Handfasting-by-Design            

Traditions are what makes us special.  When we start designing our vows, we want ours to represent who we are.  When a man a woman choice to use the different traditions in there wedding they are showing everyone a very private side of themselves.  The beauty and culture that exists in there personal makeup.  I have a lot more traditions if yours are not featured here.  Enjoy Rev. Thelma

TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

African Tradition

Jumping the Broom is a custom that originated as the

symbolic jumping the doorway, or threshold from a

carefree single life into the responsibilities of

domestic life and a future together. Tying the Knot

means that the couple is actually bound together at

the wrists during the ceremony, linking them together

symbolically. The bride, as a symbol of modesty, will

hide her face behind a veil of braided hairAs an offer

to the gods to join in the celebration, wine is poured

onto the ground.

Amish Tradition

The wedding ceremony of the Amish are plain and

wonderfully simple. The bride and groom personally

deliver to each guest an invitation to their bonding.

The wedding is planned to be celebrated after the

harvesting season, so all can attend, usually in the

middle of the week. The ceremony is simple, as is the

Bride's dress, which is new, but something ordinary

that could be worn to church on Sunday.

Argentinian Tradition

Bridesmaids, a maid of honor, or a best man have never

been part of a traditional wedding in Argentina. The

mother of the groom, and the father of the bride

escort the couple getting married down the church

aisle, and then stand beside them through the wedding

ceremony. It is an Argentinean wedding tradition for

the couple to exchange their wedding rings at the

engagement, and not during the marriage vows.

Australian Tradition

Australia Wedding fashions have changed over the

years, but the white wedding dress is still

traditionally worn by brides in Australia, reflecting

a custom which dates back many centuries. A bible is

often given as a wedding gift, which is kept as a

precious souvenir for future generations. The

traditions which are known and loved in the western

world are all present here - the wedding cake, the

exchange of rings and the reception with friends and

family. Australian weddings will often bring together

extended family members, and a couple's marriage will

provide a wonderful opportunity for everyone to

celebrate the start of their new life together

Austrian Tradition

In the past when the marriage proposal was a more

formal procedure, the prospective groom sent his

friend or members of the family to represent his

interests to the prospective bride and her family. If

the saw a blind man, a monk or a pregnant woman it was

thought that the marriage would be doomed if they

continued their journey as these sights were thought

to be bad omens. If, however, they saw goats, pigeons

or wolves these were good omens which would bring good

fortune to the marriage. It was thought unlucky for a

woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same

letter as hers. The sentiment was summarized in the

following rhyme: "To change the name and not the

letter, is to change the worst and not the better."

The bride should not practise writing her new name

before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck

by tempting fate.

Although most weddings take place on a Saturday it was

considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also

considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The

famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half

of the week: "Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health,

Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses,

Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all." It

is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own

wedding dress. It is also unlucky for the groom to see

the bride in her wedding dress before until she

arrives the ceremony. The bride should not wear her

entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides

leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it is

time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is

completed. Traditionally, brides have been thought to

be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of

the customs and traditions associated with weddings

are to provide protection.

A combination of red and white flowers is avoided by

the superstitious because they stand for blood and

bandages. The groom often chooses a flower for his

buttonhole which also occurs in the bride’s bouquet.

This is a vestige of the time when a knight would wear

his lady’s color to display his love. When the bride

is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a

last look in the mirror will bring her good luck.

However returning to the mirror once she has began her

journey will result in bad luck. Seeing a chimney

sweep on the way to a wedding is thought to bring good

luck and it is still possible to hire one to attend

wedding ceremonies. Other good luck omens when seen on

the way to the ceremony include spiders, black cats

and rainbows. Bad weather on the way to the wedding is

thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although

in some cultures rain is considered a good omen.

Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy

marriages, snow on the other hand is associated with

fertility and wealth.

Bridesmaids were dressed in a similar way to the

bride. The bridesmaids were thought to act as decoys

to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride. It

is said that the first partner who buys a new item

after the wedding will be the dominant one in the

relationship. Many brides ensure that they make the

first purchase by arranging to buy a small item such

as a pin from a bridesmaid immediately after the

ceremony.

Belgian Tradition

A traditional Belgian bride carries a special

handkerchief, as part of her wedding outfit, on the

day of her marriage. She might embroider her name on

it, carry it with her on her day of matrimony, and

then pass it down to one of her sisters as a family

heirloom.

Bermuda Tradition

Wedding cakes of islanders are topped with a tiny

sapling. After the wedding reception, the newlyweds

plant the young tree at their home, where they watch

it grow, as their marriage grows.

Chilean Tradition

A traditional Chilean wedding custom calls for the

couple getting married to exchange wedding rings when

the engagement proposal takes place. Until the wedding

vows at their marriage ceremony, the couple will wear

their wedding bands on their right hands. Once they

have become man and wife the rings are switched to

their left hands.

Chinese Tradition

The invitations sent to the guest are wrapped in red

gift-wrap, as the traditional colors of happiness and

wealth are red and gold. Any gifts of money to the

newlyweds are presented in red envelopes for the same

reason. Gold jewelry -filled purses are also presented

to the bride by women relatives and close friends to

portray her new status. During the ceremony both bride

and groom pay homage and respect to their parents and

elders for the guidance and wisdom they have bestowed

upon them. After the ceremony, firecrackers are lit to

chase any evil spirits and demons away from the

couple. During the reception the bride will be

presented in typically at least three different

wedding outfits.

