Assignment102011

A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE









ASSIGNMENT NUMBER TEN



WEDDING TRADITIONS





Table of Contents



Page



I. ALL ABOUT ETHNIC TRADITIONS 1

A. African 1

B. American Indian 1

C. Amish 2

D. Arabic 2

E. Armenian 3

F. Austrian 3

G. Belgian 3

H. Bermudan 3

I. Bulgarian 3

J. Cajun 4

K. Chinese 4

L. Croatian 4

M. Cuban 5

N. Czech 5

O. Dutch 5

P. East Indian 6

Q. Egyptian 6

R. English 6

S. Filipino 7

T. Finnish 8

U. French 8

V. German 9

W. Greek 10

X. Haitian 11

Y. Hawaiian 11

Z. Irish 13

AA. Italian 14

BB. Jamaican 14

CC. Japanese 15

DD. Jewish 15

EE. Korean 16

FF. Laotian 16

GG. Latin American 16

HH. Lithuanian 16

II. Mexican 17

JJ. Moravian 17

KK. Moroccan 18

LL. Norwegian 18

MM. Pakistani 18

NN. Polish 18

OO. Polynesian (Fijian and Samoan) 19

PP. Puerto Rican 19

QQ. Quaker 19

RR. Russian 20

SS. Scandinavian 20

TT. Scottish 20

UU. Slavic (Bulgarian, Albanian, Slavian) 21

VV. Slovak 21

WW. Spanish 21

XX. Swiss 22

YY. Ukrainian 22

ZZ. Vietnamese 22

AAA. Welsh 22

BBB. Yugoslavian 22





II. THE HISTORY OF WEDDING TRADITIONS 23

A. Why One Should Not be Engaged More Than Once? 23

B. Why a Proposal? 23

C. Why an Engagement? 23

D. Why an Engagement Party? 24

E. Why Announce the Engagement? 24

F. Why a Betrothal Ring? 24

G. Why an Engagement Ring? 24

H. Why a Diamond? 24

I. Why a Wedding Band? 25

J. Why Third Finger, Left Hand? 25

K. Why a Bridal Shower? 25

L. Why a White Gown? 25

M. Why Certain Colors? 26

N. Why a Bridal Veil? 26

O. Why a Blue Garter? 27

P. Why the Bride should Choose a Particular Day or Month? 27

Q. Why a Trousseau? 27

R. Why a Bevy of Bridesmaids? 28

S. Why Ushers or Groomsmen? 28

T. Why a Ringbearer? 28

U. Why a Bouquet? 28

V. Why Orange Blossoms? 28

W. Why “Something Old – Something New?” 29

X. Why a Coin in the Shoe? 29

Y. Why the Groom Can‟t See the Bride on Their Wedding Day? 29

Z. Why the Wedding Kiss 29

AA. Why the Bride‟s Handkerchief? 30

BB. Why a Bachelor Dinner? 30

CC. Why a Rehearsal Dinner? 30

DD. Why a Wedding Reception? 30

EE. Why Serve Goose at a Wedding Feast? 30

FF. Why a Wedding Cake? 30

GG. Why a Wedding Toast? 31

HH. Why Wedding Favors? 32

II. Why Sugar-Coated Almonds? 32

JJ. Why Dancing and Games? 32

KK. Why an Old Shoe? 32

LL. Why Throw the Garter? 32

MM. Why Throw the Bride‟s Bouquet? 32

NN. Why Decorate the Car? 33

OO. Why Throw Rice? 33

PP. Why a Honeymoon? 33

QQ. Why the Groom Carries the Bride over the Threshold? 33

RR. Why Wedding Gifts? 34

SS. Why a Gift from the Bridegroom? 34





III. OTHER TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS 34





IV. THE BEST TIME TO MARRY 36









Copyright, Weddings Beautiful,

A Division of National Bridal Service

Reproduction of any type, in whole or part, is

prohibited without written permission from NBS.

A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE









I. ALL ABOUT ETHNIC TRADITIONS

Many brides have maintained a strong identification with a distinct ethnic community, and

will no doubt know what the traditional wedding customs are and how to honor them in

an authentic way. Others have lost sight of traditions. A wedding presents the ideal

opportunity to rediscover roots and to revive some of the signs and symbols that have

special meaning for individuals, families, and communities.



If you simply want to gain an appreciation for the tremendous diversity of wedding

celebrations in America, or to get a sense of the customs held in common by so many

different people from around the world (crowns, capping ceremonies, money dances,

binding of couples, or the universal symbols of food, flowers, and colors), you'll enjoy

reading through this assignment.



A. AFRICAN



 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. Couples today may give

themselves a symbolic chain.



 The bride, as a symbol of modesty, will hide her face behind a veil of braided hair.



 As an offer to the gods to join in the celebrations, wine is poured into the ground.



 In Kenya, fertility necklaces and swords are given to the couple to represent fertility

and marriage.



 In Algeria, Jewish couples eat bread and honey at the pre-wedding dinner. Bread

represents the sustenance of life and honey its sweetness.



 The bride‟s guests stand on one side of the room, the groom‟s on the other. They

walk to the middle and embrace. They then switch sides. This symbolizes the union

of two families.

 Some African weddings include the “Yoruba Ceremony” or “Tasting of the Spices.”

The bride and groom proceed to taste 5 ingredients.



Bitter Herb: Bitterness that life can bring. This _____ helps each couple

to be wise and sidestep all those bitter _______. It gives

knowledge to solve problems and to incorporate life

experiences in everyday survival.



Water: Represents the abundance of life and the blessings of life. It

quenches our thirst, refreshes our bodies, cleanses and is sacred.

Water floods the home with an abundance of happiness, health and

wealth.



Honey: Brings happiness. The taste is to help the sweetness of marriage

continue to spread. Reminds one to have sweet words.



Pepper: Spice of life. “May you have enough pepper to keep your marriage

spicy but not so much that the passion singes.”





B. AMERICAN INDIAN - (NAVAJO, THE LARGEST NATION IN EXISTENCE)



 Traditional bridal dress woven in symbolic colors: white for the east; blue for the

south; yellow (orange) for the west; and black for the north.



 White corn meal symbolizes the male; yellow corn meal symbolizes the female;

before the traditional ceremony, the meals are combined into a corn mush and put

into a Navajo wedding basket; the couple will share this during the ceremony to

symbolize the bonding in marriage.



 Water as a symbol of purification and cleansing; the bride and groom have a

ceremonial washing of hands, to wash away past evils and memories of past lovers.



 Silver concho belt and turquoise and silver jewelry are worn by both the bride and

groom; jewelry is a shield against hunger, fatigue, illness, bad fortune, etc.



 Traditional time of day for a wedding: the evening.



 Ceremonies take place facing east, the direction of the future.



C. AMISH



 Bride wears new, but ordinary, Sunday clothing.



 Weddings are held exclusively after the harvest, usually mid-week.



 Wedding invitations are delivered by hand through personal visits.

D. ARABIC



 Bride's hands and feet are decorated with henna in a lattice pattern.



 Wedding wail (a high pitched ritual song); women mourn the loss of the bride.



 Bride wears an ornate caftan.



 Arabic loud music, pigskin drums, singers, and rhythmic dancing.



 Receptions are segregated by sex.



 Middle Eastern foods are served.



E. ARMENIAN



 Elaborate, pre-wedding dressing ceremony for both the bride and the groom.



 Two white doves are released to signify love and happiness.



 Guests wrap the couple in a ribbon of one-dollar bills during the first dance to ensure

a lifetime of good fortune.



F. AUSTRIAN





 The bride weaves myrtle (the flower of life) into her veil or headpiece.



 The couples rides to the town hall/ceremony in a horse and carriage.



G. BELGIAN



 The bride embroiders her name on her bridal handkerchief and frames it for the next

bride of her family.





H. BERMUDAN





 A fruitcake is covered with silver leaf and topped with a tiny cedar tree. The tree is

planted by the Bride and Groom so it will grow along with their love.



 Groom‟s cake is a plain pound cake covered with gold leaf.



 A horse and carriage is common.

I. BULGARIAN



 A “wedding tree” (branch of pine) is carried by the bride during the procession to the

couple‟s new home. Later, it is sold to the godfather and stripped after the wedding

night.





J. CAJUN (LOUISIANA CREOLE AND ACADIAN)



 Traditional wedding cake is a dark fruitcake made with candied lime, orange, and

citron, heavily steeped in rum; cake may take various shapes, such as gardens,

houses, etc.



 Calypso music, steel drums, guitars.



 A tree is planted for posterity.



K. CHINESE



 Ceremony of obligation, in which parents and elders are honored.



