Dating and marriage customs around the world
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13 Love Traditions from around the World
December marks the most popular month to get engaged, and soon enough all of our news feeds will be flooded with sparkles, smiles and save-the-dates. Perhaps it’s all the togetherness that convinces those future spouses to get down on one knee. Maybe they want to literally “ring” in the New Year. Either way, love is most definitely in the air this month, and an excuse to celebrate its many facets is welcomed. Whether you’re dancing to “Single Ladies”, celebrating an anniversary or planning your special day, let’s take a look at the different love traditions from around the world.
Hong Kong: Lantern Festival
On the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations, couples spend time together on what’s informally known as ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day’, celebrated on the 15th day of the lunar calendar. While its origins are disputed, most believe that matchmaking was once an important aspect. Today the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year, but it’s still embraced as a day of love as many couples light red lanterns before letting them drift into the sky.
Brazil: Dia dos Namorados
Also known as Lover’s Day, this Brazilian holiday is celebrated the same way as Valentine’s Day, just on a different date. It’s supposedly observed on June 12 since it falls on the eve of St. Anthony’s Day, the patron saint of marriage. Other theories suggest that it’s celebrated in June so as not to overlap with Carnival – although that didn’t stop couples from celebrating the event when it overlapped with last year’s World Cup. I was there, and trust me, love was in the air!
Sweden: Rings for All
When there’s no one you’d rather spend your life with, couples commemorate their love with rings. The traditional Swedish custom is to purchase gold bands as engagement rings for both women and men, only to buy a diamond ring for the bride on the wedding day. Now we’re seeing more and more Swedish women receiving a diamond engagement ring while the man gets a gold engagement band. Another fun wedding tradition in Sweden goes that if the bride leave the room for any reason during dinner, all the women line up to kiss the groom as he sits there all by his lonesome, and vice versa. Nobody should ever be alone on their wedding day!
Finland: Friend’s Day
Every love story is different. Some couples fall in love at first sight; other couples start as friends as their romance develops over time. Friend’s Day, or Ystävänpäivä in Finnish, is also observed on February 14, but with a twist. Back in the ’80s the country decided to change the nature of the holiday to be more inclusive, and so Friend’s Day was born. It’s still customary to give cards, candy, and flowers – let the warm fuzzies commence!
Paris, France: Love Locks
The Pont des Arts bridge is known for couples attaching brass locks to proclaim their love to one another…until June 1st of this year, that is. Love locks arrived in Paris in 2008, and after hundreds of thousands of couples “locked” their love for one another, they’d throw away the key into the Seine River. Those keys are now considered litter, and the bridge can no longer withstand the weight. The amorous custom continues in places such as Italy, London, Budapest, Berlin, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Charles Bridge in Prague.
Worldwide (mostly): New Years Kiss
The tradition to share a smooch at midnight has been around for some time, allegedly rooted in German and English folklore. Kiss someone at midnight and you’ll have luck in love throughout the following year. While steeped in years of tradition, the NYE kiss seems to have become more of an arbitrary act that no longer holds any real significance, other than being a simple show of love, an expression of well wishes, or just a fun thing to do with your partner (or the random person lucky enough to be standing next to you when the countdown begins).
Wales: Love Spoons
Giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘spooning,” this cute Welsh tradition requires the groom to present his lover with a meticulously carved wooden spoon, a gesture that he will always feed and provide for her. If the affections are not mutual, the spoon is returned, but if the spooning is successful, the sweetheart must wear it around her neck for a number of days. Love spoons are given for many special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, births, engagements, christenings, house warming and Valentines Day.
Africa: Henna Tattoos
Henna designs are adorned to bride’s hands and feet before her wedding ceremony. They signify the bride’s beauty, womanhood and worth, so she boasts the most elaborate designs. For thousands of years, the art of henna (called mehndi in Hindi & Urdu) has been practiced in India, Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle East.
Mexico: Money Dance
The Money Dance commences in Mexico when male guests pay to dance with the bride. Payments may be put into a special bag or pinned to the bride or groom’s jacket. The money is then expected to be used by the newlyweds for their honeymoon or new home together.
India: Dance Off
Being in love is an amazing thing. In New Delhi, it means being able to watch your friends shake it off at your wedding. If you made the cut and were formally asked into the wedding party, you better get to learning some bollywood dances as it’s tradition for the couple’s friends to perform at the wedding!
China: Wardrobe Changes
In China, brides typically walk down the aisle in a slim-fitting, embroidered dress, also known as a qipao. For the reception, they change into a more Cinderella-esque dress with Western flare. The bridal fashion show doesn’t end there! To cap the night, Chinese brides often make a final change into a cocktail dress during the reception. Some brides even go a step further with a fourth dress – now that’s a work out.
Italy: Vow Renewals
Vow renewals apparently emerged in Italy, although it has become popular in the U.S. since around the 1950’s. Designed for couples to recommit their promises to one another, vow renewals can be celebrated many different ways. For some, it’s a chance to celebrate the wedding a couple never had. Others may have surpassed a difficult point in their relationship. Some duos may be celebrating a milestone anniversary. Many people go all out, planning a big party for friends and family as they exchange new rings with one another.
USA: Diamonds Are Forever
The traditional 60th wedding anniversary gift in the U.S. are diamonds. If you’ve made it last this long, you deserve more than one in my book! Why not two? The new Ever Us ring incorporates two diamonds side by side, symbolizing the fact that two people are simultaneously each other’s best friend and true love. I believe the most successful long-term relationships are a strong combination of both. Let’s just hope the younger generations can mirror the baby-boomers’ values!
Filed Under: Destinations, HoneymoonsTagged With: engagement, love traditions, wedding
Источник: [https://torrent-igruha.org/3551-portal.html]Here's what dating is like in 20 countries around the world
Fed up with your local dating scene? If so, you're almost certainly not alone.
Dating-related fatigue and frustration are common among single-but-trying-to-mingle people. And with certain aggravating dating trends becoming increasingly common — like "benching" and "stashing" — it's not hard to imagine why.
If that's the case for you, you may want to take some dating tips from other countries. Maybe, you'll find that the laid-back dating style of people in Sweden or the structured dating rules of Japan jive more with your expectations.
Obviously, there is no way to accurately describe the experiences of every single person who has ever been on a date in any country, so these are all generalizations. All the same, they can help paint a picture of the overall idea of what you might expect should you go on a date during your next global adventure.
Here's what dating is like (for the most part) in 20 different countries around the world.
Dating in the United States is usually casual.
People in America tend to meet potential romantic partners by one of three ways — at a bar, through friends, or from an app, according to a Reddit thread on the subject.
First dates are often casual (meeting at a bar or coffee shop are some of the most popular options) and get more formal, adding dinner and events into the mix, as time goes on.
Dating is also often low-commitment in the states — it's more common, especially in one's early 20s, to be dating just for fun than it is to be dating with the intention to get married ASAP.
In China, dating schools for men are a rising trend.
China has a hefty gender imbalance — in 2016, there were 33.6 million more men than women in the country — which, unsurprisingly, takes a toll on men who seek out heterosexual relationships.
Because of this, "dating schools" for men who have never been in a romantic relationship have begun to crop up in China, according to the New York Times. Speed dating events for single men and women in their late 20s and early 30s (who are generally thought of as being "leftovers" in Chinese culture) have also become common.
But not everyone needs such practices. According to Quora forum, if a person is single and has a "good job," older people in your life will set you up on blind dates.
Dates in the UK will probably be at a pub.
Dating in the UK is fairly similar to dating in the US — with a few major differences. In general, Brits rely more on alcohol to get through dates, have more relaxed and low-key dates, and have fewer qualms about sleeping with someone early on into the relationship, as INSIDER previously reported.
In Japan, group dates are very common.
When a person enters the dating scene in Japan, it is understood that the ultimate goal for everyone involved is marriage, according to Quora.
Some people go about this is by partaking in goukon, or a small singles gathering, as INSIDER previously reported. Goukons occur when one person invites a few of their single friends out, and another person invites a few of theirs. Then, the group will meet at a restaurant or pub and have dinner. If everything goes smoothly, they might go to a bar or karaoke after dinner, and, if that goes well, the couples that hit it off will exchange numbers.
People in France don't technically have a word for dating.
Dating in France is, perhaps unsurprisingly, much more laid-back than it is in many other countries. It is so laid-back that, as INSIDER previously reported, the French don't even have a word for "date" — instead, they prefer to say something like "I'm seeing someone."
French people also manage to avoid the dreaded talk in which a couple has to "define" the relationship — AKA decide if they are exclusive. For the French, the mere act of going on dates (or, rather, "seeing someone") generally means that you're committed to someone.
Meeting your partner's family in Spain is a big deal.
Much like the French, people in Spain don't really date. According to Living Language, there isn't even a word for the act of dating — the closest equivalent is the verb salir con alguien, which means "to go out with someone."
Most Spaniards live with their parents until marriage, but don't expect to meet their family right away — this is something that they wait to do until things are serious. But, when you do meet their family, you can expect to meet the whole family.
Dating in Sweden revolves around a lot of casual coffee dates.
If you're looking to move to Sweden specifically to find love, you may want to reconsider. According to BBC, Sweden is one of the hardest places to find a romantic partner because of the country's many cultural norms, such as affordable single living homes and a general spirit of independence, that seem to promote staying single.
That said, dating in Sweden isn't impossible. It does, however, have different rules than other countries. According to The Local, the best way to be successful at dating in Sweden is to keep it casual — don't call anything you do a "date" (Swedes apparently prefer simple coffee outings to dinners and movies) and start and end the hangout with a hug, not a kiss.
Oh, and if you're getting a "fika" (which is Swedish for coffee) with someone, you shouldn't get it with anyone else. Once you start dating someone in Sweden, no matter how casual it feels, it's assumed that you are exclusive.
Couples in Mexico tend to engage in a decent amount of PDA.
According to Our Everyday Life, people in Mexico tend to stick to more traditional gender roles which, for people in heterosexual relationships, is reflected in their dating life. Men make the first move, men pay for the women on dates, and men make the followups to ensure that there will be more dates.
Mexicans are also more affectionate and prone to PDA than some other countries, which means that it's not uncommon to see couples kissing and holding hands in public.
It's easier to ask people out in the United Arab Emirates because many are foreigners.
Public displays of affection and premarital sex are technically illegal in the UAE, according to the Birmingham Mail, which definitely has an effect on dating culture.
But that doesn't mean dating doesn't happen — according to one expat's account in the Telegraph, living in Dubai can feel like a college freshman orientation. A large portion of the city's population are foreigners — 85%, to be exact — so it's expected that most people are new to Dubai. This means that it's easy to strike up a conversation with anyone, and, subsequently, ask them out. (According to this particular expat, men almost always do the asking and the paying.)
Dates will usually be at a bar, movie theater, or, if you're lucky, an indoor skiing arena.
Dating in Australia doesn't have many rules, but that doesn't mean that anything goes.
According to Insider Guides, dating in Australia doesn't have a ton of rules. Pick-up culture isn't big, so most people meet through mutual friends, school, or work, and start a relationship only after hanging out with one another in big groups.
Official dates, then, may not happen until two people have been seeing each other for some time, which means that deciding where to go on a first date is less of an issue in Australia than it may be in some other places.
Dating in India is more conservative than many other countries.
Dating in India is more conservative than it might be in some other countries, especially because arranged marriages are still common for some couples. This means one's family has a large influence on who a person might date from the start.
In a Quora forum on the topic, one Indian said that casual sex is almost unheard of and getting in a relationship means that there is an "intent to marry."
Since marriage is the goal of most people in a relationship, it tends to happen quicker, sometimes within a few months or a year of a couple meeting.
Despite the relative conservatism of Indian dating, there is evidence that things are changing for some couples — according to the Guardian, Tinder is growing in popularity among 20-somethings in India.
Relationships in Italy are heavy on the romance.
Romance plays a large role in Italian dating, but it's essential to resist the urge to get too weak-kneed around just anyone.
As Ilaria Perrone, an Italian sex columnist, said in an interview with The Cut that, "Italian men are romantic, but they are also liars."
Sex is also more casual in Italy than in some other countries. According to Perrone, sex often happens before an official date, and oral sex, which is generally less of a big deal than penetrative sex in the US, is only done when the relationship gets more serious.
In Brazil, casual dating turns into relationships quickly.
According to Living Like A Local, people in Brazil like to make things official quickly — if you've been on a few dates with someone, you can expect to have a relationship talk with them sooner rather than later.
According to one writer, she and her ex-boyfriend only waited about 10 days after they met before deciding to make their relationship official. (And that was slow — he waited that long, apparently, because she was an American and might not be accustomed to the typical quick relationship turnaround in Brazil.)
Dating in Russia relies heavily upon the concept of male chivalry.
According to Mezzofanti Guild, dating in Russia has a strong focus on male chivalry — which, for women who are trying to date men, can have both negative and positive consequences.