Croatian Tradition

On the wedding day of a Croatian couple, the bride's

family may playfully try to stall the groom from

arriving at the church with his intended, by putting

up different obstacles in the couple's path. After the

traditional Croatian wedding ceremony and marriage

vows have taken place, female relatives remove the

bride's wedding veil and replace it with a scarf and

apron while singing to her. This symbolizes the new

bride's status as a wife. Then all of the guests walk

three times around a well which represents the holy

trinity, and throw apples into it, to ensure the

newlywed's fertility.

Cuban Tradition

Cuban wedding receptions are famous for their

festivities. There is almost always lively music and

dancing at a Cuban marriage celebration. Wedding

guests partake in the traditional money dance, where

each man who dances with the new bride must pin money

to her dress, to help the newlyweds with their

honeymoon expenses. Along with receiving wedding

presents, it is customary for the Cuban bride and

groom to give each guest a favor, to remind them of

this joyous occasion.

Cypress Tradition

Money is pinned to the bride and groom throughout

their first dance at most wedding receptions in

Cyprus. The 'pin money' is used by the couple to help

get them started in their new life together.

Czech Tradition

The friends of a traditional Czech bride might plant a

tree in her yard, then decorate it with colored

ribbons and painted eggshells. Legend believed the

bride would live as long as the tree. The night before

her wedding day, her friends would also give her a

crown of rosemary to represent wisdom, love, loyalty

and remembrance. Before the marriage vows take place

an infant is laid on the couple's bed, to bless and

enhance their fertility. The bride-to-be is also given

three covered dishes containing wheat for fertility,

millet mixed with ashes that she must sift through to

prove her patience, and the third hides a sparrow

under the lid. After the Czech marriage ceremony, the

new bride's wedding veil is switched for a traditional

matron's bonnet, and the reception guests sing a Czech

wedding song.

Danish Tradition

In Denmark, there is a traditional wedding custom of

building an arch of pine branches, called the Gate of

Honor, in front of the bride's family home. Another

Gate of Honor is built when the couple celebrates

their silver anniversary. At some point during the

marriage celebration the groom will disappear and the

male guests all kiss the new bride. After the groom

returns his bride eventually leaves the room and all

of the female guests kiss him.

At a traditional Danish reception the guests will all

gather around the groom, during the dancing and

festivities, to cut his tie and socks with scissors.

The Danish marzipan ring cake is the customary wedding

cake in Denmark. Also called the cornucopia cake, it

is made with almonds, pastilage and marzipan. On the

outside, the cake is beautifully decorated with sugar

work. On the inside it is filled with fresh fruit,

candy and almond cakes. To avoid bad luck, the

newlyweds cut the cake together as a married couple

and all of the reception guests must eat a piece.

Dutch Tradition

The roots of the customary bridal shower originated in

Holland. If a Dutch bride was unfortunate enough

enough to have her father not approve of her choice in

husbands, he would not offer a dowry. Her friends

would then "shower" her with gifts so she could still

be married to her groom., without the help of her

father. The families of the Dutch bride and groom host

a party before the day of the wedding vows.

Traditionally, the couple sit on a throne, beneath the

pines, as their guests come to bless them and wish

them happiness.

Dutch wedding receptions are famous for serving heavy

foods. Two traditional items served at a marriage

celebration in Holland are sweetmeats called, "bridal

sugar" and spiced wine known as "bride's tears." After

a Dutch wedding, newlyweds in Holland might plant

lilies-of-the-valley around their house. This

tradition symbolizes "the return of happiness" and the

couple can then celebrate and renew their love with

each blooming season.

Early American Tradition

Wedding gowns of Victorian brides were accessorized

with gloves, symbols of modesty and romance. Without

the 'g', they were 'a pair of loves'. They still

compliment with very formal wedding dresses for modern

American brides today, and they are customary bridal

accessories of princesses.

Egyptian Tradition

As in the past, many weddings in Egypt are still

arranged, and the tradition of the groom's family

proposing to the bride is often practiced. Just before

the marriage vows begin there is a musical wedding

march called the Zaffa. There is traditional Egyptian

music, belly dancers, drums horns and performers with

flaming swords. Traditionally, Egyptians believed that

the ring finger has the "vein amoris", the vein of

love, which runs straight to the heart.

English Tradition

The English wedding celebration begins on the way to

the ceremony, as young girls scatter flower petals

along the path the bride is walking, in hopes of

providing a happy path in life. On one bent arm, the

bride carries a horseshoe decorated with ribbons, to

bestow on her good luck. The traditional wedding cake

is a fruitcake, and the top tier is called the

"christening cake", which is saved for the baptism of

the couples first child. The cake is typically made of

raisins, ground almonds and cherries and topped with

special candies called marzipan.

Fiji Tradition

In Fiji, it is customary for a groom to present a

valuable gift to his bride's father. Traditionally,

this present should be a whale's tooth, symbolizing

status and wealth.

Filipino Tradition

Engagement traditions and marriage rituals are very

important to Filipino culture. At one time, as a way

of proposing matrimony, a man would throw a spear at

the front of the house of the girl he wished to marry.

This act would symbolize her unavailability, and begin

the Filipino engagement process. The groom and his

family would then go together to the bride's family to

ask for her hand in marriage. Traditionally, a

Filipino bride would wear her best dress on her day of

matrimony. Her groom would wear the customary marriage

clothes of black pants and an embroidered shirt, made

of an almost translucent fabric. Orange blossoms used

for wedding bouquets and church decorations were, and

still are, very popular.

Today, a bride getting married in the Philippines

might wear a white wedding dress on her day of

matrimony, while her groom could be wearing a black

tuxedo. There are many witnesses or sponsors at the

wedding ceremony, who have various responsibilities.

