PRE-WEDDING RITUALS
In ancient times, the Portuguese used to marry simply to build a family. Given that the parents decided on all details regarding the wedding -- including the selection of the Groom and the Bride -- love was not necessarily the main reason for marriage.
Everything involved an agreement between families. The Bride's family would be responsible for the hosting of all the parties, while the Groom's family would be responsible for giving a large gift to the newlyweds -- usually a house. Nowadays, even though there are many traditional and conservative families, marriage is a synonym with a promise of mutual love that will last as long as both parties shall live.
In days past, the Bride's family would hold the engagement party. Tradition called for the Groom to send a friend or a relative to ask the prospective Bride's father for permission to ask for the daughter's hand in marriage. Often, the Groom's father performed this task. If the Bride's father agreed, the young man could formally ask for the girl's hand in marriage, and having thus received the father's blessing, the wedding was allowed to take place. An ancient tradition -- long abandoned -- called for the prospective Bride to pretend to be a cow that needed to be recognized by its owner, her soon-to-be husband, before the wedding celebrations could begin.
Considering that the majority of people in Portugal are Roman Catholic, a mass would follow the engagement. After this mass, close relatives would be invited to a small reception. The Bride would choose a "Madrinha" -- a Maid of Honour -- and the Groom would choose a "Padrinho" -- a Best Man. In some cases, two couples would be chosen to fill those roles.
A Portuguese couple's wedding invitation traditionally carries both the Bride's and the Groom's addresses, since it is customary to live with one's parents until married. All wedding gifts are traditionally sent to the Bride's house, and put on display to be admired by relatives and close friends who come to visit. On those occasions, tradition calls for a cup of tea and a piece of cake to be served.
Since Portugal is a very conservative country, with a large Roman Catholic population, bachelor and bachelorette parties have always been rather innocent -- consisting mostly of friends and relatives getting together for food and drinks. It is customary for the oldest members of the Bride and Groom's community to attend the Groom's stag party, where he bids farewell to his single life and his single friends.
WEDDING RITUALS
The big moment for the Groom would take place at the church, since he could not see his Bride until she entered the Church. The Bride's big moment, however, would start as soon as she left her home. Tradition -- closely upheld in small villages and communities -- calls for the Bride to walk to church with her wedding party, closely followed by the wedding guests.
Portuguese wedding ceremonies usually consist of a Roman Catholic mass, where traditionally the priest would bind the couple's hands with his stole, or call for the Bride and Groom to exchange rings, and then cover the couple with his stole, to unite and protect them. As the newlyweds exit the church, friends and relatives customarily throw bonbons and flowers, in lieu of tossing rice.
In Portugal, many weddings used to be small and restricted to direct family, while others would be larger affairs where friends and relatives would all lend a hand in planning and organizing all the details of the wedding festivities. In Canada, Portuguese communities have been influence by other cultures and old customs are beginning to change.
A new tradition involves serving the infamous "Seafood Plates" or "Seafood Buffets". Portuguese people interviewed, such as Mr. Albino Silva, Chef at Chiado Fine Dining, and Ms. Maria do Carmo Nogueira from the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Commission, tend to disagree with this new extravagant custom. In Portugal, weddings have always been fashioned after European traditions, where food is abundant but not extravagant.
Portugal is renowned for its wine, and the Romans used to associate the country with Bacchus, their God of Wine and Feasts. Popular wines include Vinho Verde, Vinho Alvarinho, Vinho do Douro, and Vinho da Bairrada, as well as sweet Port and Madeira wine, and wedding guests indulge in frequent toasts to the happy couple.
Wedding receptions typically do not have a firm schedule: parties can last long into the night, and it is not unusual for breakfast to be served. Meal structure allows for free time between courses, giving guests a chance to dance and build up an appetite!
Portuguese wedding guests, traditionally, are served only what the hosts can afford. Many families chose to prepare their own food, trusting that all dishes they prepare themselves will always be the very best. Farmers and people from small villages would traditionally serve their own chickens and pigs, as well as fresh-grown tomatoes and potatoes. Each region of Portugal has its own traditional dishes. Codfish is a favourite throughout the country, and it is said that there are over 365 ways to prepare it.
Portuguese wedding receptions usually take place at a private home or, more commonly, these days, at a restaurant. They typically involve traditional music and a lot of dancing, while guests exchange stories about the Bride and Groom. The ancient custom of passing the Bride's shoe around to all the guests, to receive monetary donations that will help the couple set up their new home, is still maintained today, and guests eagerly join the festivities and participate in this ritual. Traditionally, there will also be a money dance, where the Bride's shoe is passed around the dance floor, as young -- and not so young -- men pay for the privilege of dancing with the Bride.