 The couple bows to the elders who present them "lucky money" in red envelopes.



 The bride wears a traditional Chinese dress with a mandarin collar called a „cheong

sam.‟ A chaperone is also present.



 Red and gold are traditional colors of happiness and wealth; the dress, invitations,

decorations, candles and gift wrap may all be in red, as well as the money

envelopes.



 The table is set with seaweed soup, snow peas, and vermicelli in memory of the

ancestors.



 Bride typically changes outfits three times over the course of the celebration.



 Firecrackers are set off in the couple's path to ward off evil spirits.



 The groom‟s family hosts a tea ceremony for the couple after the wedding.



 Fortune cookies are given out after the meal to bring good luck to the guests.



 The bride and groom drink from goblets of wine and honey, symbolically tied

together with red string.

 The bride‟s mother fills a purse with gold, money, and jewelry and gives it to the bride

in case of a financial emergency.





L. CROATIAN



 Capping ceremony, in which the mother of the bride replaces the bridal headpiece

with the kerchief of the married woman.



M. CUBAN



 Spanish-Cuban music.



 Couple gives gifts to every guest.



 Guests throw rice as symbol of fertility.



 Guests bring gifts to the wedding, and a very large table is set up for them.



 Each man who dances with the bride must pin money to her dress.



N. CZECH



 Male sponsor (starosta) presents the bride to the groom outside of the church and

admonishes the couple to fulfill their duties to each other.



 After the ceremony, ribbon is stretched across the road in the way of the couple;

money must be paid (by friends and family) for the couple to pass.



 Bridesmaids pin a sprig of rosemary on each guest as a symbol of fertility and

constancy.



 Rosemary signifies remembrance of the bride‟s family, her love, and her loyalty to

her husband. Sometimes wreaths of rosemary are worn the night before and worn

by the bride during the ceremony.



 Bride's veil is removed and replaced by a matron's bonnet and a housewife's apron

while the guests sign the wedding song, "Pisen Svatebni".



 Traditional foods: sauerkraut, klobase (sausage), apple strudel, kolaches (fruit-filled

rolls).



 A baby is put on the marriage bed as a symbol of fertility.



O. DUTCH

 Hope chest for the trousseau.



 At a pre-wedding party the bride and groom sit on thrones under a canopy of

evergreens-symbolizing the couple‟s everlasting love. Guests come up to offer their

good wishes.



 The bride is given a traditional six-sided wedding box engraved with domestic

scenes and allegorical figures. The box may be filled with gold ducats.



 Couple plants pips of lily of the valley in their garden after the wedding; when they

come up each year, the couple is supposed to renew their love.



P. EAST INDIAN



 Red (or vivid pink) is the traditional color of celebration and happiness.



 The bride‟s Sari is red or pink trimmed with gold.



 Bride's hands and feet are painted in an elaborate henna pattern.



 Minstrels fill the street as they escort the couple through the village ____ face on the

way to the ceremony.



 Groom may wear white silk brocade suit, sword and turban (Sekera) and a veil of

flowers over.



 Traditionally, the couple leaves their handprints at the door of their new home –

symbols of good luck and ownership.



 Bride's face is decorated with jewels (now that she is about to be a married woman).



 Hindu tradition: Day of wedding, bride performs certain rituals to prepare herself and

her body, helped by women who are required to have had sons and living husbands.



 Garlands of white flowers are used to welcome and honor family members.



 Wedding procession of family and guests from the groom's home to the bride's home

to the ceremony.



 Money is presented in baskets by the family (brothers, cousins, etc.).



 After the ceremony, the brothers of the groom toss flower petals to ward off evil from

the newlyweds.

 In Hindu tradition: An astrologer is consulted to draw up and examine the

horoscopes of the bride and groom, determining the most auspicious date and even

the time of the wedding.



Q. EGYPTIAN



 A procession is led by belly dancers and men carrying flaming swords and sounding

horns. The bride wears a western dress but the guests wear traditional Egyptian

clothes.



R. ENGLISH



 Bride carries a ribbon-bedecked horseshoe on her arm for good luck.



 Bridesmaids are young girls, not women; usually there is only one adult witness.



 There are no groomsmen.



 Church bells ring as the couple enters. They ring a different tune as the couple exits.

The bells scare away evil spirits.



 The newlyweds may pass through an arch of sabers or other appropriate objects; i.e.

Swords (Servicemen), Pitchforks (Farmers), Nightsticks (Policemen), Hockey sticks

(Hockey players), Baseball bats (Baseball players), etc.



 Weddings are traditionally held at noon; afterward, there is a sit-down luncheon,

called a "wedding breakfast."



 The traditional wedding cake is a fruitcake, and the top tier is called the “christening

cake,” which is saved for the baptism of the couple‟s first child. The cake is typically

made of raisins, ground almonds and cherries and topped with special candies called

marzipan.



 Couples are showed with real flowers/petals.



 The bride must not allow her married name to be used before the wedding or it may

never happen.



 Wear “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, and

a lucky sixpence in your shoe” (a lucky penny can suffice).



 In the past, the country bride and her wedding party always walked together to

church. Leading the procession - a small girl strewing blossoms along the road so

the bride's path through life would always be happy and flower-laden, and to protect

the couple from jealous ex-suitors.

S. FILIPINO



 Men and women dancing with the bride and groom respectively will pin money to

their clothes; often there is a competition between family and friends of the bride and

those of the groom to see which group can give the most.



 Giant bell made of flowers containing two doves is hung high above; at the end of the

reception, the couple pulls ribbon streamers and release the birds as symbols of

everlasting love.



 Traditional foods include roast pig.



 Rice is thrown at the departing couple as a symbol of fertility and prosperity.



T. FINNISH



 Capping ceremony, in which the bridal headpiece is replaced by the matron's linen

cap.



 Laurel leaves are laid outside the church as a path for the bride. These leaves

represent fertility.



 Instead of tossing a bouquet, the bride wears a gold crown in her hair and passes it

on to one of her bridesmaids.



 A fun game was played with this by blindfolding the bride. The bridesmaids would

dance around her in a circle until she placed the crown on someone‟s head. Today,

girls can use a necklace of flowers instead of a crown. They keep their bouquet as a

keepsake.



U. FRENCH



 "Wedding armoire" (hope chest), hand-carved with symbols of wealth and prosperity,

for the bride's trousseau.



 Coup de mariage, or wedding cup, from which the couple drinks.



 Laurel leaves are strewn outside of the church for the couple's departure.



 Chiverie - The wedding-night prank of clanging pots to interrupt the nuptial couple;

the groom must invite the mischief makers in for refreshments.



 Everything in white: flowers, dresses, decorations, etc.



 In olden days the groom met the bride at her house and walked with her to meet the

guests for the procession to the church. On the way they would encounter a white

ribbon blockade in their path, put there by the children. Together, the couple would

have to cut the ribbon.



 Incense and flowers fill the church.



 A bishop officiates.



 The couple stands under a silk canopy.



 In Brittany, the couple and the bridal party drink from a glass of brandy soaking a

piece of toast. The couple took the last sip and the piece of toast for good luck. (This

symbolizes the beginning of the toasting tradition).



 Reception tables overflow with flowers the guests bring – to honor the couple‟s fresh

beginnings.



 Brides wear wreaths of flowers in their hair.



V. GERMAN



 Polterabend (wedding eve party) in which the couple is teased and dishes are

broken.



 Fraktur (wedding contract).



 At the reception, guests throw special plates (made for that purpose) onto the dance

floor. As the groom sweeps up the broken pieces, guests pay money to dance with

the bride. (This money is used to help with the honeymoon).



 Traditional foods: a sumptuous feast including spiced wine and beer and marzipan

confections.



 Horse-drawn carriage, with black horses, for the bride/couple to and from the church.



 "Roping the couple" with red ribbons and garlands of flowers across their exit.



 Brides carry salt and bread, their grooms pocket loose grains to ensure a life of

plenty.



 The couple wears gold bands during the engagement.



 Invitations are rich in artwork.



 A Kostenbidder, wedding inviter, dresses in a suit decorated with flowers and ribbon

and knocks on the doors of the guests with a stick decorated with a wreath.

 The bride and groom may invite each guest personally, bestowing small gifts like

handkerchiefs from a basket.



 At the reception, the toastmaster (Kostenbidder) introduces each guest to present his

or her gift.



 The bride‟s furniture was driven to her future home in a cart with playing musicians.

At the threshold the groom greeted her with a jug of beer. In return, she gave him

the key to her bridal chest, a shirt she had spun and wove, and a pair of shoes.