The first witnesses pin the bride's veil to the

groom's shoulder to symbolize the couple being clothed

as one. Next, they hang a white cord around the

couple's necks which represents the eternal bond

between them. Then, two candles are lit on either side

of a unity candle, which the couple getting married

light together. Lastly, the groom gives his bride

thirteen coins that have been blessed by the priest

for a life of faithfulness and prosperity. The

traditional marriage celebration dance is the

Pandango. Reception guests pin money to the newlyweds

to help pay for the honeymoon. Often times, there is a

bird cage decorated as a wedding bell with white doves

inside. The newlyweds release the birds, symbolizing

the bride and groom going off together in peace.

French Tradition

The traditional bridal trousseau, or hope chest,

originated in France and came from the French word

trousse, meaning bundle. The popularity of a bride

wearing a white wedding gown on her day of matrimony,

began in France several hundred years ago. The custom

of having fragrant flowers as decorations and bridal

bouquets has also been popular for centuries. Each

flower represents a special and unique meaning to the

bride and groom, and especially fragrant flowers

helped freshen things up a bit, before deodorant and

perfumes were invented. Wedding bells in France were

usually heard in spring and summer when it was warm

enough for everyone to bathe!

Still practiced in small villages today, is a

traditional French custom, for the groom to call on

his future bride at her home on the morning of their

wedding day. As he escorts her to the wedding chapel,

the town's children stretch white ribbons across the

road, which the bride cuts. The groom usually walks

his mother down the aisle just prior to the main

wedding procession. As the newlywed couple departs

from the wedding site, laurel leaves are scattered in

their path for them to walk over.

A wedding toast is made to the newlyweds sometime

during the traditional French wedding reception.

Following this toast, they drink, as husband and wife,

from a specially engraved, double handled goblet,

usually a precious family heirloom passed down from

generation to generation. After the wedding reception,

and even later into the couple's wedding night,

friends of the newlyweds might show up outside their

window banging pots and pans, singing boisterous

tunes. The groom is expected to invite them in for

drinks and snacks.

Greek Tradition

Ancient Greek brides wore traditional wedding veils of

yellow or red, which represented fire. These brightly

colored veils were supposed to protect the bride from

evil spirits and demons. In ancient Greece, diamonds

were considered teardrops of the Gods, and it was

believed that a diamond reflected the flames of love.

A Greek bride may carry a lump of sugar on her wedding

day to ensure she has a sweet life, or she might carry

ivy, as a symbol of endless love. A traditional Greek

Orthodox marriage includes the celebration of the

formal engagement.

On the day of the Greek wedding ceremony, the groom

asks the bride's father for his daughter's hand in

marriage. The groom's best man then accompanies the

couple to the church, to be married. The best man,

along with the priest, is in charge of the ceremony.

He places gold crowns or wreathes made of orange

blossoms on the heads of the bride and groom. These

crowns or wreathes are linked by a silk ribbon. For

the rest of their wedding day the newlyweds are

honored as king and queen. The traditional Greek

wedding reception is usually a huge party and can last

through the night. There is feasting, drinking and

dancing, which includes the famous Greek circle dance.

Dishes are smashed on the floor for good luck and

money is thrown at the musicians. Candy coated

almonds, called Bom Bom Yara are served to the guests

as reception party favors.

Hungarian Tradition

Along with the exchanging of wedding rings, it is

customary for a Hungarian bride to give her groom a

wedding present of handkerchiefs, usually three or

seven, which are believed to be lucky numbers. In

return, the Hungarian groom gives his bride a bag of

coins. During a Hungarian wedding reception all of the

male guests may dance with the bride. If they give her

coins, she will give them a kiss in return.

Icelandic Tradition

Wedding receptions in Iceland feature wedding cake

called kransakaka. This lovely cake is made by

creating 'wedding rings' of almond pastry of various

sizes which are then piled on top of one another to

form a pyramid. Swirls of white icing decorate each

ring, and fine chocolates or decorative candies fill

the center.

Tradition of India

Sweets, eggs, and money are woven into to wedding

themes of India. They symbolize, respectively, a sweet

life, fertility, and prosperity. The Hindu wedding

ceremony includes customary rituals to ward off evil

spirits. After the wedding vows have been exchanged

the groom's father or brother showers flower petals on

the newlyweds; then he holds a coconut over the bride

and groom's heads and circles it around them three

times. An Indian groom often wears a turban with a

veil of flowers streaming down in front of his face to

protect him from evil spirits. Traditional Indian

brides wear pink and red saris on their wedding day,

adorning themselves extravagantly with as much jewelry

as possible. Henna staining, a customary art form, is

still practiced by Indian brides to be. On the eve of

her wedding vows, following a traditional ceremonial

cleansing, the bride-to-be will have her hands and

feet painted with henna, in beautiful paisley or

medallion patterns.

Irish Tradition

The Claddagh wedding tradition originates from the

tale about a man in ancient Galway. He was soon to

become wed and was taken prisoner by roving sailors

and forced into labor in a foreign land. During that

time he taught himself the art of jewelry-making Upon

his return to his homeland he found his maiden had

never married, and in his happiness, he fashioned the

now famous Claddagh wedding band. The rings depicts a

heart, held by two hands with a crown over it. Many

"lassies" now wear the Claddagh ring, but only those

that are wed wear it with the hands facing in.

There are many dances at an Iris wedding, but one of

the more notable is the "janting char" where the groom

is carried in a chair to present him to the guests. An

old Irish tradition calls for the couple getting

married to walk together to the church together, to

exchange their wedding vows. As they walked down the

main street, to the chapel, onlookers would not only

throw rice to bless the marriage, but larger items as

well, such as pots and pans. The traditional Irish

bride might wear a blue wedding dress on her wedding

day, believing blue to be a lucky color. English

lavender, an herb, is often mixed with her wedding

flower. It is traditional for the bride to braid her

hair, as this is considered a sacred way to keep

feminine power and luck. St. Patrick's Day is

considered one of the luckiest wedding anniversary

dates in Ireland.

