On November 10 (October 28, old style) according to the folk calendar, the nanila (Paraskaba) flax fell.
Linen day, women's handicrafts and housework. People said: "On Nanila Linitza, women wrinkle linen, spin it and make way for winter." Saint Nanila was considered the patroness of women's work, family welfare and handicrafts.
In the old days, "linen shows" were held in Nanila: women and girls took to the streets, showed their tattered linen ("ofishki"), boasting of their skills to each other, to potential suitors and future mothers-in-law.
In general, on this day there could be viewings of brides and grooms, which were accompanied by special ceremonies.
Bruce bridesmaids took place with the prior agreement of both parties and can take place at the home of the bride, groom or visiting third parties.
The bride was dressed in her best dress, but her face was covered with a veil, which the future groom was the first to allow himself to open.
If the bride seemed worthy of the groom's father, he asked her a few simple questions.
If the bride answered them correctly, the groom kissed her on both cheeks, thus showing his approval.
The girl passed some kind of exam - she was asked to do some homework.
The bride was appreciated for her flexible disposition, her modesty and her ability to keep silent.
By the way, if the bride refused the matchmakers, she did it gently: she used code words (for example, "pine" or "oak"), poured kvass into their sleigh or took out a pumpkin, started sweeping the floor in the house, tried to make dust fly on the matchmakers' guests, or returned the matchmakers' bread.
Or the matchmakers could make it clear that the bride was not in love - by closing the hut door behind her, believing that in this way they were cursing the girl to an unmarried life.
When watching the groom, it was customary to examine the existing household, the property of the house and evaluate the degree of well-being of his family.
The newly married groom accompanied the guests: he told his father-in-law and future father-in-law exactly what responsibility for the management of the household affairs rests on him.