Kalmyk Wedding, Freewood Acres, NJ, 1985
When they enter, Jalsa's relatives will toast them and present gifts. The traditional gift to the bride is a gold coin, worn as a pendant: Leslie will receive a $10 gold piece from Jalsa's mother. Leslie's mother will give Jalsa a gold ring set with lavender jade. The traditional gifts for relatives are not valuable -- shirts for men and four yards of cloth for women.
Katrina Thomas's notes: Kalmyks are the descendants of the Oirats, a semi-nomadic Asian Mongolian people, who lived in felt yurts, and adopted Tibetan Buddhism during their migration from Asia to the European part of Russia. They remained there for nearly 400 years. After World War II, despite America's stringent immigration laws, 571 were admitted in 1951 and 1952, as displaced persons, under a special dispensation of the US attorney general. Others soon followed. Their weddings observe rules and hours, set by an astrological priest, for specified events which incorporate their traditions of a white road. It is based on the fact that milk and milk products are essential to the culture of a herding people. I photographed one wedding in Philadelphia. All the others took place in their rural neighborhood of Freewood Acres that has taken root in Howell Township, NJ.
Thomas, Katrina (photographer)
1985
1 photograph : black-and-white
reformatted digital
North and Central America--United States--New Jersey--Monmouth--Freewood Acres
BMC-M59
Photographer's categories: Post-nuptial , Bride , Toasts , Gifts , In-laws , Bridal jewelry , Mother , Mother-in-law
BMC-M59_36-06a