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did you ever heard about a tradition of Babushka dance in any slavic culture? Somebody just asked me. I had no idea something like that exist. Than I found it on Slovak website:

The Babushka Dance is also called the Apron dance. It's an old custom in most of the Slavic countries. I know in Eastern Slovakia, a young lady who was considered eligble for marriage was given a "Parte" to wear.

This was a symbol to all the people of the village. "Parte" were different from village to village but, were usually made of ribbons and sequins, glass beads, anything shiny because shiny things chased away the evil eye.

The young girl wore the Parte every time she went to church or to town or to a social gathering. On her night before her wedding day, all of her girl friends, sisters and female cousins would gather and weave a crown of flowers for her to wear to the church.

After the church service, at the reception as we know it, her mother, godmother, and grandmother would parade her around the room and sit her on a chair placed in the center. They would take off the bride's veil and then put a babushka on the bride

A bridal dance would start. and as everyone danced with the bride they would form a circle around the bride and at the end the groom had to fight his way through the circle to take his bride away.

http://www.iarelative.com/wedding/babushka.htm

Tsk Tsk.. How sad that the youth of modern day Poland forgot the traditions and sacrifices of their Grandparents Thank God, for the Polish Immigrant to America.. That these traditions were passed down to the 1st,2nd,3rd generation Poles.

AN APRON DANCE>>>> The Bridal Dance,>>The Small dance,>> the money dance... All the same.

A typical wish for the newly weds.

Zycze Wam wszytkiego najlepszego na nowej drodze zycia.

After the wedding ceromony, The guest gathered at a home or hall for the reception.

At the door they were greeted by the Brides Parents.. They were offered a peice of bread sprinkled with salt.

Upon this the parents would say.

Staropolskim zwyczajem witamy was chlebem i sola,aby w Waszym domu zawsze goscil dostatek

Upon enterin the hall ,the guest were greeted by the band playing STO LAt.. They were expected to tip the band.

In my case.. The Grooms parents paid for the Music, and beverages.
The Brides Parents paid for the Hall and food.

Food Table.. Barszt cherwony,Bigos, Kielbasa z kaputa.Pierogi Chicken, potatoes, gravy,, and all kinds of pastries.

Unveiling ceremony ( OCZEPINY )

All the single girls gathered behind the Bride
The veil is removed,, A married woman is chosen to place the ciapek on the Brides head..
This sygnifies that she she is a married woman.

Then the flowers are thrown into the croud of girls.. Sometime the veil.. The ciapek is always saved..

THE BRIDA DANCE..

The Band plays a continous medely of Polish music.

The Father of the Bride Leads hgis Daughter out on the dance fllor A circle is formed around them. A Matron Would put on an apron and fold it so money could be placed in it..Some one would throw money into the apron.. Where upon he would releive the Father.. Then the ucles and aunts took turns along with other guest This could go on for a long time.. When the Bride tired.. A Brides maid took her place.. This went on until the pace slowed down.. Then the groom would break through the circle, throw his wallet into the apron.. He would then sweep his bride off of her feet into his arms and carry her off..

The next day was poprawiny.,..ANOTHER PARTY.

THANK GOD FOR THE POLISH IMMIGRANT :music:

A POLISH WEDDING SONG

Wesele, Wesele, Smutek do Mamusi
Choc cie wychowala,Choc cie wyhowalaTo cie oddac musi.

Gwiazdeczeki, gwazdeczki, wedruja po niebie

Juz ona mamusia juz ona mamusiu
nie wroci do ciebie

nie wroci,nie wrocie I wrocic nie moze
Dwa serce, zwiazane, dwa serce zwiazane
O porannej porze

Gdy jej organista dzis pieknie Zaspiewal
Wtedy jej na glowie,, wtedy jej na glowie
Wianeczek usychal

A gdy jej upna , to tez ostatni raz
Wianek odpinaja :music:

Frank,

yes, you are right. The traditions which are long forgotten in Poland still live among immigrants!
I remember bread and salt ceremony - we have it still. Oczepiny - it is also an old tradition, but I really never heard anything about apron dance.

Jaga

This brings back a lot of memories.

Where your discription of the Slovak tradition tell of dressing the bride in shiny beads. To ward off the evil eye.

