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Wedding Customs and
Traditions
THE BOUQUET AND GARTER
Most historians believe that this tradition
started in France on the XIV century.
The guests ran after the newlywed bride to snatch the bouquet as
it was though
it would bring luck and marriage. To thwart that everyone would
be over and under
the bride's gown, both the bride and the groom voluntarily throwed the
garter and the bouquet to the guests.
THE VEIL
The veil
symbolizes the virginity, modesty and innocence, that's why
its white color. In some cultures the veil will completely
hide the face of the bride from the groom, who never had seen
it. After the ceremony it was only allowed the groom to raise
the veil to see the face of his new wife.
THE BOUQUET
It is a custom that comes from the
Serrainos and was taken to Europe by the Crusades. The flower
that was used was the orange blossom that symbolized the purity.
At the present time, the bouquet is bought by the groom and the
best man gives
it to the bride before the ceremony. The flowers used today are
varied and mostly
choused by the bride. It is a custom very used in the U.S.A. the
one that the bride will throw the bouquet to one of her
unmarried friends or relatives. In other places,
the bride will just give the bouquet to somebody previously
decided by the newlyweds.
THE RING IN THE ANNULAR FINGER
All the alliances of wedding are placed in the annular
finger because it was thought
that the vein of this finger went directly to the heart.
THE HONEYMOON
In antiquity, it was the Teutones who began with the
practice of the Honeymoon.
The weddings of the Teutones were only celebrated under the
Full Moon and after the wedding, the newlyweds will drink licor
of honey during the next 30 days. Finally, the period after the
wedding got to know itself with the name of the Honeymoon. While
the name survived, the intention of the Honeymoon changed, and
after the wedding, the newlyweds would go away from their family
and friends to do what they must do as a married couple. Today
the tradition survives although the concept of 15 days of
vacations in an isolated and romantic site is gotten up.
DELIVERY OF BRIDE
In the antiquity, daughters were considered "property" of their parents.
When the time arrived for a daughter to marry it was only if his
father approved it, he in effect,
transferred the possession of his daughter to the groom. Today
the act to give the
bride to the groom in the altar, symbolizes the blessing of its parents to
the marriage
OTHER
TRADITIONS
Africa:
In Africa is a tradition to jump over a broom during the wedding
ceremony.
It symbolizes the union of the couple.
Germany:
In Germany they celebrate a ritual called Polterband,
and consists that all the bride's friends go the night before
the wedding and break dinner plates in front of the bride's
house. It is said that the more plates broken the better luck
the bride will have.
Bulgaria:
In Bulgaria they throw dates to the newlyweds instead of throwing rice
when they get out of the church. The dates symbolizes fertility.
China:
In China the newlyweds will drink wine and honey with a pair of
glasses tied up with a red ribbon which symbolizes love and
happiness. Also, the bride will change its gown as many times as
possible, the more gowns she wears that night the more
successful the marriage will be.
Spain:
In Spain the color that symbolizes everlasting love, purity and
happiness is the orange. So the bride will make sure the wear
something orange.
France:
The newlyweds will drink their toast from a cup with two handle
called "coupe de marriage" ( wedding cup) in their
reception party.
India:
In India the best man will throw flower petals to the newlyweds to bless
them with happiness and luck.
Indian American:
The brides gown will have four colors that symbolizes the four
directions of the compass. The North with the color black, the
south with the blue, the west with the orange and the east with
the white. During their ceremony, they will stand looking to the
east as the rising sun symbolizes their new beginning as a
couple.
Japan:
In the ceremony, the newlyweds will drink nine times "sake" (
rice wine) which by
tradition after the first drink they are officially married.
México:
Before the newlyweds dance their first waltz, all the guests
will surround the couple forming a heart around them.
Portugal:
In Portugal instead of a dance the bride will pass her shoe to
all the guests for them to contribute with money for the new
couple.
USA:
Recently in the United States some couples have decided to make
their wedding day with a theme. For example, a couple decided to
make their wedding with a pirate theme. They celebrated their
wedding in a pirate ship with all guests and assistants dressed
as pirates or mariners. Another example was a couple that was so
attached to the Star Wars movies that they decided to all get
dressed with their favorite characters for the wedding.
In the end, a couple can do
whatever they want on that very special day. So, if your going
to get married the only thing left to say is; Congratulations!
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