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.

Photo: Kirill Zykov/Fotohost-RIA News agency

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.

Photo: Kirill Zykov/Fotohost-RIA News agency

"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.