 The bride wears an heirloom gown.



 She has her own elaborate wedding gown, constructed of wire, ribbon, pearls, tinsel,

artificial flowers, and pins.



 It is bad luck to try on someone else‟s crown or take off her own before midnight

when it is replaced by a bonnet.



 The groom, best man, and bridesmaids dance around a blindfolded bride. She must

catch a bridesmaid (the next to marry). Married women then tie the bridal bonnet on

this maid and she must dance with all of the groom‟s male friends around three lit

candles on the floor. If they are not extinguished by the end of the dance, the

marriage will be smooth.



 The morning of the wedding a breakfast called the “bridal soup” is served for the

guests. The groom calls for his bride, who may be hidden for him to find, and drives

her to the church.



 At the altar, the groom may kneel on the brides‟ hem to symbolize that he will keep

her in order. She may step on his foot upon arising to reassert herself.



 At their new home, the couple shares a bite of bread to symbolize that they will never

be short of food.



 The wife is pushed into the kitchen and must throw salt into the soup to accept her

role as housewife.



 The bride‟s mother may throw rice or dried peas over her head. The grains that stick

in her gown foreshadow the number of expected children.



 Large red and blue checked napkins are given to the guests to take leftover food

home.



W. GREEK

 During the wedding the couple dance the “Dance of Isaiah” during which they are

showered with these almonds.



 The groom‟s godfather is called the koumbaros.



 Everyone walked to the bride‟s house where was dressed by her friends and the

couple leads a procession to the church.



 Crowns (usually made of orange blossoms) are placed on their heads, symbolic of

their entrance into marriage.



 During the ceremony, the chanter admonishes the groom to honor the bride, and she

lightly taps the groom on the foot for emphasis.



 At the ceremony, the bride and groom are “crowned” by the best man to show that

the couple is the King and Queen of their union as man and wife.



 Koumbari (wedding sponsor) selects and pays for the favors for guests.



 Traditional circle dance with handkerchiefs at the reception (called Kalamantiano).



 Candy-coated almonds wrapped in tulle (symbols of fertility) are given as favors to

guests.



 Traditional foods: stuffed grape leaves, lamb kabobs, Greek wine.



 Orthodox couples take three sips of wine and circle the altar with the priest three

times to symbolize the Trinity (while guests throw rice).



 The bride‟s mother throws a piece of raw cotton on each, symbolizing the fruits of the

soil.



 The groom‟s mother meets the bride at the door of her new home and greets her

with a glass of water and honey. The bride drinks it so words from her lips maybe as

sweet as honey. The remainder is smeared on the door so that strife may never

enter.



 The bride throws a piece of iron on her roof to symbolize the strength of her new

home.



 In Crete, two loaves of bread are baked, decorated with flowers, and tied together

with a white ribbon. The loaves are separated by a bottle of wine. The ribbon is cut

when the couple enters the church.





X. HAITIAN

 Guests bring gifts (not money) to the wedding.



 Wedding cake is not cut at the reception, but later at the bride's home.



 Ceremony is in French (Creole).



 Traditional foods: griots (fried pork), lambi (conch), and black rice.



Y. HAWAIIAN



 The bride wears six or seven leis of tiny white flowers around her neck and a crown

of flowers in her hair.



 The groom wears a maile (an open-ended lei of dark green leaves), and white

clothing, accented with a red sash or cummerbund.





 Decorate the wedding site with magnolias. Use the large magnolia blossoms, it‟s

leaves, palms and candles for the altar. Use the magnolia leaves, blossoms, and

palms to lie down on both sides of the aisle. Decorate the pews with magnolia

blossoms and ribbons. If chairs are used, decorate the back of the chairs. Use

candle lighting to add flair.



 Plan a Luau for your reception. Create Topiary centerpieces from fruit and flowers.

Be creative; add ivy and the crowns of pineapples. Sprinkle flower petals of a

different color on each table.



 Hire hula dancers with leaves or grass skirts and leis to dance to the music of

ukuleles and Hawaiian guitar for your guest entertainment. Ask them to tell a story

of your love in dance designed especially for your new husband.



 Give leis to your guests as bridal favors. As guests are welcomed in the receiving

line, leis are placed around their necks.



 Plan the wedding and reception near a waterfall. It will enhance a Hawaiian

wedding. Place lily pads and other flowers in a circle around the area where the

bride and groom will say their vows. Place the lily pads down both sides of the

aisle.



 Entertain a beach wedding; transform the area into exotic Hawaiian scenery.



 Use ice sculptures to enhance your buffets, make sure the caterer is skilled in food

arts and designs. The Hawaiian buffets are colorful and abundant.

 Give pineapples, tied with ribbons or small fruit baskets tied with ribbons engraved

with the couples‟ name and date as bridal favors.



 Place goldfish bowls, crayons, coloring books, small toys, leis or other gifts for

children on the bridal children attendant‟s tables.



 At a Hawaiian reception, decorate a canoe made of tin; stabilize it in a place where

it can be accessible. Place all bottles or canned drinks in it. Set the two paddles up

in the ice and wrap with garlands. Guests will love the setup.



 Step up with flair; use two canoes on top of two buffet tables in a T-shape. Stabilize

and place paper items, plastic or everything you can use to make a filler or bed

within the two canoes. Cover the inside beds with tablecloths. Decorate around the

canoe buffets with flowers, fruits and palm leaves. Place the entire food menu,

breads and treats in the two canoes. Use the table surrounding the canoe for

vegetables, sauces, dips and small serving dishes. Fill another canoe with ice;

decorate the canoe and its surrounding areas with flowers and fruits. Place shrimp

cocktails, cold pasta, lobsters, crabs and dips in it.



 Place a circle of flowers and tea candles in votive cups around the altar. Leave

opening for entrance. Place palm leaves beside each pew or chairs on both sides

of the aisle, top the palms off with sprinkled flower petals and stemmed flowers.



 Serve fruit, cheeses, cookies, vegetables, bread and deli meats on surfboards.



 Use fabric netting or fish netting for decorations and draping buffets.



 Set up seafood wedding menu in large sea and turtle shells on buffet. Use sea and

turtle shells for guest dinnerware.



 Use spotlights in blue, red, yellow, green, orange or pink to enhance wedding

reception theme.



 Decorate aisle with huge seashells. Place them in a pattern on the floor, place

small votive cup candles inside the shell. Option: arrange string light, long flat trays

of sand with ivy, shells and marble for flair.



 Drape pews or chairs with netting with glued-on small seashells and starfish shells.

Use small arrangements of flowers, small palm leaves, ivy and fern on each pew to

hold netting.



 Have the bride write a song or poem for the groom and read it to him.



 Use grass skirts for skirting around buffet, gift, cake or bridal table. If enough

skirting is available, place skirts around guest tables.

 Use the traditional Polynesian dress for small flower girl‟s attire. Incorporate bridal

colors in their hair wreaths.



 Serve pineapple bowls. Cut pineapple in half, remove the inner pineapple meat,

leave the crown of the pineapple. Turn the pineapple over to slice a piece from the

center bottom; this will help the pineapple set properly. Fill the pineapple with

variety of fruits; a variety of fruit and vegetables; cold pasta; or fill with Hawaiian

pineapple chicken; lemon chicken; fruit, vegetables, chicken and pasta; or seafood

and pasta; or shrimp sprinkled with coconut; or Hawaiian ham salad; shrimp and

crabmeat pasta. Set pineapple halves on beds of lettuce or leaves. Garnish around

the pineapple with limes, lemons, cherries, asparagus and any dips if desired.

Option: Set up one station with two mean carvers. Serve roast beef or lamb. The

carvers will slice the meat thin; roll it and place a toothpick or other designed object

through it then sticks it on the crown of the pineapple. This is a beautiful dish, plus

it‟ll save a small fortune, because the pineapple half will hold the complete meal

and it is delightful!





Z. IRISH



 Couple is showered with flower petals for good luck.



 Claddagh (wedding ring) fashioned with two hands holding a heart with a crown

above; when hands are worn facing in, the bride is married.



 Dances at the reception include lifting the groom in a "jaunting car" (chair) to present

him as a married man.



 The traditional Irish wedding cake is a heavy and rich fruitcake enhanced with golden

raisins, ground almonds, cherries, and spice. To add to its appeal, the cake is often

laced with brandy or bourbon.



 Traditional foods: ham and cabbage.



 “Jaunting Car” (chair): a dance where groom is lifted in the chair.



 Fruitcake-heavy/rich with golden raisins, grounds almonds, cherries, and spice laced

with brandy or bourbon.