Men will almost always hold doors open for women and help them off of trains and buses (which is especially helpful for expats who aren't used to Russian snow and ice), but women are also expected to spend a significant amount of time on their appearance and to fill traditionally "feminine" roles like cooking and cleaning for their partner.
Weddings and singles mixers are some of the best places to find a partner in Nigeria.
Tinder is not the place to go to find a serious relationship in Nigeria, according to The Economist.
On the app, it's more common to find already-married men or women who are openly looking for sugar daddies than people who are actively looking to date.
So, to find partners, some singles will attend singles mixers at churches or mosques, or, for a more secular approach, survey the crowd at weddings.
If you live in South Africa, your married friends will make a lot of attempts to set you up on dates.
Dating in South Africa isn't too different from dating in the United States. Men usually pay for the first date, married people like to set their single friends up, but meeting significant others through apps like Tinder and OKCupid has become increasingly common, according to TimesLIVE of South Africa.
Have you ever wondered what the most unusual dating rituals from around the world were? Love Habibi reveals all…
1. In 19th Century Austria, women used to plant slices of apple under their bare armpits at social gatherings. Should a man take their fancy, they would remove the apple in order to present him with it – fruity!
2. In the Irish travelling community, something that was actually well-documented on hit TV-series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, it is a tradition for young men to ‘grab’ their women in order to quite literally take them away to somewhere secluded in order to forcibly kiss them. This is seen as a right of passage for young men and women.
3. In the remote Himalayas in the country of Bhutan in South Asia, it is customary for young men to go ‘night hunting’ for a partner, by climbing into their bedroom in the dead of night in order to engage in sexual activities. If they are caught by the parents then they are obliged to marry the girl.
4. Bali: It is customary during the Usaba Sambah festival in Bali, for single men of the community to fight one another with thorn ridden Pandanus leaves. the extremely painful ritual can last all day, but ultimately it would appear it impressed the lady folk who are said tho choose a partner based on their endurance in the battles.
5. In parts of Africa such as Zimbabwe and Tanzania, it is a right of passage for young, unmarried couples to fornicate in specially made huts. This is said to allow would be brides to almost ‘try before they buy’, and for the men to prove their ‘worth’. Ironically it is the father of the girl who will build the hut for the pair, but all is not as it seems. He does to keep the boy away from the family home until he is able to provide them with cattle as a token of his commitment. of course……
6. Whistling in Mexico: While whistling at the fairer delivers connotations of sleaze and derogatory behaviour here in the UK, in Mexico, young couples use it to send messages to one another in secret, and many will have their own tunes so that they are able to meet up without being caught by their parents.
7. In the Netherlands, there is a custom known as bundling, where young couples would spend the entire night talking while wrapped up in separate blankets. This was also popular in colonial America – in fact it was encouraged by parents as a means for their children to find partners.
8. In some parts of Quatar, it is actually tradition for the Mother of the groom to choose the bride, and for him not see her face until she unveils herself at the ceremony. Although this seems like an arranged marriage experts are keen to set it apart from that as a tradition.
9. There are actually male beauty pageants in parts of Cameroon and Chad where single males put themselves on display for potential female partners.
10. In Wales in the 1600s, it was customary for men to show off their crafting skills by making their potential wives a wooden spoon to keep – the best efforts were rewarded by their female counterparts.
Wedding customs by country
List of wedding traditions in different countries
African customs[edit]
Ethiopia[edit]
The Wedding procedure starts with the groom's side sending elders (Shimagle) who then request a union between the parties. The elders discuss a dowry (ጧሎሽ) and verify that the intended bride and groom are not relatives by checking their lineage a minimum of seven generations. After a dowry is agreed upon and it has been determined that there is no relationship between the intended bride and groom, the wedding is announced and the families begin preparations for a church/mosque ceremony and a mels(i) ceremony. On the wedding day the groom and groomsmen (ሚዜ) get ready at the groom's house early in the morning and proceed to the bride's parents house to begin the wedding ceremonies. At the bride's parent's house, the bride gets ready and is seated awaiting the groom's arrival. As the groom and his wedding party arrive, the bride's family and friends ceremonially block the entrance to the house. The groomsmen have to either serenade or bribe their way into the house so that the groom can take the bride with him. Additionally, the best man holds perfume and sprays it everywhere inside the bride's family house. After this ceremony, the groom retrieves his bride and they along with a procession go to a church/mosque to take their wedding vows.
After the religious ceremony, the wedding procession moves to a park/garden where lunch is served to guests. Afterwards, the wedding party typically takes pictures while guests make their way to the reception. At the reception, depending on the family's ethnic group there are several traditional dances performed. Ethiopian weddings typically serve Ethiopian food and live music and the party typically goes on into the early morning. To close the wedding ceremony, elders are seated at the exit of the venue and the bride and groom along with the wedding party bow and kiss the knees of the elders as they exit the venue. This is typically the conclusion the first day of a typical Ethiopian wedding.
During the mels(i) ceremony is dependent on the ethnic heritage of the family but it is typically smaller than the first ceremony and a time for close friends and family to spend some time with each other and continue to celebrate the newly married couple.
Zimbabwe[edit]
Customarily, marriage proceedings often begin with the man proposing to the woman. Upon her acceptance the man then calls for a meeting with his clan elders who largely consist of extended elderly family members. A delegation carrying small gifts is then sent to the woman's home to meet with her clan elders. Deliberations on bride price actually begin on a later date and these are strictly conducted by the older men only. Upon completion of these negotiations, a wedding date is set, with the elders having provided an acceptable percentage of the full dowry. The rest of the dowry is expected later. No request is made for it, but the young man is expected to remember to finish his payment and failure to do so spells dishonor for that family.
The wedding day begins with a convoy from the grooms family that heads to the girl's home to collect her. However, the convoy is not immediately let into the girl's homestead. Rather the bride's gate is locked and song and dance begins as a cover for negotiations. Various goods may be asked of the groom and he willingly obliges to the demands after which he is let into the compound.
Nigeria[edit]
Generally, there are three types of weddings in Nigeria: traditional weddings, church weddings and court weddings. The civil marriage takes place at a registry, and then traditional wedding ceremony follows. Finally, it's the church wedding ceremony. Many couples choose to do all three, depending on their financial situation. Nigerian weddings are normally characterised by an abundance of colours.
In traditional weddings, customs vary slightly from one part of Nigeria to the other. In Southern, Western and Eastern parts of Nigeria, it is called the traditional wedding ceremony. Officials and elders sip wine while they invite the couple in for introductions and negotiations, and presentation of the bride price which consists mainly of gifts of shoes, textiles, jewelry and bags.
In the other parts of the country it is very much the same. Elders from both families retreat into an inner room to negotiate on the bride price. When concluded, the gifts are then presented to the bride's family. After this, the bride, along with her entourage of girls is presented to the husband, family and guests in the most colourful way.[citation needed]
Pygmy wedding traditions[edit]
Pygmy engagements were not long and usually formalized by an exchange of visits between the families concerned. The groom to be would bring a gift of game or maybe a few arrows to his new in-laws, take his bride home to live in his band and with his new parents. His only obligation is to find among his relatives a girl willing to marry a brother or male cousin of his wife. If he feels he can feed more than one wife, he may have additional wives.
Somali wedding traditions[edit]
See also: Gelbis
Middle Eastern customs[edit]
Arabic customs[edit]
Main article: Arabic wedding
See also: Etiquette in Canada and the United States § Weddings, Ceremonial clothing in Western cultures § Marriage, and Weddings in the United States
Although Christian weddings in the Arab World bear similarities to Western weddings, Muslim weddings in the Arab countries are influenced by Muslim traditions. Muslim weddings start with a Sheikh and Katb Al-kitaab (book) for the bride and groom. A wedding is not Islamically valid unless both bride and groom are willing, and the groom is often encouraged to visit her before the wedding (as advised in many aḥadīth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad). However, these visits must be chaperoned to ensure purity of action between the two. It's the custom that the groom and his family pay for all the wedding expenses. The Bride's family gather together before the wedding in the Bride's parents house. The Groom's family come and take the Bride from the house in a decorated car along with the one bride's mate which usually is the bride's sister, cousin, or best friend. The rest of the family and close friends follow in their cars, honking the car's horns. The reception is usually for all the family and friends usually with a meal and cake. Candy covered almonds is a traditional giveaway from the couple. There is a lot of dancing and (zaghareet)Ululation. The Muslims tradition is to have Men in one side and women in another so the ladies can take their head cover off. But in non-Muslim traditions the whole wedding is for both sexes.
Iranian customs[edit]
Main article: Persian marriage
Persian wedding tradition, despite its local and regional variations, like many other rituals in Persia goes back to the ancient Zoroastrian tradition.[1] Though the concepts and theory of the marriage have changed drastically by Islamic traditions, the actual ceremonies have remained more or less the same as they were originally in the ancient Zoroastrian culture.
Israeli customs[edit]
Main articles: Marriage in Israel and Jewish wedding
European customs[edit]
English customs[edit]
The Western custom of a bride wearing a white wedding dress came to symbolize purity, not virginity, in the Victorian era. Within the "white wedding" tradition, a white dress and veil is not considered appropriate in the second or subsequent wedding of a widow or divorcee. The specific conventions of Western weddings, largely from a Protestant and Catholic viewpoint, are discussed at "white wedding".[2]
A wedding is often followed or accompanied by a wedding reception, which in some areas may be known as the 'Wedding Breakfast', at which an elaborate wedding cake is served. Western traditions include toasting the couple, the newlyweds having the first dance, and cutting the cake. A bride may throw her bouquet to the assembled group of all unmarried women in attendance, with folklore suggesting the person who catches it will be the next to wed. A fairly recent equivalent has the groom throwing the bride's garter to the assembled unmarried men; the man who catches it is supposedly the next to wed.
The Wedding Breakfast is one occasion where every member of the family who has had at least some role in the wedding is present. It is also important as the first time the newly married bride and groom share their first meal together as a lawfully wedded couple. The modern Wedding Breakfast includes the service of food to guests that can range from traditional roasts, buffets, or regional treats such as in the case of a London Wedding[3] in the 'East End'.
Another Victorian tradition is for brides to wear or carry "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" during the service. It is considered good luck to do so. Often the bride attempts to have one item that meets all of these qualifications, such as a borrowed blue handkerchief which is "new to her" but loaned by her grandmother (thus making it old). Another addition to this custom is to wear a coin in one's shoe to bring prosperity.
The full text of the verse is:
- Something old, something new,
- Something borrowed, something blue,
- And silver sixpence in your shoe.[4]
Scottish customs[edit]
Main article: Marriage in Scotland
A traditional Scottish Wedding
Scotland is a popular place for young English couples to get married since, in Scotland, parents' permission is not required if both the bride and groom are old enough to legally be married (16). In England it was the case that if either was 16 or 17 then the permission of parents had to be sought.[5] Thus Scotland, and especially the blacksmith's at Gretna Green, became a very popular place for couples to elope to, especially those under 18 and usually living in England. Gretna Green now hosts hundreds of weddings a year and is Scotland's third most popular tourist attraction.
- The bride's family sends invitations on behalf of the couple to the wedding guests, addressed by hand. The couple may send the invitations themselves, especially if they are more middle-aged. The invitations are usually sent no later than 6 weeks before the wedding and will specify if the invitation is for ceremony and/or reception and/or evening following the meal at the reception. It has become more common in recent times for Save The Date Cards[6] to be used to notify invitees further in advance to allow sufficient notice for arrangements to be made to ensure attendance. These can be sent up to 6 months before the wedding day.
- Guests send or deliver wedding gifts to the bride's family home before the wedding day. Alternatively, the couple may register at a department store and have a list of gifts there. The shop then organizes delivery, usually to the bride's parents' house or to the reception venue.
- A wedding ceremony takes place at a church, register office or possibly another favorite location, such as a hilltop. In this regard Scotland differs significantly from England where only pre-approved public locations may be used for the wedding ceremony. Most ceremonies take place mid afternoon and last about half an hour during which the marriage schedule is signed by the couple and two witnesses, usually the best man and chief bridesmaid.
- The newly wed couple often leave the ceremony to the sound of bagpipes.
- There is a wedding reception following the ceremony, usually at a different venue.
- The bridal party, or members of it, always including the bride and groom, lines up in a receiving line and the wedding guests file past, introducing themselves.
- Usually a beverage is served while the guests and bridal party mingle. In some cases the drink may be whisky or wine with a non alcoholic alternative.
- The best man and bride's father toast the bride and groom with personal thoughts, stories, and well-wishes, usually humorous. The groom then follows with a response on behalf of his bride. Champagne is usually provided for the toast.
