Linen and flax all around: how to celebrate flax weddings and what gifts to give

Linen, as you know, is a strong and durable material: high-quality linen canvas is very difficult to break, unlike the same cheerful chintz. And living together until the calico wedding, which is celebrated a year later, is much easier – a lot can happen in four years of living together, so this date is a kind of proof that the family union has passed the showdown.

Moreover, in Rus’, linen items were considered a kind of symbol of financial well-being: only those who were solidly on the material plane could afford good quality linen bed linen. Yes, and by the fourth year of marriage, a young family was already supposed to have a certain income, acquire their own household, do good, change cheaper cotton sheets for linen.

Another name for the fourth anniversary – a rope wedding – also has a symbolic meaning: at this time husband and wife are already so close that they seem to be connected by the same rope. In some countries, a linen wedding is also called a wax wedding: it is believed that at this time relations become flexible and soft, like wax, husband and wife are able to find compromises, to s adapt to each other – otherwise they separate without celebrating this anniversary.

A linen marriage is a kind of milestone by which you can gauge the success of the relationship between husband and wife over these four years. For this, there was a tradition that after marriage a woman began to weave flax “fabric of happiness”. She did not do this work all the time – but depending on her mood, after her husband pleased her with something, for example, a gift or affection. The web was woven a little at a time – and on the fourth wedding anniversary, the wife threw it in the morning on her husband lying in bed instead of a blanket. If the “web of happiness” was large enough, it showed that the husband was good and caring, but if not, it was a clue to the spouse that he needed to improve.

According to another tradition, a woman did not weave, but embroidered flowers on a linen bedspread for a marriage bed: if there were a lot of them for a linen wedding, then everyone in the house understood that the spouses lived in harmony and harmony.

Another tradition was to sew a linen shirt for a husband – without trying it on: if the wife does not miss the size – well done, caring, she studied her miss well. Today, of course, there is no need to sew and cut – you can just go to the store and buy something for your husband from clothes (in case of a mistake in size or style, you need to keep the receipt). And let him know ahead of time that you’re expecting a return birthday present. It is only advisable to immediately explain which one, otherwise you risk getting a linen sundress “à la rus” instead of a dream dress.

Another ancient folk tradition associated with another name for a wedding – rope wedding – is to plant a husband and wife side by side on this wedding anniversary and tie them with the strongest rope, making many nodes. After that, the guests watched: if the attaches failed to come out, their marriage would be strong and happy in the future, because the ropes symbolize family ties. Of course, the “captives” didn’t try very hard to free themselves – much to the delight of the guests, who eventually had to untie them and set them free.

It is believed that guests should be invited to a linen wedding – at least relatives. It is supposed to be celebrated either at home or in a place with a “home” flavor, with Russian cuisine, and the table should certainly be covered with a linen tablecloth.

At home, honey and sweets are always put on the table – as a guarantee of a prosperous and happy “sweet” family life.

In Japan, China and a number of other Eastern countries, there are no similar European and American wedding anniversaries, but it is customary to celebrate multiple anniversaries of four with guests at the festive table. According to numerology, it should bring good luck, health and prosperity. So, a linen wedding is such a date.

An option for those who are not going to care about traditions, but are not averse to using them as an excuse to organize a vacation again – to gather friends for a laundry party. Whether they come in linen dresses and offer linen trinkets – fortunately, they can be found in any souvenir or decoration store.

Finally, if you want to spend a holiday together, organize a romantic candlelight dinner. The more, the better, because marriage is not just flax, but also wax.

Traditionally, linen weddings are given something linen: it can be home textiles – a set of curtains, towels, napkins, chair covers, bed linen, etc. These are universal gifts that will certainly be useful and pleasing to you – unlike the same clothes. Because not every woman will be satisfied with a linen sundress in a folk style, let alone a linen embroidered men’s shirt – few modern men will even wear it at home.

A symbolic gift that makes sense – linen dolls. In ancient times they played the role of amulets, but today it is also a beautiful piece of furniture. If you do not like dolls in the national style, pay attention to the tilde.

Also, any gift can be wrapped in a linen bag – in accordance with the main theme of the holiday.

You can pay tribute to the wax name on this anniversary – and give candles according to the Scandinavian tradition (if they are not from Ikea, but, for example, from Jo Malone, then surely no one will think that you have decided to save on a gift) or elegant candlesticks.

In Germany, the fourth wedding anniversary is also called the amber wedding. And although amber jewelry and souvenirs are an even more controversial gift than a linen summer dress in the national style, if those who receive them really like such things, why not give them?

As with any party, at a linen wedding, housework should not be done except the most necessary, so as not to bring misfortune. That is, you can wash the dishes – but you should not start cleaning until the guests arrive.

Linen napkins can be given by friends or relatives, but not by a husband and wife: it is believed that such a gift will lead to separation.

You can’t argue that day – you don’t have to explain anything here.

On the morning of the fourth wedding anniversary, a twin candle is lit in the bedroom. If it burns well and evenly, the next few years of family life will be cloudless. The best sign is that if this double candle goes out all the way, it promises that the marriage will be long and strong. It will quickly die out – most likely, the marriage will also end quickly. If one of the candles goes out before the other, the feelings of one of the spouses will cool down, how quickly the candle goes out, you can try to guess how quickly this will happen.

So that the spouses celebrating the flax wedding do not experience the lack of money, the guests shower them with flax seeds. The ceremony is best done in the street: after that, you will certainly have to do a general cleaning at home.

It is auspicious to give the heroes of the occasion ecru linen textiles (towels, napkins, bed linen) embroidered with red: it will become a reliable protection against the evil eye.

Photo: Legion Media