Culture Wars: Chechnya Against European-Style Weddings

Western custom is to shove cake in bride’s mouth

I saw this piece  today.  The authorities in the Chechen Republic, which can be considered a conservative and traditionalist Muslim-based government, have made a decision to push back against the growing tendency of young people to celebrate European-style weddings.

The Department of Culture in Grozny has gone so far, as to conduct raids on wedding palaces.  A Department spokesperson was quoted as saying:  “People have started to borrow certain customs from other cultures.  For example, the “bride’s dance”,  the cutting of the cake, the entry of several pairs into the dance.  One is also not impressed by the exterior appearances of the guests.  Many young men and girls are dressing inappropriately for their religious and national identities.”

The Department is currently working out new guidelines as to how people should conduct themselves at weddings.

Goes on to say, that the raids of the wedding palaces have been occurring for a couple of weeks now.  The following guidelines have already been published in Grozny:

• Nobody allowed to show up at a wedding while intoxicated.
• Prohibition of wearing inappropriate clothing, which does not suit the “Chechen mentality”.
• Certain verbal expressions are prohibited.
• Certain body motions (for example, acrobatic contortions) are forbidden.
• Shooting from guns [into the air] is prohibited.
• The “dance of the bride” is forbidden.
• Cutting of the wedding cake is forbidden.
• Entry of several pairs of dancers, all at the same time is prohibited.
• Young men should not switch partners during the wedding dance.

(and so on, most of the rules involving dance.)

If people break the rules, then the police will be summoned.

In addition, the Head of State, Ramzan Kadyrov, has asked the owners of wedding salons to forbid a certain style of (too sexy) bride dress.

“In recent times, it has become fashionable among brides to wear a certain type of European dress which is too open.  [???]  This is incorrect, and has nothing in common with Chechen culture.  It is necessary to do everything possible to preserve national traditions and customs,” Kadyrov stated.

He also called upon the wedding salons to provide national wedding costumes for sale.

Chechen bride in national costume