Another important part of the reception is called "Copo d' Agua" (cup of water.) During this ritual, the Bride and Groom go from table to table to spend time with their guests, and ensure that everyone is having a good time and enjoying their meal; a champagne toast is offered as the newlyweds cut their wedding cake, and offer the first slice to a single friend, to bring them luck. The Bride then customarily throws her bouquet into an eagerly awaiting group of single girls.
POST - WEDDING RITUALS
It is traditional for the newlyweds to leave the party before the end, to spend their first night together. This is not as easy as it sounds: the newlyweds must escape and avoid all the games played by their guests. Their exit turns into a huge competition, where the guests will try to stop the couple from leaving by playing small and innocent pranks such as hiding their luggage, taking their car away, or putting them under the spotlight all night long.
If they are lucky, the Bride and Groom will manage to leave the party without being spotted, and get to enjoy their first night together -- alone.
The following day, traditionally, the new couple will visit all of their guests to personally thank each and every one of them for attending their wedding, and sharing the most important day of their lives.
Portuguese Wedding Traditions
Unity Candles are a Wonderful Wedding Tradition
Unity candles are a huge wedding tradition that is seen in most wedding ceremonies. It has become increasingly popular in recent generations. The unity candle may symbolize different things for different types of ceremonies. In some cases there is one unity candle while in other ceremonies there are three.
A single unity candle is used in a ceremony to symbolize the uniting of the bride and groom. The unity candle is lit during a special portion of the wedding ceremony together by the bride and groom. It symbolizes, in most ceremonies, the friendship, loyalty, and love that is shared and will be honored by the newly married couple.
In cases where there are three unity candles, the families of the bride and groom are included in the lighting of the unity candles. Typically in wedding ceremonies, the mother of the bride will light one candle, and the mother of the groom will light another candle before the entry of the bride. The lighting of these two candles symbolizes the joining of two families together. The bride and groom then light their unity candle during the ceremony.
The unity candle lit by the married couple will be kept for years to come. On every anniversary, the couple will again light the candle to reinforce and even strengthen the vows made on the wedding day. By lighting the candle, the couple may also remember the beautiful day when they were joined in matrimony.
Unity candles are wonderful wedding tradition. It is a special, symbolic moment, both for the families, and the married couple. During the lighting of the candles, the families, and the bride and groom are given a moment to ponder the uniting of the new family and their new lives together. And the couple has a cherished part of their wedding ceremony to keep for their future.
Wedding Traditions-what Do They Symbolize?
There are many traditions involved in getting married. From "jumping the broom" to borrowing a piece of bridal jewelry-the traditions are many. Most people practice wedding traditions without having a full understanding of their origins. Have you ever wondered why the bride walks down the aisle on a white aisle runner? History tells us that using an aisle runner helps to ward off evil spirits. It was once believed that evil spirits lived beneath the floor and in order to keep the spirits away from the bride, the white runner was used to protect her purity. Today, the aisle runner is used to protect the brides dress from getting dirty.
What does the unity candle symbolize? The lighting of the unity candle is a portion of the wedding ceremony, which symbolizes the coming together of two individuals. The side candles represent the bride and groom, while the center candle is symbolic of their lives coming together as one. Often, the center unity candle is embellished with two metallic rings to represent the bride and groom's bridal jewelry. Some couples have chosen to use the lighting of the unity candle as a demonstration of both families uniting. In this case, the parents are invited to participate during this portion of the ceremony.
Jewelry plays an important role in wedding ceremonies. Depending on the era and cultural background, bridal jewelry can have religious, superstitious, or sentimental origins. The traditional wedding band is a symbol of the bride and groom's eternal love for one another. In Western culture, wedding rings are worn on the third finger of the left-hand because the Romans believed that this finger has a direct link to the heart. In some countries, the engagement ring is worn on the left hand and is transferred to the right hand after the couple is married.
It is a common practice for the bride to toss her bouquet after the wedding ceremony. In England, the women would attempt to tare remnants from the bride's gown and bouquet in order to gain good luck. In an effort to escape these women, the bride would toss her bouquet in the air and run for dear life. Today, catching a tossed bouquet symbolizes that the holder will get married next. This superstition has evolved from a brides attempt to get away from her female guests to a fun celebratory episode between family and friends.
These are just a few examples of the many wedding traditions in which we participate. Understanding the symbolism behind the aisle runner, unity candle, bridal jewelry, and tossing the bouquet are important. Why follow a practice that you really do not identify with?
