Ostrobothnian Bridal Room

A peasant wedding in the Ostrobothnian countryside at the beginning of the 20th century usually lasted at least 3 days as the wedding was the greatest festival in a person's life. Far in advance preparations were made for the wedding. The living-room in the bride's home was decorated with fringed sheets, silk shawls, mirrors and sconces.

Early in the morning on the wedding day the bride was dressed by the village bridal dresser. Her hair was plaited hard and the crown, which was about 30 centimetres high and decorated with tinsel was sewn to her hair. The music was woven into the wedding celebration from the beginning to the end. The fiddlers had to be on the go from the arrival of the first guests until the moment the last guests left the wedding house after several days of eating, drinking and dancing. Singing was heard outdoors and indoors. People sang good-luck songs, songs at mealtimes and songs toasting the bridal couple. The guests sang, the bride sang, the bridegroom sang, and time and again a single singer would strike up a song.