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Love
Knows No Nationality...
Even those who come from completely different parts of
the world can find each other, fall in love,
and decide to marry. Being in a primary relationship with |
someone from a different culture can be a wonderful experience.
However, if one determines to convert the other person away from their
upbringing and the things of life that are engrained in them, it is sure
to cause more trouble than it is worth.
Instead, a better approach might be to adapt the best
parts of all that your beloved brings to the relationship and enjoy them
as part of what makes the two of you so unique and special.
In that spirit, the marriage
customs of other parts of the world are presented here to serve as but
a small example regarding the many ways that others in our world celebrate
the wedding of two people in love. |
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Africa:
• The bride wears a veil made of plaited hair which represents reserve.
• The people present wear traditional regional costumes.
• Wine is poured on the land as a dedication to the gods.
• The couple jumps above a brush covered with flowers, which symbolizes
the starting of domestic life.
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Arabia:
• The bride wears an elaborate veil and gets her hands and feet decorated
with a drawing made with alhea (henna).
• During the reception, men and women stay separated.
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Caribe and Burmuda:
• The cake is made of various fruits and steeped in rum.
• Calypso music is played.
• In the Bermudas people plant a tree for prosperity.
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China:
• Decorations and gift wrappings are red as this color (and gold too)
symbolizes happiness and wealth.
• There are always rockets acting as protection against bad spirits.
• The bride changes her dress three times during the wedding ceremony.
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England:
• The couple walk toward the church with their wedding procession over
a path of orange blossoms.
• Most of the brides wear a horseshoe on one of their arms decorated
with lace as an amulet.
• The fruit cake is covered with marzipan. The upper section
(baptism tart) is kept untill the first child is born.
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France:
• The bridal portion is put in the "nuptial wardrobe," hand engraved
with symbols of health and prosperity.
• The couple drink from the traditional wedding cup.
• All decorations are white, and laurel leaves are spread out of the
church when the nuptial couple depart.
• On the wedding night, pots and pans are drummed to disturb the couple.
The groom invites jokers in and some refreshements are offered.
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Germany:
• In a party the night before, the couple are loudly teased and dishes
are broken.
• Beer, wine and marzipan are served.
• The bride is taken to the church in a carriage pulled by black horses.
• On the day of the wedding, the guests go to couple's house. |
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Greece:
• Almonds covered with caramel (fertility symbols) wrapped in tulle
are distributed among the assistants.
• In the reception a dance with handkerchiefs (Kaslamantiano) is enjoyed
by all while stuffed grape leaves, lamb skewers, and wine are served.
• During the ceremony the groom is asked to honour the bride and she
slightly touches him to put emphasis.
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Italy:
• Almonds covered with caramel symbolize the joys and sadnesses of
marriage. Sometimes the couple is pelted with sugared almonds.
• In the reception, everyone enjoys the traditional dance called the
"Tarantella."
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Japan:
• The bride wears an elaborate white silk dress, various adornments,
and a special wig.
• In the reception there's a dedication and some speeches, and the
honored guests tell stories about the couple.
• Kiogashi (coloured sweets with flower shape), indicate that this
is also a party.
• Red is the funny and lucky colour.
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Korea:
• In an private ceremony, the groom's family welcomes the bride.
• The bride wears a multicolored silk dress with white sleeves and
a black silk crown and she is made up with red points on her cheeks to
scare away bad spirits.
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Scotland:
• The bagpipe is played during the parade
• The groom wears his traditional kilt.
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The Netherlands:
• The couple plant Lilly of the Valley seed in their garden after the
wedding. When the plants flower up every year, love is seen as being renewed.
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Russia:
• After the dedication, cups are thrown to the floor. Their breaking
means happiness.
• The bride and groom usually tie a doll to the wedding car or carriage
if they wish their first child to be a girl, and a teddy bear if they want
a boy. |
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The mission of this not-for-profit website is to promote clear insights
and toleration regarding the many variations of primary relationships that
exist in our world. We ask for neither acceptance or approval but
hope that each visitor who reviews the pages of this site will leave them
with a better understanding of the numerous cultural, historical, preferential,
religious, sexual, and sociological approaches to coupling that have always
existed and will continue to exist as long as there are at least two human
beings living on this planet. If the effort put into creating and
maintaining this site results in others coming to the realization that
the basic human need to love and be loved takes on many forms which are
accepted by those who practice them, whether right or wrong as determined
by the personal belief system of others, then it will have served it's
purpose well. |
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