- There is nearly always dancing following the meal, with the style of music being selected by the couple to suit their preference. Often in Scotland this takes the form of a céilidh, a night of Scottish country dancing in couples and groups (sets) to live traditional music. This may be performed by a specialist céilidh band, though many non-specialist bands will also incorporate some traditional céilidh dances in their repertoire along with a range of music of all styles to suit tastes.[7]
- The first dance is led by the bride and groom, followed by the rest of the bridal party and finally the guests.
- The cake-cutting ceremony takes place; the bride and groom jointly hold a cake cutter and cut the first pieces of the wedding cake.
- Gifts are not opened at the reception; they are either opened ahead of time and sometimes displayed at the reception, or if guests could not deliver gifts ahead of time, they are placed on a table at the reception for the bride and groom to take home with them and open later.
- A sprig of white heather is usually worn as a buttonhole for good luck.
- It is the norm for the groom and much of the male bridal party and guests to wear kilts, although suits are also worn. Kilts and Highland dress are often rented for this purpose.[8]
Celtic Handfasting[edit]
Main article: Handfasting (Neopaganism)
Handfasting is a wedding ritual in which the bride's and groom's hands are tied together. It is said to be based on an ancient Celtic tradition and to have inspired the phrase "tying the knot". "Handfasting" is favoured by practitioners of Celtic-based religions and spiritual traditions, such as Wicca and Druidism.[9]
Finnish customs[edit]
A relatively unique Finnish wedding tradition was the bridal sauna, where the bridesmaids took the bride to a luxuriously decorated, cleansing sauna on the night before the wedding. Instead of the flower bouquet the bath broom was thrown instead.[10]
The wedding dress was traditionally black, passed on as heritage by the bride's mother. It was decorated and the bride was also given a wedding crown made from shiny bits and pieces. Although nobles might have followed differing international conventions, black as the color of choice remained popular amongst the general population even until the 20th century. When Princess Diana wed Prince Charles in 1981 in an all-white gown, it instantly became the standard gown from there on.[10]
The earliest Finnish weddings were held at both the bride's and groom's families' houses, a tradition that survived in Eastern Finland until the late 20th century. In Western Finland there were grand processions to the church, back from the church and from one of the houses to the another. The celebrations at each house lasted a day and then the next day the party moved to the other house. Weddings of wealthy families lasted even longer, from 3 to 4 days. 19th century also saw the rise of gatecrashers called puukkojunkkari at these long weddings.[10]
French customs[edit]
Wedding evening in the Landes: Three people bring la roste(roasted bread soaked in sweet wine) to a couple of newlyweds in bed. Map postally used on July 16, 1914.
In France many couples choose to have two weddings, only civil weddings are legally recognized (due to the concept of laïcité), they are performed in the town hall by the mayor (or a deputy mayor or another councillor acting on his/her behalf). To be allowed to marry in a specific city, either at least one of the spouses resides in the town where the ceremony takes place, or at least one of their parents does. For people choosing to also have a religious wedding, the religious ceremony can only take place after the civil one, often in the same day. Town halls often offer a more elaborate ceremony for couples who do not wish to marry religiously.
If the two ceremonies take place separately, the civil one will usually include close family and witnesses. Once the civil ceremony is complete, the couple will receive a livret de famille, a booklet where a copy of the marriage certificate is recorded. This is an official document and, should the couple have children, each child's birth certificate will be recorded in the livret de famille too. The civil ceremony in France is free of charge.
Traditionally, the wedding guests gathered at the fiancée home and went on procession to the church. The procession were led by the bridegroom and his mother, followed by the bride mother and bridegroom father, the witnesses, grandparents, brothers and sisters with their spouse. At last came the bride and her father followed by the bridesmaids (usually family children).
Nowadays, the guests usually gathered at the town hall or church and the bride and bridegroom enter together, followed by the family and guests.
In some regions, the groom may meet his fiancée at her home on the day of the wedding and escort her to the chapel where the ceremony is being held. As the couple proceeds to the chapel, children will stretch long white ribbons across the road which the bride will cut as she passes.
At the chapel, the bride and groom are seated on two red velvet chairs underneath a silk canopy called a carre. Laurel leaves may be scattered across their paths when they exit the chapel. Sometimes small coins are also tossed for the children to gather.
At the reception, the couple customarily uses a toasting cup called a Coupe de Mariage. The origin of giving this toast began in France, when a small piece of toast was literally dropped into the couple's wine to ensure a healthy life. The couple would lift their glass to "a toast", as is common in Western culture today.
In south west France it is customary to serve spit roast wild boar (or sanglier in French) as the wedding breakfast, a local delicacy.
Some couples choose to serve a croquembouche instead of a wedding cake. This dessert is a pyramid of crème-filled pastry puffs, drizzled with a caramel glaze.
At more boisterous weddings, tradition involves continuing the celebration until very late at night. In many regions of France, wedding rituals continue late into the night after the official ceremonies and party. In some regions after the reception, those invited to the wedding will gather outside the newlyweds' window and bang pots and pans; this is called a 'charivari'. They are then invited into the house for some more drinks in the couple's honor, after which the couple is finally allowed to be alone for their first night together as husband and wife.
In the rural Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a post-wedding ritual called la rôtie involves a gang of unmarried men and women finding the bride and groom who have escaped from the reception, tipping them out of their bed, and serving them a concoction of champagne and chocolate served in a chamber pot, which will be passed around and drank by everyone. Afterwards, the whole group will enjoy an onion soup. The heavily scatological and sexual implications and off-putting appearance of this ritual is supposed to symbolize the day-to-day intimacy of married life, deeply connected to the rural nature of the area. La rôtie is an alternative ceremony outside the official ceremonies that the youth can be involved in, and create humor by making something that "tastes good but is in bad taste". The commensal quality of the ritual is a symbol for the bridge between youth and adulthood that the couple becomes in marriage, as well as the community's involvement in the new couple's married life.[11] Similar rituals are widespread across rural France, though perhaps with different foods and containers.
German customs[edit]
Cutting a log represents the first obstacle that the couple must overcome in their marriage
Friends of the bride "kidnap" her and take her from bar to bar. The best man of the bride, her father, or the groom pays the bill each time. The kidnappers then go to a certain place, such as a public building, and leave a few pointers to help for searching. The exemption may be associated with a task for the groom, for example an artistic performance or wash the dishes for the next few weeks.[clarification needed]
In Austria and Bavaria (usually at country weddings), it is now customary to sing a derisive song before the freeing of the bride.
In Lower Austria it is customary for a masked men and the bride to go to the nearest coffee bar or tavern to drink, sing and to wait for the groom to come. In most areas of Austria it is the best man, sometimes the groom or the bride's father (rarely the best man) that pays the price of the kidnappers.
This custom is due to the supposed 'right of the first night' (German 'Recht der ersten Nacht', French 'droit de cuissage') in the Middle Ages. According to myth the clergy and nobility in the Middle Ages had the right to have sex with their female subordinates in their wedding night. The bride was retrieved (kidnapped) from the vassals of the government from their Weddings. The historiography sees this rite as a literary fiction.
In Bavaria and Western Austria another tradition is to wake up the bride early in the morning with a gun shoot or firecrackers on wedding day. Friends and neighbours meet at dawn at the brides house to "greet" her on her special day.[12]
Baumstamm sägen, the tradition of cutting a log together, represents the first obstacle that the couple must overcome in their marriage. They must work together to overcome the obstacle by sawing through the log. Using a large, long saw with two handles, the couple demonstrates their teamwork to friends and family.
Greek customs[edit]
Main article: Marriage in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Example of the traditional Greek-Cypriot 'Money Dance' at a Cypriot wedding.
Two or three days before the wedding, the couple organizes a celebration called Krevati (Greek for bed) in their new home. In Krevati, friends and relatives of the couple put money and young children on the couple's new bed for prosperity and fertility in their life. After the custom, they usually have a party with food and music.
On the day of the wedding, usually Saturday, but also Friday or Sunday, the groom cannot see the bride until the wedding ceremony. The groom usually arrives first in church and waits for the bride, who usually arrives late. After they exchange flower bouquets, they have the wedding ceremony, where the best man puts the wedding rings and crowns on the couple. The couple drink red wine from the same glass (between one and three sips, depending on the tradition). This is not "communion" in the formal religious sense, but about sharing the cup of life. At the end of the wedding ceremony, as the newly wedded pair leave the church, the guests throw rice and flowers for fertility and felicity. Special guests, such as close friends and family receive sugar-coated almonds (traditionally an odd number, usually seven but sometimes five) as a gift from the couple. Most Greek ceremonies are Orthodox.
After the ceremony, usually the couple hold a great wedding party in some place with plenty of food, drinks, music and dance, usually until next morning. The wedding party starts with the invited people waiting for the couple, who usually come after some time. They start the dancing and eventually eat a piece of their wedding cake. At some point during the party, they also dance the traditional zeibekiko (groom) and çiftetelli (bride).
In many places of Greece, where they hold a more traditional wedding, they usually play only traditional music and eat local food. For example, in the region of Cyclades, they eat the traditional pasteli (solid honey with sesame) and in the region of Crete they cook rice with goat. In most traditional weddings, they bake whole animals like pigs, goats or sheep just like the Easter celebration. Before the church ceremony, especially in smaller areas, usually friends and relatives of the bride and the groom, accompanies them separately to the church playing traditional instruments, according to the region.
A typical Greek wedding will usually have more than 100 invited people (but usually 250-500) who are friends, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, first or second cousins, neighbors and colleagues. It is common to have guests whom the couple has never met before. This is because the people who will be invited are usually determined by the parents of the couple and not by the couple themselves. Traditionally, the whole village would have attended the wedding, so very often the parents invite friends of theirs and their children, to the weddings of their own children.
There are many other traditions which are local to their regional areas. One famous tradition is the pinning of money on the bride's dress. This custom originated in one part of Greece, where it is a substitute for wedding presents, however it has become more widespread recently.
Italian customs[edit]
In some parts of Italy, a party, known as a Serenade, is thrown outside of the bride's home by the groom. His family and friends come and wait for the bride, entertaining themselves until she appears. The groom then sings to his bride to further seduce her. Once his song is sung, the party ends.
Before the wedding, the eldest of the bride’s family gifts a silver dollar to the bride. If the bride keeps this silver dollar through the life of their marriage, the couple is said to never need to be concerned for their financial prosperity. If this silver dollar is ever spent, superstition states the couple will immediately encounter financial hardship and can suffer great monitory loss through the length of their marriage.
The day of the wedding, the groomsmen try their hardest to make the groom as uncomfortable as possible by saying things like "Maybe she forgot where the church is".
It is also traditional for the grooms family to give a dowry to the bride and to provide the engagement ring. The bride's family is then responsible for receiving the guests of the wedding in their home for a reception afterward.
The color green is very important in the Italian wedding. In Italy, the tradition of something blue is replaced with something green. This color brings good luck to the married couple. The veil and bridesmaids also were important in an Italian wedding. The tradition began in Ancient Rome when the veil was used to hide the bride from any spirits that would corrupt her and the bridesmaids were to wear similar outfits so that the evil spirits were further confused.
An old Roman custom was that brides threw nuts at rejected suitors as they left the ceremony.[13]
After dessert, more dancing commences, gifts are given, and the guests eventually begin to leave. In Southern Italy, as the guests leave, they hand envelopes of money to the bride and groom, who return the gift with a wedding favor or bomboniere, a small token of appreciation.
Polish customs[edit]
In Polish weddings, the celebrations may continue for two or three days. In the past, the engagement ceremony was organized by the future groom as a formal family gathering, during which he asked his chosen lady to marry him. In recent years, this custom has changed, and today an engagement is much more personal and intimate. An elegant dinner party afterward is still a nice way to inform the closest family members about the couple's decision to get married.
In some regions of Poland, the tradition to invite wedding guests in person is still upheld. Many young couples, accompanied by their parents, visit their family and friends to hand them the wedding invitations personally.
According to old tradition, a groom arrives with his parents at the house of his bride just before the wedding ceremony. At that time, both parents and parents-in-law give the young couple their blessing. The couple enters the church together and walks up to the altar followed by their parents and two witnesses. In Poland, it is quite unusual for the bride to be walked down the aisle or to have bridesmaids and groomsmen in a wedding. The couple is assisted by two witnesses, a man (usually from the groom's side) and a woman (usually from the bride's side) who are either family members or close friends.
The Polish bride traditionally wears a white dress and a veil; the groom usually wears a fitted suit with a bow tie and a boutonnière that matches the bride's bouquet. During the ceremony, wedding rings are exchanged and both husband and wife wear them on their right hands. Right after the ceremony, the closest family and all the guests form a line in the front of the church to congratulate the newlyweds and wish them love and happiness. As soon as the married couple leaves the church they get showered with rice for luck or guests drop coins at their feet for them to pick up. This is done to ensure a good and prosperous future for the newlyweds.
