Wedding Rituals of Berok

**Wedding Rituals of Berok** is a book written by Berokian priest Štefan Moynič detailing the differences and similarities between wedding rituals in the rural, urban, and royal environment of Berok. These similarities are often greater than what it looks like on the surface. Many of the rituals are the same or slightly different, depending on the milieu.

A short extract of the book follows below:

While on the surface the weddings of Berok might look different to an outsider many similarities are to be found. In a way any Berokian could join a wedding of any family no matter from which social class they hail and be able to recognize and join in the festivities. The only significant thing that changes during a wedding, depending on the wealth available, is the elaborateness of the wedding themselves. Now enough with the jabbering lets examine some commonalities and discuss the small difference in between. The first traditions start already before the day of the wedding themselves. Having formally asked permission between both the spouses both elders to marry the first arrangement are made. Here the first difference between rural and urban weddings is to be noted. It is tradition in rural villages to plant a tree in the garden of one of the elders, usually to be planted in the garden of the person who proposed in the first place. Some family members will gather around to dig a hole and plant a usually tall slender tree, which represents the growth the couple will go through during their wedding. Planting trees is naturally a harder affair in the urban world, there for a substitution is to instead plant a flower bed or plant a tree at a later date outside of the city walls. The royalty follows the same procedure but has plenty of land to plant plenty of trees! Of course they still only plant one per wedding. Sometimes the name of the married couple might also be carved into the tree. While not customary it has become a semi-popular in recent years, or at least during marriages that I personally officiated. One day before the wedding the next big ceremony is upon the married couple. The proposer will show up during the early evening signing a serenade for the proposed, while family members and friends gather around to enjoy the spectacle. The next morning the time for the actual wedding ceremonies have arrived but not before two other traditions have been completed. The proposer will arrive at the building where the proposed is staying, knocking on the door to pick travel with them towards the wedding venue. At this point multiple different family members of the proposed will open the door asking if the proposer is looking for them. After enough light teasing the right person will show up, making this the first time the soon to be wed see each other on their wedding day. After this the gathering will proceed to the church in a great procession. On the way to the church their is a final obstacle. A small road block is setup, which the couple has to conquer before the can continue. Commonly this is a wooden log that the couple has to cut through with an axe. However, this tradition has slightly changed with the richer folk of Berok. Organizing more complicated obstacles as the wealth increase. With the royalty of Berok even organizing small scale fights between knights in shining armour. Once all this has occurred the traditions overlap again during the wedding ceremony...