Wedding Traditions for Couples
The wedding traditions which we are all familiar with have descended to modern couples over hundreds if not thousands of years. These superstitions often became popular as ways of giving the couple both a blessing and tokens of good luck. In that way, they are often superstitious in nature. As you think about your wedding, reflect upon these traditions simply as fun curiosities and in no way as an omen of either bad or good luck.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
Many of us have heard of the rhyme, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." This popular saying for what the bride is to wear comes to us from the Victorian era. "Something Old" would probably represent the bond a bride has with the family she is leaving. "Something New" most likely is related to the new life she will be celebrating with her husband and his family. A bride wears "Something Borrowed", is usually taken from a happily married woman, which is likely to bring prosperity to her own new marriage. "Something Blue" likely is a symbol which represents the bride's desire for faithfulness and success inside her new marriage.
Wedding Dresses for Brides
The first known example of a white wedding dress was given in 1499, when Anne of Brittany wore white for her marriage to Louis XII of France. Until then, women simply wore their nicest attire.
This tradition also has roots coming from biblical times, because the "Church" was described as wearing in a white dress as a symbol of its purity as the "Bride of Christ." Christian women often hold that a bride should not wear white if she is entering a second marriage or if she is not pure. This is an curious superstition because the "purity" of the church is actually supposed to come from Christ.
In the orient brides have traditionally worn white. In early Roman times, white symbolized a celebration filled with happiness. Obviously, it is today a symbol of happy bliss and a new beginning from other cultures.
The Bride's Wedding Veil
The wedding veil wasn't originally white as is the modern tradition for most of today's nuptials. In early Greece it was yellow. In Roman times the dress would often would be red. Much of the symbolism has been lost but having a veil is still quite popular. Originally, the veil was another symbol for a bride's purity, and of course her virginity.
Many people believe today that according to tradition, it is a bad omen for the bride to be seen by her husband to be before the ceremony. Remember that in history there were so many arranged marriages, it was often likely that the groom would not view his bride until the moment of ceremony. In some traditions, the veil hid the woman until the groom lifted it to discover what his new wife looked like.
In the United States, Nelly Curtis wore a veil at her nuptials to Major Lawrence Lewis who was General George Washington's aid. The Major had earlier seen his bride standing behind a filmy curtain and after he commented how beautiful she was, Nelly then decided to veil herself for their ceremony.
Follow whatever traditions feel right to you, not because of any worry about causing bad luck. More importantly, create your own traditions, composing the meanings you desire them to have, which you can then leave to your descendants.
We see all of these traditions used by our couples when they come to Hawaii and use our Maui weddings services. It doesn't matter if the ceremonies are on the beach or performed in a chapel, the traditions seem to remain the same. I should tell you that for Hawaii weddings, you don't have to follow any traditions but your own.
Wedding Traditions
The dreamed about wedding is soon to take place. Have you ever thought about all the traditions that are involved in most weddings? Do you know where those traditions come from? Here are a few that we know about.
Have you ever heard of the old saying: "Something old, something borrowed, something new, something blue, and a penny in her shoe"
This is an old rhyme that comes fro the Victorian age, and was used then as it is now for most traditional weddings and brides.
Although many of today's brides still use this old tradition, many of us don't know why we use it.
What Does this Old Rhyme Mean?
When the rhyme refers to something old, it means that the couples friends will remain true throughout the marriage. Traditionally the brides wear their mothers pearls, or some other form of jewelry. Sometimes she will use a prayer book, veil or handkerchief.
'Something new" means the future health, success and happiness and is usually carried out by the bride with the use of her bouquet, dress or some other form of dress.
Using "something borrowed" signifies good luck and must be returned to the lender. "Something Blue" means fidelity and constancy in your marriage and also brings luck. This tradition comes from Ancient Israel. Brides used to wear a blue ribbon in their hair, which meant commitment. Brides usually wear a blue garter, or even pin a blue ribbon on the inside of the dress.
The penny was a six pence in Victorian times and it signifies good luck and wealth within the marriage. Many brides even save the coin after their marriage to pass on to their daughters.
Now lets get to the most traditional part of the brides attire, the wedding dress. Why are wedding dresses white? After all that is not a traditional color. In fact, in ancient times women just wore their best dress, which was usually red or even yellow. Later during biblical times, women would wear blue, which signified virginity and purity. The first white dress was not worn until the sixteenth century. Today the white wedding dress signifies to us, and to most of the world virginity and purity, and represents a joyful event. The traditional veil is a very romantic accessory of today, but in ancient times it was a way a woman showed her sexual modesty. Today it is a beautifully romantic and very feminine gesture and accessory.
