Each country has its own specific traditions, including wedding ones. For some, they seem strange, but for someone very interesting. What unusual wedding traditions exist in Asia and Europe? The most interesting is already waiting for you in our material.
European customs
Different nations of the world have their own wedding traditions. But one thing unites everyone - this desire to have fun from the heart, and to do everything possible so that the most important and solemn day in the life of young people will be remembered by them forever. In addition, each tradition and custom has its own special meaning. Thanks to the old rituals, the younger generation manages to preserve their national roots, which allows the family to feel even more united and cohesive.
Russian wedding customs are well known to many, but still tell you about the most interesting of them.
Traditionally, young spouses are met by relatives with bread and salt. Newlyweds must bite off a large loaf, and whoever has a bigger piece will be the head of the family. Of course, the brightest tradition is the bride price. As a rule, the organization of this event involved witnesses. They prepare interesting and funny tasks in advance. If the groom does not cope with the task, he will have to pay for it. Often other relatives from the groom take part in the ransom.
In Belarus there are not only wedding ceremonies, but also pre-wedding ceremonies, which they try to observe to this day. For example, you can only wake up on Monday, Thursday or Saturday. Matchmakers must be five to six people. It is recommended to matchmakers to prepare, they should have not only treats, but also jokes in their arsenal. If the matchmakers can agree on a wedding, then everyone present will drink a bottle of alcohol. As soon as the bottle becomes empty, the grain is poured into it, which symbolizes the well-fed and comfortable life of the young. In addition, there is a sign that says that the bride must buy a dress on Wednesday, and shoes on Friday.
In Germany there is a very interesting tradition, observing which you can attract happiness and well-being for the newlyweds. On the eve of the celebration itself, relatives gather at the threshold of the bride and, not sparing, beat up a large amount of dishes. The more dishes will be broken, the more there will be happiness and love in a young family. And now, at the very evening, after the marriage ceremony, the newly-made spouses should cut the log together. If they manage to do this quickly and easily, then life together will be happy. Cutting logs is a kind of ritual that says that the couple have already begun to manage the joint household.
In Greece, too, there are many interesting traditions. Of course, most of them are associated with dance, as the Greeks love to dance. Especially for a wedding celebration, this nation has a special dance - this is the dance of money. The young dance together in the center of the hall, and each of those present must necessarily attach a different note to their outfits. The more bills there are, the better off young people will live. And before the first night of the wedding, according to the Greek tradition, children must jump and have fun on the bed of the young.
The more children and fun, the more happiness and well-being will be in the lives of young spouses.
According to Hungarian traditions, during the wedding celebration the bride should put her shoes in the center of the hall.Each of the men present, who wants to invite the bride to dance, must put coins in his shoes. Who among men puts more coins will be lucky to be the first to invite the bride to dance.
In the Netherlands, the bride must order a large number of different candies before the wedding. As a rule, they are ordered from different and best confectioners of the city. All sweets should be different in shape and taste. Who of the guests will get two identical candies will soon be lucky.
Wedding feasts in Italy are always fun and noisy. Every Italian couple before the wedding always comes to the largest tree in their city. By tradition, the couple should walk around the tree exactly three times. It symbolizes freedom, happiness and love. According to custom, along with the young, both the next of kin and a professional photographer who can capture the most unforgettable moments of this kind of rite are sent to the tree.
In addition, the Italians traditionally organize the abduction of the bride. Of course, everything is discussed in advance, and all parties agree. The abduction in the end turns out bright, like a staged theatrical show, which young people remember for a lifetime.
There is a very funny tradition in Denmark. Before the celebration, the groom specifically make a hole on one of the socks. They say that it will save the young spouse from adultery, as young girls will not stare at a man in torn socks.
But in France, friends and relatives of the newlyweds gather in a noisy company under the windows of that house or hotel, where the spouses spend the first wedding night, and all night long rustle. They are stocked in advance with pots, lids, spoons, and other items with which you can make a lot of noise. If young people want to spend the night alone with each other in silence, then they must prepare drinks and snacks for guests in advance. Only after a good treat, the guests will calm down and stop rioting.
In Switzerland, there is one ancient tradition, which many adhere to in our modern time. According to custom, the bride must necessarily throw mud. The more dirt there is, the worse it smells, the better. It is necessary to shower a girl literally from head to toe.
In modern times, instead of dirt they use natural products, independently producing a “fragrant” mixture.
For example, they mix ketchup, mayonnaise, raw eggs, dairy products and the remnants of food already gone. And now they pour this liquid on the bride. After that, the bride in this form, in the company of her fiance's friends, should go through public places, streets of the city. This is done for a reason. The fact is that there is a belief that a girl who has survived such public humiliation in a marriage will be far more comfortable with the various differences and mischief of her young husband.
Asian rites
Asian countries are also surprised by the diversity of their wedding traditions. Turkish, Azerbaijani, Ossetian, Kazakh, Buryat and Indian weddings - they all have their own special traditions. Of course, the Muslim wedding of one country, for example, Kazakhstan, is sometimes very similar to the traditions that exist in Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. But still there are customs that are worth telling in more detail.
