In a traditional Ukrainian wedding custom, wedding crowns may be placed on the couple’s heads during a church ceremony. These crowns are called stefana and are used in Eastern Christian wedding rites, especially within Ukrainian and other Orthodox traditions.
The crowns symbolize the couple’s dignity and their new life together. They are also connected with the idea of martyrdom: marriage requires self-sacrifice, patience, and mutual responsibility. A priest or attendants may place the crowns during the crowning portion of the service.
Stefana are not simply decorative flower wreaths. They are liturgical crowns, often made of metal, fabric, or other decorated materials, and their appearance varies by church and community.
The custom is related to the Byzantine Christian wedding service and appears beyond Ukraine. Ukrainian weddings can also include regional folk practices, so the presence and exact design of stefana depend on the couple’s denomination and local tradition.