Wedding traditions from around the world

We’ve been reading up on weddings around the world again, and delving into our wedding traditions to see what everyone else is up to. I guess our own weird wedding tradition is the lucky chimney sweep, perhaps not everyone’s perfect idea of a lucky charm beside a white wedding dress.

So if you’re curious or maybe if you’re looking to add a little international flavour to your wedding day, then read on. If you come from one of the countries mentioned below, please contact us and let us know if our research is correct or not !!

So let’s start with African weddings, now as you know Africa is a huge continent, with a vast array of different cultures, so here are just a few customs from African weddings -

Morocco: The bride takes a bath first thing on her wedding day symbolizing purification. I hear you asking “would you not normally take a bath on your wedding day then?”. Then next she is painted with henna on her hands and feet. Once the vows have been exchanged, the bride walks around her new home three times as if to claim her new status as “lady of the house.” Why not four times ? Odd scale 4/10.

South Africa: On the day of the wedding, both the parents of the bride and the groom bring a burning coal from their respective households and start a fire in the home of the newlyweds symbolizing the coming together of two families. Or perhaps just the coming together of a coal fire ? Odd scale 3/10.

West Africa: Another symbol of two families joining, and similar to our traditions, the mother of the bride and the father of the groom walk together while the mother of the groom and the father of the bride walk together to the ceremony. We tend to do it at the end of the ceremony though. Odd scale 1/10.

China – Said to ward off any evil spirits, the wedding processional starts with a big bang – drums, gongs, and firecrackers — leading from the groom’s house to the bride’s home. Lets hope this doesn’t leave them without fireworks on the wedding night Odd scale 4/10.

Finland – The Fins are special people as far as we’re concerned. Their tradition is, as the bride and groom begin their first dance as husband and wife, the groom’s mother balances a plate on her head. (WHAT THE..?) When the plate falls to the floor (depending on how much wine she’s had) the pieces are counted and the pieces represent how many children the couple will have ! Brilliant, we love it. Odd scale 8/10.

Greece – Symbolizing sweetness and abundance, the bride carries a lump of sugar in her glove down the aisle. For those that don’t want to attract ants or peckish horses, it is also common for wedding guests to smash plates at the reception for good luck – but not on anyone’s heads. Odd scale 5/10.

Mexico – The Mexican bride sews yellow, blue and red ribbons to her undergarments hoping this will bring an abundance of money, food and passion in the marriage. (No idea which colour represents which, or why?) Pearls are considered very bad luck to Mexicans as they symbolize tears and grief.

Philippines – Philippines choose marriage witnesses also known as sponsors. The sponsors they choose have the characteristics and qualities that the couple would love to gain amongst their married life. So really, they just surround themselves with their friends who they like, not really a tradition is it. Odd scale 1/10.

India (Hindu) – Firstly, the happy couple pray to the Hindu god Ganesha, who is the remover of obstacles and negative energy. Instead of exchanging rings, the couple will exchange marigold garlands (not marigold gloves) as a symbol of their everlasting commitment. Odd Scale 2/10

Ireland – Claddagh rings are exchanged in the Celtic tradition. The Claddagh ring portrays two hands holding a crowned heart. It is said that the hands represent friendship and faith, whilst the heart stands for love, and the crown symbolizes loyalty and honor. Odd Scale 1/10.

Italy – Like the Greeks, Italian tradition means smashing up things from the kitchen. The bride and groom break a glass or vase into as many pieces as possible. The number of pieces is said to represent the number of years they will remain happily married. They are obviously intending to live to be several hundred years old then. Odd Scale 6/10.

Japan – The bride wears a long, wide-sleeved robe tied with a sash known as a kimono. During the course of the wedding day the bride will wear several outfits. For the main wedding ceremony itself, the bride is covered head to toe in white. Her hair is covered with a white cloth, her face is painted white and she will wear an all white kimono symbolizing the beginning of a new life and the death of her childhood. Lets hope the fake tan doesn’t run then. Odd scale 3/10.

Russia – The Russian bride and groom race each other to the altar where they will say their vows. We cannot confirm whether or not this means they arrive in trainers looking a little sweaty on their wedding day. The winner is declared the head of the household. We assume the groom would be hell-bent on whizzing there first, but they actually aim for a tie. Odd scale 9/10.

Scotland – The night before the Scottish wedding, the bride’s friends hold a feet-washing ceremony for the bride as a ritual of purification and honoring (and to get rid of any cheesy odour). One of the married women in the group places her wedding ring in the water and the woman who finds the ring is said to be the next one to marry. How big is the foot-washing bucket then ? Can’t be that hard to find a ring ? Odd scale 7/10.

Heard any more wedding traditions from around the world ? Let us know below….

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