National Wedding Traditions

It is becoming more and more popular for couples to draw on their cultural and ethnic backgrounds and to include those traditions and customs into their weddings. This holds true for couples and families of Irish decent, for there is a rich cultural heritage upon which to draw and elements which add color and flavor to a wedding, making it truly a special event.

Brazil

Is a very beautiful and tropical country with a big European influence, and its customs are based on old rituals. The population of Brazil is 94% Roman Catholics, and therefore there weddings are very traditional, but there weddings only contain a few differences from the weddings we have here in the USA. Mostly the differences are within the wedding attire, food, party, and entertainment.

The traditional weddings in Brazil are very grand and most expressive celebrations of the world. It makes for loud music, songs, samba dances, colorful dresses, delicious foods, legends, beliefs and most importantly traditions.

The bride wears gold shoes and a white wedding dress that is usually rented just as the groom and groomsman tuxedos. It can be very difficult to find matching dresses and tuxedos for a wedding in Brazil so it is custom for people to wear anything formal.

Traditions of Brazil portrays that a bride must be late by 10 minutes after the groom to walk down the aisle. Pagoda is a form of samba dance is often organized at Brazilian weddings, and it involves a lot of music and beats.

Another interesting tradition in some parts of Brazil is that the groom himself must tame an unbridled donkey to prove his worth as a responsible husband. This custom is known as Bumba- Meu- Boi. Now if the groom successfully manages to complete this task then he has affirmed that he is suitable to marry the daughter of the man who owned the donkey.

Capirinha is a famous Brazilian drink made of Cacasa and it is served at all traditional Brazil weddings. These delicious Brazilian cookies named casadinhos are must in any traditional Brazil wedding.

Just like in many countries the groom must carry his newly wed bride in his arms and over the threshold of their hotel room or house but he must do so with his right foot first.

Bangladesh

Wedding traditions in Bangladesh take several days and are very elaborate. Marriages are viewed as very special and sacred and is met with great enthusiasm.

There is an pre-engagement ritual that is known as Adan Pradan where the ancestral lines of the bride and groom are examined before a priest to ensure that they are not of the same lineage. Then an aashirwad takes place to confirm the marriage, and the purohit or priest uses a Bhagwan Narayan idol during this ceremony. Afterwods a visit is made by the family of the bride to the groom to bless him before the priest and then a visit is made by the family of the groom to the bride to bless her before the priest. These blessings are taken by the bride and groom by touching their elders’ feet. During this time various gifts are given to the bride and groom, including rings and ornaments.

There are pre-wedding rituals that are known as vridhi. These rituals take place the day before the wedding, and this is when the groom and his bride offer puja to their ancestors. Now all members of the families must attend this ritual. Then at dawn on the wedding day, the ceremony of dodhi mangal is held, and the bride and groom are taken separately by married women to a pond where they issue the goddess Ganga an invitation to the wedding. A pitcher of water is then brought back for the bride and groom to bathe in. They then have a morning meal which includes macher laija bhaja, jal dhala bhaja, curd and chiruya. Then a Gae halud tattva is sent to the bride from the groom and this made up of clothing and cosmetics as well as foodstuffs, and then the bride gives the groom Adhibas Tattva. Each in their respective houses takes part in a kubi patta ceremony in honor of Sant Kuber. The the Snan bathing rituals of the wedding day occur late in the afternoon or in the evening, and the turmeric and oil is placed on their bodies. The bride is then adorned in stunning clothing and veiled. The wedding ceremony is held at a mandap that is intricately decorated.

The wedding ritual begins with the arrival of the groom’s party at the house of the bride. A great cacophony is made with bells, conch shells and ululation, and  water is softly sprinkled onto the doorstep whilst the groom enters. The priest then holds the wedding ceremony during which he chants mantras and the couple exchanges garlands. After the couple has been married the Basar Ghar ritual begind which is the welcoming of the newly married couple into the bride’s home. They have a great feast with festivities, and Bashi Biye reforms to a ritual the next morning when the groom places vermilion on the forehead of the bride. They then go to the mandap to worship the Sun God. Later they perform the Vidaai which is the departure of the newly-weds to the grooms house. Once there the Bou Baran ritual is performed which is the welcoming at the groom’s house where the bride dips her feet in a plate of lac dye with milk and enters the house. Bou Bhat is the bride’s first meal at her in-laws house, with a reception held in the evening. Phool Sajja is the last Bengali wedding custom where the couple is dressed in new clothes, and the nuptial bedroom is adorned with flowers.

