Many people do not even think about why they shout bitterly at the wedding, while there are several interesting interpretations of the origin of such a custom. Until now, historians have not come to a consensus on which of the existing ideas is true. Maybe this means that they all have a place to be and played at least a small role in reinforcing the unusual tradition of shouting bitterly at a wedding.
The first version of the origin of the custom to shout exactly “bitterly”, pushing the newlyweds to kiss, is based on ancient Russian games. If the wedding celebration took place in the winter season, then a big feast was supposed, the fast was just ending, and it was allowed to gluttony. Therefore, parents took out goodies from the cellars and set up chic tables. And the youth meanwhile frolic.
It was decided to build a large snow slide near the bride’s house, and then fill it with water until an ice surface forms. When the bridegroom came to pick up his bride, one of the obstacles in his path was this very hill. An elegant bride with her friends climbed to the very top of the mountain and attracted the groom. In turn, the future spouse together with friends had to conquer this mountain, and it was extremely difficult to do it on the ice surface. When the young man got there, he rightfully received the award in the form of a juicy kiss of his beloved. Friends of the groom also did not go unnoticed, as they could demand a kiss from the bride's girlfriend. Then they all rolled down the snow hill with fervent shouts: "Hill!".
The next version explains in a different way why people shout bitterly at the wedding. Again, in the time of Ancient Russia, a woman was considered a full-fledged mistress of the table, her duty was to treat guests and make them welcome. At the wedding celebration, the young hostess showed each guest her appreciation and showed respect by visiting all of them personally with a tray, offering vodka. The guest, in turn, was obliged to drink a container filled to the brim. After that, the guest shouted loudly: “Bitter!”, Proving that he really drank vodka, not water. Moreover, each guest could put money on a tray, drink vodka and as a snack, kiss the bride sweetly. Those who did not pay were left without a reward and received only a glass of vodka. Many regarded this permissiveness wrongly, so they felt the young girl for all the soft spots, and they could kiss on the ear, on the décolleté, and on the lips. Everything depended on the arrogance of a tipsy guest.
Of course, such a tradition could not last long, because not every groom could pass such a strong test because of jealousy. Once, a young spouse could not stand it and gave the guest good cuffs. Gradually, this tradition changed, and shouted: "Bitter!" the groom gave kisses to his father-in-law. And only after that did the tradition to oblige the newlyweds to kiss long and passionately with joyful cries bitterly.
Well, the third version of the origin of the tradition explains why they shout bitterly at the wedding, as follows. People of the pagan faith believed that evil spirits always roam nearby, the purpose of which was to spoil the worldly happiness of all people. Therefore, they tried, so to speak, to bite this joyful event. To do this, all the guests from time to time shouted: “Bitter!”, Telling the spirits that at this feast there was bad food, bitter drinks and a hard life. According to the beliefs of paganism, all the unclean forces surrounding the house at that moment calmed down and set off. Time passed and the guests of the groom grieved about his departure to the new family with shouts of bitter bitterly, and at the same time the bride kissed him, proving that in the future family life he would only be sweet.
Which of the proposed explanations, why people shout bitterly at the wedding, is up to you to believe. But wedding kisses have become a tradition in many countries, which are observed to this day.