 A piece of fine Irish lace is sewn into the bride‟s hem for good luck.



 Irish folk dancers perform.



 A lucky horseshoe is given to the couple to hang in their home.

AA. ITALIAN



 In the small villages of Italy, after the Wedding Mass, the newly married couple walks

through the town plaza, greeting their friends, relatives and neighbors. There the

villagers set up a sawhorse, a log and a double handled ripsaw. The newlyweds

must saw the log apart with the prompting and cheering of the crowd. When the job

is finished and the log cut, it symbolizes that the man and woman must work together

in all of life‟s tasks.



 At an Italian reception, candy-coated almonds are given to the guests to represent

the bitter and the sweet things of life; sometimes, sugared almonds, called confetti,

are tossed at the couple.



 Busta or wedding bag is used by the bride for gifts of money.



 Tarantella, a traditional wedding circle dance, is done at the reception.



 Bridal parties are large and wedding feasts are sumptuous.



 In ancient Rome, nuts were thrown by the groom.



 The front grille of the car is decorated with flowers to represent happy travels through

life.



 Love-knot cookies are served.



 The groom‟s wedding gift to the bride is a doll (teddy bear).



 The groom‟s tie is cut up into pieces and sold to the guests for honeymoon money.



BB. JAMAICAN



 Slices of dark rum laced fruitcake are mailed to the guests unable to attend.



CC. JAPANESE



 Bride‟s attire changes three-four times during the wedding day:



1. A wedding wig, ornaments, and a white silk jacquard kimono woven with the

groom‟s family crest. This shows her willingness to adopt the groom‟s family. Her

head must be covered to hide horns of jealousy.



2. A western style wedding gown.



3. A multicolored kimono („furisode‟) for the reception.

4. A western style ball gown (optional)



 The groom wears a black kimono with his family crest.



 The bride and groom take nine sips of sake (rice wine) during the san-san-kudo

ceremony, becoming husband and wife after the first. Family members repeat this at

the reception to symbolize that they are bound together.



 Families of the bride and groom give elaborate favors to the guests.



 „Sato-gaeri‟ follows the wedding. The groom takes his wife to be formally introduced

to his family. The next day and night the bride takes her husband to her home.

Finally, they go to their own home.



 Older honored guests tell stories about and toast the couple.



 “Kyogashi” - colorful candies made in the shape of flowers/themes.



 Red is the joyous, lucky color.



 Sekihan (red rice), kombu (kelp), tai (sea bream-the ceremonial fish of happiness),

and sake (rice wine) are the traditional food served.





DD. JEWISH



 A bride begins her transition from single to married life by taking a ritualistic bath,

often in pure rain water.



 The wedding ceremony usually takes place under a huppah, or wedding canopy.

This tradition began in the Middle Ages when a couple would wed outdoors so that

the marriage could be blessed with as many children as there are stars in heaven.



 A traditional marriage agreement, the ketubah, is beautiful and ornate, and is signed

by the couple to be displayed prominently in their home.



EE. KOREAN



 P'yeback ceremony, an intimate family ritual in which the bride is welcomed into the

groom's family.



 Bridal makeup includes a red spot on each cheek (to ward off evil spirits).



 Bride wears a multicolored silk gown with white sleeves and a black silk crown

 Groom wears a “court” dress.



 Dates, ju jibes (red dates), and chestnuts are symbols of fertility and happiness.



 Bride may change out of her wedding costume one or more times during the

celebration.



 A hand painted duck or a live goose and gander are carried in the procession as a

reminder of fidelity. These animals mate for life.



 Bride and Groom are lifted into the air at the reception.



FF. LAOTIAN



 Couple's wrists are bound with string during the ceremony (Siquan).



 Bride has a special wedding hairstyle.



 Groom wears a blue-and-white prayer stole (for praying to Buddha).



GG. LATIN AMERICAN



 Father of the bride holds a covered dish of coins, a symbol of the dowry.



 Flower girl and ring bearer are dressed as miniature versions of the bride and groom.



 Wedding sponsors (padrinos and madrinos) have a part in the ceremony.



HH. LITHUANIAN



 Couple passes under a bridge of embroidered sashes on the way to the church.



 After the ceremony, the couple receives bread, salt, wine, and honey from their

parents: this symbolizes the elements of their lives together. Bread stands for work,

salt for tears, wine for joy and honey for sweetness.



II. MEXICAN



 Customs imported from Mexico put a beautiful accent on a wedding. You could even

go so far as to have the ceremony in Spanish! Since Mexico is primarily a Catholic

country, the most authentic wedding is a Catholic Mass. In Mexico, weddings start

late, around 9 p.m., and the church is decorated with white roses. There are no

ushers and no bride's or groom's side of the church. Guests sit where they please.



 A Mexican bride has only four attendants called "godmothers." Each godmother is

responsible for some aspect of the ceremony. One makes three bouquets: one for

the bride to lay on the altar, one to keep and one to toss during the reception.

Another godmother carries a tray or dish with 13 gold coins (called "arras") and the

couple's rings in it. The coins, which represent Christ and the Apostles, also stand

for qualities like love, fidelity and honesty in the marriage. The priest blesses them

when he blesses the rings. The priest divides the coins in two groups and then puts

them back together as a symbol of the wedding couple's strength and wealth in the

future. These coins become family heirlooms.



 The other two godmothers carry a rope or a large rosary called a "lasso." As the

couple kneels at the altar, they drape the lasso in a figure eight shape around them

to unite them.



 Godparents give the couple the rosary, a prayer book, and a kneeling pad.



 The reception is usually a dinner, with the couple sitting alone together at a small

table. The single women perform a line dance call "La Vibora" ("The Snake"),

passing under the couple's clasped hands. Guests make a heart-shaped circle

around the couple during the first dance. At the end, one woman is "captured" by the

bride's and groom's arms. Then the bride tosses her bouquet. The single men

perform the same dance, and at its end, the groom removes the bride's garter and

tosses it to them. A reception in Mexico can go on all night, and the bride and groom

are expected to stay until the very end. It is considered rude for them to leave their

guests.



 The couple has a special kneeling pad.



 Red beads are thrown at the couple for good luck.



 Mariachi (guitar/vocal) music.



 Traditional foods: rice, beans, tortilla dishes, chicken, and beef.



JJ. MORAVIAN



 The bridal couple together lights one large candle. The flame is passed along to

each guest, who each has been given a hand-made beeswax candle. Each guest

lights the candle of the one beside until the whole church is aglow with the warmth of

love of family and friends. What a wonderful way to include your family and friends in

your big day!!!



KK. MOROCCAN



 The couple is showered with dates, figs and raisins - fertility symbols.

LL. NORWEGIAN



 The bride‟s mom prepares a thick sour-cream porridge, which is eaten during the

wedding feast with pea soup, curds and whey sweetened with syrup.



 A traditional wedding cake of bread baked with white flower is topped with cream,

cheese, and syrup. It is cut into squares. Another cake is made with almond paste

and decorated with the couple‟s initials.



 The bride may walk to the church in full dress and crown, accompanied by guests,

master of ceremonies, and fiddler.



 The party can go all night, until sunrise.



 Guests dine on shish kebab made with reindeer meat.



MM. PAKISTANI



 Bride arrives in a bridal tent.



 Couple uses a mirror to reflect upon each other for the first time.



NN. POLISH



 Rosplenciny, the pre-wedding undoing of the bride's maidenly braids by the

bridesmaids.



 The bride is serenaded before the wedding. An old Polish folks ballad is sung,

instructing her on how to be a good wife.



 Children put ropes or chain across the couple's way; the best man pays them off.



 Bride wears a laurel wreath.



 Couple is welcomed by their parents with bread and salt, symbols of prosperity and

bitterness.



 The Dollar Dance is popular. The bride carries a small purse in which she puts the

money she will use on her honeymoon; the bride gives guests gifts in return.



 Traditional music is polkas and mazurkas.



 Make-believe kidnapping (bridal capture) is acted out at the reception.

 Traditional foods: veal roasts, pickled herring, noodles and the wedding bread

(szsyka) in the shape of pine cones, animals or flowers.



OO. POLYNESIAN (FIJIAN AND SAMOAN)



 Traditional bridal dress or tapa cloth (made of paper mulberry bark).



 Fresh flower leis are worn by the bride and groom.



 Samoan bride wears a Palefuiono, a crown made of mother-of-pearl shells.



 Fijian bride carries a Tabua (whale's tooth), the highest gift a Fijian can have or give.



 After the ceremony, both families gather to display and exchange gifts.



 Traditional foods for feasting: yams, roast pig, fish.