The Irish translation for "honeymoon" is mi na meala,

which means the month of honey. It was an Irish custom

for the newlyweds to spend a month together drinking

honeyed wine, secluded, in case their families tried

to separate them. Especially if they had eloped.

Italian Tradition

In the past, Italian wedding engagements were usually

orchestrated by the families of the bride and groom.

Lineage was of the most importance, and if the bride's

father had any doubts, negotiations could stop in

their tracks. In some cases, a matchmaker sent a

message (masciata) to the prospective bride's family

of the man's hope to marry. If her family found the

groom's proposal acceptable, there would be wedding

bells and a marriage. Diamond engagement rings have

been popular with Italian brides since the 1400's.

Italians have long held that diamonds are created by

the flames of love. In medieval Italy, grooms even

paid for their brides with precious stones.

In preparation for her wedding day, the bride

assembles a trousseau, consisting of household items,

clothing, and sometimes even her future husband's

clothes to bring to the home of the groom. Her family

provided her with a dowry of money and possibly

domestic goods. Today, this custom continues in the

form of the bridal shower. In Veneto, it is customary

for the Italian couple getting married to walk to the

wedding chapel together. The townsfolk place obstacles

in the bride's path to see how she will react to

domestic situations. If she picked up a broom, for

example, she will keep a clean house. If they put a

child in her way and she stopped to help him, she will

be a good mother. In some regions, the bride and groom

must cut a log in half before they reach the wedding

site, using a double handled saw. This demonstrates

their partnership in love and marriage.

Tying a ribbon in front of the wedding chapel to

symbolize the bond between the couple getting married

is another popular wedding custom in Italy. The actual

wedding ceremony (sposalizio) is officiated by a

priest or civil authority. Old church tradition warns

against marrying during Lent and Advent, and marriage

is also avoided in the months of May and August. A

lengthy celebration begins with a mass in the morning;

and the dancing and feasting that follows may continue

well into the wee hours of the morning. To ward off

evil spirits, a groom in Italy might carry a piece of

iron in his pocket. The bride wears a veil to hide her

face from jealous spirits. Tearing the veil is

considered good luck.

Sunday marriages are believed to be the luckiest. It

is considered bad luck for a bride to wear any gold,

on the day she is married, until wedding rings are

exchanged. Symbolic foods for fertility and for good

luck are 'confetti -- candy covered almonds tied in

mesh bags to toss at the couple; and twists of fried

dough powdered with sugar called wanda (bow ties). For

hundreds of years, traditional gourmet Italian food

has been served to wedding reception guests. Sweet

liquor and strong drinks are served to the guests, by

the best man, before the dinner begins. This gives the

guests a chance to toast the happy couple with "Per

cent'anni" which means, for a hundred years.

The menu at an Italian reception is nearly as

important as the wedding itself. Guests may be served

as many as 14 different courses with wine and other

beverages. After dinner, the customary multi-layered

Italian wedding cake is served with espresso and

coffee. The sheer volume of food reflects how highly

anticipated and festive a typical Italian wedding is.

For the traditional Italian custom of 'buste', the

bride will carry a satin bag (la borsa) in which

guests place envelopes of money to defer the expenses

of customarily lavish Italian weddings. Sometimes the

bag is guarded by the bride's grandmother during the

festivities or the bride might wear it and allow male

guests to put money in it in exchange for a dance with

her.

Before the reception is over, the bride and groom

usually break a glass. The number of pieces of

shattered glass symbolize the years the happy couple

will share together. At some weddings, a pair of white

doves is released into the air, symbolizing the

couple's love and happiness. One popular custom is a

toast, usually made by a male guest after a few

glasses of wine. "Evviva gli sposi" - "hurray for the

newlyweds." Guests respond with thundering applause.

This toast is shouted whenever there is a lull in the

wedding celebration, renewing spirits and enthusiasm.

"Kiss for the bride" is another popular Italian toast.

It calls for the bride and groom to stand and show

their affections for all the guests to see.

Japanese Tradition

Historically, Japanese wedding ceremonies were

performed in Shinto Shrines. Many of Japan's wedding

sites, therefore, provide shrines for couples who want

to follow Japanese wedding traditions. The Japanese

bride-to-be is painted pure white from head to toe,

visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. The

bride wears a white kimono and an elaborate headpiece

covered with many ornaments to invite good luck to the

happy couple. A white hood is attached to the kimono,

which the bride wears like a veil to hide her 'horns

of jealousy' from the groom's mother, who will now

become the head of the family. Japanese grooms wear

black kimonos to their wedding ceremony.

While the bride and groom exchange their wedding vows,

their families face each other, instead of the couple

getting married. Central to the traditional Japanese

marriage ceremony is the ritual of drinking nine cups

of sake, after which newlyweds are considered united.

Families and guests also drink sake, to symbolize the

bonding of the couple as well as of the two families.

The father of the groom, and of the bride, then

introduce their respective family members. For the

wedding reception, the new bride changes into a red

kimono and again later into a western-style gown. The

wedding party and invited guests engage in games,

skits and karaoke during the wedding reception. Guests

are expected to offer the couple goshugi -- money --

in a festive envelope either before or after the

wedding ceremony. Due to better climate, many Japanese

brides prefer spring and fall wedding dates. Certain

wedding anniversaries are thought to be lucky, so it

is common to see dozens of newlywed couples heading

for their honeymoon on the same day.