Egypt

The ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to regard marriage as a Legal relationship, and as a religious imposition. The ancient Egyptian laws organized the marriage relationship and indicated all rights and duties for the couples. These Ancient Egyptian laws also gave the right of divorce to women as well as men, and the wife had great respect and they were regarded with a high degree of prestige.

Even in this day and age many weddings in Egypt are still arranged and the tradition of the groom’s family proposing to the bride is still practiced.  

The day of the wedding just before the marriage vows begin there is a musical wedding march called the Zaffa, with traditional Egyptian music, belly dancers, drums horns and performers with flaming swords.

Traditionally, Egyptians believed that the ring finger has the “vein amoris”, the vein of love, which runs straight to the heart. The bride will wear a Charmeuse Couture Wedding Dresses or a traditional White Wedding Dress and the groom will wear a traditional Black Suit or Tuxedo.

After the marriage ceremony they will drive their wedding car which will be decorated with flowers and ribbons to the hotel or weeding hall for the wedding celebrations to begin.  While driving their wedding car to this location their family and friends will drive their cars in circles around them continuously honking their horns to let people know that a wedding is taken place.

Once the bride and groom have reached the hotel or wedding hall they are immediately received by a human dancing and singing parade known as a Zaffa. Zaffa is a combination of enthusiastic friends and family as well as hired musicians which often includes the traditional belly dancers.

When the bride and groom are finally allowed to sit down, the Zaffas can take up to an hour; they do so in special throne-like chairs in the center of the room. A special rose sherbet drink is passed around and family and guests toast the bridal couple.

 Speeches will then be given by parents, and friends, and sometimes the bride and groom may give speeches of their own. Now music continues to play throughout these speeches and friends may drag the bride and groom separately out onto the floor to dance with them.  Male friends of the groom may even toss him into the air. Then finally, just as the guests are about to faint from hunger, dinner is served. This usually consist of a massive buffet of all kinds of yummy Egyptian food, with several kinds of salad and meat dishes, such as kufta, kebabs, grilled chicken and fish and saffron-flavored rice combinations. For dessert, in addition to the wedding cake, an Egyptian wedding will also serve baklava and other layered honey-soaked pastries. Also keeping with the Muslim observance, there will not be any alcohol served at the wedding celebration.

India

India/Hindu wedding traditions are very colorful, elaborate, and religious. There wedding ceremonies consist of money, eggs, and sweet all woven into a spectacular wedding theme which symbolizes a sweet life of fertility, and prosperity. The India/Hindu wedding ceremony also includes customary rituals to help ward off evil spirits, and Indian grooms will often wear a turban with a veil of flowers streaming down in front of his face to protect him from evil spirits. Traditional Indian brides wear pink and red saris on their wedding day, adorning themselves extravagantly with as much jewelry as possible.

Once the wedding vows have been exchanged the groom’s father or brother will shower flower petals on the newlyweds; then he holds a coconut over their heads and circles it around them three times. An Indian groom will often wear a turban with a veil of flowers streaming down in front of his face to protect him from the evil spirits. On the eve of her wedding vows, following a traditional ceremonial cleansing, the bride will have her hands and feet painted with henna, in very beautiful paisley or medallion patterns. Then a special wedding gift is given to the bride, a necklace signifying her married status.

Ireland

The Irish are a blend of the old Celtic mythologies and the Christianity brought in by St. Patrick. Both of these influences are equally and greatly important in any relationship. Young men and women are told to be proper and to show great respect for each other and their families.

St. Patrick is revered in Ireland, and his traditional color is blue, and in fact until recently the flag of Ireland was blue with a gold harp. While everyone loves green, consider having blue as your theme if you are going for a church wedding.

The Irish are a very religious and patient people, and before a wedding can take place, the Banns had to be read at church for three Sundays in order to give the couple time to consider their action and to give others the time to object.

In Ireland it is considered to be very good luck if it rains on your wedding day, but then again it is very rare to have a day in Ireland with no rain. Also a man should be the first to congratulate the bride, because it is considered to be bad luck if a woman congratulates the bride first. It is also considered to be bad luck if the bride puts on her own veil; a well married woman is to do this honor. Also a bride who can sing well is expected to sing at her wedding.

On the day of the wedding the bride is to use a different road home than she took to the church.

This is believed to have been started in order to keep any merry makers from delaying the honeymoon, but it is also a symbol of her life that begins with her marriage.