PP. PUERTO RICAN



 Money dance in which money is pinned to the bride's dress by each man she dances

with.



 In the Arras the priest blesses a plate of coins during the ceremony and gives them

to the groom. He in turn gives the coins to the bride, who shall keep them along with

other mementos of their wedding day. These are kept to ensure the couple good

fortune and prosperity throughout their marriage.



 Doll dressed like the bride is covered with capias (pins with the couple's names and

wedding date); the pins are distributed to guests as favors.



 Rice is thrown as a symbol of fertility.



QQ. QUAKER



 Quaker tradition does not include clergy, so the wedding certificate is not only signed

by the bride, groom, maid of honor and best man, but all the guests also promise to

help the newlyweds grow as a couple, and all sign as witnesses. The wedding

certificate is hung in a prominent place in the new household as a beautiful memento

to treasure.



 The bride in a Quaker wedding ceremony is presented to the groom by herself, for it

is believed that she belongs to no one but herself.

RR. RUSSIAN



 On her wedding day, the bride asks her parents for forgiveness for any offenses she

may have caused. Her parents present the bride with bread and salt, in the hopes

that she will never want for food.



 Champagne glasses are thrown to the floor after toasting; if they break, the couple

can expect future happiness.



 To show their preferences of their first child, the newlyweds tie a doll to the front of

their wedding car to indicate they want their firstborn to be a girl, or a bear if they

want it to be a boy.



 Wedding guests don't give presents, they get them. Only close relatives give gifts to

bride and groom.



SS. SCANDINAVIAN



 Bride wears an elaborate, jeweled wedding crown (Vasa crown) as symbol of

innocence.



 Traditional wedding toast, skoal, with a specially brewed beer.



 Violinists and trumpeters, fiddlers and horns accompany the wedding procession to

the church.



 Birch boughs are traditionally used for decoration.



 "Care cloths" are held over the couple as they receive their final blessings (to protect

from evil influences).



 Brundlaupskling, the traditional Swedish bread-like wedding cake.



 Traditional foods: a smorgasbord of artfully arranged hot and cold foods.



TT. SCOTTISH



 Groom wears a traditional kilt.



 Bagpipe music accompanies the procession and recession.



 The Scottish sword dance can be performed.



 Church bells ring an ancient Celtic call to worship.

 The groom purchases a silver “Wedding Spune” for the bride. It is engraved with

their initials and the wedding date.



 At the reception, bread is broken over the bride's head. The bread is eaten by the

guests as a symbol of good luck.



UU. SLAVIC (BULGARIAN, ALBANIAN, SLAVIAN)



 Mother of bride pours water over the steps before the bride leaves home to

symbolize the washing away of her old life.



 Traditional circle dance, the horo, is done at the reception.



 Koluk is the traditional, bread-like wedding cake.



VV. SLOVAK



 Capping ceremony, when the bride's wedding headpiece is replaced by the cepec (a

crocheted cap).



 Guests wear bits of live green rosemary pinned to their lapels.



 Bride wears (and keeps) an elaborately embroidered wedding shawl.



 Guests dance the csardas at the reception.



 Music includes polkas and waltzes.



 Foods include poppyseed pastries.



WW. SPANISH



 Brides once married in black silk dresses and mantillas – with orange blossoms in

their hair.



 Grooms wore tucked shirts, hand-embroidered by their brides.



 In celebration, the groom pays “ransom” to the village men with meats, wine, and

delicacies, and gives the women bonbons.



 The groom gives the bride 13 coins/arras to show his support for her. During the

ceremony, she carries them in a special purse, or a young girl carries them on a

pillow/handkerchief.



 Bride/Groom wear wedding bands on the right hand.

 Guests dance a seguidillas manchegas dance at the reception. Each guest presents

the bride with a gift.

XX. SWISS



 Guests contribute to the newlywed fund by “buying” a colored handkerchief from the

junior bridesmaid who would lead the processional to the reception.



YY. UKRAINIAN



 Parents present the couple with religious icons before the ceremony.



 Korovai, the traditional wedding bread, is decorated with symbols.



 Part of the celebration is hanging the matchmaker in effigy.



 Umykannia, or mock capture of the bride, is reenacted at the reception.



ZZ. VIETNAMESE



 Wedding celebration consists of two parties: one given by the groom's parents and

one by the bride's.



 Groom's family makes offering of clothes, money, and jewelry to the bride.



 Bride wears red or pink, colors of happiness.



 Flowers and decorations are also red.



 During the preparation, serving, and enjoyment of wedding foods, families and

guests must be very careful not to break a dish or glass; to do so is a bad omen

indicating a breakup of the marriage.



AAA. WELSH



 The bride gives her attendants myrtle, the flower of life. She encourages them to

plant the cuttings. If they grow, there will be another wedding.



 The churchyard gates are open only after the village children are bribed with a

shower of coins.



BBB. YUGOSLAVIAN



 All cars are decorated with flowers (guests too).





Most of this material is from “Modern Bride Wedding Celebrations” by Cele Goldsmith

Lalli and Stephanie H. Dahl and other sources.

II. THE HISTORY OF WEDDING TRADITIONS

A. WHY ONE SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGED MORE THAN ONCE?



At one time it was thought that to be engaged more than once meant certain damnation.

The groom-to-be often avoided making the proposal himself but instead sent friends to

represent his interests to his intended bride or her family. On their way to make this visit,

these representatives would observe certain things which they would interpret as omens

for the future couple. A monk, a blind man or a pregnant woman were among the bad

omens, signaling that the representatives should give up their mission. Nanny goats, a

pigeon or a wolf were among those bringing good fortune.



One warning for brides-to-be was to avoid suitors whose surnames began with the same

letter as their own, as contained in a well-known rhyme.



"To change the name and not the letter

Is to change for the worse, not the

better."





B. WHY A PROPOSAL?



In the 19th century, declaration of love was tantamount to proposal; arranged marriages

did not include proposals nor did marriage by capture. Asking the bride's father for her

comes from the era of arranged marriages.



C. WHY AN ENGAGEMENT?



The engagement is a means to an end - marriage! Indeed, the full term is "engaged to

be married." At one time, however, the engagement was as important as the wedding

itself. Anglo-Saxons were used to stealing away their brides-to-be. Romance, wooing

and engagements were not in the picture. But the families of the women insisted on

being reimbursed for what was, after all, a working member of the family. The

engagement itself signified the intended transfer of ownership from father to husband

and also provided a period during which the "bride's price" could be agreed.



Several centuries later the situation was in reverse and fathers were paying future sons-

in-law, or their families, a "dowry" to marry off their daughters. The engagement was

again a time for agreeing on the payment, or dowry, and also a time for collecting an

extravagant trousseau, at least for rich brides.

D. WHY AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY?



Once marked by a party called a "flouncing," the couple met with their future in-laws to

make the engagement official. Neither of the couple could be seen talking to another

man or woman after this point and should the engagement be broken, the one breaking it

forfeited half of his or her worldly goods.



E. WHY ANNOUNCE THE ENGAGEMENT?



Publishing banns to make sure no legal objections exist to prevent the marriage.

Engagement was symbolized by a ring, a kiss or sharing of food or drink. Middle Ages 

sharing an alcoholic beverage indicated betrothal. Colonial America  sharing food in the

kitchen equaled engagement.



F. WHY A BETROTHAL RING?



The troth or promise ring is older than the wedding band. Its earliest form was probably

plaited sweet grass, which came from the custom of securing the bride's wrists and

ankles with rushes during the age of marriage by capture. When restraint became more

symbolical than physical, a grass ring was given to her, succeeded by rings of metal as

man became more accomplished in the crafts. The Romans and Egyptians, with their

love of precious metals and stones, initiated the production of platinum, silver and gold

rings. Jeweled rings were the next step and the diamond is mentioned specifically from

about the fourth century A.D., and frequently from the fifteenth century on.



G. WHY AN ENGAGEMENT RING?



Before coinage, gold rings were circulated as currency. By giving a gold ring to his bride,

a man showed he trusted her with his property. Under Roman law, the ring was a sign of

security, protecting the interests of the bride-to-be. In Elizabethan times, an interlocking

set of three rings was used and worn during the engagement period by the bride, the

groom and the witness at the wedding. The three rings would be placed on the bride's

finger during the wedding ceremony. Diamond rings became popular in the 19th century.



H. WHY A DIAMOND?



The diamond was called the Venus stone by the ancients to compare its shining beauty

with the planet Venus in the evening sky. Like this goddess, who was dedicated to love,

the diamond in time became associated with sweethearts, and its mysterious inner fire

was likened to the equally mysterious fires of passion. The Greeks called it "adamas" 

eternal or unchanging, a declaration as to the depths of their emotions, let us hope. But

more probably the ancient name came from the character of the stone  the hardest

substance in nature.

