Wedding Traditions from Around the World...
When it comes to Marriage and Weddings, it seems that regardless of your ethnic back ground... almost everyone is superstitious.
Wedding Superstitions
Superstitions are based on general, culturally variable beliefs in a supernatural "reality". Depending on a given culture's belief set, its superstitions may relate to things that are not fully understood or known.
In many cultures there are lots of superstitions surround weddings and honeymoons. This is likely due more to the obvious connection that marriage and weddings have to fertility, conception and childbirth than actual luck or love in the marriage.
Some examples of Wedding Superstitions are:
- Never choose a redhead as your bridesmaid as she will steal your groom. Likewise, wearing red to a wedding signals disrespect for the bride.
- Saturday is a bad day for getting married as it is ruled by Saturn, an unlucky planet associated with negative energies like jealousy .
- Never buy a wedding dress that was first set aside for a wedding that never actually happened as it is jinxed.
- Always make sure the sun is shining without clouds in the way; the clouds symbolize trouble.
- Before getting married, it is bad luck to buy your significant other a watch, as it symbolizes that the time of the relationship is running out.
- Rose petals are thrown before the bride as she walks down the aisle to ward off the evil spirits that live beneath the ground from coming up at her.
- Bridesmaids should not wash the dishes or they will fall out with the married couple.
True, these types of wedding superstitions may sound pretty "off the wall", but even if you're the kind of person who walks under ladders or laughs when a friend touches wood, you can bet that when it comes to your wedding day, you too will be clutching something old and donning something blue... and thats just for starters.
We guarantee that you wouldn't dream of seeing your fiance on the morning of the wedding, and you will definately expect to be carried across the threshold.
Where do Wedding Traditions and Marriage Superstitions Come From?
Some wedding superstitions and marriage traditions can be traced back to Roman and Anglo Saxon times, some to Victorian rhymes and many others to folklore that has been passed down from one generation to the next.
All wedding superstitions and marriage traditions are to do with bestowing good luck and fertility on the happy couple.
Its true, there are so many different superstitions and traditions associated with Weddings that its hard to keep up with them all. Some even change over time, while others are simply watered-down versions of old customs.
The age old tradition of tying old shoes to the back of the Couple's car stems from Tudor times when guests would throw shoes at the Bride and Groom. It was believed that good luck would be bestowed upon them if they or their carriage were hit!
In Anglo Saxon times the Bride was symbolically struck with a shoe by her Groom to establish his authority. Brides would then throw shoes at their bridesmaids to see who would marry next.
Something Old
Something New
Something Borrowed
Something Blue and a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe...
Originating back in Victorian times, this wedding rhyme has past the test of time and lives on today. 'Something Old' signifies that the Couple's friends will stay with them, and in one version of the tradition the 'Something Old' was an old garter past down to the bride from a happily married woman. The idea of course being that the new bride would also enjoy a happy marriage.
The 'Something New' simply looks toward the future for health, happiness and success in love, marriage and life together as a new bound couple. The 'Something Borrowed' is an opportunity for the Bride's family to give her something as a token of their love, and it must be returned to ensure Good Luck.
'Something Blue' is believed to be lucky because Blue represents fidelity and constancy. This custom was begun back in ancient Israel where brides wore a blue ribbon in their hair to symbolise their fidelity, and a sixpence was placed in the shoe to bring the couple wealth and success in their married life. Even today, it is common for some brides to place a penny in their shoe during the marriage ceremony.
Wedding Flower Tradition
Flowers of course have always been a very important wedding tradition in most cultures. The Groom is expected to wear a flower that appears in the Bridal Bouquet, stemming from Medieval tradition of a Knight wearing his Lady's colours as a declaration of his love.
Each flower even has its own meaning and sybolizes a specific special message. For example, Orange Blossom, symbolizes chastity, purity and loveliness, while Red Chrysanthemum means " I love you "
The Time and The Place for Marrige Vows
It used to be that Sunday was the day of the week to be married. It only makes sense as Sunday was the one day most people didn't have to work. In the Seventeenth Century the Puritans put a stop to the Sunday marriage because they believed it was improper to be festive and to celebrate on the Sabbath.
Today, Saturdays are the busiest day of the week for wedding ceremonies, although there is still the following rhyme that lives on to this day...
Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all!
Then there is the time of year, for example.. 'Marry in the month of May, and you'll live to rue the day', which dates back to Pagan times. May, being the beginning of the summer season, was dedicated to outdoor orgies and the summer festival Beltane... hardly the best way to begin married life!
