Wedding Customs from around the World
Weddings are amazing ceremonies that gather together many traditions whose reasons are only vaguely understood by those practicing them, but to those who come from different cultures, they often seem very strange indeed. Other times, they are very recognizable in our own traditions. Here’re some examples of interesting wedding customs from some other countries.
Blackening the Bride
Although she may wear white on the day of the wedding, in Scotland things take a darker turn the day before. Traditionally, a bride is taken out by friends and family and covered in oil, syrup, feathers, and other substances the day before the wedding. This is supposed to frighten away evil spirits before the ceremony.
Carrying Fire
In South Africa, they have a much more sophisticated version of the unity candle. In this tradition, the fire in the new couple’s hearth is started by fire brought from the homes of both parents. This symbolizes the uniting of the families.
Beating the Feet
In Korea, a groom must prove his intelligence under fire before he is allowed to leave with his bride. Groomsmen bind his feet, take off his shoes and socks, then beat the soles of his feet with sticks or even fish. All the while he is quizzed by guests, and only released if his knowledge lives up to expectations.
Log Cutting
In Germany, it’s not just the groom who must prove his worthiness—the couple must show that they are able to work together by sawing a log in half at the ceremony. Holding opposite ends of a two-handled saw, the couple cuts the log in front of their guests to demonstrate their willingness to face and overcome the obstacles of marriage.
Spitting on the Bride
Among the Massai people of Kenya, it is traditional for a father to bless his daughter by spitting on her head and breasts. Although this might seem gross, remember that spit represents a vital force in many traditions. After all, remember that it was Jesus’s spit that restored sight to the blind, and many creation myths say that people were given life with the spit of the gods.
The Family That Drinks Together
In Japan, families are brought together by drinking. In the traditional sake ceremony, the bride and groom take one drink each from three cups of sake, then their families do the same. When this is done, they are all considered one family.
What Are Your Traditions?
One of the great things about helping people conduct weddings in the US is that people of many cultures bring their customs here. We love to share these traditions with the couples that have their weddings at our Denver wedding venue, and we are open to ceremonies that contain a wide range of traditional elements.
If you want to share your traditions with us at your wedding, please contact Stonebrook Manor today to tour our facility and talk to us about the ceremony you are looking for.