According to history, the diamond as an engagement ring began in 1477 with Maximilian

of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. Max asked one of his councilors for advice in

proposing to Mary. The councilor told him to give her a diamond. Max took the advice

and proposed, slipping a diamond ring on her third finger, left hand. Mary said "yes" and

a tradition was born.



Today, when many traditions are toppling, the diamond ring tradition is stronger than

ever. It is followed by four out of five engaged couples  for whom the individual

expression of their love is still captured in that tiny, sparkling gem.



I. WHY A WEDDING BAND?



Wedding bands symbolizing eternal love by their lack of beginning or end, grew out of

the ancient tradition of using circlets of grass to decorate a bride's wrists and ankles.

Although not required to validate marriage under a civil law, rings were required in 16th

century by the Council of Trent. Circular shape symbolizes eternity.



J. WHY THIRD FINGER, LEFT HAND?



The ancients believed that a special vein, which they called a "vena amoris" or vein of

love, ran from the finger directly to the heart. By putting on a fitted ring, the affections

were bound in and could never flow out the finger tips! Also, this finger  although not

the smallest on the hand  is the weakest and most dependent on the others for help in

lifting and holding. It seemed to symbolize the young wife supported by the strength of

her husband. The "ring" finger has sometimes been on the left hand, sometimes on the

right, according to country and custom. Among English-speaking persons, it has been

on the left since the edict of Edward VI in 1549.



K. WHY A BRIDAL SHOWER?



Evolved from Holland when a father disapproved of his daughter's choice and the

villagers gathered to "shower" her with the dowry her father refused.



L. WHY A WHITE GOWN?



White is the ceremonial symbol of purity and virtue and hence of maidenhood. It has

been so since Biblical times. But white has not always been in fashion for wedding

gowns.



Prior to the 19th century, it was fashionable to wear a colorful outfit that could be adopted

for later wear.



A typical early American bride wore the best she should afford  and potentially reuse 

in the prevailing fashion of the day. It might be a white linen shift over a petticoat or two,

a blue and white Calico smock or something in pink, a fashion color, with velvet or trim.

Colonial brides also wore pastel brocades and even cherry-red satin, but the rites were

most often performed at home rather than in a church. Nellie Custis revised the wearing

of white at her marriage to George Washington's favorite nephew on the ex-president's

last birthday, February 22, 1799, and white has now been in fashion for some 100 years.

However, candlelight or ivory shades are equally popular with today's brides.



About 1820 white became popular for formal occasions, although pastels were in vogue

until the end of the century. When Queen Victoria popularized white at her own wedding

in 1840, it became the official color for brides, because it was considered a symbol of

Biblical purity.



Fashions change! Word meanings change! However, white is still symbolic of brides

and the word "white" has come to symbolize happiness and joy!



M. WHY CERTAIN COLORS?



A well-known rhyme associates a moral or message with each of several colors.



Married in green,

Ashamed to be seen.

Married in grey,

You'll go far away.

Married in red,

You'll wish yourself dead.

Married in blue,

Love is ever true.

Married in yellow,

Ashamed of your fellow,

Married in black

You'll wish yourself back.

Married in pink,

Your spirits will sink.



N. WHY A BRIDAL VEIL?



We think of the veil as being oriental because the Eastern bridegroom often did not see

his bride's face until after the ceremony. Actually, the veil is older than the harem and

rises from the mists of mythology. Ishtar, ancient Goddess of Love, came from the

depths to meet her betrothed, the vapors of the earth and sea covering her “like a veil.”



Folklore has it that the tradition changed to include blusher after Jacob was tricked into

marrying his beloved Rachel's sister, Leah, who was disguised under the full veiling. It

seems there is much to be said for inspecting the bride before it is too late!



Now the blusher, like the veil, is optional. However, wearing a veil does create a very

romantic moment as the groom lifts it to kiss his bride looking into her face for the first

time as her husband!

Roman brides wore yellow veils, while red is the color of tradition for the Chinese. For

much of the nineteenth century, silver in the form of embroidery or train became the rage

for royal brides.

O. WHY A BLUE GARTER?



We all know that something blue is lucky for the bride because the old rhyme 

"something borrowed and something blue"  tells us so. But why a blue garter? This

seems to stem from the most noble Order of the Garter, the oldest order of knighthood in

Europe. Its regalia includes a collar, a star and an actual blue velvet garter. Since

queens and princesses are the only women invested with the Order, and a bride is "a

queen for a day," she may enjoy royal prerogatives by wearing a blue garter below her

left knee.



P. WHY THE BRIDE SHOULD CHOOSE A PARTICULAR DAY OR MONTH?



June has long been the favorite month to marry. A June wedding was considered to

guarantee a happy marriage while May was thought to bring bad luck. Even the days of

the week hold associations for the superstitious. Early in the week  Monday, Tuesday

or Wednesday  is considered to be better for good fortune than later. Friday, especially

Friday the 13th, is considered a very unlucky day to be married. One variation of a

famous old rhyme assigns a different omen to every day.





"Monday for wealth,

Tuesday for health,

Wednesday, the best day of all,

Thursday for crosses,

Friday for losses,

Saturday, no luck at all"



In Hindu tradition, an astrologer is consulted to draw up and examine the horoscopes of

the bride and groom, determining the most auspicious date, and even the time of the

wedding.



Q. WHY A TROUSSEAU?



Once upon a time, the bride's family began preparing for her marriage when she was

born. They collected embroidered and crafted items to store in a striking piece of

furniture known as a marriage or "hope" chest.



A century ago in Italy the bride's belongings were carried in a street procession to her

marriage and everyone saw the contents. Today the bride's family might purchase the

"hope" chest  a serviceable piece to store gifts and purchases.

In some communities today a "trousseau tea" is held before the wedding. This "ladies

only" social gathering is a way to show off all the bride's new things - not just gifts, but

lingerie, clothing items, personal items - everything but the wedding costume. If a bride

is planning to display her gifts at her home, we suggest that you advise her not to leave

them unattended during the wedding and reception, unless she has temporary

insurance.



R. WHY A BEVY OF BRIDESMAIDS?



In the old days of marriage by capture, a maiden was guarded by her family to prevent

seizure, and in later centuries this little drama was enacted as a sort of game at country

weddings. The bridegroom, gaily attired, coming for his bride, was confronted by a bevy

of maidens all dressed exactly alike. His part of the play was to detect his true love,

"forsaking all others," and bear her away to church. As recently as Victorian times,

brides' maidens often wore white dresses and even short bridal veils, looking like brides

themselves. The best friend was designated first bridesmaid. Maid of honor and matron

of honor are modern designations in line with our smaller wedding parties of today. It

was once required that 10 witnesses be present at a marriage ceremony to outsmart

jealous demons. Bridesmaids dressed similarly to the bride, and ushers' attire resembled

the groom's. This was an attempt to confuse the spirits who wanted to harm the couple.

If the spirits could not tell the bride and groom apart from the attendants, they would not

be able to carry out their plans.



S. WHY USHERS OR GROOMSMEN?



Back in the days of "marriage by capture," a young man often brought along some of his

strong-armed friends to help fend off his ladylove's brothers. These were the first ushers

or groomsmen.



T. WHY A RINGBEARER?



This small attendant, usually a relative of the bride, is typically American and unknown in

Europe, although he is the successor of the English pageboy who still carries the bride's

train in formal weddings at Westminster. Children, especially youths, have always been

considered propitious in the wedding party, and in France they carried lighted tapers at

the bride's side. Charles Frederick Worth, who dressed most of the queens of Europe

from his house in Paris, is said to have originated the court train, suspended from the

shoulders, for the wedding gown. This gave the little train-bearer a definite job to do. But

alas, court trains went out of fashion as skirts grew shorter, so the bride's little nephew

was given the wedding ring to carry.



U. WHY A BOUQUET?



Symbolizes life, growth, fertility. Herbs ward off evil spirits. Flowers with different

meanings are assembled into a bouquet.

V. WHY ORANGE BLOSSOMS?



There are cycles of favor for bridal flowers just as with other bridal fashions. We had the

era of rosemary, then myrtle, and more recently the orange blossom has enjoyed a full

century of popularity. Carried from Spain to France many years ago, and then to

America, the orange blossom tradition became so strong that brides wore the flowerlets

molded in wax when they couldn't get fresh blossoms. The meaning is significant: the

orange tree is one of the very few in all nature that bears its flowers and its fruit at the

same time  a symbol of the young and fruitful spouse. Because the tree from which

orange blossoms come is an evergreen, they are also thought to symbolize the

everlasting nature of the newlywed's love for each other.