Jewish Tradition

The Jewish Ketubah

Traditional Hebrew wedding ceremonies begin with the

bride and groom signing a marriage contract, called

the Ketubah. The agreement, which once assured the

bride's legal status, states the expectations and

duties of the couple once they are married. This

beautiful, ornate document will be framed and

displayed in the couples' home. After the couple have

signed the Ketubah, the groom lowers his bride's

wedding veil after studying her face. This wedding

custom recalls the biblical story of Jacob, who

married the wrong woman when she covered her face with

a veil. In the Jewish tradition, the wedding ring

should be simple, a band with no details, no stones,

and nothing engraved, with nothing to distinguish the

beginning from the end. The rabbi, groom, groomsmen,

and Jewish male guests traditionally wear a

white-colored cap called a yamulkes.

The Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony begins with a procession of the

wedding party members. At the wedding site, both sets

of parents escort the bride and groom down the aisle.

The marriage ceremony is performed under a special

canopy, called a huppah, which represents God's

presence, shelter and protection. After exchanging

wedding vows, seven marriage blessings are read. The

groom then steps on a wine glass, to symbolize the

fragility of human happiness, a hallmark of Jewish

history. It is also traditional for the bride and

groom to be alone together for a few moments

immediately after the ceremony. This tradition, called

yichud, originated so that the marriage could be

consummated, but now it is observed as a lovely time

to be together before the reception. There is rarely,

therefore, a receiving line at a Jewish wedding.

Favorite Jewish Wedding Dances

Wedding receptions are joyous celebrations, with much

singing and many traditional dances. A lively Israeli

dance called the Hora is performed at the wedding

reception. While they hold on to either end of a

handkerchief, bride and groom are lifted into the air

on chairs by their joyful guests, as they are

celebrated as 'king and queen of the night'. A lovely

Jewish custom called the "Krenzl" -- which means

'crowning' honors the bride's mother when her last

daughter is wed. The mother is seated in the center of

the room and is crowned with a wreath of flowers, then

all her daughters dance around her to a very lively

Yiddish song. The Mizinke is a dance of celebration

reserved for both parents who have just seen their

last son or daughter married. The guests encircle the

mother and father, while bestowing them with wedding

flowers and kisses. Another traditional dance is

called "gladdening of the bride." All of the guests at

the reception circle the bride while they dance and

sing praises about her. A Jewish wedding would not be

complete without a sumptuous meal to satisfy the

entire wedding party and guests.

Korean Tradition

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. 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.

Latvian Tradition

On her wedding day, a traditional Latvian bride must

wear her white wedding dress, and veil, until

midnight. The women at the reception celebration then

remove her wedding veil and pass it down to one of the

younger sisters, who will presumably, marry next. Once

her wedding gown and veil are removed, "the bride"

becomes "the wife," and she wears a married woman's

cap. Sometimes, at a Latvian wedding reception, the

new bride is kidnapped by the groomsmen. The groom

must pay a ransom, such as a song or a round of

drinks, to get her back.

Mexican Tradition

A traditional couple getting married are sponsored,

financially, by their Godparents, to act as padrinos,

sponsors of the wedding. They are mentors to the bride

and groom throughout their engagement, and even after

they are married. Needless to say, the bride and groom

honor them with a place in the wedding program. The

padrinos may present the couple with a rosary and a

Bible during their wedding ceremony. During the

marriage vows, a white ribbon or rosary, called a

"lasso", is wrapped around the necks of the couple,

which represents their joining. It is customary for a

groom to give his wife a wedding present of thirteen

gold coins, which are then blessed by the priest

during the marriage ceremony, representing the groom's

commitment to support his new wife. As the newlyweds

leave the church, red beads may be tossed at them, to

bring good luck. At the wedding reception, all the

guests will join hands and form a heart shape around

the newly married couple as they have their first

dance. At a traditional reception, it is customary for

the guests to form a heart around the newlyweds, as

they begin their first dance as husband and wife. A

paper maché container known as a piñata is suspended

from the ceiling at wedding receptions. It will be

shaped like a heart or an animal. Filled with candy,

it is hung by a string and swatted at by children.

When it breaks, the candy falls out and is shared

among the guests. The wedding cake is, usually, a

fruit cake that has been soaked in rum.

Moroccan Tradition

As in other Muslim countries, a traditional Moroccan

wedding ceremony lasts from four to seven days. On her

wedding day, it is a Moroccan wedding custom for the

bride to have a ceremonial purification milk bath

before a ritual henna painting (Beberiska) of her

hands and feet. Originally, this purification and

painting was the wedding ceremony in Arab lands some

200 years ago. Modern Moroccan brides continue this

tradition by annointing the palm of guests with a

unique smear, called the henna. Before she is dressed

in her wedding dress, another woman arranges her hair,

applies her make-up and puts on her jewelry. The bride

also wears an elaborate headpiece with a veil. Once

the couples wedding vows have been exchanged, and

before the newlywed Moroccan bride becomes the

mistress of her new home, she walks around the outside

of her house three times.

Native American Tradition

The traditional colors woven into the brides dress

point to the four corners of the earth, White for

east, Blue for south, Yellow for west and Black for

north. The bride and groom wash their hands to

symbolically rid themselves of evil and loves from

their past. To symbolize their bonding ,the couple

will share during their ceremony, a meal of corn

mush, made of both white and yellow corn. The white

represents male and yellow female, joined together.

New Zealand Tradition

Church weddings are the most traditional marriage

celebrations in New Zealand. The bride wears a white

wedding gown and is attended by bridesmaids. The groom

wears a gray or black suit with a white shirt and tie,

and he is supported by a best man and groomsmen.