Once all guests have showered the couple with kisses, hugs and flowers, everyone heads to the reception. It is a custom in Poland to prepare 'passing gates' on the way to the reception for the newlyweds who, in order to pass, have to give the 'gatekeepers' some vodka. This is a misinterpretation of an earlier tradition, where the 'passing gates' were built if the bride was an orphan and money collected by 'gatekeepers' from the guests was handed over to the bride as her dowry (being an orphan usually implied poverty).
The married couple is welcomed at the reception place by the parents with bread and salt; the bread symbolizes prosperity and the salt stands for the hardship of life. This way, the parents wish that the young couple never goes hungry and learns how to deal with everyday hardships together. During the reception, the newlyweds also break two drinking glasses by either stepping on them or throwing them over the shoulder for good fortune.[14] The wedding party lasts (and the bride and groom remain) until the last guest leaves, usually until morning.
In Poland, movements like Human Liberties Crusade[15][16] or Wedding of the Weddings promote non-alcoholic wedding celebrations.
Romanian customs[edit]
In Romanian tradition, the wedding is composed of three steps: The formal/legal wedding, the Church wedding and the banquet.
Lăutari are Romanian musicians performing traditional songs. The music of the lăutari establishes the structure of the elaborate Romanian weddings. The lăutari also function as guides through the wedding rituals and moderate any conflicts that may arise during what can be a long, alcohol-fueled party. Over a period of nearly 48 hours, this can be very physically strenuous.
Following custom almost certainly dating back at least to the Middle Ages, most lăutari spend the fees from these wedding ceremonies on extended banquets for their friends and families over the days immediately following the wedding.
The wedding begins at the Town hall where the couple literally gets married in the presence of their closest friends and relatives. After that, they go to the bride's house where the Lăutari come and sing themed songs like "Ia-ți mireasă ziua bună" (Bride's farewell) while the bride, the groom and the couple's parents take part in a symbolic preparation for the wedding (the best man and the best maid put a flower on their chests, arrange the groom's tie and shaves him and put the bride's veil, all in front of a big mirror decorated with pieces of veil and white flowers, mirror that separates the bride from the groom). They then go to the church where the religious ceremony is performed. Afterwards they go to a restaurant where the banquet begins.
The newlyweds meet the guests at the entrance and they serve a glass of champagne while the Lautari sing a song. After all the guests have arrived, the couple breaks the ice and starts dancing a waltz followed by a Hora dance. Later on, the chefs do "Dansul găinii" (the chicken dance: they dress up a roasted chicken and decorate it and they dance with it while the best man negotiate the chicken's price with them).
Another tradition is bride kidnapping. A few friends of the newlywed stake the bride while the groom is not paying attention and take her somewhere else, usually to a club. The groom is then forced to negotiate the bride's price and to redeem it, but not until the "criminals" show evidence of having the bride (a shoe, her necklace, etc.). Usually, the "thieves" ask for beverage. They then take the bride back to the wedding and as a punishment they are forced to dance a waltz with the bride lifted up.
It is normal to wish the bride and groom "Casa de Piatra" (Rock-solid home) and throw rice on them, which symbolises a solid marriage and abundance.
Russian customs[edit]
Main article: Russian wedding
A traditional Russian wedding lasts for at least two days and some weddings last as long as a week. Throughout the celebration there is dancing, singing, long toasts, and food and drinks. The best man and maid of honor are called witnesses, "svideteli" in Russian. The ceremony and the ring exchange takes place on the first day of the wedding.
Throughout the years, Russian weddings have adopted many western customs, including bridesmaids and flower girls. During the wedding feast any of the guests can start chanting "Gor'ko" ("bitter") which usually is immediately supported by the rest of the guests. In this case bride and groom should kiss each other and the kiss should last for as long as the chanting continues. It's customary for the bride to eat a spoonful of sour cream on your wedding day.
Swedish customs[edit]
In a Swedish church wedding, the priest generally doesn't say when the couple may kiss each other, in contrast to Anglo-Saxon traditions. It is probably because the kiss doesn't traditionally belong to Swedish wedding customs, but has relatively recently been associated with marriage.[17]
In Swedish weddings, the bride and groom usually go down the aisle together, rather than the bride being escorted by her father.[18] The symbolism is that of a free man and a free woman voluntarily uniting in marriage.
It is custom in Sweden that instead of guests bringing gifts for the bride and groom, they will pay for the dinner and drinks in order to help pay for the cost of the wedding. An older tradition is that the bride's parents will give her one gold and one silver coin, which she puts in her shoe. [19]
Unlike the United States, it is also customary have a simple wedding party, consisting of one or two bride's maid and one groom's man. Lastly, at the wedding party the couple is placed at the head of a U shaped table instead of a separate head table for the bridal party. [20]
Albanian customs[edit]
A couple posing in ancient site of Apollonia, Albania
In Albanian traditional weddings, the dress of the bride is characterized by its elegance and transparency, in that of the Catholic one can see full colors. The Catholic bride's dress is characterized by its picturesque effects and harmony.
There are two types of wedding dresses. One is worked on a "shajak" (large piece of wool) and with floral motives worked with "gajtan" (kind of rope) black cotton, sometimes mixed with green. The other one is worked in the same material but with red color. Different from the first here the motifs are enriched with full colors. These dresses have a belt worked with gold and grain necklaces in red, rose, orange creating all together a warm surface. Here the motifs are very small.
This gallery of costumes, richness of colors, and sentiments is a major, long-running experience for Albanians, not only for the ability to preserve tradition, but also for conserving the high technique of elaboration or the high artistic level.
The dress of a Catholic bride from Shkodër is tripped from the transparent white, shiny, soft, which spreads all over the body, and is intended to suggest tranquility and a warm purity. This concept of tradition is achieved through the white of the base material and the gold thread over. This dress is composed by the "barnaveke": some kind of very long pants which seem a skirt. In the upper part is worn a shirt and over it a "jelek" (waistcoat).
Ritual songs name various elements which contain "paja" (pronounced paya) of the girl, which are the goods parents give to the daughter to wear, to furnish the house, gifts for her husband and the intimate cousins. Elements are typically made by weaving clothes using looms. The preparation of the "paja" for the parents of the bride is a pleasure which means also accomplishing the obligations toward the daughter. This is also an expression of the love of parents, but is connected with the economical conditions of the family.
"Dhunti" in Shkodra means the gifts that the groom prepares for the bride during the engagement, mainly clothes, jewelry, gold ornaments and tricks, which are sent to her a few days before the wedding. In addition to those received by the family of his father, the bride takes many gifts from the groom and his family. "Dhuntia", which had a considerable monetary value, was prepared with great care by the family of the boy, because in some way embodied respect and love for his young bride, to whom these gifts were made, love for their son that he married at the same time was also a representation of the family in its economic and aesthetic. In "dhunti" there were enough clothes and items for use at all times, in joy and in sorrow, which expressed particular attention to the role of women.
South Asian customs[edit]
Bangladeshi wedding customs[edit]
See: Bengali Hindu wedding and Bengali Muslim wedding
Bangladeshi wedding refers to the weddings in Bangladesh. Although Muslim and Hindu marriages have their distinctive religious rituals, there are many common cultural rituals in marriages across religion among Bengali people. The indigenous groups of Bangladesh also have their own unique wedding traditions and rituals which are distinct from those of the Bengalis.
Indian wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Indian wedding
Indian weddings take anywhere from five minutes to several weeks, depending on region, religion, and a variety of other factors. Due to the diversity of Indian culture, the wedding style, ceremony and rituals may vary greatly amongst various states, regions, religions and castes. In certain regions, it is quite common that during the traditional wedding days, there would be a tilak ceremony (where the groom is anointed on his forehead), a ceremony for adorning the bride's hand and feet with henna (called mehendi) accompanied by Ladies' Sangeet (music and dance), and many other pre-wedding ceremonies. Another important ceremony followed in certain areas is the "Haldi" program where the bride and the groom are anointed with turmeric paste. All of the close relatives make sure that they have anointed the couple with turmeric. In certain regions, on the day of the wedding proper, the Bridegroom, his friends and relatives come singing and dancing to the wedding site in a procession called baraat, and then the religious rituals take place to solemnize the wedding, according to the religion of the couple. While the groom may wear traditional Sherwani or dhoti or Western suit, or some other local costume, his face, in certain regions, is usually veiled with a mini-curtain of flowers called sehra. In certain regions, the bride (Hindu or Muslim) always wears red clothes, never white because white symbolizes widowhood in Indian culture. In Southern and Eastern states the bride usually wears a Sari, but in northern and central states the preferred garment is a decorated Red skirt-blouse and veil called lehenga. After the solemnization of marriage, the bride departs with her husband. This is a very sad event for the bride's relatives because traditionally she is supposed to permanently "break-off" her relations with her blood relatives to join her husband's family. Among Christians in the state of Kerala, the bridegroom departs with the bride's family. The wedding may be followed by a "reception" by the groom's parents at the groom's place. While gifts and money to the couple are commonly given, the traditional dowry from the bride's parents to the couple is officially forbidden by law.
Pakistani wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Marriage in Pakistan
A Pakistani wedding typically consist of four ceremonies on four separate days. It may consist of three days if the first function called "Mehndi" is done in a combined manner by both the bride and groom's family.
The first function is Mehndi in which the families get together and celebrate the upcoming wedding function. On this day, it is customary to wear either green, yellow, orange, or other vibrant colors. The bride-to-be gets her hands painted with henna, and songs and dances go on throughout the night. The next day is "baraat" which is hosted by the bride's family. This event is usually held in a reception hall, and the groom comes over with his family and friends; a large feast is given. The bride's friends and relatives are also present, and the Baraat event can be considered the 'main' wedding event as it is the largest one out of all the events. Then there is the holy ceremony of "Nikah" which is performed by a religious Pastor or imam, after which bride and groom are declared as husband and wife.The Next day there is a function of "Walima" in which the groom's family is the host and the bride's family come over for a big feast.
On her wedding day, the bride-to-be can wear any color she wants, but vibrant colors and much traditional gold jewelry are typically worn. It is customary for the bride to wear traditional clothes such as a lahnga, shalwar kameez, or sari. These weddings are also typical of the Muslim community in India.
Sri Lankan wedding customs[edit]
Sri Lankan weddings are typically celebrated as two functions in two days. In the first day, bride's family hosts the event and the poruwa ceremony takes place. Both bride and groom wear the traditional Kandyan dress and most traditional customs happen on the first day. The traditional honeymoon and the second day hosts by the groom's family and treat bride and her family with foods and entertainment. Minor communities in Sri Lanka also celebrate the wedding ceremony in a similar way with slightly different functions and different traditional dresses. Tamil people wears traditional Tamil wedding dresses and they replace poruwa ceremony with traditional Hindu wedding ceremony. Burgher people wears western traditional dresses and they marry in church as in popular western culture. Sri Lankan Moors celebrates the wedding with added Islam customs.
East Asian customs[edit]
Chinese wedding customs[edit]
Main articles: Chinese marriage and Southern Chinese wedding
Decorations at a traditional Chinesewedding banquet
Traditional Chinese marriage is a ceremonial ritual within Chinese societies that involve a marriage established by pre-arrangement between families. Within the traditional Chinese culture, romantic love was allowed, and monogamy was the norm for most ordinary citizens. A band of musicians with gongs and double-reed instruments accompanies the bridal parade to the groom's home. Similar music is also played at the wedding banquet. Depending on the region from which the bride hails, Chinese weddings will have different traditions such as the Tea Ceremony or the use of a wedding emcee. Also, in modern times, Chinese couples will often go to photo studios to take "glamour shots," posing in multiple gowns and various backgrounds.
Most regional Chinese wedding rituals follow the main Chinese wedding traditions, although some rituals are particular to the peoples of the southern China region. In most southern Chinese weddings, the bride price is based on the groom's economic status. The idea of "selling the daughter" or bride is not a phrase that is used often. Therefore, the price of the bride does not tend to be too demanding. Most of the time, the bride price is in the form of gold jewelry, fine fabric, money, or even a roast pig, which symbolizes that the bride is a virgin. Wedding presents are given by elderly couples or couples that are older than the newlyweds, while tea is served by the younger family members.[21]
Japanese wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Japanese wedding
Japanese customs fall into two categories: traditional Shinto ceremonies, and modern Western-style ceremonies. In either case, the couple must first be legally married by filing for marriage at their local government office, and the official documentation must be produced in order for the ceremony to be held.
Traditional customs[edit]
Before ever getting married there are two types of mate selection that may occur with the couple: (1) miai, or an arranged marriage and (2) ren ai, or a love match.[22] The Japanese bride-to-be may be painted pure white from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. Two choices of headgear exist. One, the watabōshi, is a white hood; the other, called the tsunokakushi, serves to hide the bride's 'horns of jealousy.' It also symbolizes the bride's intention to become a gentle and obedient wife.
Traditional Japanese wedding customs (shinzen shiki) involve an elaborate ceremony held at a Shinto shrine. Japanese weddings are being increasingly extravagant with all the elaborate details placed into thought. However, in some cases, younger generations choose to abandon the formal ways by having a "no host party" for a wedding.[23] In this situation, the guests include mainly of the couple's friends who pay an attendance fee.
