Currently, every weekend you can see passing by, beautifully decorated cars. They are bright, colorful, with a variety of colors, developing ribbons and even dolls on the hood. All passers -by treat them with understanding and complacency. Other motorists give way to them not only on the roadway, but also the road to a new happy life. After all, these cars attracting attention are brought by lovers of the newlyweds and their guests. The little -known fact is that decorating cars on the wedding day has very long and deep roots.
Now, a traditional wedding motorcade consists of several cars. However, the young couple can go to the registry office on any type of transport, for example, by bicycle or scooters. Previously, the bride and groom on the day of marriage rode on a carriage, wagon, cart, sleigh. In ancient times, in Rus’, a wedding chain of vehicles was called not a motorcade, but a wedding train. Moreover, before the sled or wagons there were at least three.
In the old days, transport also decorated, however, this was done completely not for beauty. People believed that ribbons and flowers protected the young couple from an evil eye, had a sacred meaning. Whereas in our time the newlyweds decorate the wedding motorcade for aesthetic reasons and as an identification mark, so that other drivers free his path.
So from our ancestors came the tradition of declaring transport with bells, colored ribbons, and also covered with pillows and bright carpets. If the horses brought lovers, then not only the bells hung on them, but also attached fresh flowers, shawls and scarves to harness to harness. Moreover, the honor of taking the newlyweds belonged to horses, according to beliefs in Rus’, they personified the elements of nature. If the wedding took place during Shrovetide, then a doll was attached to the wedding train. Then the newly made spouses cherished her all her life as a family amulet.
The roots of traditions to decorate cars with ribbons also came from European culture. In the 17th century, ribbons had the name «Seek bows». They were tied to the sleeves for boys who accompanied the bride to church. They also had to carry sprigs of rosemary, which are a symbol of the purity of the bride.
In general, each state has its own customs to decorate wedding trips. For example, in China, the groom and the bride are being taken on Red Palankina, followed by a red umbrella behind him. It is believed that the red color brings happiness to the life of the newlyweds. In England, rifle volleys play the role of a talisman from sorcerers and unclean power, and for happiness a young couple, a little girl scatters flower petals. In Hungary, when meeting with a wedding motorcade, all other participants in the automobile movement make signals as a congratulation.
