Wedding traditions: Pixabay Wedding traditions of different nations amaze the imagination with their originality and unpredictability. Some wedding rituals are filled with special solemnity, while others become a cruel test for the newlyweds. Curious what wedding customs accepted in different countries ensure happiness for spouses?
Malaysia
In Malaysia, most wedding ceremonies are carried out in the Muslim tradition. Brides often choose wedding dresses in purple, violet or cream shades. The ceremony is held on a special platform. This is a special wooden gazebo, beautifully decorated with flowers.
Before the wedding day, the bride is given special henna designs, which is very similar to a similar ritual in India. In Malaysia, there is a very unusual ritual for signing a marriage contract. It represents a special contract, considered a gift from the groom to the bride. Before the banquet, the groom and his entourage must pick up the bride, who is waiting for him at the appointed place. This entire ritual is performed to the sound of a drum. Traditionally, a banquet held in the evening is considered important at a wedding in Malaysia.
Bali Island
The exotic wedding ceremony on this Indonesian island attracts newlyweds and tourists. A fabulous atmosphere is created by a huge number of tropical flowers, as well as local traditions:
- An imaginary but carefully prepared kidnapping of the bride.
- The wedding ritual is held in a home temple, the ceremony is performed by priests.
Weddings among the local population have the following features:
- The celebration is prepared and paid for by the groom's family. The bride's parents are not even present.
- On the eve of the wedding, the newlyweds have several teeth filed. This symbolizes their maturation, and this ritual drives out anger, gluttony, greed and other vices that destroy marriage.
Japan
In Japanese weddings, brides often wear two dresses throughout the ceremony - white and red, although sometimes there may be more. Wedding customs in Japan are very different from the traditions of other countries, because most marriages are contractual - a man and a woman marry not for love, but for mutual benefit. The girl is looking for a wealthy partner, and the man is looking for a good housewife who will look after the house and raise children. Of course, in the Land of the Rising Sun, love marriages take place, the number of which is growing every year, but today there are also a lot of arranged ones.
Preparation for a wedding takes at least 6 months, so invitations are usually sent out at least 2-3 months before the wedding. Future spouses traditionally exchange mokuroku, scrolls that list all the relatives of the other half. If the newlyweds know everyone by name, they will be able to make a good impression on the new family. In Japan, it is customary to give gifts even before the wedding. They are called engagement gifts (yuino). The groom's family gives the bride a gold or platinum diamond ring. If the family income is not high, then with a stone that matches the bride’s zodiac sign. It is also customary to give money to the bride for the wedding. Japanese weddings rarely cost less than $80,000. The bride, in turn, gives her groom a ring, but of much less value.
Wedding traditions of the peoples of the world
Unusual wedding traditions of different nations
What unites all the peoples of our planet is the desire to create a family and continue their lineage. And this happens through the ceremony of marriage. Our country has its own original wedding traditions, which are rooted in the distant past. Each of the elements of the Russian wedding ceremony is a tradition of our ancestors. For example, among Russians it is customary:
- block the road for the wedding procession;
- before going to the registry office, treat the children in the yard with candy and other sweets;
- steal right at a wedding and then ransom the bride;
- release doves into the sky.
The Russian newlywed, according to ancient wedding tradition, is the first to cut the festive loaf. With this action, she shows everyone that she is now the mistress of the house. After the wedding ceremony, the mother-in-law removes the veil from the daughter-in-law, which symbolizes the addition to the groom’s family. Another ancient wedding ritual, which is still popular today, is the meeting of the newlyweds after the painting in the registry office with bread and salt. Following custom, young spouses must break off part of the wedding loaf. Whose piece is larger, according to ancient belief, will be the main one in the house.
Recently, at weddings, the Slavs have developed another tradition: the bride throws her bouquet over her head to her unmarried friends. The girl who catches him must marry soon. There is a similar ritual on the part of the groom: he removes the garter from his young wife’s leg and throws it to his single friends. Whoever catches the garter first will soon meet his betrothed. However, if you read history well, then mention of this wedding tradition can be found in manuscripts of the 14th century. At that time, it was believed that any item taken from the newlyweds would bring its new owner the favor of the opposite sex.
But the most fascinating and popular is the Russian wedding custom - bride price. Usually witnesses do this, and in some cases the groom himself becomes a participant in the ritual. Traditionally, the newlyweds are redeemed with money, sometimes champagne, vodka, flowers and sweets. Neighbors, guests and acquaintances also participate in this wedding ceremony. Other nations have a similar ritual, for example, Muslims give a bride price for a bride. But the ransom from the Russians is more of an entertainment event than a monetary interest.
