The rug shown at the left is like that used in the Carpatho-Rusyn villages surrounding Uzhgorod, now part of Ukraine.

The rugs are made in many different color combinations and with a variety of designs. The color combination of red and black on white fabric is one of the more popular combinations although pastels or brights in multi-color combinations are also widely used.

Motifs found include florals and flowers, wedding rings, wheat, birds, and traditional folk patterns.

Almost all of of the rugs also have a message of luck embroidered into the white fabric.

A typical wedding rug would be about 6 foot long and 1 foot wide. Both ends would have embroidered design with the center section where the bride and groom would stand being solid white. While called rugs, the weight of the fabric was much closer to table cloth than what we would consider rug today.

In some villages, the bride and groom stood on a plain white square of fabric or cloth napkin placed where the couple would stand.

The use of the rug symbolized wishes that the newly wed couple should have wealth and prosperity and never need to face poverty standing on a bare earthen floor.

After the ceremony, the wedding rug would be given to the couple for their new home where it would be hung from a wall, draped over a beam, or framed around a picture or icon.

It's All relative has a limited supply of wedding rugs from the Carpathian Mountains available for $29.99. Email Rugs@iarelative.com and we will let you know what is currently available or check out our current rug inventory on line.

As the wedding rugs are hand embroidered, available colors and designs will vary from month to month.