Lets not forget the traditional rings. Engagement rings were an invention of the medieval times and symbolized the intentions of a couple to marry. Diamonds are the traditional stones, because in ancient Greece the diamonds fire, reflected the love a man had for a woman. They also believed that the diamonds were small pieces that fell from the stars. The wedding band represents unending love and comes from beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. Wearing it on the third finger began because of an ancient belief that states that the vein in that finger leads to the heart.
Different Traditions in Different Parts of the World
In Japan women traditionally wear white because it is the color of mourning, and believe that it is appropriate because the bride is leaving one family to join another.
In other parts of the world women are given a small chest of coins as a symbol that she will never lack for anything.
Although in most countries it is traditional that the groom not be allowed to see the bride in her wedding gown before the wedding. Other countries have different variations of this tradition. For instance, in Ireland the bride is not to see her entire reflection while wearing the gown because it is supposed to bring bad luck.
Even the day you get married on is said to be traditional. It is said that if you get married on a rainy day, you will have lots of children. Ancient tradition would make a bride wake in the morning and face the sun, the intention was to bring happiness into her future life. Traditions are just that, customs and family traditions, they are nice to include, but not required, and if you do not feel comfortable with any of the normal traditions, then leave them out.
There are many different wedding traditions all over the world. Some are similar to those of other countries, and some are totally different. The most important thing to remember whichever traditions you decide to keep, and whichever ones you decide to toss out the window, is that you are starting a new life with someone, and it is a time to celebrate that joining of two lives that are forming into one family.
Czech Republic Wedding Traditions
Celebrating weddings in Toronto is a multi-cultural event. So by keeping that in mind, there are many different wedding celebrations, because each culture has their own wedding traditions. This article will focus specifically on Czech Republic wedding traditions. So what makes a Czech Republic wedding different from that of a Greek wedding or Italian wedding? For starters, Czech Republic wedding traditions are preserved and they date back several hundreds of years. Of course, some Czech Republic wedding traditions are newer than other traditions and some are old, very old, in any event, that is what makes a Czech Republic wedding tradition unique.
As is with every wedding ceremony, reception and celebration, the focus is the bride and the Czech Republic weddings are no different. Czech Republic brides have to follow the old adage "wearing something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue." In a Czech wedding ceremony, a bride wears the garter to signify something blue, something that will come in handy as the day wears on. The part about wearing something borrowed stems from wearing a piece from a friend who is already married. The friend does not have to be the same nationality just married a very important trait in the Czech tradition. The last two points, something old, has to come from a family heirloom, possibly jewellery or a veil, all depending and something new is something that the bride wants to symbolize and a new beginning in hers and her husbands life.
As is the case with most marriages, a Czech wedding has most of its traditions take place at the reception. And to get the festivities started at the reception, someone designated within the wedding party breaks a plate to not only signal the beginning of the party, but to introduce the bride and groom and to symbolize happiness. Cute things that take place in a Czech wedding are that the bride and groom share many dining things together, they eat soup together, there is only one spoon only so symbolically, and they are forced into each other together. This symbolizes that they are united and that they have to compromise for the good of the both of them. Another fun tradition is several hours into the party, the friends of the groom kidnap the bride and hide, the groom has to quickly find his bride and if he fails to do so in a certain period of time, the groom has to buy the bride back from his friends, this symbolizes that the groom has to take care of his precious wife forever.
So in conclusion, a Czech Republic wedding in many ways is no different from a Greek wedding or an Italian wedding, however, in so many ways a Czech Republic wedding is so different from a Greek wedding and an Italian wedding, and it is the subtleness of those differences that makes traditional weddings in the most multi-cultural of settings and cities so different and so beautiful!
Wedding Traditions: Where Did They Come From?
There are so many wedding traditions that it would be impossible to cover them all in just one article, but we can certainly bring you some of the best ones! Many wedding traditions have come from our ancestors and are continued to this day, some come from other countries and cultures and some are just plain modern.
Just about everything we do in relation to getting married is steeped in tradition, from choosing the rings, to the father of the bride walking her down the aisle and the tossing of rice. Most of the time, we don't even really think about it, but these traditions do have a purpose, or at least they did originally. And whether you are planning Toronto weddings, Hawaiian weddings or tying the knot anywhere else . . . chances are, there will be some wonderful traditions involved.
Common North American Wedding Traditions
There are certain traditions that are really quite common among North Americans and these tend to have their roots in the past. Let's take a look at a few:
Tin cans behind the car: This is a very popular way to see the newlyweds off, with tin cans rattling behind their car. This tradition originated as a method of keeping evil spirits away from the happy couple.
