MARRIAGE CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS Unit 3 – Chapter 9

UNITED STATES  Based upon love  Groom asks the Bride’s Father for permission before proposal  Bride wears white, receive a diamond ring made of gold, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue  There are several parties leading up to wedding to help couple get things they need for their future life together - bridal shower, couple’s shower, etc.

 Many couples add family traditions to their ceremony that has been passed down through generations from the old world  Bridal party consist of bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearer  Ceremony is either religious or civil & sealed with a kiss  A reception follows ceremony  Bride & Groom go on a Honeymoon

AFRICAN AMERICANS  “Jumping the broom” ritual.  Either at the ceremony or at the reception  signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically “sweeping away” their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and jumping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as wife and husband.

KOREA  Bride wears a chogori (short jacket with long sleeves) with 2 long ribbons which are tied to form the otkorum. A chima, a full length, high waisted wrap around skirt is worn. Boat shaped shoes make of silk, are worn with white cotton socks  A jacket (chigori) and trousers (paji) and an overcoat (turumagi) are worn. The jacket has loose sleeves, the trousers are roomy and tied with straps at the ankles. A vest may be worn over the shirt. A black hat (moja) could be worn.  Bride & groom take three sips of sake from three different cups. Three was chosen b/c it is an indivisible number and Buddhist believe that it is sacred. Nine means triple happiness.

 Guest at the wedding throw objects at the happy couple. These objects are chestnuts (symbolizing respect) and dried red dates (symbolizing diligence).  After the wedding ceremony, friends of the groom take off his socks, tie a rope around the ankles, and start beating soles of his feet with dried yellow corvina (fish).  After the wedding groom's parents throw some nuts and plums to the bride. If the bride takes some nuts she'll get many sons  Ducks are a symbol for a long and happy marriage  Cranes are a symbol of long life and may be represented on the woman's sash.

THE AMISH  Wedding is a secret until about 2 weeks prior to ceremony October through December – after the harvest Usually on Tuesdays & Thursdays  Morning church service, marriage ceremony, & then feasting 8am to 10/11 pm Take place at bride’s home Usually 200 or more guests  Bride’s mother sews wedding dress. Usually dark color (blue or purple)

 No kisses, rings, photography, flowers or caterers  Bride & Groom make sure that every unmarried person who is 16 years has a partner for the evening meal.  Celery is present in many dishes at the reception Mother provides meals & prepares them with family & friends  Groom starts growing beard day after wedding  Popular gifts include kitchenware, linens, tools, fabric, and food

SCOTTISH  Pre-wedding tradition of “Blackening the Bride” taken by surprise covered with foul substances, such as eggs, various sauces, feathers, etc paraded around town to a few pubs for all to see

GERMAN  Before wedding people shatter a large number of dishes and make the bride and groom cleaned it up.  In small villages friends of the bride and groom will kidnap the bride and hide her somewhere. The groom then has to search to find her, usually in a pub.  After the couple are married, a log is positioned between two sawhorses where both the newlyweds must saw in half working together.  wedding bands on their right hands not their left.

INDIA  Traditionally multi-day affairs with several parties and ceremonies  “Medhndi”, practice of painting intricate patterns on bride’s hands and feet.  During the ceremony the groom has to remove his shoes prior to entering the alter and everyone is either out to steal the groom’s shoes or protect them bride’s family are obligated to try to steal the grooms shoes groom’s family, on the other hand, must protect the shoes and hide them

SWEDISH  bride to carry coins in her shoes. silver coin from her father in left shoe gold coin from her mother in the right shoe  guests may get an opportunity to kiss the bride or groom. If bride goes to restroom, women at the reception line up to kiss the groom. If groom exits the room and is out of sight, the men line up to kiss the bride.

Others from Around the World