Video

this is footage from august, 2005. in many parts of ukraine, as in many other parts of the world, it is traditional that on the day of a wedding, the family and friends of the groom will gather at the groom's house for a small ceremony, after which they will all proceed through the village to the home of the bride. at the head of the procession usually is a band playing a wedding march. at the bride's home is gathered her family and some friends, and another ceremony takes place. then the two groups head together through the village to the church; after the ceremony, those in attendance will head to reception--or home for brief spell, if there is time. wedding receptions literally go all night. i recall being asked at 4 am by some old babas what we--i was with some cousins--were doing going home already. take a look at my footage of a hutsul wedding and compare this wedding march tune to that of the one played just outside the home of the groom in that videoclip.