Matrimony has various forms throughout world
Not every bride wears white, obviously. And wedding ceremonies don’t necessarily have to be in a church or chapel.
The word “wed,” after all, literally means “to pledge,” and people throughout the region and beyond have discovered numerous ways to pledge their love.
Through this pledge – this public act of promising to love and honor a partner forever – wedding ceremonies serve as a kind of social glue. They not only bring two people together, they also can bridge families, faith traditions and even cultures.
Here are some examples of wedding traditions that have been practiced throughout the globe:
“In Pakistan, the bride wears red, a color that symbolizes happiness.
“It is a custom in Wales for the bride’s family to kidnap her just before the wedding ceremony. The groom and his family follow in pursuit and whoever rescues the bride-to-be will marry within a year.
“A ceremony in which seven broomsticks are burned and thrown away to represent the discarding of bad habits is one of the traditions practiced in Sudan.
“On the morning of a wedding in Vietnam, the groom’s mother visits the bride’s family and offers two gifts: a special plant that represents respect and pink chalk, a symbol for happiness.
“In Japan, the bride-to-be is sometimes painted pure white from head to toe. She wears a white kimono and an elaborate headpiece covered with ornaments to invite good luck. Japanese grooms wear black kimonos to their wedding ceremony. The ritual of drinking nine cups of sake is also part of the ceremony to symbolize the bonding of the couple as well as their two families.
“Still practiced in small villages in France today is for the groom to call on his future bride at her home on the morning of their wedding day. As he escorts her to the wedding chapel, the town’s children stretch white ribbons across the road, which the bride cuts.
“In Mexico, a rosary or a white ribbon is sometimes draped around the necks of the newlyweds to symbolize their joining together. It is also customary for the groom to present his wife with 13 gold coins during the ceremony to symbolize his commitment to support his new wife.
“In Greece, no wedding is complete without an all-night party that includes plenty of feasting, dancing and drinking. Dishes are smashed on the floor for good luck and money is thrown at the musicians.
“The sharing of bread, salt and wine is part of many Polish weddings. The parents of the newly married couple present them with rye bread, lightly sprinkled with salt, and a glass of wine. The bread represents the hope that the couple will never go hungry. The salt is a reminder that life may be difficult at times, but that they will learn to cope. The wine symbolizes the desire that the couple will never go thirsty and that their lives will be filled with health and happiness.
Source: www.world weddingtraditions.con