W. WHY "SOMETHING OLD - OMETHING NEW?"



Something old: continuity

Something new: optimism, hope

Something borrowed: happiness shared from happily married couple

Something blue: fidelity, love, purity



Lucky sixpence in shoe: ensures a life of fortune. The sixpence first became known as a

lucky coin when introduced by Edward VI of England in 1551 and later became part of

bridal wedding traditions in the Victorian era.



Small bags with a bit of bread and cloth and wood and coin to protect against shortages

of food, clothing, shelter and money.



A lump of sugar: to bring sweetness all the married life.



X. WHY A COIN IN THE SHOE?



Ancient custom to appease Diana, goddess of chastity and unmarried maidens, so that

the bride could lose her virginity and bear a child.



Y. WHY THE GROOM CAN'T SEE THE BRIDE ON THEIR WEDDING DAY



The bad luck omen of the groom seeing the bride on their wedding day is a holdover

from primitive seclusion rites, which stipulated that nobody should see a betrothed girl

before she had passed fully into womanhood.



Z. WHY THE WEDDING KISS?



Part of the ceremony since Roman times when it was the only legal bond  if one of the

engaged pair died before the wedding, the other could keep the gifts only if they had

already kissed. The wedding kiss is no longer a required part of the wedding ceremony.

The wedding kiss is a symbol of the newlywed's faith and love, respect and obedience to

mutual benefits. It grew out of the feudal practice of kissing a lord's ring.



Another story goes, the priest first kissed the groom after the ceremony. Then the groom

kissed the bride, the priest kissed his assistants and his assistants kissed the guests. No

longer is the tradition carried this far, but now you know there's historic precedent for a

bridegroom kiss at the very last.



AA. WHY THE BRIDE'S HANDKERCHIEF?



Early farmers thought a bride's wedding tears were lucky and brought them rain for their

crops. Later on in history, a crying bride meant that she would never shed another tear

about her marriage.



Suggest that your bride start her own bridal tradition. She could embroider her initials

and wedding date on a hankie and use it at her wedding  just in case she does shed a

happy tear or two. Then she will give it to the next woman in her family to marry; in turn

this bride can do the same for another bride. Or, maybe even do two handkerchiefs 

one for her mother and one for his . . . what a beautiful wedding day keepsake for their

tears of joy.





BB. WHY A BACHELOR DINNER?



It dates back to the Spartan groom, who always invited his close friends to a supper on

the eve of his wedding to celebrate and to reminisce about his past. Traditionally, it was

also held to raise money for the bridegroom so he would be able to continue to drink with

his buddies after his wife took control of the finances. Mainly, however, it was a

mourning for the passing of the man's bachelor status.



CC. WHY A REHEARSAL DINNER?



Parties were held on the wedding eve to chase away the evil spirits. The more noise the

better.





DD. WHY A WEDDING RECEPTION?



The fact is that marriage feasts have been in existence nearly as long as marriage

ceremonies. The early Greeks held a splendid wedding feast for every couple. And it

was a very special occasion indeed  because although women were not usually

included in other Greek banquets, they were invited to wedding feasts.



EE. WHY SERVE GOOSE AT A WEDDING FEAST?

According to folklore, goose was served at weddings because the gander, always faithful

to his original mate, became the symbol of marriage fidelity. By serving goose, it was

believed that the main dish would symbolize things hoped for and dreamed for in the

marriage.



FF. WHY A WEDDING CAKE?



The tradition of the wedding cake has ancient roots. The Roman wedding ceremony

included a simple cake made from salt, water and wheat flour. The cake culture may

also be connected to the fertility rituals of many cultures. One custom, similar to that of

throwing confetti, involved showering the bride with many small cakes after the wedding.

Sometimes the cakes were even broken over the bride's head.



In Shakespeare's time, sheaves of wheat were carried in the wedding procession and

sometimes the bride wore wheatheads in her veil because this graceful grain is a symbol

of fertility. In a later era, the wheat was ground to flour and little hearth-baked cakes

were broken and eaten by the bride and groom. Gradually these loaves became more

elaborate. The bridesmaids carried them to the church to be blessed, which led to the

belief that the very crumbs under one's pillow would induce dreams of romance.



At Elizabethan weddings, the bride and groom would kiss over a stack of small sweet

buns. A 17th century French chef frosted the little cakes with white sugar to hold them

together. White wedding cakes appeared in the United States around the civil war,

replacing the British dark fruitcake.



Elaborately decorated wedding cakes date from Victorian times. One custom in England

involved throwing a plate holding a piece of cake, out the window as the bride entered

her father's home after the wedding. If the plate remained unbroken on landing, the bride

was destined to be unhappy or wretched. If the plate broke  and it usually did  she was

sure to be happy. England also has the tradition of placing a ring in the wedding cake.

The guests were invited to cut themselves slices of cake. The one who found the ring

was said to be ensured happiness for a year.



The bride and groom feed each other a taste of cake to symbolize the sharing of life's

bounty. A small bit of icing on his face foretells a "rich and sweet life;" his face smeared

with icing, "trouble;" and if a child under five snitches frosting, their firstborn will be that

sex.



GG. WHY A WEDDING TOAST?



What about the origin of "toasting?" As drink goes, wine has always been central to the

wedding, even mentioned in the Bible. The first recorded toast was given at a Saxony

feast in 450 A.D. by a woman who became a bride herself before the end of the evening.



British King Vortigern was so moved by the sentiment - simple "Lord King, be of health,"

offered by Rowena, daughter of the Saxony leader Hengist, that he proceeded to make

passionate love to her. Intoxicated by the drink, possible love and definitely greed, he

then bargained with Hengist for her hand. A deal was arranged whereby Hengist

received the province of Kent in exchange for her hand. Vortigern and Rowena were

married that same evening. From that time forth, "to life, to health, to love" has been a

part of the toasting tradition, as glass touches glass and a chorus of clinks heralds a

festive time for all.



Once it literally involved scorched bread. In the days when wine was regularly decanted,

it left much more of a sediment than our modern bottles do. So the French cleverly

placed a piece of toast in the bottom of the cup to absorb the dregs.



A competent toaster drank everything to get to the toast at the bottom because decorum

dictated that one drain the glass. So good wishes were often accompanied with the

dictum, "Bottoms up!" Today the good wishes remain but happily the actual soggy toast

has disappeared. And, clinking of glasses after a toast scares away the devil who is

repelled by the noise.



HH. WHY WEDDING FAVORS?



To share the joy of the day with guests, dating back to Elizabethan times.



II. WHY SUGAR-COATED ALMONDS?



In many cultures, almonds symbolized wishes for a happy and fertile marriage. The

candy-covered nuts were often given in elaborately-decorated small boxes and

containers, looking for all the world like little gems. At any rate, it's a continental custom

you may want to suggest to your American brides. What a sweet thought!



JJ. WHY DANCING AND GAMES?



Ancient wedding dances were communal and symbolic of life giving and beginnings.

The first dance of the bride and groom leading to their dancing with the guests was to

give them strength from the community before they retired to the bed chamber.



Sport and celebration such as plays and poems, hunts and tournaments, have marked

weddings since early times.



KK. WHY AN OLD SHOE?



In India, when a couple were honeymooning in a house, the bride's red slippers were

thrown across the peaked roof as a discreet reminder that visitors were not especially

welcome. Our custom of throwing old shoes after the departing newlyweds stems from

this ancient sign language. Old shoes tied to the honeymooner's car were once

considered symbols of authority and possession. The bride's father would contribute one

of the bride's shoes to the groom, thus symbolizing the transference of authority over to

the husband.

LL. WHY THROW THE GARTER?



Guests invaded the bridal chamber and threw the bride and groom's stockings. The one

whose throw landed on the bride‟s or groom's nose was the next to marry. By the 14th

century, the groom was throwing the bride's garter to prevent their being rushed at the

altar.



MM. WHY THROW THE BRIDE'S BOUQUET?



Traditionally, the woman catching the bouquet will be the next to wed.



NN. WHY DECORATE THE CAR?



Traditionally, the guests escorted the couple to the bed chamber and tucked them into

bed reminding them of their responsibility to the community to create a family.



Old shoes: As part of the dowry, a bride's slipper was given to the groom who nailed it to

the wall above the bed as a symbol of his authority over the new bride.



Tin cans: To protect the couple from evil spirits while they traveled.



OO. WHY THROW RICE?



