Thursday, September 15, 2011

Wedding Traditions from Different Cultures


In some parts of Africa, a man asks permission to marry a woman, and if the family agrees, he presents her with a little money and a kola nut. The bride opens the nut, shares it with the groom, and sends a piece via messenger to other families to announce the engagement. After the wedding ceremony, guests shower the couple with corn kernels, symbolizing fertility. 


In Germany, For good luck the bride would carry salt and bread in her pocket to ensure bounty; the groom would carry grain for wealth and good fortune. A young girl proceeds in front of the bride as they are traveling down the path to the church. The girl sprinkle petals to wish good luck and to ward off evil spirits.



In Pakistan, A Pakistani Bride wears red on the day of her wedding because red symbolizes happiness. Another reason why red is also worn is because it is bright. No one else wears red that day except the bride







In some Hindu wedding ceremonies, the groom is responsible for the bride's clothing. But instead of the familiar white gown, Hindu brides wear a sari. When the bride arrives at the ceremony, she wears clothing from her parents; when all is done, she is dressed in clothing her husband has provided.







In India, to ward off evil, the groom’s mother would sprinkle flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony. A newly married bride, while entering her husband's house for the first time, will first have to knock down a container of uncooked rice, and enter putting forward her right foot first. This is to ensure that she brings good luck to the house. Brides receive many presents. Midway through the ceremony, the bride changes into a sari given to her by the groom's mother, as a welcome into the groom's family. The women of the groom's family also present her with platters of fruit, flowers and candy, which they place at her feet. 






In Japan, To become husband and wife, the couple takes sips of sake, becoming husband and wife after the first sip. The Japanese bride-to-be is painted pure white from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. The bride wears a white kimono and an elaborate headpiece covered with many ornaments to invite good luck to the happy couple. 


 
A white hood is attached to the kimono, which the bride wears like a veil to hide her 'horns of jealousy' from the groom's mother, who will now become the head of the family. Japanese grooms wear black kimonos to their wedding ceremony. 


 


While the bride and groom exchange their wedding vows, their families face each other, instead of the couple getting married. Central to the traditional Japanese marriage ceremony is the ritual of drinking nine cups of sake, after which newlyweds are considered united. Families and guests also drink sake, to symbolize the bonding of the couple as well as of the two families. Then the father of the groom and of the bride introduces their respective family members. 

 





For the wedding reception, the new bride changes into a red kimono and again later into a western-style gown. Due to better climate, many Japanese brides prefer spring and fall wedding dates. Certain wedding anniversaries are thought to be lucky, so it is common to see dozens of newlywed couples heading for their honeymoon on the same day. 

  









Korean wedding traditions involve birds that mate for life: ducks and geese. Korean grooms used to travel to the homes of their brides on the back of a white pony, bearing a goose, which symbolizes fidelity. Nowadays, they use symbolic wooden geese. In another tradition, a pair of wooden ducks, one symbolizing the bride and the other the groom, can indicate whether couples are happy or at odds. 

After the wedding each spouse places one of the ducks somewhere in their house.  If the ducks face nose to nose, the couple is getting along.

 









If they are tail to tail, the couple is believed to be fighting.








    In Myanmar, regardless of the means by which a young couple is brought together, the marriage ties are social rather than religious. The Myanmar custom is to do court marriage in front of the honorable judge superiors by signing officially before celebrating ceremony. 






In modern times, especially among urban people, it is usual for some sort of public ceremony and reception to be held in the presence of parents and elders. The bride and groom are taken to their place in the stage by Master of ceremonies. The master of ceremony reads the eulogy and oversees the performance of the marriage rites such as placing a four-foot long chain around the couple's necks, putting their hands together with palms facing each other, immersing their joined hands in a silver bowl containing scented water and soon. 




 
After the festivities are over, the young couple pays respect to the respective parents and elders. The newlyweds then proceed to prominent pagodas and say prayers for “successive long marriage life. 
 





All is not yet over -- laughing friends and relatives bar the entrance of nuptial chamber by a gold chain and demand payment for entry. This payment is known as gare-boe “stone money". This is traditional custom of demanding money from the newly-married couple as joyous.





  A traditional Thai wedding is one of the most important aspects of Thai life and culture. Wedding ceremonies in Thailand are extremely grand and elaborate. All relatives, close and distant, make it a point to be present at a family wedding where the groom’s parents give money to the bride’s parents as part of the Thai custom. 

      Usually the wedding is arranged between the elders of the two families. They approach the monks and compare the stars of the prospective bride and groom. It is important that the stars are in harmony and match each other. If this does not happen then the wedding will not be held. Once it is found that the stars of the bride and groom are in harmony, an auspicious day is selected to perform the wedding ceremony. Generally, August is considered as the most auspicious month and one will find many weddings taking place across Thailand during that month. 

        During the marriage ceremony, friends and relatives of the groom dance all the way to the bride’s house with hands laden with gifts. Just before the marriage ceremony, the engagement is done with monks chanting sacred words. Once the engagement is over, it paves way for the actual marriage ceremony. The marriage ceremony is performed by Buddhist monks who chant sacred verses. One of the most sacred words during a Thai wedding is Sin-sod. Without these two words a marriage is incomplete. Sin-sod refers to the money that the groom’s parents give to the bride’s parents.


   Once the wedding is solemnized by the monks, the feasting begins. Monks are offered food and they bless the new wedded couple and the entire gathering with holy water. Once this is over, the monks leave and with this the marriage ceremony comes to an end. However, many modern couples continue to enjoy their wedding day with friends and family.

No comments:

Post a Comment