Marriage and Wedding Traditions and Superstitions Continued: Wedding Traditions from Around the World...
Through most events and occasions that we experience in our lives, we see traditions being passed down from generation to generation.
Weddings are no different, and there are some traditions that we didn’t even know existed!
Check out our list of usual and unusual wedding traditions from around the globe!
Though most traditions are passed down from your elders, it is up to you which customs you are going to choose for your own Wedding. And don’t be afraid to start your own traditions to pass down to your Children!
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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