The sun has always been associated with fertility. In Scotland it was traditional for the Bride to 'walk with the sun', proceeding from east to west on the south side of the church and then circling the Church three times 'sunwise' for good luck.
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Tradition of the Wedding Cake
The original Wedding Cake was a tradition to bestow good luck and fertility by crushing small wheat cakes and sprinkling them over the Bride's head.
Now the traditional wedding cake is a three tier Wedding Cake based on the shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London. Traditionally, the newly-weds make the first cut as a symbol of sharing their lives together.
- Every guest eats a crumb, also to contribute to the good luck now bestowed on the newly wed couple.
- Sleeping with a piece of wedding cake under a single woman's pillow is believed to bring dreams of her future husband.
Other Food Related Wedding Traditions
A gift of five almonds represents health, wealth, long life, fertility and happiness.
The ancient fertility rite, the throwing of confetti, lives on today. But it was actually handfuls of grain or nuts that were traditionally thrown because they are 'life-giving' seeds of mother earth.
Believe it or not, in some European countries, eggs are thrown... which could get just a little messy!
The Church in Wedding Tradition
Examples of good omens are: seeing a rainbow, having the sun shine on the Bride and meeting a black cat or a chimney sweep. Of course, walking to Church provides a greater chance of spotting lucky omens.
Bad omens include seeing a pig, hare or lizard running across the road, or spotting an open grave. Make sure the road is clear of Monks or Nuns as well, they fortell barreness and a life dependant on charity.
Wedding tradition dictates that the new wife enter her new home by way of the front or main door, and in order to avoid bad luck, the bride must not trip or fall... thus the custom of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold.
Marriage Tradition of the Wedding Dress
It wasn't until the 20th century that brides began wearing a special dress specifically bought for the wedding ceremony. Up until then, Brides simply wore their best.
Green was though to be unlucky. Suggesting a girl 'had a green gown' implied she was of loose morals, because her dress would be grass-stained due to rolling around in the fields! Hence 'Marry in Green, ashamed to be seen'.
It was Queen Victoria that made the White Wedding Dress popular when she broke the tradition of royals marrying in Silver. White was believed to ward off evil spirits as it symbolised purity and virginity.
Other wedding dress traditions, some that live on still today:
- The bride should never make her own dress.
- The final stitch of the wedding dress should not be completed until the bride is departing for the Church on her wedding day.
- The bride to be should never try on the entire outfit before her wedding day, because it was believed dangerous for the Bride to assume the marriage was actually going to go through.
- The Bride should not practise signing her new name until it is legally hers, also because it was believed dangerous for the Bride to assume the marriage was actually going to go through.
- Wedding linen was marked with the Brides maiden name rather than her married initials.
The tradition of Bridesmaids has evolved from the custom of surrounding the Bride with other lavishly dressed women to confuse evil spirits.
Married in White, you have chosen right
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink.
Wedding Traditions from Around the World
American Wedding Tradition - On the day, bridesmaids walk up the aisle in front of the bride rather than behind her.
- Many mothers opt to wear a wrist corsage instead of one pinned to their top or bag.
- Following an American wedding and reception it's a tradition for the bride and the groom to go on a honeymoon or vacation.
- It is traditionally bad luck for the Groom to see the Bride in her Wedding Dress.
- Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past.
- When the bride is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck.
- After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder.
African-American Wedding Tradition - Since slaves weren't permitted to marry in America, they would make a public declaration of their commitment by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums.
Chinese Wedding Tradition - The color of joy is red, so the couple drinks wine and honey from goblets tied together with red string.
- Incorporating a red dragon motif or the Chinese symbols for your name in your wedding stationery or as a cake topper or tie design.
- Using Traditional Jade in jewelry or gifts to attendants.
- At a Chinese wedding banquet, eight dishes are usually served (not including dessert) because the word ‘eight’ in Chinese sounds like “good luck.”.
- Tea is served at the reception as a sign of respect.
- Noodles represent longevity in a marriage because they come in long strands.
- Red is the traditional color of luck, so many Chinese Brides wear red.
- At dawn on her wedding day (or the night before), a Chinese bride was bathed in water infused with pumelo, a variety of grapefruit, to cleanse her of evil influences.
Dutch Wedding Tradition - The first wedding shower reportedly was held in Holland. When a father would not produce a dowry to recognize his daughter's engagement, villagers got together and showered the couple with gifts to help them set up housekeeping.
Dutch and Swiss Wedding Tradition - Planting a pine tree for the newlyweds symbolizes good luck and fertility.
English Wedding Tradition - A tiny horseshoe is embroidered into the wedding gown for good luck.
