Table of contents:
- A powerful blacksmith and a dashing mower and why did the guys organize competitions during haymaking
- Look at your feet: accordion boots, as well as handkerchiefs on the Shrovetide sleigh as a sign of the location of a potential bride
- There were no DJs, but there were accordion players: popularity in a village style
- Show me your chest
- Look at the hut, evaluate the future marriage
Video: Which suitors were in great demand in Russia among noblewomen, and which among peasant women
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Girls have dreamed of successfully marrying at all times and continue to do so today. Oddly enough, over the centuries, the basic criteria have not changed much. Both in ancient times and now, potential brides do not mind seeing a rich, healthy and successful person as their husband. Better if it is Maxim Galkin. Well, or another modest Russian millionaire. In Russia, noblewomen were looking for famous and monetary men in their circle, peasant women also had their own criteria. Read why accordion players were very popular, how they chose their husbands by their boots and how they could find a pair during haymaking.
A powerful blacksmith and a dashing mower and why did the guys organize competitions during haymaking
Blacksmiths were enviable suitors. And a jack of all trades, and in the village are respected, and due to physical work, they have an athletic build. But, in addition, there were also mystical qualities that were endowed with the people of this profession. They said that they have a special witchcraft power, that they are able to drive out the devil from the village, and calm any horse, and help the patient to recover. And there will certainly be prosperity - after all, blacksmiths have always been needed, at any time of the year, regardless of the harvest.
But not only blacksmiths were in great demand among village girls. Good mowers have been honored with this honor. During haymaking, a lot of effort had to be expended, it was a tough job. Still, the country girls and boys couldn't wait for it to start. And all because at this time young people looked closely at each other, trying to find a potential wife or husband. Indeed, during work, a person manifests itself quite clearly. And when someone took a liking, you could try to get to know each other during the rest, when they danced in circles, went to the forest, swam, and organized gatherings. Good mowers did not lack female attention. It was immediately clear who was working efficiently - along the wide and even swath that remained behind the man.
Enterprising guys staged competitions, which consisted of taking on the widest strip and going through it faster than anyone else. The winner simply bathed in women's smiles, and if he managed to win several times in a row, then he was not left without a bride.
Look at your feet: accordion boots, as well as handkerchiefs on the Shrovetide sleigh as a sign of the location of a potential bride
Peasants in villages in Russia wore bast shoes. Boots appeared only in the second half of the 19th century, and the owners of this luxury were considered lucky. Sometimes one pair was used by the whole village. That is, the owner of leather boots did not just put them on on holidays, but could give money to wear shoes, for example, to the groom on his wedding day. Boots in an accordion were very fashionable - with low heels, with a large number of "beavers" (the so-called folds). If a guy walked in such boots polished to a mirror shine, then they immediately paid attention to him: it means that he managed to make money on chic shoes. The girls immediately appreciated him as a grasping, punchy person.
But not only the girls looked at the boots. If a guy wanted to win the status of an enviable groom, he could take advantage of the Pancake week. The men prepared for them very carefully. New felt boots or boots, embroidered shirts, homespun sashes were taken from the chests. But the most important thing was a properly designed sleigh. Fur or cloth capes were used to cover them, horse harness was cleaned to shine, and festive arches were installed. Not everyone had sleighs, so the poor could borrow them, along with horses, from rich peasants. Then, however, I had to work out the rented "crew".
The guys rolled the girls, trying to do it as effectively as possible. If the beauty gave the rider a kiss, then the impression was made. And when she tied a bright handkerchief to the arc of the sleigh, it meant complete success. Some of these handkerchiefs could appear on some sleighs by the end of the holiday. It was a kind of rating of the groom, so to speak, old Russian "likes".
There were no DJs, but there were accordion players: popularity in a village style
Accordionists, the first guys to the village, were considered the most sought-after suitors. These people have always been at the center of any village holiday, unmarried beauties sighed for them. Young people gathered around the accordion player, enthusiastically watching him play, dancing, admiring. By the way, accordionists were often provocateurs, creating a certain mood before a fight. Perhaps, the energy of the music affected here, since some of the melodies were very cocky. Be that as it may, the ability to play musical instruments has always been appreciated and considered a great gift. Not everyone could become a good accordion player; this really required talent and a special, leadership character. Doesn't it remind you of modern show business stars who do not lack fans?
Show me your chest
After the groom wooed the bride, the girl's parents visited the house of the alleged son-in-law in order to make sure that their daughter was chosen correctly. We examined the farm, carefully noting everything and drawing conclusions about wealth. For example, in the hut there is a chest, but not a simple one, but equipped with wheels or runners. This is good - a heavy chest, it is impossible to carry, you have to roll it, and in it it means a lot of good. By the end of the 19th century, wealthy peasants were sure to leave cabinets with glass doors in the upper room. Behind them was faience and porcelain. A wardrobe with suppliers, that is, with open top shelves, where the services were installed, was considered a symbol of wealth and prosperity. A good groom, rich, you have to agree. This is how the dishes could decide the fate of the young.
Look at the hut, evaluate the future marriage
Sometimes it was enough to look at the hut from the side. The house clearly reflected the degree of prosperity: if the log house was crooked, the yard was overgrown with weeds, the fence was distorted, it means that idlers who do not care about the economy clearly live here. Why does the daughter need such happiness? A large and well-groomed house (middle peasants and wealthy peasants had log cabins of impressive size, up to 8x9 meters and even more), various superstructures and outbuildings, a beautiful ridge on the roof and folding shutters said that a rich family lived here, which does not deny herself anything. Here is a good match for the young beauty.
Well, it also happened that the suitors were not at all to the court, but persistent. In such cases this is how girls escaped from sticky suitors.
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