Wedding traditions in Australia
The main national feature of Russian weddings is fun and entertainment. But among other nations, wedding ceremonies often amaze with their practicality, minimalism and romance. For example, in Australia, preparations for a wedding begin a year before the scheduled date of the celebration. Australians are Catholics, so civil marriage as such does not exist among them. All newlyweds are married in the church, and only after that the wedding feast begins.
Three months before the wedding, the future husband and wife regularly go to the priest - he prepares the guy and girl for life together and draws up a wedding plan. Australians are very practical, which is why wedding gifts are discussed well in advance. Future spouses make a list of valuable things they would like to receive. Guests look through this list in advance and decide among themselves who will please the young Australian couple and with what.
This country has an original wedding tradition - making a lot of noise on the way to church. The roots of this ritual go back to hoary antiquity: people then believed that loud sounds drove away evil spirits and evil spirits. Today, to create a sound effect, empty cans or other metal objects are tied to the newlyweds' car, which create an unimaginable roar.
The tradition of breaking champagne glasses exists in different parts of the world. When the newlyweds leave the church, they are given glasses of sparkling drink. Having drained them to the bottom, the bride and groom cheerfully smash their glasses on the ground. If both break up, then the young spouses will have a happy and rich life together. If one of the glasses remains intact, then this marriage will not bring joy and happiness to the spouses. There is another explanation for this ritual - people used to believe that the sound of breaking glass drove away evil spirits from young spouses.
Wedding traditions in Europe
Hungary
Following wedding tradition, the young Hungarian bride must take off her shoes and place them in the center of the hall. A man who wants to dance with a newlywed must put coins in her shoes. The gentleman who puts in the most coins can dance with the bride first. Another interesting Hungarian wedding tradition is morning washing. The next morning after the celebration, the young wife goes with the guests to the well and washes them all in turn, and then wipes each one with a towel.
Slovakia
The girl chooses it herself, and then gives her groom a shirt and a ring. The shirt should be made of natural silk. The guy buys a silver ring for the bride and puts on a chastity belt for her. Weddings in Slovak cities are played with traditional entertainment, competitions, games and a buffet, and in the villages you can still see the national Slovak folk ensemble.
Norway
There is a strong belief that in countries with cold climates, people express their feelings more calmly. Norwegian wedding traditions are proof of this. The beautiful half of humanity in this country is much less than the strong one, for this reason guys start looking for a bride as early as possible. Since ancient times, Norwegian women have had equal rights with men, so not only the eldest sons, but also the eldest daughters are considered heirs in Norway.
There is no such thing as a dowry here, and the newlyweds celebrate their wedding with their own money. The most beautiful wedding tradition in Norway, which newlyweds observe to this day, is the following: guests go to the wedding in boats decorated with bells and other wedding attributes.
Netherlands
Some wedding traditions in the Netherlands may come as a shock to people from other parts of the world. But the newlyweds here are not too concerned about prejudices and false modesty. They believe that everything natural should not be forbidden. The guests are having fun and having fun at the wedding without the virtue of the Slavic peoples, and the competitions here are more than obscene and cross all lines of our usual decency. The more obscene performances there are at a wedding celebration in the Netherlands, the more successful, according to local residents, it was.
At the wedding feast there is no traditional birthday cake. Guests are treated to national sweets called “bride's sugar.” They have different shapes and taste very different. The bride orders sweets from different confectioners, and if suddenly one person gets the same sweets, it is for luck.
African wedding rituals
Nigeria
Following Nigerian wedding customs, the newlywed's parents invite a professional matchmaker to select a bride who will meet all the requirements of the groom's family. The matchmaker’s duty is to check the bride candidates for virginity, and having chosen a suitable girl, present her to the guy’s parents for the final decision. After a wedding, Nigerians have an interesting ritual - the young spouse must pass through a corridor of relatives who beat him with sticks. Legend has it that only after such an execution is a young man completely ready for family life.
Ethiopia
Family life for a woman in some African tribes begins with trials. In the Ethiopian Surma tribe, there is a custom: six months before the wedding, the bride’s lower lip is pierced and a clay disc is inserted into it. The two front teeth are pulled out so that they do not interfere with the foreign body. It is believed that the larger the disc in a girl’s lip, the more dowry that bride will have. And the people of Ethiopia also believe that the clay disk serves as protection against evil spirits and evil spirits that can enter a girl through her mouth.
Egypt
Egypt is the birthplace of traditional African marriage. It was the ancient Egyptians who were the first to suggest that people make the relationship between a man and a woman legal. The Egyptians were also the founders of the marriage contract. It spelled out in detail the responsibilities of the spouses. Egyptian wedding traditions are somewhat similar to Muslim customs. It is in Islam that a husband can afford four wives, but on condition that he supports them. But in modern conditions, not every Egyptian can afford such luxury.
