Different Wedding And Entertainment Traditions Across The World
Wedding Traditions in Different Countries
Arabic Customs
Groom’s Relatives Search the Bride for the Groom
Arabic wedding traditions have a lot of common with marriage traditions of other eastern countries. Mother and aunt of young man search a girl for him and they go to girl’s home to make acquaintance with girl’s family.
They try to know about the character and reputation of the girl. And if they have made a firm decision they ask the permission of boy’s father to make a marriage proposal. Older members of the family go to future bride’s house to declare their disposition. After few meetings, girl’s families take their own decision and if they accept the proposal, families announced the engagement. There a lot of work during the engagement period, the groom’s family should buy gold jewelry for the bride. In shopping day two families come together and go to a jeweler. Engagement can be held in a family circle or it can be a great and luxurious holiday.
Engagement Lasts No More Than Six Months
Generally, the engagement period is stimulated before and lasts no more than six months. In some Arab countries, it can take two or three years. There are some special customs that groom’s family need to stick: visit the bride’s family periodically and give some money for the bride. By this financial support, she can complete her preparation for marriage. Her family also helps her to make a dowry. During this period families get better acquainted and the bride and groom getting closer. They took an irreversible decision. In case there is no mutual understanding between families, engagement will be dissolved. All gifts, jewelers, and money should be returned.
The Wedding Lasts Three Days
If the engagement period ran fine and both families pleased, so a turn comes to marriage preparations. Religion holidays can’t be chosen as the wedding day. Wedding traditions vary from one Arabic country to another. The financial status of the groom’s family plays a crucial role in form of the wedding. Traditionally the wedding lasts three days. All neighbors come in the first day. They have a good time, eat and rejoice.
On the next day, it’s time for the henna ceremony. The ceremony of henna is held in the bride’s house. On the third day, they took the bride to groom’s house. She comes to the wedding procession. All day long guests enjoy the delicious food, dance, sing, enjoy and have a fun. In the end, every guest should make a gift to newlyweds. After this, all gift will be announced.
INDIA
India is a country with a very rich culture and complicated history of the colonial past. There were some hard periods of Christian, Islamic and Hindu authority. All this was reflected in a people’s traditions of the country and including the wedding customs as well. Wedding traditions of the country more unique and richer compared to any other countries. There are three big regions: Delhi – Agra – Japura, they are a mix of different cultures and traditions. All that you can see there will be very interesting and attractive to you.
The Weddings According To Astrological Prediction And Religions.
As we said before, Indian wedding traditions differ by their diversity. The weddings of rich Hindu families are distinguished by their luxury and glamorizes. All weddings in India went under religion rules and canons. Religion influence wedding customs and rituals are huge. Some families go to astrological predictors to find out it will be this marriage successful or not. There is a certain astrological prediction for the wedding which called Navamsa. By groom and bride’s date of birth build up horoscopy map according to their marriage. And only after the prediction of Navamsa they took the final decision. It’s a widespread practice in India.
According to Indian traditions, the groom should buy a wedding gown for the bride. And there is no white wedding dress in India, Indian brides wear conventional Indian dress – sari. The bride goes from her home in an ordinary dress and after the ceremony wears the wedding dress prepared specially for her.
“Swastika” is a four-pointed cross
Indian who adhering to the Christian religion has their own traditions. According to their customs, the bride’s car should be decorated with flowers and they put up in front of the car a big four-pointed cross “Swastika”. History of this symbol goes back a long way. It is suggested that this symbol appeared six thousand years BC in West Asia, later went to India. In Sanskrit, it means “happy and prospers life”. The bride and her relatives decorate their heads with thin patters by henna-like mixtures. Later the bride and groom go home to the beautiful sound of traditional Indian music.
Specific payment to groom’s relatives from bride family.
There are some specific outdated and strange traditions in India as like marriage of minors who don’t reach the age of marriage or tradition of drahoma. Drahoma is a payment from the bride’s side to the groom’s side. This is the reason why the biggest part of Indians wants to have and pray to have a baby boy instead of a baby girl. And there is a custom of payment to the groom’s family in case the bride is not a virgin.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan is the country which absorbed cultural specificities of its neighbors. India and Iran have a major political and cultural impact on Pakistan. Pakistan greatly influences their traditions too. Pakistan’s traditions differ from region to region. Religion plays a huge role in their formation there a lot of religious traditions. There is a big difference between the cities’ lifestyle and suburb lifestyle. And as a result, it generates different customs and behavior.
