- Where and how is the test done?
- Is blood drawn?
- After the test
- Rationale and reasons
- Gypsy culture
- Gypsy tradition of the handkerchief test
- Reliability
- References
The handkerchief test is a practice carried out by individuals belonging to the gypsy culture or ethnic group to determine if the bride still retains her virginity. It is done when a couple is getting married, on the same wedding day. Sometimes it is also called "town hall".
Basically, the test consists of taking the bride to a separate room where the ritual will be performed together with the "ajuntaora" or ajuntadora, who is the specialist and in charge of performing the act to check if the girl is a virgin. Other married women invited to the party also witness this event. The only virgin girl who can be present at the event is the one who will be subjected to the examination.
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A handkerchief decorated with a very cute aspect is used, it is usually half a meter long, it is white with roses, bows and embroidered strips.
Where and how is the test done?
In the first place, the handkerchief must be made by the gypsy's mother and aunt; it cannot be made by a payo. In addition, it must be paid for by the groom and will be kept by her mother-in-law.
Normally, the adjunct or sicobari goes to the groom's house to examine the bride's hymen before the wedding. Before the test, she shows it to those present, which can be from tens to hundreds of gypsies, the clean white handkerchief.
Is blood drawn?
Although there is a tendency to think that when inserting the handkerchief, the ajuntaora draws blood, this is not the case, nor does the hymen break. Only the discharge and secretions that are in the middle zone are collected.
When the middle of the finger with the handkerchief is inserted into the bride's vagina, if she is a virgin, it will show a yellowish color, a discharge that would mean that it is the first time it has been "penetrated." These will be the "three roses" that show virginity.
After the test
When the test is over, the ajuntaora passes the handkerchief to the godfather.
This, the father, the godparents and other representative people, show the three roses to the audience and say something like "I am very proud of my daughter and for that reason, I pass it through my head", and walks around with the handkerchief by his head.
In case of passing the test and proving the virginity of the bride, the stained handkerchief is displayed to all the wedding attendees with pride.
If, on the contrary, the test is not successfully passed, the groom's family has every right to annul the wedding and both the bride and her family will be publicly disgraced in front of everyone.
In general, the test is not negative because the women participating in this culture are aware that this procedure will be performed if they want to carry out a gypsy wedding and they are sure that they have kept their virginity so far.
Rationale and reasons
The main reason it is done is because certain cultures require tests to be done to determine if the bride still retains her virginity prior to marriage.
It is demonstrated by the presence of an intact hymen. In general terms, after the first sexual intercourse, the hymen breaks and vaginal bleeding occurs due to its tear, in addition to showing a yellowish discharge.
Apart from the gypsy culture, there are also other countries and ethnic groups that do or have done tests like this at some point in their history and to prove virginity there are also other methods and physical examinations that can be performed by a doctor.
Gypsy culture
It is a term used to encompass the customs, habits and ways of life of the gypsy people.
Gypsies have their origins in northwestern India and their traditional jobs were singing, dancing, entertainment and music.
They have quite marked moral values, for them it is extremely important to obey their laws, purity and respect for God.
Their families are generally quite large and both men and women marry very young. The virginity and purity of the bride is something very precious in this culture so the handkerchief test is performed, but there are also other accepted ways to perform the marriage as long as both parties agree.
In order to carry out the wedding, the groom (groom) must make a gypsy request where he asks the family for the hand of the bride, permission is granted and they are considered engaged and have permission to go out together.
There are weddings that can last days but there are also other simpler ones depending on the families, customs and region.
As for other gypsy customs, death is something very respected and if a gypsy dies to a relative or close friend, they must mourn wearing black to show their pain for around 12 months, at least.
In the event that a gypsy sees another in mourning (and even if they do not know each other), they should show respect towards that person by stopping singing or dancing, turning off the music or television, etc.
Gypsy tradition of the handkerchief test
According to the gypsy tradition, the bride and groom must marry by the evangelist or catholic rite, early in the morning. The bride must arrive a virgin at marriage and the man usually has more freedom and does not need to be tested, although this depends on the gypsy subculture. In some countries if a foreskin test is requested.
Gypsies value purity very much, their culture values it as much as life and if the girl is not a virgin she will not be able to marry, the only exception is that she finds a man who is not married and agrees despite that.
After performing the handkerchief test on the wedding day, the "dawn" is produced and it is exhibited showing the spots that show the three roses and they usually perform a mystical song that says:
"In a green meadow I held out my handkerchief, three roses came out like three stars." After the wedding the man must be faithful to his wife.
Reliability
The word “hymen” originates from the Greek god of marriage, Hymenaeus, and is a small fleshy ring-shaped tissue located at the opening of the vagina.
According to several studies, the belief that it is necessary to have sex to tear it is erroneous since it has been concluded that an intact hymen is not a 100% true and reliable indicator of the absence of vaginal penetration and sexual intercourse. previous.
The tear of the hymen can be caused by other circumstances or it can simply also be born without a developed hymen or have a thin and elastic one that does not bleed or in any case that bleeds very little.
Currently, there are surgical procedures to repair or replace the torn hymen and to successfully pass the virginity tests required by various cultures, this procedure is called "hymenoplasty".
References
- Bonilla, Kristina (1977). "The virginity test, the most important thing in the gypsy wedding." Taken from elpais.com.
- “Wedding by the gypsy rite. Ceremony and protocol. Gypsy marriage. Curiosities". Taken from protocol.org.