Colorful bridesmaid dresses: Believe it or not, bridesmaids were originally meant to distract evil spirits away from the bride, so they were all brightly dressed and kept close to the bride, dressed in spirit-repelling white, during her wedding day to prevent bad luck from befalling her.
Flowers: While you might imagine flowers at a wedding to be simply decorative, they actually symbolize fertility and a new life. Certain flowers even hold specific meanings, according those held in Victorian times.
You may kiss the bride: Closing the ceremony with a kiss stems from ancient Rome when all contracts were sealed with a kiss. The contract of marriage is also sealed with a kiss.
Tossing rice: Since this tradition is actually dangerous to birds and small animals that eat the rice, most wedding parties now toss confetti or blow bubbles, but the traditional rice was meant to signify fertility and plenty of food for the new couple.
Wedding Traditions from Other Cultures
If you don't want to be completely predictable, there's nothing wrong with spicing things up a bit with some fun wedding traditions from other cultures. These can be quite unique and are a great way to celebrate the bride and groom's heritage.
In Panama, the groom gives his new bride 13 coins as part of the ceremony, to symbolize his promise to support her financially. These coins are usually blessed by the priest who is officiating the wedding ceremony.
A Czechoslovakian wedding tradition dictates that a tree be planted in the bride's yard and decorated with ribbons and wedding finery. It's said that the bride will live the same amount of time as the tree. Another tradition is to put an infant on the couple's bed on their wedding night to bring fertility.
Polish parents of the bride and groom give the happy couple a glass of wine (symbolizing joy and good health) and slices of rye bread (symbolizing a full pantry) that has been sprinkled with salt (hard times) to show their blessing.
As you plan your wedding, you'll find that there are plenty of other interesting wedding traditions. While many are culture specific, that doesn't mean you can't use them in your own wedding. The traditions that have been created over the generations hold special meaning and this is why it's important to continue them.
Korean Wedding Traditions
In Korea, the marriage between a man and woman represents the joining of two families, rather than the joining of two individuals. As such, the event was often called Taerye (Great Ritual), and people from all over participated. Steeped in traditional Confucian values, the ceremonies and events surrounding the actual marriage were long and elaborate, from the pairing of the couple to the rituals performed after the ceremony.
Professional matchmakers paired up likely candidates for marriage, with the new couple often meeting for the first time at their wedding! The families considered many factors in the decision, consuting with fortune tellers for predictions about the couple's future life together. During the Chosun period, people married in their early teens, with the girl often being several years older than the boy.
Family Wedding Traditions
Before a Korean bride may be married, she must take part in the traditional Introduction ceremony, where she is accepted into the groom's family.
After the Korean newlyweds have exchanged their wedding vows, the groom, formally, introduces his new wife to his parents. The groom's father may throw red dates at his daughter-in-law to bring her luck in fertility.
Important Korean Symbols A couple getting married in Korea might incorporate ducks or geese into their wedding ceremony. Both ducks and geese mate for life and represent faithfulness.
At one time, a man who wanted to get married in Korea, would travel to his future bride's home on a white pony and present her family with a pair of geese.
The groom usually traveled to the house of the bride for the ceremony, then stayed there for 3 days before taking his new bride to his family's home. The actual ceremony involved many small rituals, with many bows and symbolic gestures. The participants were expected to control their emotions and remain somber.
Although Koreans have kept several aspects of the traditional ceremony, most modern ceremonies resemble Western marriage ceremonies more than traditional Korean ones. However, many folk villages and museums across the country regularly perform ceremonies to keep the traditions alive.
Kikuyu Wedding Traditions
Weddings are largely a social affair with societal standing and financial status playing a big role in the type of wedding to be held. Wedding photos also play a major role. However, perhaps the most influencing factor that determines a wedding's components is culture. The Kikuyu culture is a well-known cultural group that is predominantly found in the central highlands of Kenya. Many Kenyan citizens are actually of Kikuyu descent as it is the largest tribe in Kenya. The Kikuyu language is used everywhere by Kikuyu immigrants as far away as Toronto. Despite long-held wedding traditions, modern western influences have slowly begun to be incorporated into Kikuyu weddings an example being wedding photos.