There are many beautiful national dances in Egyptian culture. They are paid tribute at all wedding celebrations. Particularly popular is the dance with a skirt and swords, as well as the well-known belly dance. Exchanging rings is a long-standing tradition of the Egyptians, which was adopted by almost all nations. The Egyptians have a ring that symbolizes love and wears it on the middle finger. It is believed that the cardiac vein passes through the middle finger of the left hand. And the heart, as you know, is a symbol of love!
Rwanda
The wedding ceremony in the Bahutu tribe is filled with passion. After all, custom requires newlyweds to express hatred towards each other. After the end of the wedding ceremony, the woman with the veil goes to her husband’s house, where an impressive action unfolds - a massacre! The wife scratches her husband, leaving noticeable wounds on his body and face. The husband, in turn, shows aggression towards his wife.
The fight lasts until the morning, and the action takes place in complete silence - the spouses do not say a word throughout the entire fight. This ritual can last for several nights. At the end of the fight, the wife moves into her husband's house forever. From this moment on, peace and tranquility begins in the new Rwandan family. With the help of this ritual it is easy to check how ready the newlyweds are for life together. Perhaps thanks to him, most families in the Bahutu tribe live happily.
Customs of the peoples of Asia
Thailand
Thai wedding traditions do not require a monochromatic outfit for newlyweds. On this day, the bride can change into multi-colored and white dresses a dozen times. Her clothing depends on the ritual that is performed at a certain point in the wedding ceremony. For each ritual you need to wear your “own” dress. The only color prohibited is black, which is worn by Thai widows. It is not even used in the decoration of a wedding dress. Traditional Thai wedding colors are gold, orange and red.
China
Residents of the Celestial Empire love the color purple, so at a Chinese wedding absolutely everything can be red: the bride’s outfit, gift boxes, envelopes with money and rose petals.
The tradition of drinking from glasses tied with red ribbons also came from China. A wedding celebration in this country requires large financial expenses, but most often the wedding pays off, since in China it is customary to give the newlyweds money. They are even passed on by relatives who were unable to attend the wedding in person.
India
Indian wedding ceremonies are the brightest and most colorful spectacle on the entire globe, incorporating the beliefs of Indians, a manifestation of spiritual culture and religious roots dating back to ancient times. Most often, Indian newlyweds see each other for the first time at their own wedding, but despite this circumstance, Indians almost never get divorced. This is a mystery for other nations, because even in those countries where people marry primarily for love, divorces occur much more often.
In India, flowers are the main wedding attribute. You can see a huge number of them at Indian wedding celebrations. And all because the gods love the scent of flowers very much; because of the many fragrant buds, they will hear the requests of ordinary people much faster. An important moment of an Indian wedding is the festive table. However, only vegetarian dishes will be displayed there. Meat, eggs and fish are strictly prohibited in India.
Bali
A wedding celebration in Bali has recently become very fashionable among all newlyweds around the globe. The belief says that if you enter into a legal marriage on this Indonesian island, it will be long and happy. In addition, the wedding ceremony in Bali is very colorful and spectacular: the island’s residents bring donations of thousands of flowers to the local gods, smoke incense, and the newlyweds are dressed in very bright wedding dresses, decorated with several layers of gold embroidery.
The newlyweds arrive at the wedding ceremony site on a golden carriage, and the richest couples arrive on decorated elephants. When the newlyweds enter the temple, they are showered with petals of different flowers, the priests read prayers intended for such occasions, everyone wishes the newlyweds to be happy throughout their lives. An Indonesian wedding is a special flavor and harmony next to the ancient deities of a fabulous island.
North and South America
USA
In the United States of America, things are a little different. A wedding celebration is part of a business, so it is organized by wedding agencies. Marriage in America begins as in any Catholic country:
- a young man proposes to a girl;
- together they set an engagement date, at which the groom presents his beloved with a ring;
- an official ceremony is held.
There are no special restrictions at wedding celebrations in America, but the clothes of the newlyweds are chosen in a traditional style. The bride, in addition to the wedding dress, should wear any old thing and something blue. The antique element is a symbol of connection with relatives, and the blue object symbolizes fidelity to the husband. An American bride can invite not one, but several bridesmaids to the celebration, so that none of them feels deprived of attention.
Mexico
Mexicans are descendants of the Mayans and Aztecs, so their wedding traditions and rituals are different from many others. A traditional Mexican wedding ceremony involves sponsors who cover many of the costs. Usually they are parents, godparents, and relatives of the bride and groom. During the wedding ceremony, the priest wraps a symbolic “lasso” made from special rosary around the newlyweds. It is a symbol of the unification of lovers into one whole.
Mexicans also have very long traditions in their arsenal, inherited from the Indians. For example, before an official wedding, the union of two people is celebrated. First, the girl undergoes a ritual of ablution, and then a traditional Indian ritual begins near the oldest tree. It is believed that it notifies the four elements, as well as all ancestors, that the young people want to always be together.
Video: overview of the traditions of the peoples of the world
Every nation has its own wedding traditions. Their goal is to help newlyweds become happy, successful and healthy in their family life. Nowadays, it is difficult to call most wedding traditions, rites and rituals purely Asian, African or Slavic, because they have spread and mixed with each other throughout the globe. For example, representatives of any religion give kalym or bride price, and not a single wedding celebration takes place without the newlyweds dancing.
Our article will be brightly complemented by a video about how wedding ceremonies take place on different continents.
Romania
Today, most young Romanians have weddings in a modern style. However, traditional outfits can still be seen in more remote areas. Although Romania is small, each region has its own wedding costume.
Romanians begin their wedding ceremony on Monday. Since the first day of the week symbolizes the creation of a new family. The groom and his parents should come to the young house early in the morning. Then everyone goes to church and the marriage ceremony takes place. In addition to the parents of the young, the imprisoned mother and father are allowed to be present.
According to tradition, after a wedding in church, the newlyweds come home and greet the guests with bread and salt and a full glass of wine. Then all the guests go to the tables and sit down. The traditional Romanian wedding menu includes cabbage pies, sour soups, goose and duck offal, pickles and, of course, wine drinks. Before sitting down to the table, young people must bow to their parents.
Then they ask forgiveness from the guests for any mistakes that may have been made during the wedding ceremony, and then the fun begins. In the evening after the holiday, according to tradition, the mother who was seated is the first to leave the feast, as she must make a bed for the newlyweds. She puts a thorny bush under the bed, which will help overcome every hardship in family relationships.
Then the seated mother returns to the table, takes the newlyweds by the hands, walks with them three times around the table, and then the newlyweds go to the bedchamber. From this moment on, the women at the table start singing sad songs, and this is how the traditional Romanian wedding ceremony ends!
Spanish
Spain is considered a country of strict morality, in which only spouses or engaged couples can publicly show affection. Otherwise, the girl will be judged, and it will be difficult for her if the couple breaks up. Therefore, women strictly monitor the observance of traditions, which dictate that first there must be matchmaking.
To do this, the couple talks with their parents about their desire to get married. Relatives meet and discuss ransom and dowry. This is an important stage, and if the relatives do not get along, the newlyweds will not receive blessings.
In the country, it is not customary to join oneself in marriage without the approval of parents, because it is believed that this will only bring grief. The outfits of the newlyweds are unusual in a Spanish wedding. The bride should wear a black lace dress and mantilla, and the groom should wear a white shirt embroidered by a girl. Everything else in the man's image should also be black.
This color symbolizes loyalty and submission, which is welcomed in a young family. The groom must have a wallet with him that contains 13 special coins. Most often they are illuminated in advance in the church. He presents this amulet to the bride after they are recognized as husband and wife. The gift is kept by the girl throughout her life, attracting wealth and prosperity.
Most people take a responsible approach to choosing a partner, which is why almost all weddings include a wedding ceremony in a church. There is a peculiarity: the parents of the newlyweds must bring them to the altar. In this case, the girl is led by her father, and the man is led by his mother. They also act as witnesses at the ceremony.
After receiving a blessing from the priest, the witnesses strew the path in front of the young millet, sweets and flower petals. This symbolizes that they are embarking on the path of wealth and prosperity. And with grains they want their family to be fertile.
When everyone has moved to the tables, the newlyweds should give gifts to each guest. To do this, the wife pins a pin on the women's dresses, and the husband gives the men a cigar.
The girl who loses her hairpin should get married soon. This tradition replaces the tossing of a bouquet, which remains with the bride. The holiday can end normally, then the guests see off the newlyweds, or it can take a more complicated path. The bride is kidnapped and may not be returned even after a reward.
And if a man insists, continuing to look for a woman, and he succeeds, then the young people are harnessed to the plow, forcing them to plow until dawn. This custom has almost sunk into oblivion, but sometimes people remember it, especially if there were strong drinks on the tables.
A distinctive feature of a Spanish wedding is that guests may insult or mock the newlyweds. According to legends, by doing this they drive away evil spirits or unkind people who could envy or curse.
Sami, Northern Europe
The Sami are the indigenous people of Lapland. Their traditional dresses can tell a lot about their owners. For example, square buttons mean that a person is married, while single people use clothes with round buttons.
On the eve of the wedding, all relatives gather at the bride's house, where the groom presents the relatives with gifts that they had previously agreed on. Usually, as a sign of respect, the young man presents a silver cup to his father-in-law - this is the first and main gift. The second most important gift will be a huge copper or cast iron boiler. The third is a bed, that is, deer skins, from which a sleeping place will be made. Gifts for the mother-in-law are as follows: a silver belt, a formal and elegant dress, a neck decoration made of silver circles. The groom should give silver spoons, a necklace, and similar pleasant things to other relatives. The gift must be for each relative of the bride, otherwise the bride may not be given to the young man. The wedding is celebrated the next day, first the wedding, and only then the feast. Those getting married wear suits specially made for the special occasion; renting things from the Sami is considered bad manners.
Sri Lanka
The bride is always the center of attention on her wedding day. However, if you find yourself at a traditional Sri Lankan wedding, you will most likely not be able to take your eyes off the groom.
Here, during the wedding, national wedding rituals are fully adhered to. As a rule, the newlyweds dress in local clothes, and the wedding procession consists exclusively of elephants. The bride carries a bouquet of bright flowers. Those getting married are accompanied to the ceremony site by a small company of girls and boys. During this period of the procession, the fairer sex performs national wedding songs, and the guys perform traditional dances. Drums set the rhythm of songs and dances. The newlyweds are declared husband and wife in an arch specially erected for this purpose - poruwa. It is decorated with pink and white lotus flowers, which is also a tribute to tradition.
One of the beautiful rituals is the exchange of betel leaves between a couple. During the entire ceremony they make this gesture 7 times. According to local beliefs, this should bring happiness and love to the next 7 generations. As a sign that the husband and wife are ready to take care of each other throughout their life together, they eat rice that is boiled in coconut milk and water. After the newlyweds exchange rings, their little fingers are tied with a thread of gold and water is poured onto them from a silver goblet. While observing this tradition, a special prayer is read.
Greece – beds
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Let's move on to a calmer and more interesting tradition. In Greece, a couple of days before the wedding, family and friends get together and prepare a family nest for the future spouses. Experienced married women make up the marriage bed and give the groom the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the work done. After making the bed with marital sheets, money is placed on top, which will ensure prosperity and success for the couple. Also, grains of rice are thrown onto the bed, which symbolize “putting down roots” and bless the young for a speedy continuation of the family. At the end, a child is rolled across the bed - a boy or a girl, depending on the gender of the first-born desired by the couple. After marriage, spouses have the right to reunite on a pre-made bed.
India
Red or pink wedding dresses are a traditional choice for brides in Indian culture. In the northern regions, married women draw a red dot in the center of their forehead.
Indian marriage has a feature that distinguishes it from others - a young married couple is formed not by the young couple, but by the groom’s parents. They choose a future wife for their son and negotiate with her parents about the upcoming wedding. A girl may not know her betrothed at all, but she can only submit to her parents’ will. This tradition was formed several thousand years ago, but has not changed at all since then, despite the large number of castes and cultures in India.
According to tradition, in India, before scheduling a wedding, the parents of the newlyweds carefully study their horoscopes, choose the optimal date for this event, and future relatives are invited to the viewing.
After an agreement on the wedding is concluded between the parents, a meeting of the newlyweds is organized, or rather, two meetings - first at the bride’s home, and then at the groom’s. These meetings are called “ashir-vad” in India. The parents bless the marriage and the engagement takes place. According to Indian wedding traditions, the newlyweds prepare gifts for each other, and they are also generously given by their parents and close relatives. It takes about two months from engagement to wedding.
A wedding in India is a special celebration; people spend a long time preparing for it and spending a lot of money. If the family is wealthy, from 15 to 20 thousand dollars are spent on the wedding. 700-800 guests are invited, who need to be provided with housing and food for many days, because the wedding with all the preludes lasts more than a week.
Switzerland
A seemingly ordinary wedding is taking place here. Traditions are sometimes strictly observed. In some regions of the country, it is customary to literally pour mud on the bride before the wedding: she is doused with a mixture of kefir, ketchup, mayonnaise, beer, as well as leftover food from the refrigerator. Then she, accompanied by the groom’s friends, must walk around the town in this form and even visit cafes or shops.
It is believed that after such a ritual of pacification, the future wife will no longer find some of her husband’s antics obscene.
Wedding traditions: Pxhere
Scotland
In Scotland, the groom traditionally wears the kilt of his clan. After the marriage ceremony, he must wrap a scarf decorated with the flowers of his clan around the bride's shoulders. This symbolizes her membership in a new family.
The wedding day is strikingly different from our norms. The Scots, oddly enough, prefer weekdays for weddings, because... They believe that on weekends you need to rest from any business, including weddings.
To confirm the seriousness of his intentions, the Scottish groom gives the bride an unusual brooch (Luchen booth). This brooch attracts happiness, good luck, and health. It is for this reason that the young wife later decorates the outfits of her children with this brooch, thereby protecting them from any negativity in life.
The groom can also give his beloved an elegant silver spoon - a symbol of material well-being. A wedding ring is sometimes passed on to a girl by inheritance; the groom can do without a ring at all.
Hot Spain
In beautiful and distant Spain, only orange is the color chosen for a wedding dress. There are many legends and stories that people use to explain such an unusual choice.
However, the most popular interpretation is that orange, the color of an orange, represents this fruit, which grows on a tree that is constantly green.
It is believed that an outfit in such shades will help the bride to preserve her freshness, youth and beauty as much as possible for many years.
Immediately before the ceremony, the groom must give his future wife thirteen gold coins.
With such a gesture, he proves his worth and the fact that he undertakes to support and protect his wife while being legally married to her.
Throughout the entire celebration, the bride keeps this gift in a special bag and keeps it with her.
Pakistan
Although Pakistan is an Islamic state, its traditions have much in common with Indian ones. For example, the bride's hands are decorated with intricate henna patterns. A red wedding dress is also considered traditional.
It is not surprising, but the bride price, which is an integral part of the wedding ceremony in many Muslim countries, is not given in Pakistan. This is simply not accepted here. Moreover, the bride’s side is equally financially responsible for the wedding celebration.
A wedding in Pakistan is usually celebrated over four days. On the first day of the wedding, the bride's side and the groom's side celebrate the upcoming marriage separately from each other. This event is informal and represents a small rehearsal for the future celebration. On this day, everyone dresses mainly in orange and yellow colors. There is an explanation for this: despite the fact that today Pakistanis profess Islam, the yellow color, which is preferred at such events, is an echo of other beliefs that previously dominated the territory. For example, among Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, this color is a religious symbol.
The second day of the celebration is called “Mehndi”, which translates as “henna” and this is not without reason. The fact is that on this day the ceremony of coloring the bride’s hands and feet with henna takes place. For this, special masters are invited, and often the entire bride’s family takes part in this ritual. On the same day, the groom's side brings her wedding attire for the bride.
The third day is called “baraat” and is the most important day in the entire wedding ceremony. Literally, the word “baraat” is translated as “handing over the bride to her husband’s family.” The religious ceremony and the civil wedding ceremony take place simultaneously. On this day, the mullah first goes to the groom and, after reading the appropriate prayers, takes his consent to marry. The necessary documents are signed, and then the mullah goes to the bride. There he also conducts this ceremony and, having collected the signatures of the bride on the relevant documents, declares this couple husband and wife.
After the marriage, the bride can be taken to the groom who has already arrived. Both are dressed in red. By evening, the bride is already leaving for her new home, she is going to the groom's family. Usually, when saying goodbye to her family, a girl cries.
The fourth day, “valima”, is the final day. The newlyweds appear before the guests in a new capacity. Now they are a separate family. Guests give the newlyweds gifts, mostly money. On this day, a rich table is also set for those invited, and a real wedding feast awaits the guests.
Ancient Rus'
After Christianity became the official religion in Kievan Rus, the formation of a traditional wedding ceremony began.
Since it was not possible to completely eradicate paganism, a symbiosis of Christianity and pagan rituals resulted. After the 16th century, a clear ritual, wedding dresses, attributes and folklore developed, which have survived to this day. And the main innovation was the mandatory church consecration of marriage.
K. Makovsky. Down the aisle. Source: wikipedia.org
The ceremony took place in the evening, for which they put on the best dress and all the jewelry that was available. In the front door they prepared a table at which they awaited the arrival of the groom. Then the mother-in-law combed her hair and braided two braids, which symbolized a woman in marriage. After the blessings, the newlyweds went to the wedding; according to the rules, the groom had to arrive first. Only after the wedding could the couple kiss. When leaving, the newlyweds were showered with hops and flax seeds, with wishes of happiness. Afterwards, everyone headed to the husband’s house, where the celebration itself took place.
The ceremony itself was divided into several stages: pre-wedding customs (dating, bride viewing, maiden fortune-telling); pre-wedding customs (matchmaking, bridesmaids, collusion, bachelorette party, groom's gatherings), wedding rituals (bride ransom, wedding train, wedding, wedding feast) and post-wedding rituals (second day, visits).
Ethiopia
You may be surprised, but Ethiopia is the only country in Africa where Christianity is the official religion. The majority of the population belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, so the wedding ceremony here resembles a Russian one.
On the wedding day, the groom and his friends go to the bride's house. But the parents of the young woman close the door on them. To get into the house, they must dance, sing songs and make up jokes so that the door will be opened for them. As soon as the groom gets inside, friends spray aromatic tinctures. This is a symbol of the beginning of married life.
The wedding table of this tribe is very modest. There are no delicacies or gourmet treats here. Ethiopia is a poor country, and I treat my guests to what I cultivate myself. First of all, they don’t use cutlery here. All food is eaten with the hands. There are no traditional plates either. Instead - figs. This is a yew cake, which is placed on the bottom of a tin dish, and a treat is placed on top.
The hostess of the house treats the guest of honor to the most delicious piece, which is called gursha. She puts it into her guest's mouth with her hands. Refusal can greatly offend the hostess.
Indonesia
Indonesian weddings can vary greatly from island to island. This country is home to more than 300 ethnic groups and has 6 major religions. Is it any wonder that different cultures and civilizations mix in Indonesia?
There is a beautiful tradition in Indonesia. Every couple who wants to tie the knot must plant two trees. Three trees are planted when people begin family life for the second time.
All wedding preparations in Indonesia are of a public nature. Only a large number of people (an entire Indonesian village or a street in a city) can organize a wedding. A specially created committee undertakes the preparation of wedding celebrations in Indonesia. His responsibilities include: organizing a festive table, building a huge canopy in case of rain, preparing tables and chairs for guests, ordering an orchestra to perform live music.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that
- In Vietnam, two weddings are organized, the first - the bride's side, the second - the groom's side.
- English beauties are so superstitious that they sew a talisman or amulet onto the hem of their wedding dress to protect them from the evil eye.
- In Mexico, the godparents of the newlyweds must take care of the financial issue in organizing the holiday.
- In Germany, immediately after the wedding, the witness secretly takes the bride to a restaurant, where she must drink alcohol until the groom finds her, who also must pay for all this.
- In Greece, a girl must put a lump of sugar in her glove, this will bring joy to her family life.
All nations of the world are famous for their beautiful wedding rituals, which fill the holiday with meaning and allow you to feel the culture of your country.
Caucasian peoples
During a traditional Caucasian wedding, the groom usually wears a Circassian coat and a sword attached to his belt. Brides choose a white wedding dress with national motifs.
At a Caucasian wedding you will never hear shouts of “Bitter”. Firstly, such liberties are not acceptable in Muslim customs, and the groom has the right to touch the bride only on the first wedding night. And secondly, it happens that at the holiday the newlyweds sit in different rooms and purely physically cannot kiss each other.
The bride should behave quietly, modestly and preferably remain silent during the entire wedding ceremony. Here is another discrepancy with European generally accepted behavior. No prepared joint dancing, throwing a bouquet or drinking champagne from a shoe. One continuous innocence and chastity. But guests are allowed everything. By the way, many young people have the opportunity to make new acquaintances at the weddings of their friends or relatives.
Korea - beating the groom's feet
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The following tradition again, unfortunately, involves violence. This time it is the groom who has to endure the torment - in Korea, at the end of the important day, his legs are beaten with a cane or a large rotten fish carcass. This unique method tests the strength of character of the newly-made husband, his ability to show willpower and spirit, and the ability not to disappoint his wife in the family bed. At the same time, the Korean groom should not wash his feet on the eve of the execution. The procedure usually lasts for 10-20 minutes. It’s interesting, because with unwashed feet, smelling of the “aroma” of rotten fish, the husband goes straight to the marriage bed.
China
Traditional wedding dresses in China should be red. In this country, white symbolizes times of mourning and funerals. After marriage, the groom removes the red veil from the bride's head.
A Chinese wedding takes place with great joy. On wedding days, brides come to the grooms' house. Wedding processions are accompanied by fireworks and fun. During the fun, wedding unicorn or lion dances are performed. It symbolizes goodwill, prosperity, good luck and business reputation.
In the house where the bride lived, the groom is given two chopsticks to eat with. So they assume that they will have sons faster. When the bride goes to the groom's house, grain and rice are scattered in front of the bride. This means a symbol of fertility. Mirrors are attached to the back of brides' dresses. This will protect them from all evil spirits and other negative energy. When a bride crosses the threshold of her future husband, she must step over the saddle, because the Chinese translate saddle as peace.
Germany - broken dishes
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Breaking dishes compared to previous traditions is just a mild prank. Guests at a classic German wedding bring gifts of porcelain, after which they ceremoniously break them in the midst of the celebration. It is generally accepted that such an act will drive away evil spirits from the young and make their marriage more reliable and stronger. It would be hard to toughen up, because it is the young people who will have to clean up all the broken dishes, working side by side for the benefit of future prosperity. Polterabend (the name of the tradition) is also sometimes held during a party on the eve of an important day. By breaking the dishes, guests wish the newlyweds good luck and perseverance in the face of the difficulties of living together.
Hawaii
In traditional Hawaiian weddings, the groom wears all white. Almost everyone who gets married here uses flower garlands in their wedding ceremony. Brides also often decorate their hair with fresh flowers.
For a successful marriage, on the eve of the wedding, the bride carefully folds 1001 origami cranes for good luck. Cranes are considered a symbol of a long and happy family life.
The wedding ceremony begins with a musical announcement of the bride's arrival by trumpeters. After the bride's appearance, a tender song about love and devotion is sung.
During a wedding ceremony, the officiating priest ties the hands of the bride and groom with Hawaiian circles of flowers called leis. Leis are considered traditional symbols of love and devotion in Hawaii.
At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds throw the lei into the water. And water, as a symbol of purification, frees lovers from the past so that they can start all over again together. And even in ancient times, leis were thrown into the water so that the ocean would carry them to deceased relatives. If the lei returned to the shore, it meant a blessing and an expression of love from loved ones.
England
In England, many rituals associated with entering the church have survived to this day. The bride and groom, for example, had to jump over a bench placed across the entrance to the church, which signified overcoming obstacles in family life.
There is a legend that in the mid-19th century, at one of the weddings in Leicestershire, the bride's brother, when returning home from church, threw a huge old shoe onto the road from the wedding carriage. The bridesmaids, in elegant dresses, rushed onto the dusty road and it was the one who first grabbed the shoe who soon got married.
Yemenite Jews
Most Jewish communities do not have any special wedding attire. But Yemenite Jews are an exception to this rule. Girls here usually get married in special costumes, which are inherited from their ancestors.
The wedding day is the day when the bride is brought to the groom's house. And this day is accompanied by songs, loud music and drum rhythms... The groom takes a shower, changes into new festive clothes, which also includes a decorative sword on his shoulder. A certain rhythm of the drums indicates that the groom is about to come out. People come running to admire this spectacle. Traditional bara and hawshaliah dances accompanied by songs precede the entrance of the well-dressed groom. Guests are invited to the house.
Some residents invite guests on short excursions to Mount Ba'dan and the valley to show off the beauty of the area. At noon, the groom and his entourage (shawah) - friends, relatives and guests - go to the bride's house and return with her. Those who remain at the groom's house go to pray and later join a multi-course meal. After this, everyone (men) gathers in some kind of public hall, essentially a khat room, where they drink tea and chew khat. This whole thing continues until twilight prayer (up to 5 - 6 hours depending on the time of year). Chewing khat is still accompanied by songs and music. With the onset of darkness, the bride is brought in to the same music - drums and horns. Everyone expresses their respect to her, standing in one line. The marriage contract is signed immediately.
After the husband leaves the bedroom on his wedding night, he is greeted by friends who share a festive meal, including holiday staples and sweets. And again - dancing and dancing!
Kenya - spitting
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We begin our review with a state on the African continent, which is famous for its very unusual and repulsive wedding tradition. Among the people of Kenya, when a husband and wife leave their father’s house, the father spits on his daughter’s chest and head with all his heart as he says goodbye. Thus, he gives her his father's blessing for a happy family life. In our country, such behavior would be considered a real insult - it would be like not communicating with relatives for years. And among the Maasai tribe, spitting is a symbol of prosperity and good luck.
South Korea
Traditional weddings are becoming more and more popular in South Korea. According to ancient tradition, the groom must carry his wife around the table on his back. This symbolizes that the bride can always count on her husband.
At a wedding, newlyweds do not kiss, because in Korea, expressing your feelings in public is not only not accepted, but also illegal. This is very unusual for us, but a common occurrence in Asian countries. What is a substitute for a kiss? The bride simply takes a sip from her husband's cup or glass.
Great Britain: wedding customs
Conservative and prim Englishmen strictly adhere to wedding regulations, but they also have original customs at weddings. Thus, noisy hen parties on the eve of the wedding are allowed - “chicken parties”. For this event, the bride and her bridesmaids travel away from the harsh gaze of others.
Some English wedding traditions have taken root in European countries and the USA. Among the most common are:
- The bride's outfit should combine some old item with something new and borrowed. There must be something blue, at least a feather in the hair.
- It is customary to put a penny in the bride's shoe - this is a sign of prosperity.
- The well-known wedding ceremony of tossing the bride's bouquet will indicate which of her unmarried friends is destined to marry next.
The British approached wedding gifts practically and judiciously: along with wedding invitations, guests receive a list of expected gifts.
Wedding traditions: Pixnio
Norway
In Norway, it is common to wear a banad, a traditional costume, for special occasions such as weddings or christenings.
The key dish of a Norwegian wedding feast is wheat porridge with cream. And the wedding feast ends with the ceremonial cutting of a head of cheese.
The bride must cut the cheese beautifully, quickly and thinly to show herself as a good housewife. The cut pieces were distributed to the guests, after which the feast ended. At the end of the holiday, guests give the newlyweds gifts and money, placing them on a dish in the center of the table.
