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Weddings from Around the World

WEDDINGS from Around THE WORLD Love is universal, but how we celebrate love and union differs from place to place, person to person. America American wedding customs borrow heavily from other cultures, allowing for great flexibility. While veils have become an element of the bride's fash- ion... The "something old, something new..." tradi- tion comes from an Old English rhyme with each object meant as a good luck charm. The Romans implemented flame-colored veils to ward off evil spirits. Something old: Continuity In many religions, the veil symbolizes respect and humility before God. Something new: Optimism for the future Something borrowed: Borrowed happiness In Victorian times, the length, weight, and quality of the veil signified the bride's social status. Something blue: Purity, love, fidelity A Sixpence in your shoe: Good fortune and prosperity Spain/Mexico,. After the bride accepts the proposal, the groom is expected to give the bride's father a watch. Madrinas and padrinos, which are special wedding sponsors, act as mentors throughout the couple's engagement and marriage. The groom gives the bride 13 gold coins (las arras), which symbolize good luck and the groom's ability to financially provide for the bride. After the exchange of vows, the lazo, a long strand of rosary beads, is placed around the couple's necks in the shape of a figure eight, symbolizing union and protection. Jamaica. The traditional wedding cake is a fruit cake laced with strong rum. On the morning of the wedding, the cake is carried to the venue in a As Soon as the couple is engaged, the groom's grandmother is. responsible for soaking dried fruit in rum during the engagement period. The mother or grandmother of the bride bakes the cake using the rum-soaked fruit a week before the wedding. procession led by the village matriarchs. Under the groom's supervision, men of the community The bride's gown incorporates a piece of lace from her mother's gown. construct a marquee for the venue using COconut boughs. Pakistan , Pakistani weddings Occur in stages over a few days. - Mehndi – The two families come together to celebrate the upcoming wedding. Guests wear green, orange, yellow, and other bright colors. The bride's hands are painted with henna. - Baraat – Considered the main wedding event, baraat is hosted by the bride's family and includes a feast and a holy ceremony (Nikah) wherein the bride and groom are declared husband and wvife. Walima - This event ishosted by the groom and his family and involves a big feast and general merriment. India . During the pre-wedding ceremony, called mandap muhurat, the bride and groom are rubbed with Saptapadi, the exchange of Vows, is the most important part of the ceremony. Female friends apply henna paintings to the bride's hands. The bride and groom circle a sacred fire three times. turmeric powder for smooth skin. - The couple exchanges vows after the first round, which takes exactly seven steps. After the third round, the groom gives the bride a silver ring. In lieu of cake, newlyweds feed cach other five bites of (usually) honey and yogurt. China The morning of the wedding, the groom must perform various tasks for the bride's family in an elaborate ceremony before the bride is "let go." Superstitions dictate that the exchange of vows happens at a half hour mark, ensuring that the marriage startsS on a literal upswing with the hands of the clock moving up to the top. A pre-wedding tea ceremony acts as a "formal introduction" between the bride and the groom's family. Japan The bride is painted white to signify that she is a pure maiden. The bride also wears an elaborate hood to hide her “horns of jealousy," symbolizing her urge to become an obedient, gentle wife. San-san-kudo – The groom and the bride take three separate sips of rice wine from different cups. The sake is then offered to their families to symbolize new bonds. South Korea South Korean weddings often start with a more modern Western ceremony before proceeding to a smaller traditional ceremony. Traditionally, a man wishing to marry áa woman would provide her parents with a pair of live geese. Today, the geese have been replaced by a pair of wooden ducks, symbolizing the bride and groom/ The bride and groom seal their union by drinking a special rice wine poured into a half-gourd. At the end of the traditional paebaek ceremony, the parents throw dried dates ai the couple. The couple holds an embroidered sheet between them. The number of dates they catch indicates the number of children they will have. Germany When a German girl is born, the family plants several trees in her honor. Come wedding day, the trees are sold, and the money is used for her dowry. Friends and family also print a wedding newspaper, featuring pictures and articles about the couple. The paper is sold at the wedding, and the money goes toward ihe honeymoon. Ethiopia On the wedding day, the bride's Tamily and friends block entrance into her home. The groom and his "best men" must sing and force their way into the bride's home. Ghana The groom and his family propose to the bride in the presence of friends, family, and well-wishers. Kenya The Swahili people bathe the bride in sandalwood oils and draw henna designs on her limbs. Madagascar, Some sources suggest that Malagasy grooms practice the traditions of vodiondry and tampi-maso. Literally translating to "lanmb's rump," vodiondry is a gift given by the groom to the bride's parents as a sign of respect and gratitude. Meaning "eyewear," the tampi-maso is a gift given to the bride's brother, traditionally meant as a decoy to distract him from the sorrow of losing his sister. Italy Friends and family tie a knot in front of the wedding chapel as a sign of the newlyweds union. At the end of the wedding reception, Italians will often break glass. The number of glass shards determines the number of happy years of marriage. Ireland • During Leap Years, women are traditionally expected to propose to men. Irish brides used to carry real horseshoes for luck. Now they have porcelain or fabric horseshoes. O Czech Republic Prior to the wędding, the bride's friends plant a tree in her yard. The tree is decorated with painted eggshells and colorful ribbons. ACcording to legend, the bride will live as long as the tree. Norway The wedding cake, known as the kransekake, is made of bread and is topped with cream, cheese, and syrup. The bride wears a silver or gold crown featuring spoon-shaped bangles that, according to legend, ward off evil spirits with their tinkling. Wales Welsh grooms carve lovespoons for their potential brides. Traditionally, the spoon showed the bride's father that the groom could provide for his family and is capable of fine woodworking, Russia Vykup nevesty - On the day of the wedding, the groom must pay a ransom-normally jewelry or money-to the bride's parents. Once the parents are satisfied, they give the bride away to the groom. Sweden Swedish brides traditionally wear three rings: One for marriage One for engagement One for motherhood During the reception, if the groom leaves the room, the other men are allowed to kiss the bride, and vice versa. Brought to you by Weddings at Twin Oaks | weddingsattwinoaks.com Resources: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-weddings-are-celebrated-around-the-world-2011-10?op=1 http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/10-wedding-traditions-with-surprising-origins.htm http://www.cooldailyinfographics.com/post/weddings-around-the-world http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/qa/wedding-traditions-the-meaning-of-something-old.aspx http://www.ivillage.ca/relationships/marriage/wedding-traditions-around-the-world http://www.worldlyweddings.com/hispanic-traditions-a/122.htm http://weddingdetails.com/lore-tradition/jamaica/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_customs_by_country http://chinese.weddings.com/articles/top-chinese-wedding-faq.aspx http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/articles/korean-wedding-traditions.aspx http://www.africanmarriage.info/ http://africasafariblog.com/?p=3035 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovespoon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_wedding traditions http://www.yourlivingcity.com/stockholm/community/swedish-wedding-traditions-customs-culture/

Weddings from Around the World

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Love is universal, but how we celebrate love and union differs from place to place, person to person.

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