15th-Century Romanian Wedding Dresses
Prior to the nation's 20th-century unification, Romanians lived in one of three principalities: Wallachia, Moldova or Transylvania. Romanian peasants during the 15th century lived a hard life, primarily as subsistence farmers under the rule of powerful kings. The Price of Wallachia during this period was Vlad Tepes, whose cruel, violent reign was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's immortal book "Dracula."
Despite the daily difficulties, Romanian weddings were extravagant affairs that involved the entire village. What brides wore on their wedding day depended on the traditions of their area, and some of these customs are still in use today.
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Wallachia
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In the Kingdom of Wallachia, a trusted friend of the groom would go to the bride-to-be and ask for her hand in marriage on the groom's behalf. Tradition usually called for the girl to refuse the first two times she was asked, only to happily accept the third invitation.
After the dowry was settled, a wedding date was set, and preparations for the day would begin. At the wedding, the bride would wear a white shirt, skirt and apron covered by a thick sheepskin vest, and a heavy woolen overcoat tied at the waist by a red belt.
Moldova
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Weddings in the Kingdom of Moldova were extravagant affairs that would last well through the night and into the early morning. The wedding ceremony would often be a quiet affair attended only by the immediate family.
The wedding party was a large celebration where the entire village would eat, drink, dance and sing to traditional marriage songs. At the wedding, the bride would wear a white shirt covered by a brightly colored woolen vest and matching woolen skirt.
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Transylvania
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A maiden's wedding dress in the Kingdom of Transylvania was an opportunity to prove she could sew and weave, an important condition of her being desirable in marriage. The bride and groom would dress in wool clothes regardless of the season of their wedding day.
Tradition required the bride to make the groom's wedding shirt in one night with the help of other single maidens in the village. The bride was allowed to wear a kerchief along with her woolen dress, as it represented her new station in life, while the groom could add garments that indicated his profession to his wedding vestments.
Wedding Traditions
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In Moldova, the wedding celebration is temporarily halted at dawn when the bride is given an infant to hold. This symbolic act is supposed to ensure a home full of children for the bride and groom.
In Maramures in northern Wallachia, a group of young men and musicians would travel to the groom's home carrying a flag the night before the wedding. The flag is planted in front of the home, and the men would begin the flag dance to celebrate the impending wedding day.
In western Transylvania, the groom must solve a series of riddles to prove he is ready to become a part of the married community.
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