Western-style customs[edit]
In recent years, the "Western Style Wedding" (influenced by Christian weddings) has become the choice of most couples in Japan.[24] An industry has sprung up, dedicated to providing couples with a ceremony modeled after church rituals. Japanese western style weddings are generally held in a chapel, either in a simple or elaborate ceremony, often at a dedicated wedding chapel within a hotel.
Before the ceremony, there is a rehearsal. Often during this rehearsal, the bride's mother lowers the veil for her daughter, signifying the last act that a mother can do for her daughter, before "giving her away". The father of the bride, much like in Western ceremonies, walks the bride down the aisle to her awaiting groom.
After the rehearsal comes the procession. The wedding celebrant will often wear a wedding cross, or cana, a cross with two interlocking wedding rings attached, which symbolize a couple's commitment to sharing a life together in the bonds of holy matrimony. The wedding celebrant gives a brief welcome and an introductory speech before announcing the bride's entrance. The procession ends with the groom bowing to the bride's father. The father bows in return.
The service then starts. The service is given either in Japanese, English or quite often, a mix of both. It follows Protestant ceremony, relaxed and not overtly religious. Typically part of 1 Corinthians 13 is read from the Bible. After the reading, there is a prayer and a short message, explaining the sanctity of the wedding vows (seiyaku). The bride and groom share their vows and exchange rings. The chapel register is signed and the new couple is announced. This is often followed by the traditional wedding kiss. The service can conclude with another hymn and a benediction.
With the two types of ceremonies, Shinto and Western, available it was bound for the two to be combined into what is called a contemporary Japanese wedding. Contemporary Japanese weddings are celebrated in many ways. On the beginning of the wedding day, the participants are to get ready at the parlor's beauty shop. The responsibility of the beauty shop is to dress the bride, the groom, and the other participants in the formal Japanese attire. Dressing the bride is an important task because the bride is to change into several outfits throughout her wedding day. Due to the complexity of the design, dressing a bride can be difficult and time consuming and for this reason the bride must be the first person to arrive two hours prior to the wedding ceremony. The bride's attire consists of an extravagant kimono, heavy make-up, a wig, and a head covering. An hour prior to the wedding ceremony, the guests and the groom should start to arrive.[25]
When everyone is dressed in their formal attire, the bride and the groom are to separate from each other and meet their close relatives in a waiting room. The relatives present will appear in the family photo and will also attend the religious ceremony. During this gathering, the kaizoe (assistant) will inform the participants of what will take place and what they should do during the day since they are not familiar with the ceremony.[25]
When all is understood, the relatives and participants are brought to the photo studio where the professional photographs are to be taken. Taking the photographs of the bride, the groom, and their relatives is considered to be the central part of the wedding day. The photographs of the couple and their family are designed to represent the couple's prospective future together.[25]
After the lengthy photo session, the bride, the groom, and others are brought to the Shinto shrine. Nowadays, the Shinto shrine may be conveniently located inside a hotel where all the activities will take place. A Shinto priest conducts the ceremony. In the ceremony, the bride and the groom are purified. However, the ceremony's important event occurs when the bride and the groom exchange nuptial cups of sake also known as san-san-ku-do. With the addition of Western tradition, the exchange of rings and weddings vows also take place. Those guests who did not attend the religious ceremony are able to view the ceremony on video screens located in the lobby.[25]
Like Western-style traditions, a reception takes place right after the wedding ceremony. The guests of the reception include family members, friends, and colleagues. Due to the wedding industry's attempt to maximize time and space, the reception will last exactly two hours. The reception does not include any random activities, but follows a strict order of events. The reception includes dramatic entrances by the bride and the groom with special effects, speeches, and other performances.[25]
Throughout the reception, the bride shall receive the guests' utmost attention because she changes two to three times for the dramatic entrances. With all the dramatic entrances, the groom will join the bride. For example, the first entrance includes the bride, the groom, and the nakodo couple. Nakodo means a "matchmaker" or a "go-between", which is usually referred to the husband. The nakodo couple plays such an important role that their names appear on the announcement of the wedding. The purpose of the nakodo is to symbolize a stable marriage. As the two couples appear a special effect of a cloud of white smoke will appear to surround them. Simultaneously, the hall lights are dimmed and the stage lighting will turn to the color of rose-pink; this astonishes the guests. Pictures are to be taken during the dramatic entrances of the bride and the groom. After the photographs have been taken, they will be led back to their table.[25]
At this point the Master of Ceremonies will congratulate the newlyweds and their family. He/she will then introduce the nakodo, who will start the opening speeches and more speeches will follow. Being that the reception is highly structured the speakers will have the idea of being formal and concise in mind. With all the speeches finished, the bride and the groom will perform the Western-style traditions, which include the following: (1) the cake cutting ceremony and (2) the newlyweds' first dance as husband and wife.[25]
The next part of the reception is the toast, or kanpai, which simplifies the mood of the reception where the guests can start to relax, eat, and drink. What follows the toast are the short congratulatory speeches made by relatives, friends, and colleagues. During this time, the bride has gone to change into her first costume and continues throughout the reception. However, the groom will also have a chance to change into his costume, which is the Western tuxedo. By the end of the night, both the bride and the groom have changed from their traditional Japanese attire to their Western-style attire.[25]
After their last change of costumes, the newlyweds will perform the candle service. Both will have a long, unlit candle, which will be lit from the table where their parents are seated. Next, the couple will walk around the room in a circle and light the candles placed on their guests' table. Once all the candles are lit, the newlyweds will return to their table where they will light what is called the Memorial Candle.[25]
By the time the candle service is done the two hours restriction will soon expire. The remaining few minutes includes short speeches, songs, dances, etc. As the reception ends a flower presentation ceremony will take place, which is where the newlyweds will present their parents with a gift of flowers to display appreciation for their parents raising them to the people they are today. At this point, the reception has ended with quick flashes and farewells.
South Korean wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Marriage in South Korea
Southeast Asian customs[edit]
Burmese wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Marriage Traditions in Myanmar
Cambodian wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Courtship, marriage, and divorce in Cambodia
Khmer(Cambodian) traditional wedding
Filipino wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Marriage and wedding customs in the Philippines
The groom usually wears the Barong Tagalog during the wedding, along with the male attendants, though nowadays the wealthy opt to don Western attire such as a tuxedo. Weddings held within the same year by two siblings, usually sisters, called Sukob are frowned upon as it is regarded as bad luck. Some hold it that the wedding rings dropping to the ground is a portent of bad luck (this is usually said to the ring bearer to ensure that the child is careful in handling the rings). Money, in the form of paper bills, is sometimes taped or pinned to the groom and bride's dress during their first dance.
Vietnamese wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Traditional Vietnamese wedding
The traditional gowns were modeled after the áo nhật bình (worn by royalty women and ladies) of Nguyễn Dynasty members of the court. The fashion trend of the Nguyễn Dynasty has remained popular and is still used today by Vietnamese individuals both in and outside of Vietnam, with some couples altering the design slightly to modernize or suit their taste; the silhouette of the traditional gown still remains the same. The wedding gown compared to other traditional Vietnamese clothes is more intricate in terms of design and only reserved for the wedding days.
Singapore wedding customs[edit]
Singapore is a highly inter-racial country in Southeast Asia. The main races of people in Singapore include Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasians. As a result of that, the types of wedding customs in Singapore vary relatively widely. For the majority of Chinese, weddings in Singapore would have a day event where the groom will pick up the bride with a tea ceremony followed by a church lunch or dinner banquet.
Thai wedding customs[edit]
Main article: Thai marriage
Malay wedding customs[edit]
A Malay wedding ceremony spreads over two days, beginning with the akad nikah ceremony on the first day. The groom signs the marriage contract and agrees to provide the bride with a mas kahwin (dowry). After that, their hands are dyed with henna during the berinai besar ceremony. On the second day, the bride is with her family and friends with musicians and bunga manggar or palm blossom carriers at the bride's house. At the house they are greeted with sprinkling of yellow rice and scented water.
Minangkabau wedding customs[edit]
As a matrilineal society, the bride family will be the one who proposes to the groom. This tradition is called maminang. If proposal is accepted, they will sign marriage contract. For the ceremony, manjapuik marapulai, the bride family will invite the groom, then, they will be shown to the public as newly married couple.
United States customs[edit]
A 2004 California wedding between a Filipina bride and a Nigerian groom
Fanciful drawing by journalist Marguerite Martynof a newly married couple dodging rice thrown at them, 1906
In a typical year there are about 2.2 million weddings in the United States and this is expected to rise to 2.6 million in 2022. According to wedding website The Knot, 10 percent of weddings will be held on Monday through Thursday in 2022 mainly due to the increase in Saturday vows and lower costs of weekday weddings.[26]
Most weddings in the United States follow a similar pattern to an English wedding. It traditionally follows the white wedding type (see also Wedding types below), which originates from the white color of the bride's wedding dress, but refers to an entire wedding routine. Customs and traditions vary, but common components are listed below.
- Before the wedding
- The host sends invitations to the wedding guests, usually one to two months before the wedding. Invitations may most formally be addressed by hand to show the importance and personal meaning of the occasion. Large numbers of invitations may be mechanically reproduced. As engraving was the highest quality printing technology available in the past, this has become associated with wedding invitation tradition. Receiving an invitation does not impose any obligation on the invitee other than promptly accepting or declining the invitation, and offering congratulations to the couple.[27]
- While giving any gift to the newlywed couple is technically optional, nearly all invited guests who attend the wedding choose to do so. Wrapped gifts can be brought to the wedding ceremony or reception, but it's considered thoughtful to have them delivered to the address on the wedding invitation or to the address given with the couple's bridal registry. Typical gifts are useful household items, such as dishes, silverware, kitchen utensils and appliances, or towels. Guests are not obligated to use the couple's registry information.
- A color scheme is selected by some to match everything from bridesmaids' dresses, flowers, invitations, and decorations, though there is no necessity in doing so.
- The groom's friends throw a party for the groom, called a "bachelor party". It usually involves alcohol and racy entertainment, as this is supposedly the groom's last chance to engage in debauchery before marriage. It has become increasingly popular for the bride's friends to organize similar "bachelorette" parties.
- At the wedding
- A wedding ceremony may take place anywhere, but often a church, courthouse, or outdoor venue is selected. The ceremony may be dictated by the couple's religious practices, or lack thereof. The most common non-religious form is derived from a simple Anglican ceremony in the Book of Common Prayer, and can be performed in less than ten minutes, although it is often extended by inserting music or speeches.
- American brides usually wear a white, off-white, silver, or other very light-colored dress, particularly at their first marriage.[28] Brides may choose any color, although black is strongly discouraged by some as it is the color of mourning in the west.[29]
- White seeds, or confetti is sometimes thrown at the newlyweds as they leave the ceremony to symbolize fertility. Some individuals, churches or communities choose birdseed due to a false but widely believed myth that birds eating the rice will burst.[30] Because of the mess that rice and birdseed make, modern couples often leave in clouds of bubbles.[31]
- The wedding party may form a receiving line at this point, or later at a wedding reception, so that each guest may briefly greet the entire wedding party.
- At the wedding reception
- Drinks, snacks, or perhaps a full meal, especially at long receptions, are served while the guests and wedding party mingle.
- Often, best men and/or maids of honor will toast newlyweds with personal thoughts, stories, and well-wishes; sometimes other guests follow with their own toasts. Champagne is usually provided for this purpose.
