride was dressed in    a nice white clothes and bridegroom arrived on an ornate horse.

By catholic weddings the betrothed pair come three months before to a church, where they would like to have a wedding. They talk to pastor about the date and about the style of their wedding. The part of this preparation is to realize, if they are able to have a wedding and if it is sacral valid. The wedding party can be a part of Mass, but it can be the independent ceremony too. The Pastor is coming to welcome the new pair and then they are going together to the altar. After a prayer for a betrothed pair there are another catholic ceremonies. In the end the betrothed pair changes their rings. After this the pastor blesses a new pair. At last after signature matriculation the pastor sees newly-weds off the church.

                                                                                                          Translated by: Martin Daneček

Update 11. november 2004
Ing. Lýdia Haliaková