In the past, there were different customs in the COUNTRYSIDE.
The beginning
A BOY couldn’t ask a GIRL TO MARRY him. He had to send TWO people to the GIRL’s PARENTS. They talked with the GIRL’s PARENTS about marriage, land and money.
Jagna and Maciej
Jagna was very young and BEAUTIFUL. Maciej was very OLD. He planted SEEDS cabbage and POTATOES. He was a GOOD man. Jagna’s MUM AGREED to the wedding.
Wedding preparations
Jagna’s TWO BROTHERS HELPED her prepare everything. Jagna made paper decorations: FLOWERS, a DOG, a SHEPHERD and some SHEEP. The walls were painted WHITE. The HOUSE was decorated with GREEN tree branches.
The wedding
The guests brought FOOD and DRINKs. Jagna LOOKED BEAUTIFUL. She had a floral crown, COLORFUL ribbons, a WHITE skirt, a BLUE corset, a blouse and a RED necklace.
The musicians and guests followed Jagna to the Maciej’s HOUSE.
Jagna’s MUM blessed her. They all went to church. Jagna and Maciej became HUSBAND and WIFE
The wedding party
Jagna’s MOTHER greeted guests with BREAD and SALT. They ate various MEATS, drank and DANCED. Then, there was a traditional ceremony. They put a special WHITE cap on Jagna’s head.
Moving into Maciej’s HOUSE
Jagna moved to her HUSBAND’S HOUSE. Her MUM gave her BREAD, SALT and GRAIN for luck. People WISHED GOOD luck to the HUSBAND and WIFE. They continued the party. Everyone was very HAPPY.
A LONG time ago, life was different in the COUNTRYSIDE.
WHO was organising the marriage?
A BOY couldn’t ask a GIRL TO MARRY him. He sent special people to the GIRL’S PARENTS. They explained WHO WANTED TO MARRY her.
WHO were Jagna and Maciej?
Jagna was very young and BEAUTIFUL. Maciej WANTED TO MARRY Jagna. Maciej was very OLD and was a farmer. He was the RICHEST man in Lipce VILLAGE. He had a lot of land and a lot of money. Jagna’s MOTHER thought he could be a GOOD HUSBAND for her DAUGHTER. Jagna respected her MOTHER’s decision and AGREED TO MARRY Maciej.
WHAT were the wedding preparations?
Before the wedding, the bride’s HOUSE was cleaned on a SUNNY DAY. Her BROTHERS took the furniture from the living ROOM OUTSIDE. Then, they placed big tables and benches for the guests. Jagna put a WHITE cloth on the table. She put up COLORFUL paper decorations on the ceiling and on the walls. The HOUSE looked BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT was the bride’s appearance?
On the big DAY, Jagna looked amazing. She had a decoration in her hair which looked like a crown. Jagna was wearing a WHITE skirt, a light BLUE corset and an amber necklace.
WHAT did they do before the wedding?
Musicians, guests and BEST men went to the groom’s HOUSE FIRST. They were HAPPY and went from door to door and invited the villagers to the wedding.
Jagna’s MOTHER was EXCITED and gave the couple her blessing.
Next, all the people followed the musicians to church. During the service Jagna and Maciej became HUSBAND and WIFE.
WHAT were they doing during the wedding reception?
The wedding reception was held at Jagna’s HOUSE. The guests were HAPPY, sat at the tables, drank and ate. WHEN the musicians started playing, Jagna DANCED with all of the men. She LIKED it a lot.
WHAT was the special part of the wedding ceremony?
Around midnight, the decoration was taken from the bride’s head and a WHITE cap was placed on her head. She was proud WHEN everybody SAW her braids. Jagna refused to cut her hair short. The older women were ANGRY about Jagna’s decision. The party lasted the whole night.
WHERE did the newlyweds live?
In the MORNING, the HAPPY Jagna moved into Maciej’s HOUSE. The guests carried her things there. Jagna’s MOTHER carried BREAD, SALT and some wheat. These were gifts to bring luck. The party continued in Maciej’s HOUSE.
The beginning
In the late 1800s, people in Poland had RICH traditions.
ONE of them was about marriage. A BOY could not ask a GIRL he LIKED TO MARRY him. He had to send matchmakers. There were people WHO asked the GIRL’S PARENTS for permission to GET MARRIED. The GIRL’S PARENTS WANTED the BOY to give her some land. It was a traditional conversation.
Jagna and Maciej
Jagna was a BEAUTIFUL GIRL. She was very young. Many BOYS LIKED her. Maciej Boryna, also LIKED Jagna. He was very old. He was STRONG, hard-working, religious, and RICH. Jagna’s MOTHER said Maciej was a GOOD man.
Maciej sent matchmakers to ask Jagna’s MOTHER. Her MOTHER AGREED and drank a SMALL GLASS of vodka. This meant “yes.”
Jagna was a GOOD DAUGHTER and AGREED with WHAT her MOTHER WANTED.
Wedding preparations
Before the wedding, the bride’s HOUSE was traditionally prepared.
Jagna’s BROTHERs took everything OUTSIDE. They left only the paintings on the walls. THEN, they placed big tables and benches for the guests. Jagna made her own traditional, COLORFUL paper decorations. There were FLOWERs, circles, DOGS, SHEEP, and a SHEPHERD.
The wedding DAY
In the MORNING, the musicians, guests and BEST men went to the groom’s HOUSE. They WANTED to invite the villagers to come with them. THEN the traditional wedding procession went to the bride’s HOUSE.
Jagna looked amazing. She had braids. There was a traditional FLOWER crown on the top of her head. LONG, COLORFUL ribbons were attached to that crown. Jagna was wearing a WHITE skirt, a light BLUE corset, a blouse and an amber necklace.
The bride’s MOTHER was very religious and WANTED to give Jagna and Maciej her blessing. She made a cross with a holy picture and sprinkled them with holy WATER.
Jagna said goodbye to her HOUSE and said sorry for all the BAD things she did.
LATER, all the people walked to church. They followed in the traditional order, FIRST the musicians, THEN Jagna with the BEST men. Maciej walked with the bridesmaids.
During the church service, Jagna and Maciej GOT MARRIED.
The traditional wedding reception in Poland
After the church, everyone went to the bride’s HOUSE.
Jagna’s mom welcomed the NEW couple with BREAD and SALT.
After that everyone was eating and DANCING.
The traditional unveiling ceremony started at midnight.
The bride’s FLOWER crown was taken off. A WHITE cap was put on her head. This showed she was now a WIFE and AGREED to take care of the HOUSE. LATER, the older women collected money for the NEW couple. The party lasted until the NEXT DAY.
Moving to Maciej’s HOUSE
In the morning Jagna had to move into Maciej’s HOUSE. Maciej was waiting there with his family.
FIRSTLY Jagna’s MOTHER gave her traditional products: pieces of BREAD, some SALT, coal, some wax from the candle and a few ears of wheat. LATER her godparents threw pieces of thread and dry PLANTS. They believed it protects them from BAD luck.