Customarily, marriage proceedings often begin with the man proposing to the woman. Upon her acceptance the man then calls for a meeting with his clan elders who largely consist of extended elderly family members. A delegation carrying small gifts such as wheat and rice is then sent to the woman's home to meet with her clan elders. Deliberations on bride price actually begin on a later date and these are strictly conducted by the older men only. Traditionally, no wedding photos are taken at this time. Upon completion of these negotiations, a wedding date is set, with the elders having provided an acceptable percentage of the full dowry. The rest of the dowry is expected later. No request is made for it, but the young man is expected to remember to finish his payment and failure to do so spells dishonor for that family.
The actual wedding ceremony often involves the entire community. Women organize food matters while the men organize financial matters. The man is considered responsible for his bride's dress and the bride is free to choose her bride's maids. These matters are often deliberated upon in pre-wedding parties. In strictly traditional Kikuyu weddings, there is hardly ever the use of official rings and neither is there an official engagement ceremony as is characteristic of western weddings for instance. in Toronto. Furthermore, wedding photos, which feature largely in these events, were in earlier times not taken.
On the eve of the wedding, the young man and his relations visit his future in laws. Usually this is done to help with wedding arrangements. However, the convoy is not immediately let into the girls homestead. Rather the bride's gate is locked and song and dance begins as a cover for negotiations. Various goods may be asked of the groom and he willingly obliges to the demands after which he is let into the compound.
The wedding day begins with a convoy from the grooms family that heads to the girls home to collect her. The singing and dancing can be heard all over the village. Most Kikuyu's being Christians head to a church for the ceremony and a consequent reception. Kikuyu weddings are characterized by many guests and are rarely a private affair as is often witnessed in Toronto. Wedding photos are taken at this time as food is served and wedding gifts offered. Speeches on how to live as husband and wife are given, then singing, and dancing goes on late into the night. Unlike weddings in Toronto, Kikuyu couples do not go for a honeymoon, but rather just proceed to their new home, marking the start of their new life together.
Wedding Traditions that Carry On
We've all heard the expression: "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." Where do these traditional wedding phrases come from? Today's bride pays very little-if any-attention to such phrases. But for the longest time these wedding traditions were embraced by the sentimental and superstitious. Let's take a look at some of the traditions that may or may not be utilized by today's bride:
Why wear a wedding ring? As far back as wedding were documented, a wedding ring has been in recorded. Many people believe that a wedding ring symbolized the first wedding tradition. The circular shape of a wedding ring symbolizes eternity. Like a circle, love is continuous and never-ending. Why does the ring rest on the third finger of the left hand? It's believed that the vein in that specific finger runs directly to the heart.
Why should a bride wear white? Prior to 1840, a bride would wear her "Sunday's best" to marry in. But after Queen Victoria wore a white gown to her wedding, white gowns were embraced by everyone. The simple white gown represented virginity, joy, and purity.
Why does the bride where a wedding veil? Let's go back in time. People were very superstitious and they believed that a bride wore a veil to protect her from evil spirits on her wedding day. Now the white veils is seen as a symbol of modesty.
Why does the bride carry flowers? Once again, this was a wedding tradition that was used to ward off evil spirits. Flowers and herbs were believed to play an important "role" in attracting good things instead of negativity. Today flowers are used to add a touch of elegance. If they carry any symbolism, it's that of purity, romance, and fertility.
Where did the expression: "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" come from? Ah, this one has everything to do with symbolism. "something old" from a friend or relative who has been married for a long time should be carried by the bride. This item is believed to hold the power to insure a lasting marriage. The bride should also carry "something new" into her new life with her. "Something borrowed" represents borrowed happiness. The color blue, which was associated with modesty, was embraced when the line "something blue" was written.
Why do they "give the bride away?" Back in olden times, a man literally gave his daughter away in an arranged marriage. Today the phrase remains as the parents of the bride are "give" their consent and love.
Why is a runner used in the aisle? The runner symbolizes a path. White runners are usually used to represent a clean (or pure) path to happiness.
World Wedding Traditions
The United States, although a country filled with a variety of cultures, primarily weddings are still very traditional in our ceremonies. Here are few interesting facts and traditions about weddings around the world.
Africa - With over 1,000 cultures in this continent it is filled with wedding traditions for each region. One common aspect is the joining of two families. In many countries in Africa, young girls are taught early how to be good wives. They even learn secret codes and languages that allows them to talk to other married women that only they can understand. Polygamy (one husband many wives) is not uncommon for this region if the husband is able to financially support them. It is not uncommon in some African countries for a girl to be engaged even before she is born.
Egypt - Egypt was the first civilization to recognize marriage as a legal relationship. Egyptian marriages are still primarily arranged with the groom’s family proposing to the bride. The ceremony starts with a car parade. Decorated each families cars drive to the ceremony with continuous sounds of horns. Before the wedding the vows begin the wedding march called the Zaffa is performed. This tradition is a human parade with belly dancers and performers with Egyptian music with drums and horns.