It is thought to have come from the Orient, where rice is a household symbol that

signifies a full pantry. Thus, wedding guests through the ages have thrown rice to

demonstrate their wishes for the prosperity of the new bride and groom.



While nearly all cultures have showered the wedding couple with symbolic food to ensure

fertility, for many years it was rice that was used in America. Today, however, this sport

is considered dangerous as someone could slip and fall when walking on the grains.

Environmentalists say that rice can harm birds, being hard for them to digest. However,

there is also a biodegradable rice now on the market, making it possible to again use

rice.



We suggest that you use birdseed, confetti or bubbles. Tie the birdseed into rounds of

net. Coordinate the ribbon used to tie the packets with your color scheme. Or, packages

of confetti can be passed out. For a different effect, non-staining bubble soap is available

and the small bottles can be personalized with the couple's names. What a pretty sight it

is to walk beneath a canopy of bubbles reflecting the colors of the rainbow as they

shimmer in the sun! Often, the photographer captures the bubbles on camera  a

beautiful sight.

PP. WHY A HONEYMOON?



Long ago it was a period when the groom, having bought or captured his bride,

disappeared with her so that her family could not rescue her. The couple hid for a month

(moon) and partook of a honeyed wine, called meade, which was thought to have

aphrodisiac properties. By the sixteenth century, honeymoon referred less to a time

period and more to a feeling. Newlyweds were in the "honey," or full phase, of their love.



QQ. WHY THE GROOM CARRIES THE BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD?



The Romans believed that the threshold was the sacred place of their goddess Vesta

and that if the new husband did not carry his bride feet-first into their new home, the

couple would risk Vesta's displeasure. And even today in some parts of India, the fear of

evil spirits is so great that the groom himself is carried over the threshold before he turns

and lifts his bride across after him!



RR. WHY WEDDING GIFTS?



Gifts are outgrowths of the bride-price and dowry. Traditions vary around the world.



England: wooden tubs painted with "Be Happy and Industrious" in which possessions

were carried to the new home.



Colonial America: samplers and quilts were common.



Brides and grooms give each other a special gift to commemorate the day. In Edwardian

England, a list of gifts was published in newspapers.



Money as a gift dates from the days of dowries and remains popular.



SS. WHY A GIFT FROM THE BRIDEGROOM?



In countries where the bride brought her husband a dowry, it was customary for him to do

his part by endowing her with certain family jewels. In old Persian documents, it is

recorded that the first sons were given valuable objects, such as diamond necklaces at

birth, not to be worn by the baby boys, of course, but to begin the collections with which

they would woo their future wives. Thus the bridegroom's gift is always something

personal and something precious. The wedding ring is part of the ritual and not

considered a gift.



Another legend has it that once upon a time a groom was leaving on a long journey and

the parting was sad. He gave his bride a teacup from which she was to drink every day

at a certain hour. If the groom were ever unfaithful, his bride would know because the

cup would overflow and break as would her heart.

III. OTHER TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS

In some cultures, tradition holds that the bride should not try on her complete wedding

outfit before her wedding day and that she should not finish dressing until the last minute

and that the groom should not see her (or her wedding dress) until she appears in

church. These traditions are based on the superstition that ill fortune will befall those

who break them.



Another superstition is that good luck will come to the bride who finds a spider in her

wedding dress as she prepares for her wedding but bad luck will come to one who

breaks anything, such as a mirror, on her wedding day.



According to Hindu tradition, on her wedding day the bride performs certain rituals to

prepare herself and her body, helped by women who are required to have had sons and

whose husbands must still be alive. The Hindu groom is anointed in preparation for his

wedding. Among Orthodox Jews, the bride has a ritual bath to cleanse herself of any

impurities before her wedding. Often the bride and groom are expected to fast on the

day of their wedding until the reception. This is another tradition associated with purity.



It is meant to augur bad luck if a woman fails to remove and throw away every pin from

her veil and gown when she changes out of her wedding attire. Traditionally, the best

man and groomsmen, like the maid of honor and bridesmaids, were meant to be

unmarried. However today they are as likely to be married as to be single. Historically,

the person fulfilling the role of best man was called the "brideman," later to become

"groomsman." Whatever he was called, he was always expected to be the groom's

closest friend. Centuries ago, the best man and ushers sometimes helped the groom

steal his bride and then stood watch to ensure the marriage was consummated without

interruption from the bride's family. Once consummated, the marriage was then

considered to be final.



From the superstitions, some beliefs about the role of the best man still survive. He is

responsible for much of the good luck of the newlyweds and to carry out this duty, he

must make sure the groom carries a small mascot of some sort in his pocket on the

wedding day. He must not let the groom go back for anything once he has started out for

the church and he must make sure to pay any fees that are required on the day.



Throwing confetti (or other small harmless items) after the wedding ceremony has its

ancient roots and takes many forms in various cultures. In ancient Rome, nuts were

tossed by the bridegroom after the ceremony while in Britain, couples were showered

with real flowers or their petals. The word "confetti" is Italian for sweets, which are used

in modern-day Italy. Raisins, nuts and sweet cakes can also symbolize the hopes that

the couple will enjoy a sweet and "fruitful" marriage. Rice and grain are other forms of

"confetti" symbolizing prosperity and fertility.



It is always said that, once married, the first one to purchase a new item will be the

dominating partner. One tradition holds that to ensure the bride is the lucky one, the

bride should have her maid of honor or a bridesmaid carry a small item such as a pin,

which she can purchase immediately following the wedding.



Other folklore declares that all the energy spent on preparations and the wedding

ceremony can make a bride hungry but she should never eat chicken gizzards. They will

make her lips turn blue. Everything else on her plate should be eaten because the

husband of a bride who cleans her plate will never leave her.



A girl should avoid stepping on a railroad track lest her lover leave her.



Once a bride sets the wedding day it is bad luck to change it for anything except a death

in the family.



The bride should pick a sunny day for her wedding. If the sun is shining when she enters

the church, it means she will be blessed with good things.



If it rains on the wedding day, the extent of the rain will be a gauge of how many tears the

bride will shed during her marriage.



When the bride walks down the aisle, she should pick up and set her feet down very

carefully. If she stumbles going down the aisle, she will never marry.



A girl can primp anytime except when she is preparing for that long walk down the aisle.

To look in a mirror after getting dressed for the wedding means bad luck.



How long will the love last? As long as her engagement ring shines, her love is thinking

about her.



Lovers should not have their picture taken together and to avoid bad luck they should not

kiss on a stairway.



If a young girl is washing dishes and splashes water on her stomach, it means she will

marry a drunkard.



If a girl wishes to know whom she will marry, she should peel an apple, taking care not to

break the peeling. She then throws the peeling over her shoulder and it will fall into the

shape of the first initial of her future bridegroom.



If a girl has made her choice and wonders if her love is returned, she should light a

kitchen match and hold it before her face. If the flame bends towards her, it means the

boy feels the same way about her.



A bride should never bake her own wedding cake. This brings bad luck.



A bride who steals a taste of her own wedding cake before it is cut forfeits her husband's

love. However, saving a fragment ensures his lifetime fidelity.

Single wedding guests who place a sliver of groom's cake under their pillow will dream of

their future spouse.



Part of the wedding cake from a family's first wedding must be kept in the house to

ensure that all unmarried daughters will be wed.



IV. THE BEST TIME TO MARRY

June was not the only month chosen for weddings, and the maiden of yesteryear has a

way of determining what kind of bride she would be according to the month in which she

married. Just for fun, why not see what your sisters of a bygone era would predict.



A January bride will be a prudent housekeeper,

And very good tempered.

A February bride will be an affectionate wife,

And a tender mother.

A March bride will be a frivolous chatterbox,

Somewhat given to quarreling.

An April bride will be inconsistent, or forceful,

But well-meaning.

A May bride will be handsome, agreeable,

And practical.

A June bride will be impetuous,

And generous.

A July bride will be handsome,

But a trifle quick-tempered.

An August bride will be agreeable,

And practical as well.

A September bride will be discreet, affable,

And much liked.

An October bride will be pretty, coquettish,

Loving but jealous.

A November bride will be liberal and kind,

But sometimes cold.

A December bride will be fond of novelty,

Entertaining but extravagant.

A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE







ASSIGNMENT NUMBER TEN





WEDDING TRADITIONS







Student’s Name: Date:



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QUESTIONNAIRE





1. List ten ideas you plan to share with your brides.



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(B)

(C)









(D)









(E)









(F)









(G)









(H)









(I)









(J)









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(A)









(B)









(C)









D)









3. Please sign here if we have permission to share your ideas, giving credit to you,

of course.



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