Under influence of its neighbor's cultures in Pakistan appeared mystic traditions in weddings too. One of the spread and common traditions is to exam the groom by the bride’s relatives. They say different suffer words and barbs to his address and he should stay imperturbable. If he will be able to stay impassive it means he stood the test. After this test, he got the marriage right.
GREAT BRITAIN
Throughout a long colonial history of Great Britain, there had formed three main classes in society: The Royal family, aristocrats and middle class. The British always had some arrogant attitude toward other nations. They were always honoring and carrying on their traditions. There is exist also age-old traditions of such regions like Scotland and Ireland. In 1995 a law that prohibited performing the marriage ceremony in different places except churches and registry offices was repealed.
Revoking the law opened different opportunities for people to make their wedding more unique and unforgettable. The British got the rights to make their wedding ceremonies in hotels, castles, yachts, houses, restaurants i. e in all places where marriage officer can come. According to British marriage, law marriage can be made only by people who reach 18 years of age. In case the betrothed under the age it needs authorizations of their parents.
There are two types of legal marriages. One of them “licensed” and second is “certificated”. For their, who wants to marry without celebrated marriage can marriage by license type. The day before an appointed wedding day couple submits the application and pays the fee. It needs two witnesses. It’s not necessary to have the wedding rings. Certificated marriage suited for them who wants celebrated marriage ceremony not in church with a big amount of invited guests.
The bride and groom’s birth certifications, application form and the fee payment are required. For whom who was divorced before or whose ex-spouse died necessarily to have a certificate of divorce or death certification. The application must be submitted not later than 21 days before the ceremony. Occasionally it submitted three months before the appointed day. And for them who planning to make their wedding ceremony on Sunday, it’s better to fix up the date in advance. The couple must register the marriage in the marriage office whenever the marriage ceremony performed in the church.
Three Types Of Traditional Weddings.
For a long history of the country has established three different types of wedding traditions. First – wedding traditions of the Royalty Family wedding. The image and form of royal wedding defined directly by royal family itself. The royal family pays all expenses and takes over the costs of the royal wedding. Such wedding preparations may last for years. After young people meet and love each other they stay as an engaged couple for about two years after this will be announced the marriage decision. The marriage between members of the royal family and members of rank-and-file people recently had become widespread. Traditionally in the morning of wedding day after the wedding preparations are over couple goes in carriages to the church accompanied by cavalry. After the ceremony in the church, the newlyweds go back to Buckingham Palace welcoming people in its way.
Aristocrats’ and upper-class population’s weddings; upper-class population includes bankers, businessmen, politics i.e. People of this class prefer marriages with people of their own circle. These kinds of marriages counted as most successful and perspective. A purpose of these marriages are the increase in business, merge all activities and companies. Of course, in modern society of the upper-class population numbers of love marriages is increasing too, without paying attention to the origin of the partner. The weddings of the upper-class population are distinguished by their chic and luxury. The pomp of ceremony comes to the fore. Because of it, these weddings are incredible: the weddings in most luxurious hotels and restaurants, weddings abroad, on rich yachts with stars enlist.
- The weddings for a middle-class.
There are not district rules and restrictions in middle-class weddings. Mainly young people find each other without somebody’s help, independently. After, they will make acquaintance with a family of the future spouse. And families get acquainted by each other. They don’t pay big attention to their families’ dissent. It’s they who should take a conclusive decision. After the decision has taken a couple takes the decision about the residence. The families of young people don’t interfere in the personal lives of the couple. There a lot of different types of wedding styles in the middle class. Some wedding ceremonies held in the church. There is the belief that sound of bells drives away evil spirits. It is therefore when the bride and groom come to church and exit bells ring. When the newlyweds go out from church people throw petals on them for luck.
IRELAND
The Republic of Ireland is situated on an island which has the same name. Ireland is well-known for its beautiful nature, green mountains why it sometimes called “Emerald Island”. After in Great Britain had adopted a law that legitimated the marriage in different places, the Irish became to make their wedding ceremonies not only in church or marriage offices but in various locations. Even there was the wedding ceremony undersea. There is the district age limit for marriage, the bride and groom must be at least 18 ages old. And my parents’ agreement it is permissible from 16 ages.
CHINA
The most populous country in the world with great history and unique culture has its own wedding traditions. The Chinese as the Indian pay big attention to astrology and prediction. The Chinese weddings go under astrological forecast. Buddhism is a widespread religion in China. The groom’s family refers to the astrologer for the astrological forecast. If they found this prediction is applicable they send information about the birth date of the groom to bride’s family. The bride’s family in their turn refers for astrological forecast too. And in case both families find this prediction is appropriate they begin the wedding preparations.
