MovieChat Forums > Fiddler on the Roof (1971) Discussion > TZEITEL'S WEDDING GOWN

TZEITEL'S WEDDING GOWN

posted 13 years ago by snsurone
11 replies | jump to latest

Her wedding dress and veil were beautiful, and especially ornate for a people who were so poor.
She even wore white shoes, which I'm sure were a luxury is Tsarist Russia.

I don't believe that it was Golde's wedding dress, not only because that it was in such pristine condition, but for the fact that it fit Tzeitel (who was taller than her mother) perfectly.

Did Motel make it for her? Highly unlikely; Tevye and Golde would have objected something so "intimate" before they were married.

Maybe there was a seamstress in Anatevka who made the dress and veil for a low price.

Motel and Tzeitel had a son; I hope they later had a daughter who would wear that dress on her wedding.

[–] Clusium 13 years ago

I'm sure the rabbi would make sure the brides & grooms he would marry, were well dressed for the occasion, no matter if they were rich or they were poor.

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[–] willjohn 9 years ago

When my wife and I married in the early 1970s in Australia i hired a tuxedo 7 she hired a wedding gown.

Not much point in buying clothes like that to only wear once.

[–] puirt-a-beul 13 years ago

It may have belonged to someone else in the village, and lent to Tzeitel for the wedding, just like Motel's suit and top hat.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] kelly-527 13 years ago

Yep, see previous poster. Or, it may be a dress that was made over from a previous ancestor. Up until the 20th century, wedding dresses were re-used and revamped for the younger generations.

[–] RCeditor 12 years ago

Since Motel is a tailor, the gown may have been in his family. Also, by being a tailor, I'm sure he would be familiar with a seamstress who could alter the dress for Tzeitel.

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[–] boxerrebellion 12 years ago

In '89, I wore my Mom's from '61. It's been preserved (it hadn't been previously, more like stuffed in a drawer), but my daughter likely won't be able to wear it because even at the age of 12, she is obviously a completely different body type. Maybe my niece or granddaughter...

[–] Tekawitha 13 years ago

i think Motel's hat, at least, could be a hand me down from his father. watch how he takes out of a cloth bag that is kind of old looking. he takes it, and carefully dusts it off, and sets it on his head.

the thing i keep wondering is how did Teyve pay for all of the things needed for his daughter, the wedding and all. those veils alone would be so expensive.

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[–] snsurone 12 years ago

He probably paid it off in trade, that is, with milk and cheese.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

My experience is that a lot of the old school Eastern Europeans really knew how to sew. Golde probably knew how to sew. I remember my Bubbe being about 90 years old and she could have sewn you a new car if you needed one.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] beijingpearl2003 9 years ago

She was almost considered an old maid by the time she married, so most likely it was a dress that either had been passed down and remade and kept for her OR a women's tailor would have made it for her for the wedding--of course not Motel. Who is to say that Golde didn't have some lace or her grandmother's dress laid by for such an event--it is certainly likely, with FIVE daughters! That veil was probably used by the youngest two as well, or would have been if they'd been able to stay in Anatevka.