The wedding earrings are believed to bring good luck and should be worn the whole day through. Irish brides also have wreaths made of wildflowers over their elaborate veils, and the also carry wildflower bouquets. Irish brides also braid their hair, just as braiding of all kinds is very traditional such as braided trim on their clothes, their hair, and wreaths. Also the Irish brides carry on the tradition of something new, something barrowed, something blue, but with an “Irish” penny for her shoe.

After the wedding ceremony the wedding party starts in another location from the church which is generally celebrated at the home of the bride. The newly married couple and all people of the wedding party should take the longest road from the church to the home. Also the bride is not to ever take both of her feet off the floor while dancing with her husband for this gives the fairies an edge

 
The wedding party will then gather around the bride and groom, and all are to fill their glasses with mead (or champagne) and the newly wedded couple recites an Irish toast such as this one:

 ”Friends and relatives, so fond and dear, ’tis our greatest pleasure to have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead and ask God’s blessing in your hour of need.” The guests respond: “On this special day, our wish to you, the goodness of the old, and the best of the new. God bless you both who drink this mead, may it

always fill your every need.”

The Food

The wedding cake in modern Ireland is often a rich fruit cake, iced in white, though other cakes are also used.
Wedding Cake Recipe

The top tier of the wedding cake should be an Irish whiskey cake which is saved for the christening of your first baby. A slice of the cake is saved to be eaten on your first anniversary.

Honeymoon comes from the honey wine known as mead, in the old days it was consumed at weddings because it was thought that it promoted virility.

Couples also drink mead from special goblets for a full month following the wedding. This was thought to protect the couple from the fairies coming to spirit the bride away

Italy

Italy is a country abundantly full of traditions, and there wedding celebrations can be quite long. They begin there wedding day with a morning mass, and continue on with dancing and feasting that lasts well into the next day.

A traditional Diamond ring is given as the engagement ring, which dates back to medieval Italy. Did you know that it was believed that diamonds were created by the “flames of love” according to Italian folklore? Also according to old folklore traditions the bridegroom must carry a small bit of iron ore in his pocket to ward the evil eye away from his wedding ceremony. The wearing of a bridal veil is another wedding tradition that began in Italy. The veil is a symbol of virginity, and the covering of the bride’s face means she has never “known” a man before.

The traditional wedding mass or ceremony (sposalizio) often takes place in the morning, allowing the bride and groom some quiet time together afterwards while family and friends prepare for the reception festivities.

Now in some small Italian villages it is common for the bride and groom to walk to the village square together after the wedding mass. There in the square the family and friends of the couple set up a sawhorse, that they put a log across so that the bride and groom must work together to saw the log in half with a double-handled ripsaw, thus representing the teamwork it takes to have a successful marriage. Now in other regions of Italy, the bride and groom shattered a vase or large glass together and then number of shattered pieces was counted and this is said to represent the number of happy years they would spend together.  In more modern traditions the bride and groom release a pair of white doves after the ceremony to symbolize the couple’s love and happiness.  Now it is also considered good luck for the bride to wear green the night before her wedding. The color green is said to bring good luck and abundance to the couple, and to avoid unfavorable luck, the bride is supposed to avoid wearing gold until after her wedding ring is presented. The groom is expected to arrive at the church before the bride, she’s expected to be late, and await her arrival.

The tradition of giving candied almonds at wedding receptions comes from Italy, and this treat is meant to represent both the sweet and bitter aspects of a marriage, the perceivable reminder of the “for better or worse” part of the wedding vows.  These candies are wrapped in tulle, and given to each guest inside a small pottery or glass dish as a wedding favor.

The wedding reception usually begins in the afternoon and carries on until the early hours of the next morning.  A wedding feast begins with antipasto and continues with a sumptuous multi-course dinner. The symbolic wedding foods include Wanda, which are small bits of twisted dough covered in powdered sugar, and Italian wedding candy. Drinks include sweet liquors for the women and stronger drinks for the men, and are served as an aperitif before the banquet feast.  Then after the reception meal the wedding cake is served with espresso and other coffees.

The Tarantella is a traditional wedding circle dance, and it is an integral part of the reception celebration, and everyone participates in this celebration.

The bride also carries a La Borsa which is a small satin bag so that the attending guests could slip gifts of money into. The money traditionally went back to the brides family to help pay for the expenses of the occasion.  Sometimes the groom’s tie is cut into pieces and the pieces are “sold off” to reception guests. The cash is then given to the bride and groom to use on their honeymoon.

Scotland

Scotland always seems to do things in it’s own way and style - and a Scottish wedding is no exception to the rule. In the 21st century, the Scottish wedding is an intricate blend of ancient highland tradition mixed in with modern, streamlined rites. Present day Scottish wedding traditions have their origins as far back as the 13th century. Wedding customs however have changed dramatically over the years.

