Wedding Traditions From Around the World
Traditions are a belief and custom behaviour that signify symbolic meaning followed by a group of people. Remember the lantern scene from Tangled? (Do you not?) It’s an actual tradition in North Thailand which symbolises the end of the monsoon season bringing in good luck whilst releasing negative energy. It’s a beautiful tradition which showcases its significance and its beauty through lanterns. Wedding Traditions are just as important and there are more than you think, let’s take a look at a few of our favourites!
NORWEGIAN: You Should See Me in a Crown
Did you get that reference? In Norwegian culture, brides wear crowns made out of silver and attach it to their long veils. The significance of this is to represent a woman’s virtue and purity. Additionally, some crowns might have small charms dangling so when the bride moves, these charms create music which supposedly wards off evil spirits, please don’t cancel me if this is wrong.
PERSIAN: Add a Little Bit of Sugar!
There are so many beautiful traditions in a Persian Wedding but an interesting one is the Sugar Rubbing ritual that essentially sees the bride and groom below a cloth that is lifted by 2-4 women. Well-wishing guests may then rub large cones made out of hard sugar over the cloth as an act of wishing sweetness in the couple’s life and wedding. Another interpretation is that each cone represents the bride and groom so the ritual acts as a wish for every contact between the couple to be filled with sweetness.
CHINESE: Some Prosperi-Tea
Based on Chinese history, the tea ceremony reflects a woman’s faithfulness and loyalty to her betrothed. Currently, the tea ceremony is more seen as an act of being accepted to the other party’s family and in the groom/ bride’s point of view, they offer tea to show their gratitude and respect. After the tea ceremony, parents from both sides usually offer wise words of advice as well as red envelopes usually containing money to symbolise prosperity. The bride is usually given jewellery as well from the groom’s parents and the bride has to wear it straight away if not it is seen as rude.
INDIAN: Discovering Patience Through Henna
Henna paste is used to decorate intricate designs of temporary art to the bride’s feet and hands and sometimes the groom’s name is hidden within these designs and later slowly found by the groom which reflects the patience their relationship will have. Some people believe that the colour of the henna is highly significant as well such as how some people believe that the darker the henna is, the stronger the couples love will be.
This might have been one of my favourite blogs to write because just look at how pretty and meaningful each tradition is and there are so many different traditions all around the world! At Iceberg, we absolutely love seeing the incorporation of tradition in weddings. Do you have an interesting wedding tradition to share? Let us know in the comments below!
