Interview with Anne Elias 2.6

Segment Synopsis: Childbirth: Anne's maternal grandmother was a midwife, she helped to deliver 250 children, never lost one. She helped to deliver all children in her family that had been born at home, except for Anne's sister Olga, who was born at the hospital in Vegreville. She died at the age of 5 because of the ruptured appendix.
Christenings: it was important to do as soon as possible, when a priest is around, what is different from a later time when christenings can be organized a year or several years later after a baby was born. Anne was a godmother, and her responsibility was to prepare a white cloth (blanket type) to hold the baby, and little outfit. Godmother can be starting of the age of 8-10. Godparents obligations were to take care about a child's religious education, what was not followed widely.

Keywords: Romanians

Subjects: baptism; birth rituals; childbirth; christenings; church services; churches; folk medicine; gifts; godmothers; health systems; midwives; religious rituals

Segment Synopsis: Weddings usually take three days. Grandfather died (because of lung cancer) when Anne's uncle Peter got married, and he asked to call off the wedding at the day of his death. Because of that, the wedding took place at bride's place, not groom's one. Then they returned to the groom's place, took the bride, and returned back to the bride's place.
Preparations for the wedding: a lot of cooking and purchasing alcohol (beer, whisky, wine); preparation an outdoor platform for dancing at the groom's place, and expected to be the same at the bride's place.
Usually groom comes late afternoon to pick up his bride and to bring her to his place, thus they come in the evening to the groom's place. Gifts giving process is important, after that it was a time for kolachi (later replaced with wedding cakes). Wreaths were used.
Usual guests at the wedding: relatives and neighbours that were invited by the word of mouth personally by a family member.
Wedding clothing: mandatory a veil for a bride, and a suit for a groom.
Marriage ceremony usually starts at the church after regular church service, and it takes a while.
Looking at Anne's parents photograph - August 2, 1919.

Keywords: kolach

Subjects: bridal veils; cakes; church services; dances; death; death omens; family photographs; food; gifts; guests; marriage; neighbors; photographs; ritual foods; rituals; wedding costumes; wedding dresses; wedding parties; wreaths

Segment Synopsis: 2003-091-016-p001: Uncle Metro, uncle Alec, dad, mom, Martha, Kitty (Kate), 1963.

Subjects: family photographs; photographs

Segment Synopsis: 2003-091-016-p002

Subjects: family photographs; photographs