Morocco - As with many Muslim countries, a Moroccan wedding can last 4 to 7 days. There are many pre-wedding parties. One of these parties is a purification milk bath preformed by the bride’s female attendants. Another is held the night before the wedding a Henna Party is held to paint the hands and feet of the bride with Henna in intricate designs to ward off evil spirts, good luck and increase fertility. The groom’s name is imbedded somewhere within the designs. After the vows the bride must walk around her house three times before entering.
Carribbean - Although this country is influenced by traditions from around the world, they have their own customs and traditions. Guests are invited to the wedding by word of mouth and everyone is invited only a few honored guests are given written invitations. Caribbean tradition states no guest can be turned away! The bride and groom walk from either the bride’s home or the groom’s home to the church while the wedding bells are ringing announcing the wedding to the whole island. They are dressed in their finest clothes and everyone of the village lines the street to view the couple and comment on their attire.
Around the world wedding traditions differ and add their own spiritual beliefs and practices for the union of marriage.
The Origins of Some Wedding Traditions
One of the most well-known wedding traditions revolves around the following rhyme:
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe.
There are many other wedding traditions that are meant to bring good luck but it is this poem that many brides try to ensure that they abide by.
Of course many wedding traditions depend on the nationality or religion of the bride and groom but this one dates back to Victorian England and to a protestant Christian ceremony.
The ‘Something Old' part of this and other similar wedding traditions represents the link with the bride's family and the past. To comply with this part of the wedding traditions it is common for many brides choose to wear a piece of antique family jewellery or a mother's or grandmother's wedding dress.
‘Something New' indicates good fortune and success in the bride's new life. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item for these wedding traditions but it can be almost anything.
‘Something Borrowed' is to signify that the brides' friends and family will always be there for her. The borrowed object might be something small and many brides have a lace handkerchief to comply with this part of the wedding traditions. The ‘Something Blue' is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty and is one of the cheekier of the wedding traditions as many brides-to-be choose to wear a blue garter!
The final part of this rhyme of wedding traditions is often neglected as it could be rather uncomfortable for the bride but a ‘Silver Sixpence in her Shoe' is to wish the bride wealth in her new married life.
Wedding Traditions From Around The World Explained
Many nationalities have their own wedding traditions. The people of Ireland have their own distinct traditions that make it easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from weddings of other cultures. The traditions include Claddagh rings, superstitions, a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes.
Many nationalities have their own wedding traditions. The people of Ireland have their own distinct traditions that make it easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from weddings of other cultures. The traditions include Claddagh rings, superstitions, a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes.
Mexican Wedding Traditions
Every country or ethnicity has its own traditions. Traditions are especially important when it comes to life events such as weddings.
In Mexico, wedding traditions can include many things. In some cities of northern Mexico, there is the tradition of giving a ring called "of promise" that occurs before the ring of commitment. The ring is generally for long engagements, which are common in this area.
As for the music, mariachis may replace organ music but the brides’ march is usually played on the organ.
Mexican weddings tend to be large with many attendants. The attendants are called madrinas and padrinos and they have special roles in the wedding.
The flower girl and ring bearer are dressed as miniature versions of the bride and groom. The madrina de ramo carries flowers for the Virgin Mary. The madrina de laso carries a jeweled or beaded rope that is placed around the couple as they say their vows, to symbolize their union.
The bridegroom often offers the bride thirteen coins. The madrina de arras holds the thirteen coins that the bridegroom presents to the bride. The coins, or arrhea, was a Roman custom of breaking gold or silver, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage.
The groom gives the coins to the bride as a symbol of his unquestionable trust and confidence. He pledges that he places all of his goods into her care for safekeeping. Acceptance by the bride means taking that trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence.
Aside from the church preparations, the whole family becomes involved in planning the wedding. The six-month period before the wedding allows the couple time to reserve the location for their reception or dance. Inn ancient times, weddings were held in the bride's yard or house. The groom traveled by horse to the bride's house and after the wedding ceremony took his wife in a palanquin (cart) to his parents' house to live. The bride and groom wore formal court costumes for the wedding ceremony. Ordinary people were permitted to wear the luxurious clothes only on their wedding day.
Today, the bride can purchase a dress or arrange with a seamstress or bridal specialist for a custom-made dress. Brides in times past designed their wedding dress with their mothers, who would then do the sewing.
