Символика на обредната реч в предсватбените обреди
The Symbolism of Ritual Speech in Rituals Preceding a Wedding Ceremony

Summary/Abstract: This article poses the question of the function and essence of allegorical speech during the rituals which precede wedding ceremony. The variety of formulae is reduced to several groups the common feature of which is that asking for the hand of a girl in marriage is symbolical in form. Predominantly the young man and the girl are represented by Nature symbols: most often zoomorphic ones. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the symbolism of the ritual speech is an inseparable part of the symbolism of the ritual which is connected with the universal conception of the world’s structure on the model of the Tree of World. Arranging a march as a ritual preceding the wedding is the first stage of the complete marriage process – its opening up and reduction to a structureless state. The function of the ritual actions and speech formulae in the girl’s home is treated as a magical one.

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