- In a symbolic cutting of the wedding cake, the couple may jointly hold a cake knife and cut the first pieces of the wedding cake, which they feed to each other. In some sub-cultures, they may deliberately smear cake on each other's faces, which is considered vulgar elsewhere.[32][33][34]
- If dancing is offered, the newlyweds first dance together briefly. Sometimes a further protocol is followed, wherein each dances next with a parent, and then possibly with other members of the wedding party. Special songs are chosen by the couple, particularly for a mother/son dance and a father/daughter dance. In some subcultures, a dollar dance takes place in which guests are expected to dance with one of the newlyweds, and give them a small amount of cash. This practice, as is any suggestion that the guests owe money to the couple, is considered rude in most social groups as it is contrary to basic western etiquette.[35]
- In the mid-twentieth century it became common for a bride to toss her bouquet over her shoulder to the assembled unmarried women during the reception. The woman who catches it, superstition has it, will be the next to marry. In a similar process, her groom tosses the bride's garter to the unmarried men, followed by the man who caught the garter placing it on the leg of the woman who caught the bouquet. While still common in many circles, these practices (particularly the latter) are falling out of favor in the 21st century.[36]
Wedding gifts[edit]
The purpose of inviting guests is to have them witness a couple's marriage ceremony and vows and to share in their joy and celebration. Gifts for the wedding couple are optional, although most guests attempt to give at least a token gift of their best wishes. Some couples and families feel that in return for the expense they put into entertaining and feeding their guests, the guests should pay them with similarly expensive gifts or cash.[37] Others believe this is contrary to proper etiquette.[38]
The couple often registers for gifts at a store well in advance of their wedding. This allows them to create a list of household items, usually including china, silverware and crystalware, linens or other fabrics, pots and pans, etc. Registries are intended to aid guests in selecting gifts the newlyweds truly want, and the service is sufficiently profitable that most retailers, from luxury shops to discount stores, offer the opportunity. Registry information should, according to etiquette, be provided only to guests upon direct request, and never included in the invitation.[39] Some couples additionally or instead register with services that enable money gifts intended to fund items such as a honeymoon, home purchase or college fund. Some find bridal registries inappropriate as they contravene traditional notions behind gifts, such as that all gifts are optional and delightful surprises personally chosen by the giver, and that registries lead to a type of price-based competition, as the couple knows the cost of each gift. Traditionally, weddings were considered a personal event and inviting people to the wedding who are not known to at least one member of the couple well enough to be able to choose an appropriate gift was considered inappropriate, and registries should therefore be unnecessary.[40] Whether considered appropriate or not, others believe that weddings are opportunities to extract funds or specific gifts from as many people as possible, and that even an invitation carries an expectation of monetary reward rather than merely congratulations.
Letters of thanks for any gift are traditionally sent promptly after the gift's receipt. Tradition allows wedding gifts to be sent up to a year after the wedding date. Thanks should be sent as soon as possible, preferably within two weeks.[27]
African-American customs[edit]
Main article: Jumping the broom
Jumping the broom developed out of the West African Asante custom. The broom in Ashanti and other Akan cultures also held spiritual value and symbolized sweeping away past wrongs or warding off evil spirits. Brooms were waved over the heads of marrying couples to ward off spirits. The couple would often but not always jump over the broom at the end of the ceremony.
The custom took on additional significance in the context of slavery in the United States. Slaves had no right to legal marriage; slaveholders considered slaves property and feared that legal marriage and family bonds had the potential to lead to organization and revolt. Marriage rituals, however, were important events to the Africans, who came in many cases come from richly ceremonial African cultures.
Taking marriage vows in the presence of a witness and then leaping over the handle of a broom became the common practice to create a recognized union. Brooms are also symbols of the hearth, the center of the new family being created.
There are also traditions of broom jumping in Europe, in the Wicca and Celtic communities especially.[citation needed]
South American customs[edit]
Brazil customs[edit]
The South American country of Brazil features a host of traditions and customs within its culture. For Brazilian brides, these traditions lead to extravagant, fun-filled weddings.[41]
- Preparations
- Bridesmaids and groomsmen are chosen months before the time of the wedding. Those selected consist of couples paired off at the altar, usually three men and three women for the brides side and more three men and three women for the grooms side. The groom arrives at the wedding ceremony location first. The bride comes to the location, usually a church, at least 10 minutes after the groom's arrival. The two should not see each other before the ceremony, however, as it is believed this will bring bad luck.
- In a military officer's wedding, the roles of groomsmen are replaced by swordsmen of the sword honor guard. They are usually picked as close personal friends of the groom who have served with him. Their role includes forming the traditional saber arch for the married couple and guests to walk through.
- Some time before the wedding, usually about one month, either the bride, or her best friends, organizes a "kitchen shower" (wedding shower) with the purpose of giving the bride an intimate reunion with her closest friends. This party used to be a "girls-only" event, and was usually a small intimate party. Nowadays not only have the parties gotten bigger, but they also have started to admit men to the event. The person that is invited to this kind of party usually gives the bride something for her kitchen; hence the name "kitchen shower", and not wedding shower.
- The wedding ceremony and party are usually paid by the wife's family, although this is a tradition that is not always followed, understandably because of the high costs involved.
- Ceremony
- Brazilian wedding ceremonies normally follow Christian traditions closely. The bride and groom recite wedding vows to each other after a prayer is read. Then the bride and groom exchange wedding rings. These rings are usually engraved with the name of the groom on the bride's ring and the name of the bride on the groom's ring.
- After the religious ceremony, the newlyweds usually throw a big party were they receive the compliments from all the guests. The party usually happens in a different place, a private party house that in Brazil is called a "ceremonial." A lot of singing and dancing goes on usually after the couple dances a Waltz.
- Reception
- Receptions for Brazilian weddings involve food, drinks and music. The married couple gives gifts to their parents, while the parents bestow a number of gifts upon the couple.
- Another unique thing about the weddings in Brazil is a sweet called "bem casado" (well married), which is normally given to the guests on their way out. It is considered to bring good luck to the couple. Usually towards the end of the party or before the married couple leaves, the bride throws her flower bouquet to her unmarried friends. The belief is that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next one to marry. One other tradition for offering fortune to the couple is for the bride's friends is to write their names on the inner part of the bride's dress. This is also said to help the unmarried bride's friends to find a husband for them.
The Brazilian culture is very rich with its numerous traditions, celebrations, and in many cases superstitions. Wedding celebrations are definitely inserted in this context. This is considered a festive event for the Brazilian society and thus it is usually celebrated with a lot of music, dances and overall happiness.
References[edit]
- ^"Culture of Iran: Iranian Marriage Ceremony, Its History & Symbolism". www.iranchamber.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
- ^"British wedding traditions to know before the royal wedding". ABC News. May 19, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
- ^London Wedding "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2011-03-14.: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Olmert, Michael (1996). Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History, p.155. Simon & Schuster, New York. ISBN 0-684-80164-7.
- ^"Getting Married in Scotland". 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
- ^"Save-the-Date Cards: Optional or Necessary?". 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
- ^"Setlist - Pulse Wedding Band Glasgow & Ayrshire". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
- ^"Scottish Weddings Maximise Hen Weekends
7 Courtship Customs Around the World
Though easier than ever, dating today can feel formulaic: Meet on a dating app, maybe in a bar. Exchange numbers. Exchange texts, dating and marriage customs around the world. Meet for drinks, maybe coffee. Then fade into each other’s contact lists, rinse, and repeat with the next match from said dating app. Even in the Tinder era, however, there’s more to courtship than swiping right. It just depends on where in the world you are. If you’re looking for some flirty inspiration this Valentine’s Day, keep these seven traditional courtship customs in mind for a new way to say “be mine.”
1. A different kind of bachelor party in rural Australia
Daters in big Australian cities like Dating and marriage customs around the world and Melbourne may not always be lucky in love, but not for lack of potential partners. Safe to say the Tinder pool dwindles dramatically the farther you get from the coast, making it that much harder to find “the one.” Enter Bachelor and Spinster, or B&S, Balls. A tradition since the late 1800s, B&S Balls bring together young singles in rural Australia looking to couple up, dating and marriage customs around the world. Don’t be fooled by the suits and gowns attendees customarily wear, at least for part of the evening, however: Today’s B&S Balls would dating and marriage customs around the world accurately be called parties, and wild ones at that.
Drinks flow freely, country musicians sometimes perform, and pickup truck, or ute, shows might even ensue. People reliably end up covered in bright food dye, which, dating and marriage customs around the world banned, dating and marriage customs around the world, attendees insist on smuggling in to squirt at one another. It has become tradition though no one remembers how the custom started, exactly. Raucous as they get, at the end of the day, B&S Balls really are just venues for Aussies looking to find love — for $80-100 a ticket.
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2. Welsh spoons aren’t just for eating
In 17th-century Wales, male suitors presented the women they were courting with hand-carved lovespoons, which, if accepted, signified engagement. Though the spoon itself, a utilitarian tool designed to blend, is symbolic of relationships, over time, these lovespoons became more works of craft art than household items, gifted for reasons other than just marriage. Intricate designs were incorporated into the carvings, some of which had particular meanings: bells for marriage, a wheel for hard work and support, a horseshoe for luck, a lock for home and security, an anchor for devotion. Nowadays, lovespoons are sometimes given as gifts on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas.
3. In Niger, men compete in beauty pageants
Beauty contests are annual events for the nomadic Wodaabe people who populate the Sahel desert, migrating primarily around Niger and Chad. They’re no Miss Universe pageants, however, with women taking on dating a girl with acne roles while men webhosting for dating sites their physical attributes. These festivals, most famously held in Niger, are called Gerewol, and smaller Wodaabe groups may travel significant distances to attend each year, barring years it’s canceled due to drought.
Men paint their faces with red ochre, black eyeliner and lipstick, and non binary dating app or yellow clay; dress in bright, beautiful costumes; and accessorize with beadwork and ostrich plumes. Then they dance, despite the heat, dating and marriage customs around the world, while Wodaabe women look on. The objective is to make love connections. At the end of the days-long festival, each judge may select a winner, who may choose to reciprocate, whether for marriage or just one night, dating and marriage customs around the world. And it isn’t only for singles. During Gerewol, even married Wodaabe may have flings or leave their arranged marriages in favor of a love match, which female onlookers and runners-up may also find during the festival.
4. Whale teeth over wedding rings in Fiji
Diamond rings may be the engagement bling of choice in the United States, but in Fiji, sperm whale teeth are traditionally gifted on special occasions, notably engagements and weddings. Often made wearable by woven straps, they’re called tabua, and prospective grooms present them to the family of their bride-to-be when asking for her hand in marriage. New tabua are hard to come by as sperm whales are protected as an endangered species. Existing tabua are still exchanged and presented ceremonially, though the demand, and prices, can be high. Unlike relics of courtship customs like Welsh lovespoons, giving tabua remains an important facet of Fijian cultural life. They may also be given at birthdays, funerals, or as a token of apology.
5. Dyngus Day crosses the pond
Though Dyngus Day originated in Poland, it’s Buffalo, New York, that now claims to do the holiday best (with Cleveland not far behind). Celebrated on the Monday after Easter, the holiday dates back to 966 AD and has ties to Prince Mieszko I’s baptism. It has evolved into a day of revelry, parading, and flirtation, but its baptismal origins may explain the tradition of young boys soaking girls with water. Boys also tap girls on the legs with pussy willow branches to demonstrate their interest. Outside of Poland, Dyngus Day is celebrated in Slovakia, Hungary, and other nearby countries. In the US, Polish communities from Ohio to California also stage events. Buffalo truly does go all out, though, with polka music and dancing; Polish matured dating sites and drink like pierogies, kielbasa, and krupnik, a spiced honey liqueur; and a rowdy yet fun atmosphere.
6. The Mexican Kickapoo whistle to woo
Whistling at women doesn’t always go over well these days, but it’s a traditional sign of romantic interest for the Kickapoo people of Mexico and Texas that’s far more intricate, and welcome, than catcalling. In the early 20th century, young Kickapoo men developed a whistling-based form of language to share private messages with one another from a distance. In northeast Mexico, the whistling practice is primarily used during courtship as a way for young men and women to transmit sweet nothings in the evenings. To whistle the Kickapoo way, one must clasp their hands in front of their mouths, dating and marriage customs around the world, lifting and lowering their back fingers to change pitch. To learn more about the Mexican Kickapoo lifestyle, visit the Milwaukee Public Museum.
7. Japan’s other Valentine’s Day
In Japan, and elsewhere in Asia, a second love-related holiday falls exactly one month after Valentine’s Day, when women customarily give, but don’t receive, chocolates. It’s called White Day, and it was invented in the late 1970s by a confectionary shop that saw marketing potential in giving women their own day to be celebrated and showered with sweets. On Valentine’s Day, women typically give special chocolates called honmei-choco to the men they know, and on White Day, men are expected to return the favor. Men may also give gifts like jewelry, flowers, or lingerie. On either day, celebrants may give tokens of their affection to friends, family, or co-workers, much as kids pass Valentine’s cards around their classrooms.
What did you think of this story?Источник: [https://torrent-igruha.org/3551-portal.html]Hen News". Retrieved July 8, 2018.Dating manners across different cultures
Источник: [https://torrent-igruha.org/3551-portal.html]When I was 18 years old I used to believe there is no way one could ever date successfully a person from a different culture. My thinking at the time was that…if you marry someoneyou don’t only live with that person but their entire history, family, past while if you marry someone from a different country… well that will exponentially and overwhelmingly multiply into accepting an entire country, culture, customs, history, religion, past, language, education, family…
Of course ever since, life ‘s main lesson for me was “never say never” and the first man I truly fell in love with was from literally across dating sites in new mexico world; not just a different country but a different continent and a completely different ethnic group. So here I was a 21 year old Eastern European meeting my Ethiopian boyfriend’s family….with no previous clue of what that experience would be like.
Now the reality is as the world is becoming increasingly borderless intercultural, inter-racial couples are on the way of becoming the norm and that is in my opinion a great thing. I think we should never segregate ourselves based on race, dating and marriage customs around the world, religion, nationality, culture nor any media, family or peer influenced limitations other than choosing the person that genuinely makes us happy.
