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Wedding Traditions
Wedding Customs & Traditions
Wedding traditions have long-held great significance, many couples recognize the need for tradition, value and strong beliefs and still include some of the basic customs into their ceremonies. Depending on religion and beliefs, many traditions are the normal part of the ceremony and the celebration. The celebration is just as important in its significance.
Wearing the wedding ring on third finger symbolizes marriage as being closet to the heart. The Egyptians believed that a vein ran directly from the third finger to the heart. Also, it signifies the holy trinity Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. The ring has been a symbol of marriage since the Egyptian era. The circular shape represents an unending love. Some cultures took it as a symbol of ownership by the groom, for it was his token given to the bride to show that he owned her.
It is believed that throwing the garter first began in France. It is thought that the bride’s attire is lucky and that guests should tear a piece of the bride’s clothing off in order to receive good luck.
Time-honored by tradition, the best man gives the 1st toast. Those desiring to stand or come forward after this is appropriate.
The ceremonial first kiss is the emblematic exchange of spirit as each new spouse breaths a part of ones soul into the other. This is why it is important for the groom to be able to kiss his bride first.
The custom of having a wedding cake has been a part of wedding celebrations since the Roman times when a thin loaf was broken over the bride’s head during the close of the ceremony. The wheat from which it was made symbolized fertility and the crumbs were eagerly sought by guests as good luck charms.
During the Middle Ages, it was traditional for the bride and groom to kiss over a pile of small cakes. When an imaginative baker decided to mass all of these cakes together and cover with frosting, the modern tiered cake was born. The cake is a symbol of the couple’s willingness to share each others household and can also be seen as a symbol of families joining together to form unity. The tradition of the bride and groom cutting the first slice of cake is of Victorian origin. It was considered bad luck if the bride did not cut the first piece for her groom.
Lifting the Veil was a biblical practice which ensured the groom that he was getting the person he “bargained” for. Before the final words were spent, the veil would be lifted first. Another version of the wedding veil included the tradition of covering the bride’s face until the groom committed himself to her at the wedding so that he would not run off. Others believed that the veil was worn to protect the bride from evil spirits. The white wedding dress grew from the popularity which Queen Victoria projected to the public. Most brides before then simply wore their finest costume. White was mainly reserved for the royals, who did not mind if their dress became soiled.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe. Shoes and weddings had a special meaning together. Some still tie shoes to the bumper of the newly wedded couple. Some believe that the tradition first began as the result of the bride’s father throwing his shoe in anger when his daughter was captured and escaping with the groom to be married. Another thought is that shoes symbolize fertility.
In Roman law, the wedding was to consist of ten witnesses in the presence of the officials in order to prevent the evil spirits from causing mischief and disharmony. The bridesmaids and ushers all dressed in identical clothing to the bride and groom so that the evil spirits would not know who was getting married.
Why does the bride stand on the left and the groom on the right during the ceremony? The origin of this goes back to the days when a groom would capture his bride by kidnapping her. If the groom had to fight off other men who also wanted her as their bride, he would hold his bride-to-be with his left hand allowing his right hand to be free to use his sword.
Many have specific origins and historical value, while some traditions are virtually practiced and shared without truly knowing where they originated from.
Wedding Customs and Factiodz
CUBAN: Since most can not afford to pay for a disc jockey, volunteer musicians often performed live. The meringue and salsa music continue on into the late hours of the morning couples give a gift to each guest.
A very large gift table is set up as family and friends bring gifts to the wedding.
BRITISH: There are no groomsmen, weddings are held at noon with a sit-down luncheon afterwards. The English still maintain that it is considered bad luck if the groom sees his bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony.
FRENCH: In France the couple drinks from the “coupe de marriage” and laurel leaves are strewn outside of the church as the couple depart.
POLISH: It was customary to pin money on the bride in order to “buy a dance”. Some brides now have a designated person to collect the money and place in a satin trimmed bag.
AMISH: The bride wears a new, ordinary Sunday outfit, weddings are simple affairs generally held after the harvest, usually midweek. Wedding invitations are delivered by hand through personal visits.
GERMAN: A wedding-eve party (Polterabend) is held in which the couple are teased and dishes are broken. On the wedding day, or immediately thereafter, guests are invited to the couple’s home to inspect the gifts and furnishings.
GREEK: Candy-coated almonds, wrapped in tulle are given as favors to each guest. The traditional zorba dance with handkerchiefs is performed at the reception.
The wedding sponsor (Koumbari) selects and pays for the guests gifts.
Traditional foods include stuffed grape leaves, lamb and wine.
HAITI: Guests bring gifts (not money) to the wedding ·The wedding cake is not cut during the reception, but later at the bride’s home.
MEXICO: The arras, a small chest of gold coins symbolizing wealth and strength, is blessed. The groom may present 13 gold coins to the bride as a symbol of his commitment to support her. Parents bless their children in the home before the ceremony Padrinos (godparents) have a special role in the ceremony The couple have a special kneeling pillow. Mariachi (guitar/vocal) music is traditionally performed.
AFRICA: The bride wears a veil of braided hair as a symbol of modesty. Wine is poured on the ground as a libation to the gods.
CHINESE: Lucky Money is presented in red envelopes. Red and gold are traditional colors of happiness & wealth. The bride may make several dress changes between each course. The best man usually plays several pranks on the couple.
SCOTTISH: A piper accompanies couple at the procession/recession.
The groom wears a traditional kilt. In the thirteenth century, the medieval Church announced intended marriages through a process called the banns of marriage. The banns were proclaimed in the parish church for three successive weeks during Sunday worship, and the practice continued in Scotland for over six hundred years. In later centuries, an alternative was to give notice and obtain a license to marry from a registrar. This method eventually became accepted by the Church of Scotland. In present day, the practice of banns of marriage have declined, but giving notices have become compulsory for all regular marriages.
IRISH: Couples are showered with flower petals for good luck.
The wedding ring (claddagh) is fashioned with two hands holding a heart with a crown above; when hands are worn facing in, the bride is married . Dances at the reception include the groom in a chair to present him to the guests as a married man.
JEWISH: The bride goes to the mikvah for a ritualistic bath that marks the transition from single life to married life. The ketubah, or marriage contract, is often artistically rendered and preserved in the couple’s home. The groom breaks a glass under his foot at the end of the ceremony. The hora, or traditional dance of celebration, is performed at the reception.
SCANDINAVIA: The bride wars an elaborate, jeweled wedding crown as a symbol of innocence. The traditional wedding toast, skoal, is done with a specially brewed beer. Fiddlers and horns accompany the wedding procession to the church.
In Sweden, When the Bride leaves the dinner table to use the washroom, women line up to kiss the groom.