According to custom, the groom should not see the

bride before she joins him at the front of the church

on their wedding day. Weddings in New Zealand may also

reflect the traditional culture of the island. Maori

weddings will include a ceremonial welcome to the

bride and groom, known as a Powhiri, and a traditional

warrior challenge. The wedding ceremony will be

conducted by a tribal elder and the couple will be

blessed in the Maori language. Wedding rings made of

carved bone or greenstone are also popular amongst

those wishing to include the ancient culture of the

Maori people in their wedding. Traditional Maori

'infinity loops' have a spiritual meaning of

never-ending love.

Norwegan Tradition

After a Norwegian couple exchange their wedding vows,

friends place two small pine trees on either side of

the newlywed's front door, until they have a baby.

Along with her wedding gown and sterling jewelry, a

Norwegian bride might also wear a gold and silver

crown, covered with silver charms, which were believed

to ward off evil spirits. Sometime during the wedding

reception in Norway, the the new bride "dances off"

her crown of charms.

Persian Tradition

An Iranian wedding custom began when the country was

still called Persia. The groom would purchase the

ceremonial wedding dress for his bride-to-be. This

gown consisted of ten feet of sheeting that he would

wrap around his intended wife. During wedding

ceremony, it is an Iranian custom for a happily

married woman to hold a translucent shawl over the

couple's heads. After the newlyweds have exchanged

their wedding vows, crumbs from two decorated sugar

cones are shaved over their heads for good luck.

Polish Tradition

Traditional Rebraiding of the Polish Bride's Hair

The night before a girl in Poland hears her wedding

bells, her mother and female relatives redo her

customary single maidenly braid into two. This

traditional wedding hair style symbolizes the new step

the bride-to-be is taking into marriage.

Polish Wedding Reception

The reception celebration usually includes lively

polka music and dancing. If a Polish bride can drink

from her glass of wine, and not spill a drop, she is

considered lucky. The "money dance" is always popular

at a traditional reception in Poland. Guests pin money

to the bride's wedding dress to buy a dance from her.

The newlyweds might put these gifts of cash towards

their honeymoon expenses. More traditionally, the maid

of honor wears an apron and collects the money given

by the guest to dance with the bride. After all the

guests have danced with the bride, they form a tight

circle around her, and the groom tries to break

through the circle while the guests try hard to keep

him out. Once he breaks through, he picks up his bride

and carries her away from the wedding reception. The

money collected during the dance is sent with them to

spend on their honeymoon.

At the wedding reception, the bride will dance with

her father, whilst a relative holds out an apron.

Guests who place money in the apron win the

opportunity to dance with the bride. After a time, the

groom will throw in his wallet, thus surpassing all

the other contributions. He will then whisk away his

new wife on their honeymoon. The sharing of bread,

salt and wine is an important feature of weddings in

Poland. The parents of the newly married couple will

present them with rye bread, lightly sprinkled with

salt, and a glass of wine. The bread represents the

hope that the bride and groom will never go hungry.

The salt is a reminder that life may be difficult at

times, but that they will learn to cope. The wine

symbolizes the desire that the couple will never go

thirsty, and that their lives will be filled with

health and happiness.

The removal of the bridal veil, known as the oczepiny

ceremony, is another traditional element of a Polish

wedding day. The bride's veil will be removed as she

enters the reception hall, signifying the end of her

maidenhood and her transition to a married woman. A

funny hat will be placed on the groom's head,

representing the wish that the marriage will be full

of happiness and laughter.

Puerto Rican Tradition

While a Priest is performing a traditional Puerto

Rican wedding ceremony, he blesses a plate of coins

and gives them to the groom. After the wedding vows

have been exchanged, the groom gives the plate of

coins to his bride, which she keeps as a wedding

present from her husband. The gift of coins represent

good luck and prosperity for the newlyweds. At the

traditional Puerto Rican reception it is customary for

a doll, dressed similar to the bride, to be placed at

the head of the main table. This "bride doll" is

covered with little charms, and are given to the

guests as gifts. "Copias" are also passed out as

presents to guests. These reception favors are

ornately decorated cards with the newlyweds names and

the date of the marriage.

Romanian Tradition

Young women in Romania begin planning for their

wedding day long before they know who they will marry.

Hopeful, young girls begin making and collecting

accessories for their trousseau, or hope chest, as

early as six years old. In the mountains of Romania

there is an annual festival, on June 29th, where

families gather to display their daughter's trousseau.

Instead of rice, Romanian newlyweds may have candy or

nuts thrown at them by wedding guests.

Russian Tradition

Russian church weddings are not considered official,

and so couples wanting to get married must exchange

their wedding vows at a Russian marriage civil

ceremony. Here, the bride and groom receive bread and

salt, symbolizing health, prosperity and long life.

The Russian civil ceremony is often considered

unimportant to friends and relatives of the bride and

groom. The main affair is the wedding reception, a

great two day celebration with music, dancing,

feasting and drinking. Once the reception celebration

has begun, a relative or close friend will make a

wedding toast to the bride and groom. In keeping with

Russian custom, everyone throws their champagne

glasses on the floor. It is considered good luck if

the glasses break when they hit the ground. When a

traditional Orthodox couple get married in Russia,

they are crowned as royalty for the day. The bride and

groom must stand on a special carpet as they recite

their marriage vows, but first they race each other to

it. Whoever reaches the carpet first will, presumably,

be the head of the household.

