Ukrainian Wedding, step 4

When the blessing of the young couple within the house of the groom is finished, the young people step outside. As a gesture of respect and acceptance for the future marriage, the bride is being assisted by the best men, the groom by the bride's maids. Every body is gathered in front of the house and applauses when they step outside. One last ritual is yet to come before the "I do's".

When the formation appears in front of the house, their parents and the elder of the ceremony await them allready with water and rice. And a bread that to non-Ukrainians will rather resemble of a cake. The name of the cake is Karawaj.

The couple and their entourage present themselves to the people and respectfully bow.

While babushkas are chanting, the parents start going around the couple and their witnesses and bless them by sprinkling their heads with holy water and spreading wheat above them.

As a gesture of reciprocity, the bride throws candies like confetti - for the children gathered at the ceremony. This moment reminds carnival customs in Cologne, Germany.

Then everybody follows the procession - first the wedding couple and their entourage step into the decorated cars, than the babushkas and family, then the rest of the guests follow one another to the Zaks - to the office of the county - for the legal ceremony. The bride and the groom leave in separate cars as they are not married yet.

The biggest surprise are the two Vikings playing the bagpipes. Well, i guess, the globalization does not hold its horses from an Ukrainian wedding...