Wedding chwesta as a Specific Norm of Social Coexistence

This article presents an old wedding custom called chwesta. It was known in Poland and abroad, and consisted of collecting gifts for the bride and groom while inviting guests to the wedding. This custom had a double dimension – economic and social. Firstly, it provided material support for the bride and her future husband, and secondly, it strengthened the bonds between members of the local community, especially rural ones. The wedding chwesta was thus an important part of the wedding ritual, which involved not only the bride and groom's family but also the entire local community, reflecting the solidarity and sense of mutual responsibility of the inhabitants. Although the custom disappeared in the early 20th century, it remained an important symbol of care and responsibility for one another in the face of important life events.