“Blackening” is a ritual performed with great relish which is where the engaged couple are captured one night by so-called ‘friends’ and covered with foul substances such as treacle, feathers, soot, etc. They are then paraded around the village and usually the pubs. Unfortunately it does takes days to wash this stuff  clean off your body!

In the eighteenth century, the custom of hand-fasting was observed. A couple would live together for a year and a day, at which time they could decide whether to part or make a lifelong commitment. It was considered more important for the bride to be experienced and fertile than to be a virgin.

Tradition says sew a hair onto the hem of a wedding dress for luck, or let a drop of blood fall onto an inner seam. The bride must never try on a complicated dress in advance of her wedding day. To facilitate this tradition a small section of the hem is left unsown by the dress maker until the last moment.

Lastly, the bride, when she leaves home for the last time as a single girl, should

step out of the house with her right foot for luck.

The Penny or Silver Bridal festivities, also known as Penny Weddings, were renowned for feasting, drinking, dancing and fighting and were enjoyed by all except the clergy who disapproved of such raucous behavior. Gifts were made to the newly-weds towards the cost of the wedding feast and the celebrations started on the eve of the wedding with singing, toasts and the ceremony of “feet washing.”

Feet washing is where a tub of water would be placed in the bride’s room, and later when the bride went to her room she would place her feet in this tub and her female friends would gather around to help wash her feet. Also a wedding ring from a happily married woman would be places in the tub of water and the traditional belief would be that whoever found this ring would be the next girl to get married. However during this time the men folk would be outside the door making jokes and attempting to watch through the doorway. But the bridegroom would be seized by the women and made to sit at the tub. They would then take his legs and none too gently daub them with soot, ashes and cinders which was quite a painful procedure as you might guess!

The following day of the wedding procession, the bridal party made their way to the church with flower petals being thrown in front of the bride. If they encountered a funeral or a pig on the way, it was considered to be bad luck and they would return home and set out again later that day. The first person they encountered was called the first- foot and would be given a coin and a drink of whisky by the bride. He/she would then have to accompany the bridal party for one mile before being allowed to continue on his/her way.

Spain

Weddings in Spain are big business and they are taken very seriously. Traditionally, the groom must give a watch to the bride’s father when his proposal is accepted.

Long ago in Spain, their weddings consisted of the bride wearing a black silk dress and mantilla, and she wore orange blossoms in her hair as the flower of the day.  Now the groom wore a tucked in shirt which had been hand embroidered by the bride.

Though some brides still uphold custom by embroidering their groom’s wedding shirt, today’s Spanish brides generally choose white wedding dresses for themselves rather than the black lace or silk gowns that were once popular, but no matter what color the dress, lacey mantillas secured with combs often complete the ensemble.  Now the flower selections vary depending from region to region.

Now since dining late is a Mediterranean custom, wedding ceremonies often aren’t scheduled until evening. According to tradition, the bride’s father escorts his daughter to the church after having ensured that the groom has not seen her the night before the ceremony, and unlike other traditions the groom is also walked down the aisle by his mother.

Spanish wedding ceremonies are marked by an exchange of 13 gold coins in a special purse or box, and whether they are real gold or imitation, these coins are blessed by the officiating priest. They are said to represent Jesus Christ and his apostles, so they not only have a religious connotation but also a practical one since they represent a dowry, a pledge of the new groom’s willingness to support his wife.

Once the newly married couple emerges from the church, they are often greeted with firecrackers, instead of rice. Once the reception begins, the festivities continue into the night with dining and dancing. The wedding dance is called “seguidillas manchegas”, and guests who dance with the bride, traditionally give her money, but pieces of the groom’s tie and/or the bride’s garter may also be auctioned off for good luck.

Though the Spanish bride throws her bouquet to whomever will be next to marry, she also hands out pins with a flower motif to unmarried ladies who attach them to their clothing upside down. The hope is the pins will be lost during the dancing, and therefore indicate the lady will soon marry. Other favors for wedding guests are cigars for the gentlemen and something nicely scented for the ladies.

A traditional Spain wedding reception menu consist of Paella, a delicious seafood and rice stew, and a red wine punch, is found at most Spanish gatherings. The wedding cake is a sponge cake which is rich with fruit and almonds.

Sources: Folklore Wedding Traditions of the World by Wanda Lou Willis; Timeless Traditions by Lisle M. Spangenberg; Weddings, Dating, and Love Customs of Cultures Worldwide, Including Royalty by Carolyn Mordecai

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