French Wedding Tradition - A trousseau meant a bundle, in which the bride carried her belongings to her new home. Today it refers to new items purchased for the honeymoon or new home. The bridal couple often drinks the reception toast from an engraved two-handled cup, the coupe de marriage.
- Sell parts of your veil or auction your garter at the reception.
- Have a croquembouche wedding cake or choose a design in the shape of the Eiffel Tower.
- Everything is white, from dresses to decorations so this is the perfect theme for understated elegance.
German Wedding Tradition - The bride carries salt and bread in her pocket to ensure bounty; the groom carries grain for wealth and good fortune.
Greek Wedding Tradition - The bride and groom circle the altar three times in the wedding ceremony, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. The godmother and godfather often give away the bride in place of the father. They stand at the altar and participate in the wedding ceremony. At the reception, a monetary dance is traditional. The bride and groom are honored with dollar bills tossed at them as they waltz. The money is collected and saved for the first child.
- Brides carry a lump of sugar in the Gloves on the wedding day to be sure of a sweet life.
- End the ceremony with honey and walnuts offered to you both on a silver spoon. Walnuts break into four parts representing the bride, groom and the two sets of family.
- When the Groom is being serenaded he traditionally has a ceremonial wet shave in front of his family and friends.
- Breaking plates during the reception symbolizes good luck and happiness.
Greek and Italian Wedding Tradition - Wrapped almonds in odd numbers (3, 5, 7) symbolize fertility. Almonds are given as favors at showers and wedding receptions.
Indian Wedding Tradition - The groom's brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to ward off evil.
Irish Wedding Tradition - Wear a claddagh wedding ring, which has two hands holding a heart with a crown. When the ring is turned so the hands face in, the bride is married.
- Use the shamrock in your floral displays and as a motif for your stationery or even to decorate the edges of your wedding cake.
- Serve Guinness or Murphy’s for the toasts or place jugs of them on each table.
Japanese Wedding Tradition - The couple takes nine sips of sake (3 sips from 3 cups), becoming husband and wife after the first sip. In many cultures, the number three symbolizes good luck.
Jewish Wedding Tradition - At the end of the Ceremony, the Groom will step on a Glass - this is to remind you of the Temple and the fact that with happiness comes responsibility.
- Dancing the Traditional ‘hora’ during the celebration.
- Break the evening celebrations for tea, coffee and cake rather than serving them straight after the meal.
- Wearing plain metal wedding bands without any stones or engravings. This is to show that you are not marrying for money or material.
Macedonian Wedding Tradition - Silver coins and candies are tossed to the guests at the marriage ceremony, symbolizing wishes for prosperity.
Mexican Wedding Tradition - In some Mexican wedding ceremonies, the groom may present thirteen gold coins to the bride as a symbol of his commitment to support her. The coins symbolize Jesus and the twelve disciples. Other Mexican ceremonies feature a lasso, a figure eight, which symbolically ties the couple in matrimony. At the reception, guests often form a heart-shaped ring around the couple during their first dance.
Mexican and Filipino Wedding Tradition - Instead of the bride's family, the groom is often committed to pay for all the wedding expenses. The couple may also have outside family and friends as "sponsors" who pay for the various wedding needs - such as favors, photographers, banquet facilities, bridal attire, etc.
Native American Wedding Tradition - Wedding attire was handspun cotton garments trimmed in beads. Navajo and other tribes still carry on this tradition.
Polish Wedding Tradition - For village weddings, friends weave a crown of rosemary leaves for the bride to symbolize remembrance.
- At the wedding reception, an apron is tied around the bride's waist and the bridal veil is removed by the bride's mother, symbolizing the transformation from maidenhood to married life.
- In Poland, the mother was allowed to cut the bride's hair in the presence of her wedding guests. Today, some mothers still snip a lock of hair as part of this ritual.
- The Bride wears a wreath made from rosemary leaves to signify remembrance.
- Learn a traditional polka or mazurka as your first dance or invite a professional ‘caller’ to teach your guests at the reception.
- The couple's parents present them with salt and bread as symbols of bitterness and prosperity.
Serbian Wedding Tradition - Weddings are often huge. Large monetary gifts are bestowed on the bride and groom who are often married without immediate family members attending the wedding. Friends financially help the new couple begin their life together.
Welsh Wedding Tradition - Silver coins (usually quarters in the U.S.) are inserted into the popped champagne or wine corks and given to the bride and groom.
The preceding is presented for your enjoyment and intertest only. Credit must be given to a number of sources for the above information, the majority of which goes to www.weddings.co.uk and of course www.BarefootWeddings.com.
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