Is interesting however to see how our own cultures impact the way we perceive love and dating particularly. And while dating someone raised in a completely different culture can be the most enriching experience it comes with many challenges as you go deeper into the relationship and realize how the person has such a different perspective of life, of certain habits, view of relationships, values of family, traditions, manners, food and the list goes on.
That is why I always jokingly say, dating and marriage customs around the world, nobody cares to meet an international etiquette consultant until the day they have to meet the parents of their loved one. So here is a few small tips to help you through the first dates if you find yourself dating in any of the below 10 countries.
Disclaimer! This article is not meant to define and generalize all individuals within a country simply note a few interesting cultural differences In african dating site habits across the world.
“Are we dating or just hooking up?”
American dating culture is of course very diverse based on which part of USA you live in and while certain parts tend to be more conservative in general American dating culture tends to be a lot more casual.
Most Americans meet in bars, clubs, dating and marriage customs around the world, dating apps and is not necessarily with the intent to get serious asap but more for fun. So the couple will go out a few times (a bigger percentage of first dates don’t follow the traditional approach of who invites is the one that pays and the couple tends to go dutch - meaning split the bill) .Is perfectly normal for women to initiate the dates, they are very open minded and marriage is not always the end goal of dating even if the word love is quite often used very early, from within the first dates.
Having sex is not directly related to dating someone and until the conversation of being exclusive happens, the situation can get a bit confusing for most in regards to “are we dating or just hooking up”. Moving in with someone without the prospect of marriage is very common and accepted in American culture.
Even if in some countries parents involvement is higher, in American culture the family influence especially for the beginning of the relationship is zero to minimal.
Public displays of affection (PDAs) are also accepted. Kissing and hugging in public is a common sight when couples meet each other.
“We couldn’t talk about PDAs and not bring up Brazil. It’s nearly impossible to travel to Brazil and avoid witnessing some passionate kissing action. ”
Brazilians enjoy showing affection and kissing on first dates is normal. Relationships are happening on a much faster pace. Dancing, touching is more, personal space is less and as opposed to USA, you don’t even need to date before making your relationship official… is “official” from the start.
Men from Brazil, similar to most Latin-American countries have the pressure of being considered “a macho” so if one wouldn’t go pursue a woman they like, their male friends would make sure that they regret it so expect a lot of flirting walking through the roads of Brazil especially during Carnival.
Tinder is big in Brazil and there is registered nurse dating site stigma connected to online dating apps like in truly free dating site cultures. Hook-ups are normal especially during Dating and marriage customs around the world. If your date is late or ask you out with a very spontaneous last minute call don’t be annoyed as the dating culture tends to be much more laid back here. But in the same time more traditional as the man is more likely to insist on taking the zillow dating site in Latin American cultures.
For those of you who dream of Prince Charming coming from a British background, that perfect gentleman swooping you off with his chivalry…. I am sorry but the dating culture in UK is actually much more similar to USA casual dating culture as the norm so the British gentlemen are on the way to extinction.
Most first dates take place in a pub and generally involve drinking…sometimes a lot of drinking. Casual sex on first date is not the rarest occurrence but is also not the norm.
Parents involvement in the dating life of their children tends to be even less than in most American families.
In India, arranged marriages are definitely not a thing of the past and the modern twist to that are the dating apps. There are many dating apps strictly designed for the Indian dating scene but here is the catch…the dating apps are for parents to match their children. Once a match happens based on multiple considerations of finance, religion, casts… is followed by calculations of the birth dates of the two potential partners matching, auspicious dates, numerology, family compatibility before a first date (which sometimes happens during your wedding day). Dating in Indian is an entire science and a community effort. You are definitely not left alone and things are not california dating apps to chance.
Dating culture is generally always with the free video dating of marriage in mind and Indian culture has definitely never warmed up to the idea of casual dating.
Despite Indian men being very good at bargaining, once they date they tend to be extremely generous with their women and take a very traditional role of protector and provider of the home. In Indian dating culture, there is this concept that women have to always be wooed and pampered.
Dating in France can be so casual that French do not even have a word for date….but rather a translation for “seeing someone” … Most first dates actually happen in groups. But French people also manage to avoid the dreaded talk in which a couple has to dating and marriage customs around the world the relationship — AKA the USA conversation where we decide if we are exclusive.
For the French, the mere act of going on dates (or, rather, "seeing someone") , being affectionate dating and marriage customs around the world means that you're committed to someone. French tend to be a lot more romantic in dating so if a French feels like this is serious and finds out you are seeing another in the same time the reaction can sometimes be disastrous.
Love is a serious thing in France.
In general dating culture in Russia and across Eastern Europe is much more old-fashioned as gender roles remain quite clearly defined.
On a date Russian men are expected to be highly courteous, holding doors, helping with coats, taking the bill and bringing flowers …always in odd numbers. It is thought that the woman completes the bouquet with her beauty, as opposed to an even number, that is only taken to the dead.
Russian men tend to be very generous from the beginning and marriage and moral values are definitely engraved in the dating culture. There are no strict rules on how fast or slow the relationship leads to marriage.
In response women are expected to be very loyal, very affectionate and supportive; also the physical aspect of a woman counts much more. Women put a lot more value on their aspect, on femininity. Do not be surprised if a Russian or Eastern European woman will start bringing up her cooking skills or qualities of a traditional wife in the conversation sometimes (again not all women nor all men will be the same…I personally have no cooking skills…the reason why my father believes I am still not married at 32)
Like many Asian cultures, dating isn’t taken lightly nor is it very high on people’s vision boards until late in life and even then relationships are quite strained under the pressure of society, financial stability, commitments, career, education. Dating and marriage customs around the world dates in Japan are very different from the Western world where two people meet for a movie, or a coffee or dinner. First dates usually happen in a group meeting – or goukon.
PDAs are frowned upon and the most you could expect from your Japanese partner at the end of a wonderful romantic date might be a stiff hug.
Tokyo Psychoterapits Dr. Ana Maloyan-Kishida explained that "Ways in which feelings, and love in particular, are expressed in Japanese dating culture can lead to frustration. Foreigners expect more direct verbal expression and physical contact, whereas the Japanese partner may not feel comfortable with this kind of expression. Nonverbal communication, subtle signs are highly valued in Japan and if they are not noticed by the Western partner, frustration and resentment follow"
However Japanese take dating very seriously and the point of dating is to get married. Many couples don’t even start their relationship until they say “I love you” – or kokuhaku (confession of love and/or interest)- so you are never left wondering for too long in Japanese dating culture.
Now ladies, China might be the place to be if you are planning to get married. As of 2016 there has been a significant gender imbalance within the country and that was one of the dating and marriage customs around the world why the one child per family rule was canceled. Since parents chose to keep only boy children slowly the demographics have started to look worrying.
Because of this, actual “dating schools” for men have begun to form in China, according to New York Times.
The pressure of getting married in Chinese culture is higher than most other countries and marriage markets are common. This is where parents take their daughters’ pictures in order to find a spouse. If you reached 30s you are actually considered as “leftover” in Chinese culture which creates a lot of pressure on the young people. Parents therefore are very involved in the dating scene.
The younger generations are actually the first ones to even have a choice in whom their partner will be so be patient. Certain aspects are still quite traditional and the man is usually the one who is traditionally supposed to make all decisions so you might find Chinese women not so comfortable with the question “what should we do for our first date?”
While in the West the rule is to play it cool and not call for 1-3days, in China is common to text and call multiple times a day sometimes, even from the very beginning of the relationship.
For those of you who don’t know, Iceland is a very small country and its geographical location has definitely kept the country isolated from major outside influences. So the chances of learning how true Vikings date are high when visiting Iceland.
First interesting fact is the fact that dating is not traditionally practiced, nor the pressure of labeling a relationship. One night stands are common but here is why. Iceland is so small that the chances of bumping into someone you know or are related to are high, so as soon as you go out is official and then people will start commenting if they see you on five first dates a month with five different people. Iceland is so small that they developed an app called “islendigaapp” for “incest prevention” allowing users to bump their phones together and find out if they are related before hooking up.
Also the dating site organic eaters that a man should make the first move does not apply in Iceland where is common for women to also make the first move in approaching a man.
Ok guys now don’t all rush to Iceland.
Ok…I couldn’t leave this one out as UAE is referred to the Vegas of the Middle East. Now UAE is special because of its cosmopolitan aspect. First of all traditionally and officially dating in UAE is not part of the culture and premarital sex is technically illegal in the region.
But let’s not forget that foreigners represent more than 85% of UAE’s population.
Tourists, residents in a shorter or longer planned transit in their career and life makes this a melting pot of cultures and while meeting someone new is easy, dating is not easy. Society is very much bachelors’ oriented, dating happens most often in the mall and meeting someone happens most often on dating apps as residents find themselves too busy to sort through single and committed or tourists vs residents.
So like Vegas, like Bali, like most places that are flooded with tourism, dating is not the fairytale portrayed on magazines and media but more like gambling and hoping for the best. So expect a lot of trust issues from both genders.
If woman dating in fresno ca would like me to continue the list of countries or talk about one in particular please leave me a comment here or on any of my social media pages attached and I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
May love fill your hearts regardless of language, religion, culturerace and any other society imposed boundaries.
Always be kind,
Andreea Stefanescu
Andreea Stefanescudating, cultural intelligence, manners, etiquette, flowers, russian, first date, online dating, tinder, romance, marriage, culture, world, diversity, dating and marriage customs around the world, love, love in different cultures, dating apps
9 Unique Dating Traditions From Around The World
From Romeo and Juliet to Beyoncé and Jay Z, love hasn’t always been about putting a ring on it. Yes, love is universal but the diverse array of courting rituals across the globe show that it’s not always the same.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, these are some of the unique, crazy things people do in the name of love.
Read More: This Is How People Celebrate Love Around the World
1. The Love Shack
The ‘courting hut’ of the South African Zulu tribe might be a protective father’s worst nightmare, dating and marriage customs around the world. Zulu girls’ fathers forbid any potential suitor to their home, so they out of their way to build a special hut for the couple to meet in. The practice itself, albeit bizarre, follows a long history of etiquette and tradition. It is the second of five main stages to Zulu courtship, which nearly always result in marriage.
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2. Spooning
No, not the cuddling kind. Since at least the 17th century, Welsh couples have exchanged hand-carved “lovespoons” as an expression of wishing they had the other. Young men would spend hours intricately carving spoons with symbols of their hopes and desires. If a girl accepted, then it was game on. Although the tradition isn’t kept up today, “lovespoons” still serve as a popular gift in Wales for weddings, engagements and Valentine’s Day.
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3. Wolf Whistling
Come nighttime, the streets of the Kickapoo village in Mexico are flooded with an orchestra of whistles. While in many cultures, whistling to call attention can be considered rude (to say the least.) the young Kickapoo couples have used it for decades. “Courtship whistling” is a way for couples to plan meetings together later on. Formerly, it was done with a flute until 1915. Each couple has their own unique tone, recognizing the other and creating their own code of whistles that no one else can understand. Although only short messages are usually exchanged, the Kickapoo can carry out entire conversations — adding new meaning to the phrase: “left me breathless.”
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Read More: 5 Ways to be Ethical and Sustainable This Valentine’s Day
4. Carrying the Weight in the Relationship
Every year since 1992, competitors from all over dating and marriage customs around the world world sling their spouse or partner over the shoulder to partake in the Wife-carrying World Championships in Sonkarjavi, Finland. Piggyback, fireman’s carry, or Estonian-style (partner or spouse hangs upside-down with legs around the other’s shoulders, holding onto waist) — whatever the style, the objective is to get through the course in record time. The prize? The partner’s weight in beer, and a hearty pat on the back.
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5. Deep Dive for Love
In Fiji, when it comes to impressing the father of the bride, men have it hard. It is common tradition to online dating simple programmer her father with a tabua (whale’s tooth) before he even considers the suitor eligible for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Yes, that means diving down and facing off the world’s largest mammal to get the old man’s approval.
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6. Netflix and Chill
These days, online dating sites and mobile dating apps are all the craze. India, a country where kardashians dating black guys is revered, takes it one step further. Shagun TV channel (“auspicious TV” in Hindi) features new shows designed to help single viewers find brides or grooms, shop for dating a shy guy on snap, and look up honeymoon destinations. Currently, the channel attracts 10 million viewers a week.
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7. Bridal Shower
On the night before a Scots’ wedding, the very unlucky groom and bride-to-be are pelted with rotten eggs, treacle, soot and flour. Then, they are paraded through the streets, dragging all sorts of disgusting bits behind them. In Scotland, this ‘blackening’ ritual is performed with great gusto and is believed this humiliation early on will better prepare them for married life.
