Russian and Jewish Weddings.... Differences and Similarities

Nicolette Pawelczak
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANT 101
Kelley Sams
March 23, 2014
Russian and Jewish Weddings.... Differences and Similarities

There are many different types of marriage ceremonies that exist in our vast array of diverse cultures. So many similarities and differences exist between the different cultures that have a ritual for uniting a couple together in a bonded marriage union. I will be exploring the Jewish and Russian cultures that are worlds apart. The Russian culture is very close to my heart. My family is from Russia and my parents were married in a traditional Russian Orthodox Church for their wedding. After experiencing all that my culture has to offer in the ways of the “old country”, as my grandmother Anna would say, I have a clear understanding of why the wedding ceremony and the days leading up to it mean so much to the Russian culture. In the Russian culture we enjoy, relish and thrive for our traditions. As a child I would listen to stories about how my parents met, how my grandparents met and married but really did not “appreciate” what my family did or went through to become that married couple. As I grew older the stories meant so much more knowing that if the traditional “matchmaker” had not made the match of my grandparents my parents would have never met. While I examine all the aspects of a traditional Russian wedding we can see how it is similar to a Jewish ceremony and how it differs. Each culture approaches the life long commitment a bit differently, but still values the sacredness, holiness and purity of marriage the same way. The Russian couple approaches their wedding with great enthusiasm and excitement. Within their culture the wedding is a large family event encompassing two days of rituals, fun and mayhem. We start