For men, the Guayabera shirt is often worn. This shirt, often
called a Mexican wedding shirt and has been around for the past 200 years. This shirt has a loose style, and, as a result, can be worn by all shapes and sizes. These crisp, cool shirts are light, and flattering to any body shape. Traditional linen guayaberas are still the most popular beach wedding shirts because of their comfort, style, and freshness.
Other wedding traditions include hand lanterns, which are used for lighting the way from the groom's home to the bride's home on the night before the wedding. Traditionally, the groom's family would carry a wedding chest filled with gifts for the bride's family.
Wedding ducks are a symbol for a long and happy marriage. Cranes are a symbol of long life and may be represented on the woman's sash.
Traditional foods are used for weddings that include spicy rice, beans, tortilla dishes, using chicken and beef. Sangria is served. It is a cold drink made from red or white wine mixed with brandy, sugar, fruit juice and soda water.
To top it all off, the wedding cake is usually a fruitcake soaked in rum.
Traditions are important and certainly don’t have to be recognized just for weddings. But should you want a traditional Mexican wedding, now you know what types of activities to integrate into your special day.
9 Wedding Traditions And Decisions, Decisions
So you're engaged and you've got a wedding to plan. You begin to decide what traditions you wish to include in your wedding. Would it help to know how some of those traditions got started?
What is one of the first things that come to mind when hearing the word wedding? More often than not you think of the wedding dress. Chances are pretty high that you are going to opt for a white wedding dress although this is by no means always the case. Believe it or not many centuries ago women actually wore gowns that were colorful and bright. A wedding is a joyous time and they wanted to wear colors that reflected this joy. Somewhere along the way, the white wedding gown was introduced. Some people say that the tradition of wearing white was actually started by Queen Victoria. Another reason white has often been used for the wedding gown is to signify purity.
To complement your perfect dress you'll almost certainly want the perfect veil. Not all women agree on the length or style -- some prefer long veils while others like short ones, some like the simple look while others want it to be ornate -- but most agree the veil is almost as important as the dress. Traditionally, the bride wears her veil down until the couple is officially married at the end of the ceremony, a tradition that has its origins in the belief that the veil provided protection against evil spirits, but even this is becoming less common these days as some brides choose to have their father lift the veil before giving her away.
"You may kiss the bride." This is a familiar phrase. Everyone eagerly anticipates the first kiss as a married couple. Believe it or not kisses used to serve as a legal bond in ancient Rome. In fact, engagements were not valid unless sealed with a kiss. On wedding day, the first kiss is usually the first of many more.
When the bride walks down the aisle to stand next to her groom she is traditionally accompanies by her father, but today more and more women choose to have both parents walk down the aisle with them. If the father is unable to be at the wedding, normally another family member (not the mother of the bride) escorts her to her groom. The origins of this tradition are not well-established, it has been with us for many centuries.In my research this was one of the few traditions I could not discover a well-established origin for.
Most couples have the ring presentation at their wedding. The man slips the wedding band on the woman's finger and she does the same with his ring. Wedding rings are to be work as a symbol of everlasting love. The circle should never be unbroken. Today much time and thought is often put into the selection of the wedding bands. Wedding bands have been around for a long time. They were first made of grass that was braided or made with hemp. Diamonds that could be found in wedding bands came roughly around the 1400's.
Rice was traditionally showered over the newly-weds just after the ceremony because it is a symbol of fertility, and of course all the older relatives want the newlywed couple to start having kids! Often people will substitute birdseed or wedding bubbles these days because it is widely believed that if birds eat the rice, their stomachs will explode. This is patently false, but that is another story altogether.
Many wedding traditions continue on to the wedding reception. There is usually a first dance by the couple. Many daughters also dance with their father for a traditional father-daughter dance. This has been common practice at many weddings. Some traditions just happen by themselves :)
Another common tradition at the reception is when the new bride throws her bouquet. This is just done for fun although the woman who catches the flowers is to be the next to marry. This tradition has an interesting history that can be traced to England. Long ago in England guests at a wedding would try to get the woman's flowers or part of her clothes. This was to be their way of sharing in the joy. It got to be so bad that a woman would run away from guests and would toss her flowers to try to get them happy and away from her as she ran.
A wedding would not be complete without the cutting of the wedding cake. In the days of yore cakes made of wheat would be broken apart above the head of a bride. This was to bring the couple fertility as well as good luck. Wedding cakes are traditionally tiered. A baker in England started baking these cakes which date all the way back to the time of King Charles II.
Weddings certainly do not need to be traditional. Traditions vary among different cultures and even different families. However, it is often fun to implement some of the traditions into a wedding. These traditions may not really bring good luck, but then again maybe they will.