Chinese traditional wedding should be held in red. That is, the dress of the bride, boxes with gifts, envelopes with money must be red. The more bright colors will be on the celebration, the better. By tradition, young people drink from glasses that are tied with a single red tape. This symbolizes their mutual feelings and the unity of the young family.
In India, a wedding ceremony is a real colorful show. Very often, young people see each other for the first time only at a wedding. According to tradition, there should be a huge amount of fresh and fragrant flowers at the celebration.There is a belief that the flavors of earthly flowers are very popular with the gods, and therefore all the prayers and wishes uttered on this day will surely be heard.
In Kazakhstan, the wedding of two young people is a holiday that is customarily celebrated, and prepare for it in advance. Matchmaking of the Kazakhs is held according to ancient traditions. Many modern young people honor the characteristics of their ancestors, and adhere to ancient customs to this day. The groom's side necessarily gives the father of the bride traditional gifts: a national robe, a horse. Also, the groom's family must pay “kalym”. Previously, the bride did not attend the wedding, rather, did not go to the guests, and all the time spent in a separate room with women, where she was prepared for the first wedding night.
In Pakistan, there is a custom when before the triumph of the bride's hands are decorated with traditional henna patterns. Each drawing has its own special meaning.
According to belief, this rite helps the bride to attract happiness and well-being, and means that her marriage will be successful.
African traditions
In some countries of the world, bread and salt must be present at the wedding; somewhere, each spouse must hang locks on a tree or bridge, as a sign of loyalty and love. Traditions of different countries can surprise, and they can be completely shocking. Of course, the obligatory traditions and customs that are observed at a wedding in African countries may seem strange to Europeans, to say the least.
In Nigeria, the bride must be selected by a professional matchmaker. Matchmaker picks up a girl for the groom, taking into account all the requirements of the family. Then the matchmaker will personally personally check the girl for innocence, and only then can we talk about the wedding. Already after the celebration itself, relatives from the side of the bride and the groom stand in two lines, creating a peculiar corridor. The newly-wed young spouse must quickly run along this “corridor”, and in the meantime relatives will beat him with long sticks. After the observance of this custom, it is considered that a man is fully prepared for an independent married life.
Brides in Ethiopia are well prepared for the celebration. Even before the wedding ceremony, the girl removes two lower teeth, then pierce the lower lip and insert the traditional disc made of clay. The larger the disc, the greater the dowry of the bride. In addition, there is a belief that this disc will protect the bride from evil spirits, so that she can live happily in marriage.
In Rwanda, there is the Bakhutu tribe, which has its own interesting and unusual traditions. For example, the bride immediately after the marriage ceremony goes to the house of her young spouse and arranges a real pogrom there. Moreover, the young spouse must scrape and beat her newly-made spouse. He must do the same. The more hatred they express towards each other this evening, the better. As a rule, the fight and mayhem last until the morning. At the same time, neither husband nor wife should utter a single word. Sometimes this ritual is delayed for several days. It is believed that after such a fight spouses will live a lifetime in peace and harmony.
In Kenya, a young spouse after a wedding should go for a whole month in a woman’s dress. This is done so that the newly-born husband will feel what it means to be a woman and a hostess.
They say that after such a kind of ritual, men with great understanding and respect treat their wives.
Signs in South and North America
Modern weddings in America are very fun. Doing a celebration without a traditional bachelorette party and bachelor party. The organization of such events usually falls on the shoulders of witnesses. Any American wedding can be unconventional. There are no restrictions and special traditions. Young may well arrange a celebration in any style.
But there are some traditions that many try to adhere to to this day. For example, there is a custom that the bride must wear an old blue dress on the wedding day. The thing must be worn, as it symbolizes her family ties to her family. And blue is the color of fidelity, which is very necessary in marriage.
In addition, there is an American wedding tradition, which is already followed in many countries around the world. It is about throwing a bouquet by the bride at the end of the evening. Who from unmarried girls will catch this happy bouquet, that will have a wedding soon.
In some states of America there is still a tradition that has a very interesting name - “rain”. It first appeared in the late 1890s. By tradition, all bridesmaids who will be present at the celebration should prepare many small gifts in advance. All gifts should be packed in small boxes, bright wrappers, and then placed inside a massive umbrella. In the process of celebration, the bridesmaids approach the bride, open an umbrella over her, and all the presents “flow” to the happy hero of the occasion. In modern times, many are replacing a variety of gifts with ordinary candy.
Another American tradition is associated with a wedding cake. Of course, no such celebration will be complete without a huge and tasty dessert. At the end of the evening, the newlyweds should cut the cake exactly into as many pieces as there are people present at their celebration. The cake, as a rule, is not eaten in the evening, but is carried away with it. If an unmarried girl puts a piece of wedding cake under her pillow, then that night her future husband will always dream of her.
For more information about the wedding traditions of the peoples of the world, see the following video.
