Saturday, November 22, 2008

Presents for Armenian Weddings

The best bridal gifts should be impressive, memorable and desirable for the couple. But, on the other hand the newly formed family needs gifts that are of first necessity. That is the reason that most Armenians choose presents that can relieve the burden of the newly weds. For example, close friends often give miscellaneous domestic appliances, such as kitchenware, electronic devices, furnityre or carpets. So, if your present is not original in this case, be sure that it is useful.

If you don’t know what to give, you can consult with the couple’s parents or their friends. You can give presents according to the couple’s profession, hobby or just preferences. The main gifts that traditionally have been given by the couple’s very close relatives are money or jewelry. Armenians usually give money to support wedding costs.

An interesting tradition has formulated: during the wedding (which is organized by the groom’s family) generally groom’s relatives used to give money while other relatives can give other presents. And the opposite is during the engagement, when expenditures are levied on bride’s family. However, jewelry is the most frequently given present as Armenians consider it never depreciates and is remembered for decades. Jewelry is given generally to the bride and includes rings, chains, handcuffs, ear rings, etc. mainly from yellow gold and with valuable stones.

Wedding rings are the major symbol of engagement. They are usually simple or can utmost wear tiny white diamonds. The tradition requires groom buy a ring for the bride and vise versa. If you want to make your spouse’s ring unique you can gravure a text inside it which should be short and easy-readable. Common gravures include the spouses’ names or love confession. Recently a new tendency has appeared to gravure love expressions in Latin, such as Con amore (with love), Vale et me ama (be healthy and love me), Ad infinitum (love forever) Fata viam invenient (can’t run away from destiny), etc.

2 comments:

Veronika Azatyan, Vahe Arsenyan, Armen Danielyan said...

WOW )) I'm waiting for such kind of nice presents !)))
thaaanks )))

Anonymous said...

It will be original if Armenians begin using such kind of symbols.

I liked very much "Fata viam invenient"...

About Us

Yerevan,, Armenia
Armine Karakhanyan, 2nd year student, Political Science and International Affairs, American University of Armenia Narine Hovakimyan, 1st year student, Business and Administration, American University of Armenia