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Read More: Love is Love: NYC, the World Celebrate LGBT Pride
8. Key to My Heart
Oh, Italy, the land of Trevi fountains, mopeds and padlocks — the same popular padlocks that weigh down bridges and gates worldwide. It’s no surprise the Italians were the first to use them as a proclamation of love. Inspired by Federico Moccia’s book and film I Want You, couples originally attached the padlocks to the Ponte Milvio in Rome. They would write the name of their loved one and throw the key into the river as a symbol of their unbreakable love and commitment for one another. Got that love locked down.
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9. Love Letters
It’s not as easy as swiping right and starting a conversation in Southwest China during the Sisters’ Meal Festival. Men pour their hearts into serenading potential suitors. The girls pick to their liking by sending the most unusual of love letters. They cook sticky rice in four different colors, each representing a season of the year. The rice, rolled in a handkerchief, is given to each of the suitors who serenaded them. Suitors then unwrap the handkerchief and sifts through the rice to find an answer from their love interest. Two red chopsticks: the girl likes him back. One chopstick: the girl has politely turned him down. A pine needle: sorry come again, the girl hasn’t made up her mind. A garlic or chili: “boy, bye.”
via GIPHY
TopicsCitizenshipGlobal CitizenListValentines DayBizarre traditions
43 Fascinating Wedding Traditions From Around the World
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Norway: Brides Wear Crowns to Deflect Evil Spirits
One Norwegian tradition states that the bride will wear an ornate silver and gold crown that has small charms dangling all around it, dating and marriage customs around the world. When she moves, the tinkling sound is supposed to deflect evil spirits.
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Mexico: Wedding Lasso
During the ceremony, as a Mexican couple is exchanging their vows, a "lazo," or lasso, made of rosary beads and flowers is draped around their shoulders in the shape of a figure eight. Not only does "el lazo" represent the union of the couple, but its shape also resembles the infinity symbol, 60 year old woman dating younger man just how long they're hoping the marriage will last.
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Armenia: Balance Bread
Want to keep evil spirits far away from your marriage? Balance lavash flatbread on your shoulders. That's what newly married Armenian couples traditionally do. According to the custom, when the bride and groom enter their wedding reception—typically at the groom's house—they break a plate dating a mgtow guy good luck, then are given lavash and honey by the groom's mother, dating and marriage customs around the world. They balance the bread on their shoulders to ward off evil and eat spoonfuls of honey to symbolize happiness, and then the party really starts.
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Congo: No Smiling on the Wedding Day
While most about-to-be marrieds brim with excitement and anticipation, Congolese couples must keep their happiness in check. During their entire wedding day, from ceremony to reception, the two are not allowed to smile. If they do, it would mean they aren't serious about marriage.
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China: Bow and Arrow
Let's hope the groom remembers to remove the arrowheads. In China, a prospective husband will shoot his bride with a bow and (head-less) arrow several times, then collects the arrows and breaks them during the ceremony, to ensure their love lasts forever.
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Fiji: Presenting a Whale's Tooth
In Fiji, when a man asks a woman's father for her hand in marriage, he must present his future father-in-law with a whale's tooth.
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China: Carrying the Bride
In China, a bride's family will hire a "good luck" woman to take care of her as she travels from her home to her groom's in an elaborately decorated sedan chair, dating and marriage customs around the world. Even more, attendants are busy shielding the bride with parasols and tossing rice (a symbol of health and prosperity) at the chair.
12 Chinese Wedding Traditions You Need to Know
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Scotland: Eloping
Centuries ago, England restricted marriage to couples who were 21 and over. But that didn't stop young lovers from finding a loophole—in this case, a nearby Scottish town without such limitations. Today, that village, Gretna Green, is still popular for couples who want to elope.
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Greece: Shaving the Groom
Taking the term "groomsman" literally, on his wedding day, a Greek groom's best man, or "koumparos," becomes his barber when he pulls out a razor and shaves his pal's face. But the groom's day also has a sweet side. After he's been freshly shaved, his new mother-in-law will feed him honey and almonds.
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Guatemala: Breaking a Bell
As wedding reception hosts, the parents of Guatemalan grooms can do whatever they want, including smashing things. When the newlyweds arrive, it's a tradition that the groom's mom breaks a white ceramic bell filled with grains like rice and flour to bring prosperity to the couple.
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Japan: A White Tsunokakushi
On her wedding day, a Japanese bride celebrating a traditional Shinto ceremony wears white from head to toe, including makeup, kimono, and a hood called a "tsunokakushi." White denotes her maiden status, and the hood hides the so-called "horns best foreign dating sites jealousy" she feels towards her mother-in-law.
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Lebanon: Music and Dancing Before the Ceremony
In Lebanon, the wedding celebration, known as the Zaffe, gets off to a rowdy start with music, belly dancing, and shouting at both the groom's and bride's homes courtesy of the couple's friends, family, and, occasionally, professional dancers and musicians. Eventually, everyone ends up at the bride's house, where the couple is showered with blessings and flower petals as they leave for the ceremony.
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Germany: Polterabend
In their first bit of housekeeping together, German couples traditionally clean up piles of porcelain dishes that their guests have thrown on the ground to ward off any evil spirits. The lesson of this "Polterabend": While working together, the two partners can face any challenge thrown their way.
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Norway: Kransekake
Ditch the white wedding cake and switch things up. It's typical at Norwegian weddings to serve a towering special-occasion cake called a "kransekake." It's made with iced almond cake rings to form a cone shape, and a wine bottle is often placed in its hollow center.
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Czech Republic: Placing dating my daughter online Baby on the Couple's Bed
Before a Czech bride and groom tie the knot, an infant is placed on the couple's bed to bless and enhance their fertility. Once they've wed, guests shower them with rice, peas, or lentils—also to promote fertility.
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Russia: Karavay
Now this is a sweet tradition. Newly married Russian couples share a wedding sweetbread called "karavay," decorated with wheat for prosperity and interlocking rings for faithfulness. Whoever takes the biggest bite—husband or wife—without using their hands is considered the head of the family.
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India: Joota Chupai
On the day of the wedding, in a ritual called "Joota Chupai," an Indian bride's mischievous sisters and female cousins make off with the groom's shoes and demand ransom money for their safe return. That's one way to kick things up a notch!
14 Hindu Wedding Ceremony Traditions You Need to Know
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China: Wedding Door Games
In this lighthearted tradition, Chinese bridesmaids give the groom non binary dating app hard time on the morning of the wedding day by putting him (and sometimes his groomsmen) through a series of tests and challenges, called "wedding door games," to prove that he's worthy of the bride. Then, he must pay off the girls with envelopes full of money. That's what friends are for!
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Niger: Camel Dance
You've heard of the chicken dance, but in the West African country of Niger, the camel dance is done at the reception in the desert by a real camel. The humpback animal gets his groove on to a rhythmic drumbeat, all while surrounded by wedding guests.
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Philippines: Releasing White Doves
After tying the knot, happy brides and grooms in the Philippines release a pair of white dating and marriage customs around the world teenage lesbian dating apps, one female—into the air. The birds are said to represent a harmonious life together for the newly married couple.
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Russia: Weddings Photos at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
In a gesture of respect, couples in Moscow often take wedding photos at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin, then lay down flowers afterward.
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Turkey: Hanging Flags
Friends of the groom plant the Turkish flag, which features a red crescent and star, in the ground at his home on the day he is to wed. Depending on the area, objects like fruit, vegetables, and even mirrors are placed on top, signifying that the wedding ceremony has begun.
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Venezuela: Couple Leaves Before the End of the Reception
Don't wait until the reception's over to chat up a Venezuelan couple—they could be long gone. It's good luck for the newlyweds to sneak away before the party has come to an end without getting caught; it's also good luck for whichever guest catches on that they're gone.
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Wales: Myrtle in the Bridal Bouquet
Welsh brides think not only of themselves on their wedding day, but also of their bridal party. The bridal bouquet includes myrtle, an herb that symbolizes love, and the bride gives a cutting to each dating and marriage customs around the world her bridesmaids. (Kate Middleton even included dating site in sweden language in her bouquet!) The theory goes that if a bridesmaid plants the myrtle cutting and it blooms, she'll be dating and marriage customs around the world next bride.
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Mongolia: Chicken Liver Tradition
A Mongolian couple hoping to set a wedding date must first kill a baby chicken and cut it apart, holding the knife together, to find a healthy liver. They keep at it until they're successful.
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China: Three Dresses
In China, brides typically walk down the aisle in a slim-fitting, embroidered dress, called a traditional qipao or cheongsam. Tantan dating app the reception, they typically change into a more decked-out gown with Western flair. But the bridal fashion show doesn't end there, dating and marriage customs around the world. To cap the night, Chinese brides often make a final change into a cocktail dress. Triple the dresses, triple the fun!
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Russia: Groom Must Prove His Worth
According to custom, a Russian man must go to the bride's parents' home on the morning of the wedding and prove his worth by either paying a "ransom" for his lady, dating and marriage customs around the world, showering the bride's family with gifts, or simply humiliating himself by dancing and singing until the family has had enough.
29of black girl dating white guy problems Ireland: Keep One Foot on the Ground During First Dance
In Ireland, when the bride and groom are dancing, the bride must keep at least one foot on the floor at all times. Irish folklore states that if she doesn't, evil fairies will come and sweep her away.
30of dating and marriage customs around the world India: Mehndi
Right before the wedding, it's common for Indian women to gather their closest girlfriends and sit for hours at a time to have their skin intricately painted, in tattoo fashion, with mehndi, a type of paint made from henna. The elaborate and beautiful skin art lasts about two weeks.
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French Polynesia: Newlyweds Step on Relatives
On the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, once the wedding has come to an end, the relatives of the bride lay side-by-side, face down on the ground, while the bride and groom walk over them like a human rug.
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China: Crying Before Wedding
Brides of the Tujia people in China take tears of joy to a whole different level. Starting one month in advance, the bride starts to cry for one hour every day. Ten days into the waterworks, her mother joins the picture, and 10 days after that, her grandma does the same. By the end of the month, every female in the fat girl dating site is crying alongside the bride, dating and marriage customs around the world. The tradition is believed to be an expression of joy, as the women weep in different tones, reminiscent of a song.
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Germany: Sawing a Log
After getting married, couples in Germany are presented with a large log and a saw. By sawing the log in half as a team, it is believed they are proving their ability to work together in overcoming tough obstacles.
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Peru: Cake Pull
In Peruvian weddings, the cake is typically assembled with ribbons attached to charms, one of which is a fake wedding ring. During the reception, all the single women in attendance participate in the "cake pull." Each participant grabs a ribbon, and the single lady who pulls out the fake wedding ring, per tradition, will be the next to get married.
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Romania: Hiding the Bride
In Romania, before the free sex only dating sites, guests work together to playfully "abduct" the bride, whisking her away to an undisclosed location and demanding a "ransom" from the groom. Typical requests? A few bottles of alcohol, or—for those looking to really make the groom sweat—singing a love song in front of the entire party.
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Scotland: Covering the Bride and Groom
Scottish brides and grooms are captured by their friends the day before their ceremony and covered in everything from molasses and ash to flour and feathers before being paraded around town. The goal may seem to be ultimate humiliation, but the ritual stems from the practice of trying to ward off evil spirits.
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Sweden: Stealing Kisses
In Sweden, whenever the bride leaves the table, all the ladies at the reception are free to steal a kiss from the groom. Whenever the groom leaves the room, all surrounding gentlemen are free to plant a peck on the bride, too.
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Wales: Lovespoons
Back in the day, when a Welshman fell in love and was ready to commit, he carved spoons from wood, called "lovespoons," and gave them to his beloved. Decorations included keys, signifying free latin dating site key to his heart, and beads, symbolizing the number of children he was hoping for.
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India: Marrying a Tree First
If you're a Hindu woman born during the astrological period when Mars and Saturn are both under the seventh house, dating and marriage customs around the world, you're cursed; according to custom, if you marry, be prepared for early widowhood. Fortunately, there's a remedy: Marry a tree first, then have it cut down to break the evil spell.
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South Korea: Falaka Ceremony
As part of the "Falaka" ceremony in South Korea, the groom's friends and family hold him down as they beat the bottoms of his feet with a stick or dried fish. In between beatings, he's asked trivia questions, so the custom is said to help strengthen his memory and his feet.
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Italy: La Serenata
The night before the wedding, an Italian groom may traditionally throw a surprise party outside his bride-to-be's window. "La serenata" begins with the groom, backed by musicians, serenading his fiancée. Then, it turns into a full-blown bash, complete with a lavish buffet and all the couple's friends and family.
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Spain: Cutting the Tie
At some Spanish weddings, the groom's friends will take scissors and chop up his tie, then sell the pieces to guests to raise more money for the newlyweds. The same practice is sometimes applied to the bride's garter, as well. Anything for a few extra bucks!
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Canada: Money Dance
At French-Canadian ceremonies, the couple's older, unmarried siblings traditionally perform a dance, all wearing wacky, brightly colored socks. As they dance, guests throw money at them which is then collected and presented to the newlyweds.
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