Tea is a very valuable gift
In wedding day the groom brings gifts to the bride’s house. All gifts wrapped inside the red cloth. Among the gifts gold coins, earrings and bracelets. They symbolize happiness, fidelity, and fertility. At the end of the ceremony, the groom stays on his knees in front of the bride’s parents with a cup of tea as the token of his respect.
Before wedding day the groom put some fruits, oranges, pistachios on a bed of newlyweds. After this kids will be invited to taste them. The more kids will come to the more children the couple will have. The bride according to Chinese traditions wears red shoes and covered by the red veil.
Days are prohibited for wedding
Bridesmaids will be searched by horoscope too. In Chinese traditions, the wedding date can’t befall on last fifteen days of the seventh month of lunar calendar. They believe that in these days the doors of hell are opened and evil souls break out.
FRENCH
There is a very beautiful tradition in French wedding –all flowers for the ceremony will be brought by guests. There is another wedding tradition, it’s – newlyweds drink vine from ancient wedding glasses of their ancestors.
BULGARI
The Bulgarian groom goes to the bride’s house with his best friend. He brings homemade vine which called “rakiya” and bouquet of green flowers “zdravet” which symbolizes happiness. Together with these gifts, he brings a little gift to the bride and her father. Bride’s father as a paterfamilias wine and dine the guests. If he likes the groom, he calls his daughter and three times asks her opinion. If the bride agrees, they send gifts to the groom’s family too.
The day before the wedding will be baked special bread which embodies new family. On the wedding day, the bride takes the plate and throw it back over her head. They put in the plate trifle, egg and some wheat. The many smaller pieces it will be broke the happier life the newlyweds will have. A loaf of bread will be given to the bride and groom. Who can bite the bigger piece of bread he will authority in the new family.
FINLAND
Funnish brides wear a handmade golden crown. After the ceremony, the girls come to the bride and she gives her crown to another girl. They believed that this girl is the next bride.
SCOTLAND
In accordance with Scottish traditions the day before the wedding the Scottish bride should seat among her relatives and they wash her feet. This ritual embodies easy and pleasant lives for the new couple. In the wedding, the bride put some trifle inside her shoes. At the time of Vikings, the wedding ritual was like a bargain or an auction. The agent of the groom offers a definite price for the bride to her father through father’s agent. They discuss the price. In the wedding bride’s father puts some silver on the right foot of his daughter and mother put some gold on her left foot. Gold is a symbol of prospering life and wellness.
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
According to the traditions of Bosnia Herzegovina, the groom should come to the bride’s house and negotiate the marriage with older members of the family. After parents made their decision they bring some coffee to the guest. It’s a sign. If the coffee is sweetened it means they accept him, in other cases, it’s a renouncement.
KOREA
In Korean wedding traditions, a goose and duck have a definite place. In the past, the groom comes to the bride’s house on the horse with white goose. Now, this tradition was modified and the groom brings not alive goose but dummy goose. By other traditions, they put a pair of wooden ducks in newlyweds’ house. If the ducks were put face to face it means the couple will happy, if they put them back to back it means that there will be some troubles in their life.
AFRICA
African traditions after the groom’s proposal bride’s parents who accept the marriage proposal must give some money and pistachio to their daughter. She shares them with her groom and his agent who bring him to her house. By this parents’ gifts, she makes the invitation to the neighbors and relatives.
BELGIUM
Among the important Belgian wedding traditions, there is a tradition of embroidering the bride’s name on the napkin. The napkin must be taken to the wedding by her parents and it should be shown to guests. After the ceremony, the napkin will be returned to the bride’s house and the next name that should be embroidered on is her little sister’s. And it remains in the house until her marriage.
Custom to step on groom’s foot
Among funny and interesting wedding traditions there is one Turkish tradition – after the wedding ceremony, the bride should step on her groom foot. Mainly it made by brides but sometimes it can be made by grooms too. This tradition symbolizing that groom can leave the marriage and he is not able to run away anymore. This tradition is very ancient and funny. This wedding tradition can be interpreted as “by stepping his foot she spoiled his shoe and he can’t run”, in other interpretation it can mean “who first stepped on the food of his partner he will be master in the family”. Similar traditions existed in Ancient Rome. There are a lot of different traditions and customs associated with shoes of newlyweds: to hide the shoes of the bride or put some money inside and others. Traditions to hide bride’s shoe as like to step on groom’s foot means she can’t leave the house of groom anymore.
There a lot of wedding traditions which became a thing of the past and disappeared. Traditions and customs which were based on respect and love are immortal. Beautiful and fabulous wedding traditions are the history of human civilization and a bridge between generations.