In my family, a ribbon with tiny baby dools was placed arounf the brides neck.

This is to wish them a marriage that will provide them with a large amount of healthy children

The Groom is made to wear a silly looking hat.

This wishes them a happy marriage and filled with much laughter and happiness..

Even today my third generation Grandaughter got married.. She asked me for a small dance..I was sure that she got it :music: <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Gee Frank we must have lived in the same time zone. Everything you described about the Polish wedding was identical of how we celebrated. From the couple being greeted by parents with salt and bread and wine to the Babushka dance where all paid money to dance with the bride. Sure brings back many memories. As yes the wedding party went on for 3 days with popravini. I served at many weddings and can remember after the family style serving of food it was topped off by bringing bushel baskets of Chruchiki which were a bit hit.
And in those days marriages lasted through thick and thin. You were not allowed to go back home. Mom said you made your bed you sleep in it. LOL
And it worked. Our marriage celebration in June will be 47 years and still going strong.

Basia

BASIA,,, LOL I knew this would get your attention.

Do you understand the words to the song??

Here goes.. This wedding is sad for the mother.

You are the little girl that I raised all of your life..

And today I have to give you away.The stars are shineing in heaven above you.

As of today , You will never return to me.

Because now you are married.. Never more to return..

Two hearts tied together.. And meant to live together forever.

The organist sang you a sweet song as your wianeczek dried up.

You know we lose a little in the translation.

BARB.. I got you beat.. This May 11th will be 57 yrs for my wife and I.

Pssst.. Overlook my spelling and typing.. My eyes arent what they used to be :music: Franek

Hi Frank

Yes you do have me beat but must be becasue your a tad older than me. HEE HEE

Basia

Basia, Frank,

I have just one more question. What is this babushka, Sherri talks about? Is this a song of the babuhka in the apron?

Here is a fragment from her mail, I hope she does not mind me posting it here:

I want to thank you very much for all your help. I loved reading the
discussions!!! I just forwarded it to my mom. She will love reading the
traditions and the letters in Polish. We finally found a babushka in a
small shop in Shavertown, Pennsylvania. The best thing is after all the
searching, the shop is right in my aunt's town. Well the family got a laugh
out of this. I found a site with the song and will order the CD for the
reception. Mom and I were listening to it on the phone together yesterday.

Jaga,
To answer your question.. A Babushka is nothing more than an old european Grandmother, as a rule a Peasant woman.. They were very prevalent in RUSSIA, The Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia.
BABCIA, BASIA, BUSHIE.. These are names derived from your Grand Mother,, A Babushka is the head scarf worn by Peasant women.,

In earlier days ,A Babushka was tied around the brides head. Then they danced to the Polish music.. Guest then would pin money on the Brides Gown. This created a problem because the dancing had to stop.. Thus they came up with the apron.
It would be tied around the waist and the bottom corners would be raised to form a pocket..Now the dance continued unabated .

Again,, the Father would lead the bride to the dance floor..A matron would enter the circle formed by the guest.. She would hold the apron open as the dance began. In order to get to dance with the bride one had to place money into the apron..As a rule,the Bridal dance did not start until later into the reception..This allowed the guest to get into the merriment.. By now they would be pretty well boozed up and very generous with the money.. People stood in line with dollars he;ld in their hands. As you placed money in the apron you were allowed to dance with the Bride,,usually you only got to dance for a few seconds before some one else cut in. This could go on for an hour or more.. Depending on the amount of guest. As the Bride rested the Brides Maids would relieve her.

All the while the Groom stayed in the background watching.. When it was obvious that the money ran out,, he would break through the crowd and throw in his wallet.. Sweeping his bride off of her feet and carry her away. This is also called the honeymoon dance.. ..

In 1995 my Grandaughter got married and requested a Bridal dance..She married a Bohemian Boy.. So it was well matched. Even though the Wedding was only part Ethnic.. Before the end of the night everybody was POLISH. The best couple on the floor were the Bride and her Grand Father... I taught her well.

She collected enough money to honeymoon in Hawaii for ten days..( With some help from both Grandparents )

Shrerri
Since you like Polish songs.. Later on today I will write a song pertaining to the marraige.. I have to give my eyes a rest.. Your Mom will know it. :music: