15 Aug 2016
Wedding Customs Around the World
Wedding Customs Around World
Belgium
A lovely tradition has long been practiced in Belgium to make and embroider a handkerchief for the bride to carry during her wedding. The brides name would also be embroidered on it. Following the wedding, she would them frame the handkerchief and hang it on the wall until the next wedding in the family, at which time it was to be taken down and the new bride’s name embroidered on it as well. This was handed down from generation to generation.
Wedding Customs Around World
Bermuda
An old custom which is certainly catching on today as we look forward to the new millennium is that of planting a tree to memorialize the wedding day. Even yet today, some Islanders top off their wedding cake with a small tree sapling. The tree is planted during the reception which is often held at the home of one of their parents, if not the new home they will share together as man wife.
Wedding Customs Around World
China
Red is the color of “Love and Joy” in China. At one time it was the brides favorite color of choice for the wedding garment, candles, guest gift favors and everything that went along with her wedding. In China today, many girls still choose to go by the old traditions of their forefathers, but more and more, the country is becoming westernized and brides are opting for the exquisite white gowns worn throughout the world. An interesting point of interest may be the number of wedding gowns made in China today, finding their way to your favorite bridal shop. Almost without a doubt as you have shopped for your gown, you have either tried on or looked upon gowns made on mainland China.
Wedding Customs Around World
Countries of Africa
Holding hands at the alter and the walk back up the aisle after your ceremony may well be a custom derived from the tradition still performed in some tribes today of binding the bride and groom’s wrists together with plaited grass.
Wedding Customs Around World
Czech Republic
Rosemary wreaths, handmade by the mother or grandmother of the bride is a century old tradition for brides in the countryside. A variation of this today is seen as wreaths of baby’s breath and miniature roses, worn as often by the attendants as the bride herself.
Wedding Customs Around World
England
The familiar tradition of a flower girl throwing rose petals as she passes down the aisle before the bride is a reminder of days gone by when the bride walked to the church with her maids in waiting. Leading the procession was always a young girl throwing flower petals along the lane, so the bride’s path through life would be happy and laden with flowers.
Wedding Customs Around World
Finland
In Finland, brides once wore crowns of gold. Following the wedding and during the reception, the tradition known as the “Dance of the Crowns” took place. The bride would be blindfolded, while her unmarried maids would dance around her in a circle. She would remove her crown and place it on a maiden, and whoever she crowned was said to be the next to marry. This custom could be easily be reborn by the bride who wears a wreath rather than a veil, and she too could dance the “Dance of Crowns.”
Wedding Customs Around World
France
A lovely custom coming to us out of France comes in the form of a two handled cup called the “coup de marriage”. The cup was saved to be used from one generation to another. Of course, the custom has long been established of drinking a toast to one another, but the two handled cup adds a special touch to the weddings of today. Until recently, these cups have been very difficult to find. Drinking from the same cup denotes “togetherness.”
Wedding Customs Around World
Germany
The tradition coming to us out of Germany includes the bride and groom holding candles trimmed with flowers and ribbons. This beautiful old tradition could be included in a wedding of today, with the couple placing candles they have carried to the alter beside their unity candle. These candles could then be used to light the unity candle at the end of the ceremony.
Wedding Customs Around World
Holland
A canopy of fragrant evergreens meaning “everlasting love” was where the bride and groom would sit following their ceremony to receive best wishes and gifts from their friends.
Wedding Customs Around World
India
Flowers have always played a very important part in the Indian wedding. A lasting tradition passed along from generation to generation is that of the brother of the groom sprinkling flower petals over the heads of the couple following the wedding vows and at the end of the ceremony.
Wedding Customs Around World
Iran
When this country was called Persia, back in the Bible times, the groom would purchase ten yards of sheeting fabric and wrap it around and around his bride. Just think how fun it must have been to unwrap her :). Today, of course, the fashionable Iranian bride wears the traditional wedding gown fashioned in Paris or other European countries.
Wedding Customs Around World
Ireland
For a touch of tradition from the lovely green isle, you might well want to consider their traditional wedding cake, which is a far cry from the sugary delight we call a “wedding cake”. Theirs is the true fruit cake well laced with raisins, almonds, cherries, and spice. In the true Irish spirit the recipe is laden with brandy or bourbon.
Wedding Customs Around World
Italy
Sugared almonds have for centuries been tossed by guests at the Italian wedding. This is called “confetti”. Today, sugared almonds are a popular favor found bound in netting and tied with matching ribbon as a treat to your wedding guests.
Wedding Customs Around World
Japan
The bridal couple in Japan takes nine sips of sake, becoming husband and wife after the first sip. They will set across the table from each other, looking directly into the eyes of the other, each taking a sip at the same moment, being very careful to set the cup down on the table at the same exact moment. The purpose of this is to keep one from dying before the other. The tradition being, that who ever’s cup is set on the table last will be the first to die.
Wedding Customs Around World
Mexico
The guests at a Mexican wedding have a lovely old custom of forming a circle around the couple in the shape of a heart. The newlyweds will then dance their first dance together within this circle of love.
Wedding Customs Around World
Poland
The custom of pinning money to the gown of the bride is centuries old in Poland. It was once done to help the young couple set up housekeeping and gave them money to begin their new life together. Today, it is more popularly known as the “money dance” and money may be pinned on both the bride and groom in payment for dancing with them.
Wedding Customs Around World
Romania
Rather than throwing rice at the couple making their get away in Romania, the guests would throw sweets and nuts at the couple as they made their exit. A far cry from the oft thrown bird seed of today.
Wedding Customs Around World
Russia
Wedding guests received small thank you gifts when attending the traditional Russian wedding of days gone by. Popular items included small pictures, bud vases or other tiny items. These were in appreciation of their presence and well wishing
Wedding Customs Around World
Spain
Long ago, in certain regions of Spain, the bride wore a black silk dress and mantilla. Orange blossoms in her hair was the flower of the day. The groom wore a tucked shirt which had been hand embroidered by the bride.
Wedding Customs Around World
Sweden
Imaginary trolls, once thought to bring misfortune to the young couple, were kept away by the bride, as well as her bridesmaids, carrying bouquets of pungent herbs and stinking weeds. Today, those stinking herbs and weeds have been replaced by the lovely bouquets carried on the arms of brides throughout the world.
Wedding Customs Around World
Switzerland
Following the ceremony, a junior bridesmaid would lead the procession to the reception by passing our colored handkerchiefs to the guests along the way. Each guest would then in turn give a coin to the bridesmaid for the starting up of the new home.
