Weddings Traditions- Europe, Africa and the Middle East

Traditions from Around the World

For my last two posts highlighting wedding traditions of all walks, I decided to end with a bang and introduce some of the most popular cultural wedding traditions!

Dutch

A wonderful Dutch custom that can be seen at an abundance of modern weddings is a wedding "wish tree." At the reception a beautiful tree branch is placed next to the bride and groom's table, and paper leaves attached to pieces of colorful ribbon are placed at each guest's place setting. Guests write their special wish for the happy couple on their leaves, which the bride and groom can then read and hang on the tree. Modernly, this replaces the guest book and is placed at the escort table rather than by the couple during the reception.

During a traditional Dutch ceremony, the bride and groom walk on a bed of flowers to the altar and flowers are tossed at them as they depart. During the reception, instead of tossing her bouquet, the bride would give out her crown and whoever got it was the next to be married. After the wedding celebrations, the newlyweds planted lilies of the valley around their house to symbolize the return of happiness and with each season their love would be renewed.

French

A few customs have been adopted from the French, but nothing too notable. One I love though, is the groom customarily walks his mother down the aisle before arriving at the altar to be married. This is a lovely, sincere gesture that can be easily adopted and will surely elicit a collective "aww" from the guests!

The traditional layered wedding cake originated in France, but another common cake is called the croquembouche, which is essentially a pyramid of crème-filled pastry puffs covered in a caramel glaze. If the bride and groom can kiss over the cakes without knocking them over, then it said that  they will have a lifetime of prosperity.

Irish

A popular Celtic design is the love knot and is used in many, many traditional Irish weddings. It is a pattern created by using continuous, unending lines that intertwine. The design represents eternity, unity, and fidelity and is an important part of the ceremony. A four leaf clover depicts hope, faith, love, and luck. Bells were thought to keep evil spirits away, so for an exit,  guests ring little wedding bells or use them instead of clinking glasses at the reception. The shamrock, bells, the celtic design, and the color green are a huge central idea for wedding decor!

The traditional wedding ring is called a claddagh, and depicts two hands holding a heart bearing a crown. The hands represent faith, the heart love, and the crown honor.

The brides typically wore wildflower wreaths in their hair and in their bouquets—especially lavender—and they braided their hair to symbolize feminine power and luck. Another accessory for the bride is a lucky horseshoe, which is tied around her bouquet. However, the points must face up so that it can catch and hold all the good luck. To insure good luck, someone must throw a shoe over the bride’s head as she is leaving the church; just make sure not to hit her!

African

You may have heard of "jumping the broom." It is a tradition stemming back to the days of slavery when slaves were forbidden from marrying. They created this ritual to represent the beginning of their new life together. In modern ceremonies, couples jump over a broom, often decorated with ribbon and tulle, after they’re pronounced married. Because of the controversial roots however, this tradition may sometimes be frowned upon by older generation African-Americans who are eager to forget slavery and the memories, or therefore of, it created.

During the ceremony, there is a tradition that involves the marrying couple to taste four elements:
-lemon for sour
-vinegar for bitter
-cayenne pepper for hot
-honey for sweet.

The four tastes represent the different times or moods of married life. In some tribes, the couple’s wrists were bound with plaited grass for the ceremony and the walk down the aisle. Many couples incorporate this tradition by simply holding hands.

Cowrie or other seashells represent purity and beauty in African culture. The colors of African royalty are purple and gold which make a bold combination for a wedding theme. African dancers and drummers for the reception and traditional African foods are also ways to incorporate the heritage!

Armenian

Before the ceremony, the bride’s brother will place money in her shoe for good luck and he will place the bride’s shoes on her feet. Before the bride’s veil is placed on her head, she circles the veil over the heads of the single women in her dressing room to bring them fortune in finding a husband. Then the happily married woman closest to the bride will place the veil on the bride’s head to bring her new marriage luck.

"May you grow old on one pillow" is one popular toast that is also commonly used as the theme of Armenian weddings. You can print the phrase on invitations and programs or engrave it on a silver keepsake wedding favor for guests.

A traditional Armenian bride will wear a red silk gown and a cardboard headpiece that is shaped like wings and covered with feathers; however, it is safe to say that tradition is squashed. More and more young Armenians women are sporting a headpiece rather than an obnoxious, unflattering cardboard piece on their head. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian embraced her Armenian roots during her August 2011 wedding (which incidentally only lasted 72 days) by donning a newer-traditional headpiece. 

Persian

I recently began reading and researching Persian weddings in the midst I'd have a Persian friend or two marry in the near future. There are two parts: the Aghd (ceremony) and the Jashn-e Aroosi (reception) which sometimes can last up to 7 days. The most intricate and important part of the marriage celebration, Sofreh-ye Aghd, is an elaborately decorated spread on the floor in which the couple sits in front of during the ceremony. On the Sofreh-ye Aghd, the following items are placed:

• A mirror and two candlabras on either side of the mirror representing the couple's brightness and future.
• A tray of seven multi-colored herbs and spices to guard the couple from the evil eye, witch craft, and evil spirits. 
• A specially baked and decorated flatbread with blessing "Mobaarak-Baad" written in calligraphy on it.
• A basket of decorated eggs
• A basket of decorated almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts to symbolize fertility.
• A basket of pomegranates and/or apples for a joyous future.
• A cup of rosewater to give aroma.
• A bowl made out of crystallized sugar to sweeten life for the newlyweds. 
• A brazier of burning coals sprinkled with wild rue for good health.
• Two sugar cones  which are ground together over the couple's head during the ceremony.
• A scarf or shawl to be held over the couple's head
• A cup of honey to sweeten life.
• A bowl of coins representing wealth and prosperity.
• A needle and 7 strands of colored thread to figuratively "sew up" the mother-in-law's lips from speaking unpleasant words to the bride.
• A copy of the couple's Holy Book (Bible, Avesta, Qur'an)
• A prayer carpet or prayer kit including a rosary/cross, Bible, and strand of prayer beads.
• An assortment of sweets and pastries to be shared with guests after the ceremony.

 

Sources: Beau-Coup