Wedding Customs
Africa England France Germany Greece Haitian India Ireland
Couples will “jump the broom” during the wedding. The broom symbolizes the home’s threshold, and the jump signifies the couple’s move from single life to married life. Couples literally may “tie the knot” by binding their wrists together as a symbol of their unity. As a symbol of modesty, the bride may “veil” her face using her braided hair as the veil. Wine is poured onto the ground as an offering to the gods to join in on the celebration.
Flower petals are sprinkled by young girls along the bride’s path in hopes of providing a happy path in life. The bride carries a horseshoe sometimes bedecked with ribbons to bestow good luck on her and the marriage. The traditional wedding cake is a fruitcake. The cake usually is filled with ground almonds, raisins, and cherries topped with special candies and marzipan. The top layer of the wedding cake may be saved as a “christening cake” to be served at the baptism of the couples’ first child.
As the couple exits, laurel leaves are scattered outside the door to the church. At the reception, the couple use a Coupe de marriage, a special two-handled cup usually passed down through the generations. After the reception, friends of the couple will “interrupt” the wedding night by banging pots & pans to accompany their loud singing outside the bedroom window. The groom is supposed to invite the friends into the house for refreshments.
A German wedding may last three days with all of its merriment. The wedding typically is a civil one, with the couple and their friends going to dinner afterwards. The next evening the couple is visited for the Polterabend, or wedding-eve party, by friends and neighbors. Smashing plates and other breakables occurs as a sign of good luck, “May nothing ever be broken in your home again!” The following day, the religious ceremony takes place, followed by a traditional reception. Before the couple can leave the reception, the guests cover the doors with garlands of greenery, flowers, etc. The groom must “ransome” the couple with promises of money or a party.
The couple are crowned by the best man to show they are the King and Queen of their union as man and wife. The Greek tradition of the Kaslamantiano, the Circle Dance (famous from the movie “Zorba, the Greek”), is done at the reception. Candy-coated almonds are given to the guests as favors.
Wedding guests will bring gifts to the wedding, but no gifts of money. The wedding cake is not cut at the reception. It is cut later in the couple’s home. Reception food would include conch (a type of shellfish), fried pork, and creole-style black rice.
The Indian bride undergoes a ceremonial cleansing to get ready for the wedding. After which her hands and feet are painted with henna. After the ceremony, the brothers of the groom toss flower petals to ward off evil from the bridal couple.
One of the most notable dances at the wedding reception is called the “Janting Char”. The groom is placed in a chair, and he is carried in to meet his guests. The Claddagh wedding tradition originates from the tale about a man in ancient Galway. He was soon to become wed, but he was taken prisoner by roving sailors and forced into labour in a foreign land. During that time he taught himself the art of jewelry-making. Upon his return to his homeland, he found his maiden had never married, and in his happiness, he fashioned the now famous Claddagh wedding band. The rings depicts a heart, held by two hands with a crown over it. Many “lassies” now wear the Claddagh ring, but only those that are married wear it with the crown nearest the finger nail on the left hand. These rings also are part of the “Faith” (or Fede rings. Traditionally, the Claddagh ring was passed from mother to first daughter.