Scottish Tradition

Traditional Scottish gold wedding bands date back to

the 1500's, and are still popular wedding rings today,

as are Celtic knotwork engagement rings. Often, before

a Scottish bride is married, her mother holds an open

house for a traditional "show of presents." Similar to

a bridal shower, invitations are sent to the women

among those who gave wedding gifts to the couple. The

wedding gifts are unwrapped and set out with the card

of the gift giver. The occasion is an opportunity for

the bride to get acquainted with the wedding party

members and guests before the wedding. After the show

of presents, bride-to-be is dressed in long trains

made of old curtains or other household materials. She

is given a baby doll, a plastic potty with salt in the

bottom, and other small items to carry. Her friends

and guests escort her through her town, singing and

banging pots and pans, heralding the bride's upcoming

nuptials. To gather luck, the bride-to-be exchanges

kisses for money, which is dropped into the potty.

The groom, meanwhile, is taken out for a stag night.

The groom is likewise dressed up and taken around town

by male companions, sometimes looking like a pregnant

woman. His companions often indulge in a great deal of

harmless practical joking, of which the poor groom is

the main target. When the wild night winds down, the

groom is usually left in the street in front of his

home stripped of his clothes and sometimes even tied

up. In the Scottish Highlands, an old custom known as

creeling the bridgegroom was popular. A large basket

(creel) is filled with stones and is tied to the

groom's back. The groom was required to carry the

weight throughout the town searching for his bride. If

his bride would come out and kiss him, he would be

relieved of his burden.

Is is old Scottish custom to begin a marriage

celebration on the eve of the ceremony. Festive

singing, dancing and drinking precedes a ceremonial

foot washing of the bride-to-be. A wedding ring from a

married woman is placed in the tub of water, and

whichever lucky maiden snatched it during the foot

washing it would be the next to marry. A Scottish

bride's wedding gown is typically Victorian. She might

wear a horseshoe on her arm for good luck, or a

pageboy might deliver one to her as she arrives at the

chapel. The Scottish groom wears a kilt in the colors

of his clan's plaid, and he wraps a sash of this same

plaid over his bride's shoulders, symbolizing that she

is now part of his family. It is also customary for

the groom to present his bride with an engraved

'wedding spune'.

On the wedding day, the entire wedding party starts

out for the church. The first person to be met by the

bride on her way to the wedding site is given a coin

and a drink of whisky. That person, called the first

foot, joins the procession and walks for about a mile

before continuing on his or her business. Just outside

the church doors, the couple is joined in marriage by

a priest. After the joining, the priest leads the

bride and groom and all the witnesses into the church

for a lengthy nuptial mass conducted in Latin. The

mass ends with the blessing of the food and drink

brought by the guests. Wedding flowers, petals, or

pretty paper confetti are thrown at the departing

bride.

Traditional wedding reception festivities can easily

last all night. The newly-wedded couple leads off the

dancing with a traditional reel, and the bride's

second dance is reserved for the person of the highest

rank among the guests. The Sword Dance is usually

performed at a traditional wedding in Scotland, which

is similar to an Irish jig or a Highland fling. Guests

gather in a circle before leaving the reception site

and sing "Auld Lang Syne". The entire entourage

escorts the young couple to their new home. Before the

bride enters her new home, an oatcake or bannock

(biscuit made of barley and oat flour) is broken above

her head and a piece of the cake is passed around to

everyone. Then the bride is carried over the

threshold. The priest's blessing over the newlyweds,

their home, and their marriage bed culminates the

ceremony.

Spanish Tradition

Orange blossoms have long been the flower of choice

for a girl getting married in Spain. Since the orange

tree bears fruit and blossoms at the same time it's

flowers represent happiness and fulfillment. Before a

couple getting married in Spain exchange their vows in

church, the groom gives his bride a wedding present of

thirteen coins. This gift is a symbol of his

commitment to support her. The bride-to-be then

carries these coins, in a little bag, to her wedding

ceremony.

According to Spanish custom, a Spanish bride wore, and

still might wear, a black silk wedding dress with an

intricately designed black lace veil. Her groom

usually wears an embroidered shirt, hand made by his

future wife. During a Spanish marriage celebration

reception guests traditionally dance a "sequidillas

manchegas" and present the newlyweds with a gift.

Sudanese Tradition

A bridegroom ceremony is a common wedding practice in

the Sudan. The bridegroom is welcomed to the wedding

site with an auspicious decoration called the

umbul-umbul, a type of 'wedding announcement'. The

mother of the bride gives the bridegroom a garland of

flowers, welcoming him into her family. She also gives

him a 'keris', a hidden message encouraging him not to

be disheartened while toiling for his family. The

bridegroom welcome is followed by a procession of

ladies with candles, who pray for the ceremony. The

bride and groom sit next to each other under an

umbrella in front of the entrance to their future home

with a veil covering both of their heads. The umbrella

is held over the couple's head, serving not only a

very practical purpose by also symbolizing esteem and

respect.

The bride and groom bend forward and kiss the knees of

their parents, a ceremony called sungkem, asking for

forgiveness and blessing and promising to continue to

serve their parents. This wedding ritual is held in

front of a gargoyle fountain. Water flowing from the

gargoyle suggests the continuous flow of priceless

parental love for their children. A chosen man and

woman, sing a special song called kidung on behalf of

the parents, advising the couple to treat each other

well and to live in harmony. Kidung also invokes

blessing upon the couple. An egg breaking ceremony,

called nincak endog, requires the couple to stand

facing each other in front of their house. The

bridegroom stands outside the entrance and the bride

stands inside. The ceremony is conducted by the

Sudanese equivalent of an American 'maid of honor',

who remains an advisor throughout the marriage. In

this ceremony, seven broomsticks are burnt and thrown

away, dramatizing the discarding of bad habits which

endanger married life.

