The wedding
In summer 2000 we got the invitation to attend a traditional wedding in a small village in eastern Poland. Not just attending, incidentally. My friend was the witness of the groom. Both the bride and groom each choose two witnesses. One of these witnesses is a married family. The other witness is a bachelor friend. Michael was among the last category. The? Bachelor? witnesses have only busy. They are? Rule here? of the wedding. All hand-stand and services, all bachelors are forced to present dance and kiss (grrr).
A feast for the whole village
The whole village had contributed to making sausage, and food cake. There was much food used in the entire area 2 weeks long, no eggs and milk was more available. Months in advance, the vodka already fired. Everything was ready for a great party that would last 2 weeks in total.
The wedding began with an impressive church. An unexpectedly beautiful cathedral with gold leaf and many religious statues. The choir was very good and very solemn priest. I have no idea what was told, but it was nonetheless an overwhelming impression on me!
On the way home from the church to the hall by the local people were stranded on the road stretched flowers. It is intended that the couple may only pass after? Flower tensioners? were bought with vodka. A fun tradition that really makes the entire village benefits from the wedding.
Especially not drink vodka
The party was held in any available hall, which is also the location of the regional fire department. A large, poorly-ventilated room that was filled with long rows of tables filled with food, a large dance floor and a stage for the band.
The afternoon and evening was filled with eating, drinking, dancing and talking. Traditional ceremonies such as: your parents put on a wheelbarrow and roll them out the door, let all the ladies bachelor toothless afzoenen orchestra members and pay a hefty sum to be allowed to dance with the bride could not fail of course. This is also a small selection of all the ceremonies which passed in review.
My friend was a large part of the evening away. In the meantime I have great fun with dancing and drinking. Before I set off, I got all of the tip along: not particularly drink vodka! An extremely useful advice, but unfortunately not really feasible. Every five minutes there seems to be a reason to be invented to give a toast. If right-minded non-Polish was my glass by the entire table then checked whether he was completely drunk. To make the spiritus of Vodka to ease slightly, immediately after the consumption of spirits drunk a glass of lemonade.
The last thought that I still remember the first evening: gut, I still have quite a bit drunk, but I still feel really really good?!
Waking up was less pleasant
The next morning I awoke with the thought that I really knew how I had come home. After some thought was accurate was no less true. My head throbbed and my stomach turned once again embarrassing a couple of times. A good proof of a body that do not really accustomed to vodka?
12 Hour we had to back office. The second day was not really fun. Make-up and an overly happy smile on my face had to mark how my body felt. Dapper, I have always danced around and see my vodka glass emptied into the nearest water basin. What I felt bad, I say! S? Night I snapped back severely on. Michael had fortunately no longer arrange ceremonies and we danced all night and entertained us well.
The third day the party was already quite depleted. The tape was sent home and the musical accompaniment was arranged by the groom and his brother, who both coped with the nice guitar. Polish songs were sung and played games, which was a lot afgezoend and (you guessed it) a huge load was drinking vodka?! I can just remember how we came home, but that night was the worst nightmares. Kotsend was awake and was convinced I was possessed by the devil! Really terrible!
The next morning I awoke with a hangover I have from last 2 days would have. We got up, grabbed our bag and went back to the hall. The smell of food, sweat and the sound of the swarms of flies was really too much for me. I left the hall and retching nothing or nobody could bring me so far there is only 1 foot to put inside! I felt so bad, the only thing I could do was lie on the grass and every five minutes to escape a painful sigh.
The first 3 days of 2 weeks
With difficulty we were put into the train. Incantations and supplications we have passed away to be allowed. Actually you after such a short time may not way! We have taken the first 3 days of a Polish wedding 2 weeks going through. The experience we have often come back.
It was really great, but I drink of my life no more vodka!