International Wedding Traditions, World Wedding Planning

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World Wedding Traditions

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. 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 celebration, wine is poured onto the ground.

Comments:

1) Jumping the broom, a wonderful tradition, is not African. It is African-American. It originated during slavery when slave-owners would not permit the African slaves to get married or own property. Jumping the broom signified starting a new life and was a representation of the home that they should have been able to have.

2) You cannot lump all the 50+ countries in Africa under one heading. You have been able to separate the different European traditions, so if you can do so for Africa, it would be more helpful

3) There is no general African wedding tradition. In countries like Nigeria, you have about 250 different cultures, many of which have individual practices. Likewise most of the other African countries have varying traditions. It would be better for you to select major tribes such as the Ashanti of Ghana, Yoruba of Nigeria, Hausa of Nigeria, and so on and then list those traditions.

American Indian

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.

Amish

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.

Arabic (Moslem)

Arabic Weddings vary depending on the country and religion of the bride and groom. Although Christian weddings in the Arab World bear clear similarities to Western Weddings, the Moslem weddings in the Arab countries are influenced by Moslem traditions. Moslem weddings (pre-arranged or not) start with a Shaikh and Al-Kitab (book) for the bride and groom. The groom, may or may not see his bride until the wedding day. Men and women in wedding ceremonies and receptions are segregated affairs, with areas for both men and women. The women at the ceremony symbolically mourn the loss of the bride by doing the "wedding wail". The brides dress is a beautifully ornate Caftan, and the brides hands and feet are "bound" in intricate lace-like patterns painted. using a henna dye.

Chinese

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.

Cuban

The reception at a Cuban wedding is alive with music and dancing .Each man that dances with the bride must pin money to her dress. All the guests bring presents, and these are displayed on a large table. The bride and groom also give a gift to each guest, thanking them for attending.

Czech

Before the ceremony, the couple's wedding bed is "blessed" by laying an infant on the bed to enhance their fertility. On the steps of the church, the couple is presented and gets a "stern" lecture on their duties as husband and wife from their starosta , the couples male sponsor. The bridesmaids duties include pinning pieces of rosemary on each guest as another symbol of fertility. After the ceremony, the bride's veil is removed and is replaced by the traditional matrons bonnet while the guests sing "Pisen Svatebni", the Czech wedding song.

Dutch

After a Dutch wedding, the couple plants lily-of-the-valley in their garden so that they can renew their love for one another every year when the plant blooms.

English

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.

Filipino

At a Filipino wedding, both the bride and groom have money pinned to them as people dance with them at the reception. Sometimes the families compete to see who will collect more. The couple, to symbolize their undying love for each other, will release a pair of doves , that were caged in an elaborate bell made of flowers.

French

As the couple departs from the church, laurel leaves are scattered outside the exit. At the reception, the newlyweds toast using a special two-handled cup that has been passed down thru the generations. The cup is called the Coupe de marriage. After the wedding reception, some of the friends of the couple will "interrupt" their wedding-night by banging pots and pans and singing loudly outside their bedroom window. The groom is then suppose to invite the pranksters in for refreshments.

Haitian

Wedding Guests according to custom bring gifts to the wedding, but not gifts of money. The wedding cake is not cut at the reception party, but later at the couples home. Food at the reception would include conch, a type of shellfish, fried pork, and black rice, creole style.

Indian

A wedding in India could be a 3 day celebration. Uninvited guests flood the bride or groom's parents house to participate in the celebrations. The Indian bride, after a ceremonial cleansing, is painted with henna patterns on her hands and feet. After the ceremony, the brothers of the groom toss flower petals to ward off evil from the Newlyweds.

Korean

A Korean bride is welcomed into the grooms family by participating in the P'yeback,or Introduction ceremony The brides makeup includes a large red dot on each cheek to ward off evil spirits or demons, and her silk gown is colorful,except for the sleeves, which are all white.The grooms parents are introduced to the bride by the groom, and his father collects a handful of ju jibes, or red dates that he tosses towards the bride, to show his hopes for many grandchildren.

Latin American

The Flowergirl and Ringbearer are dressed as miniature versions of the bride and groom. The Father of the bride holds a dish , filled with coins and then covered, that symbolizes the brides dowry .

Mexican

The bride and groom are blessed at home by their parents before the ceremony. The groom presents to his bride thirteen gold coins as his promise to support here. The arras, a small chest of coins symbolizing wealth and strength, is blessed during their ceremony. The Padrinos, or godparents ,also are honored by being part of the wedding.

Puerto Rican

In the Aras, 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. At the reception , all the gentleman the bride dances with pin money to her gown. Special pins, called capias, are displayed on a doll dressed like the bride. The capias have the bride and grooms names and the wedding date inscribed on them, and are given as favors to the guests

Lithuanian

The couple, at their reception, are given the "elements of life", bread and salt, so as never to hunger, wine and honey for everything good in their life together.

Moravian

One of the most simple, yet elegant of ceremonies, is the Moravian Wedding Ritual. 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!!!!

Polish

The brides traditional maidenly braids are undone by her bridesmaids in a custom called Rospleciny On the way to church, the couples way is blocked by children that the best man must pay "toll" to. At the reception the bride and groom are met by their parents, who give them the gifts of bread and salt, which represent the prosperity and the bitterness they shall meet in life. Guests give the bride money, and in return she gives them small gifts.

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.

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. At the reception, champagne glasses are thrown to the floor after the couple is toasted, if the glasses break, they shall have happiness in their marriage. To show their preferences of their first child ,the newlyweds tie to the front of their wedding car a doll for a girl and a bear if they would like a boy.

Scandinavian

On the way to church, the wedding procession includes violinists and trumpeters. The bride wears a Vasa jeweled crown to represent her purity. As birch branches adorn the church and altar, the bride and groom are hidden by "care cloths" during the final blessings in church to keep them away from evil influences..

Scottish

The groom wears the kilt of his "Clan", and bagpipe music is played at the entrance and recessional of the bridal party.

Vietnamese

The groom leads a procession to the brides house, accumulating family and friends along the way. When they arrive, they present the bride with gifts of clothes, jewelry and currency. The groom's mother is the only one that does not join the procession, to show the bride their is no rivalry between them.

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