The groom is pronounced master of his house when the

egg is broken. His bride cleans the his foot with

water from a kendi, an earthen water jug which

represents peace. Then she breaks the kendi and

crosses over a log into the house, demonstrating

willing obedience to her future husband. She is fed a

dish of turmeric sticky rice with yellow spiced

chicken to symbolize the last time the parents of the

bride will feed their daughter. The groom remains

outside for another ceremony, which is enacted before

him by a couple who sing. During this ceremony, the

groom, via the vocalists, requests to enter his

bride's house, and she consents when he agrees to

confirm his Moslem faith. Having done so, the couple

is given a barbecued spiced chicken to pull apart on a

signal from the 'maid of honor'. According to

tradition, the one who gets the larger piece will

bring in the larger share of the family fortune. The

ceremony also portrays the importance of working

together to acquire fortune.

Following the wedding ceremony, dancers shower the

bride and groom with wedding flowers to insure a

fragrant future for the couple. A sawer, made of

turmeric rice, coins, and candy, is thrown at the

couple. Rice is a symbol of prosperity, and yellow is

for everlasting love. The coins remind the couple to

share their wealth with the less fortunate, and the

candy bestows sweetness and fragrance upon their

marriage. Seven candles are lit representing the

direction the couple should follow to bring about a

happy married life. A betel nut set near the couple is

a reminder that different customs should not spoil a

harmonious marriage.

Swedish Tradition

In Sweden, the parent's of the bride- to- be practice

an old traditional wedding custom. Before their

daughter leaves for the church to be married, her

mother gives her a gold coin to go in her right shoe,

and her father hands her a silver coin to be placed in

her left shoe. This way they know she will never go

without. After a Swedish couple exchange their

marriage vows on their wedding day, the new bride will

wear three bands on her wedding finger. One is an

engagement ring, another is her wedding ring and the

third is a ring for motherhood.

Swiss Tradition

A girl getting married in Switzerland wears a

traditional crown or wreath, which symbolizes her

maidenhood. After the wedding ceremony, and exchanging

of wedding vows, the wreath is removed and burned. If

the crown burns quickly, the bride is considered

lucky. Once the couple are newlyweds and are living in

their new home, a pine tree is planted in their yard

to represent fertility.

Turkish Tradition

The Turkish marriage celebration continues after the

wedding ceremony for several days. The newlywed bride

may return home the morning after her wedding vows to

see her family and friends, who then might perform a

henna ritual on her. A Muslim wedding program in

Turkey lasts from four to seven days, starting with

separate celebrations of the bride and groom's

families. From this day on, the couple getting married

cannot see each other until their wedding ceremony. A

Turkish bride might wear a beautifully embroidered

silk wedding dress with a red velvet cape.

Vietnamese Tradition

On the morning of a wedding in Vietnam, the groom's

mother visits the bride's family and offers them two

gifts. The first is a special plant, that represents

respect, and the second is pink chalk, which is the

color of happiness. On his wedding day, as the groom

heads to collect his bride, he picks up friends and

family along his way. They arrive at his future wife's

house bearing wedding presents of jewelry, clothing

and money.

Welsh Tradition

The Welsh Love Spoon

A courting tradition in Wales, that has been in

practice for years, is the carving of a wooden love

spoon. A man who wished to marry a particular girl

carves various symbols, such as hearts, keys or bells,

into a wood spoon, showing his intentions for

engagement and marriage.

Traditional Kidnapping of the Bride

It is a marriage custom, in Wales, for the bride's

family to kidnap her just before the wedding ceremony.

The groom and his family follow in pursuit and whoever

rescues the bride-to-be will marry within a year.

The Customary Bridal Bouquet and Wedding Dress Pin

A Welsh bridal bouquet usually contains myrtle, and

the bride gives to her bridesmaids a cutting of myrtle

-- a symbol of love -- to carry in their bouquets.

Welsh tradition holds that if the bridesmaid plants

her myrtle and it blooms, she will soon marry. A bride

in Wales may wear a pin in her wedding gown, that she

will remove and throw over her shoulder for good luck.

West Indies Tradition

Wedding receptions of the French West Indies are

likely to feature curried goat and white rice. A

traditional rum-flavored wedding cake is hidden from

guests with a fine white table cloth. Wedding guests

must pay for a lucky peek.

The Partaking Of Spices.

The partaking of spices is a delightful African tradition, rich in
symbolism.

Four or more herbs or spices in bowls are set on the altar.

Each spice represents an element of life:
(1)lemon juice for sorrow,
(2)vinegar for bitterness,
(3)cayenne pepper for passion,
(4)honey for sweetness.

Some couples also include:
(1)finely chopped kola nuts for strength,
(2)palm oil for peace and serenity, and
(3)water for purification and blessing.

After the celebrant states the significance of each spice, the bride
and groom take turns feeding it to each other, ending with a taste of
the sweet honey.

They may feed each other with small spoons, or do as many of other
couples have done: Tell them to use their fingers!

To watch the faces of the couple as they feed each other cayenne
pepper is especially interesting.

Have a glass of water on hand!
Have fun with this ritual.

The minister can offer the following explanation:

Minister: The bride and groom will now take part in an African
wedding tradition whereby they will taste various herbs and spices.
(Groom)_____________ and (Bride)_____________, in marriage you commit
to endure all aspects of life together. Whether life be bitter
(represented by this vinegar), full of sadness (sour like lemon
juice), passionate, full of emotion, intense (like hot cayenne
pepper), or whether peaceful, calm, and smooth (like palm oil), we
pray for you strength (as represented by these kola nuts). Finally,
remember this: Should your love endure all the elements that life
brings, only then will your life be truly honey sweet.

The bride and groom will now jump the broom symbolizing the beginning
of making a home together.