A bonnet instead of a bouquet: Nenets traditions at the wedding of a couple from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area
Representatives
of small-numbered peoples of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area held a wedding
according to ancient Nenets customs at the RUSSIA EXPO. The newlyweds' names
are Alexander Hudi and Ilona Okotetto. They met a year ago.
Alexander
is the head of the military-patriotic club "Flame", and Ilona works
in the district administration. They decided to tie the knot at the most
grandiose exposition of our country.
The guests
saw the ritual of bride preparation, after which the girl's relatives performed
the ritual of fumigation and braided her hair - traditional for the status of a
wife.
Visitors
were shown a real rite of bride-purchase with attempts of the groom to get into
the tent. A shaman gave instructions to the bride. After the marriage
registration, the bride threw her friends a bonnet (kapor) - a national
headdress - instead of a bouquet.
"Today I want to say to the whole region: to the head of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, to all the people living in your beautiful region - we give a low bow because you create all conditions for making and preservation of families, you protect national traditions and rituals", - said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"».
In total, more than 40 weddings will be held at the International RUSSIA EXPO. Previously, employees of the Vostochny Cosmodrome and natives of the Tuva Republic got married here.
The National Centre RUSSIA has launched a new animated series, "The Book of Russian Fairy Tales: The Faraway Kingdom" ("The Thrice-Ninth Tsardom").
Exactly one year ago, on 4 September 2025, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, opened the National Centre RUSSIA branch in Vladivostok.
On 4 September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a new meeting in the "Motherland Is People" series, titled "Our Values", as part of the All-Russian project "What Does the Motherland Begin With?".
