Slide 1Overview One of the most amazing things about our world is how the same action or tradition can be implemented so differently in each culture. Take marriage for instance; it's practiced around the world but the way a wedding is celebrated varies immensely across cultures. If you're marrying someone from another country or just attending a destination wedding, you may experience some of these differences. Of course, not all weddings in every country are the same, and not everyone follows these traditions to tee. In any case, the way we each take something like a wedding and make it our own is quite special. Here are some of the many ways wedding traditions are different around the world. Indonesia Spending the first three days confined to their home together sounds kind of sweet for Indonesian couples in Borneo—except for the fact that the point of this practice is to keep the newlyweds from using the bathroom in order to strengthen their bond (and their bladders!). Talk about a test of patience. Norway One Norwegian tradition states that the bride will wear an ornate silver and gold crown that has small charms dangling all around it. When she moves, the tinkling sound is supposed to deflect evil spirits. Mexico 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, signifying just how long they're hoping the marriage will last. France Good news: French brides and grooms traditionally eat chocolate and champagne after the reception. Bad news: They must consume these treats from a toilet bowl. The point is to give the twosome strength before their wedding night. Unfortunately, it may come with a stomach ache as well. Armenia 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 for good luck, then are given lavash and honey by the groom's mother. 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. 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. China 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. Even more, attendants are busy shielding the bride with parasols and tossing rice (a symbol of health and prosperity) at the chair. Scotland 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. Shave 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. Guatemala 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. Japan 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 of jealousy" she feels towards her mother-in-law. Lebanon 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. Czech Republic 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. Russia 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. India 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! Niger 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. Philippines After tying the knot, happy brides and grooms in the Philippines release a pair of white doves—one male, one female—into the air. The birds are said to represent a harmonious life together for the newly married couple. Cuba It's a Cuban custom that every man who dances with the bride must pin money to her dress to help the couple pay for their wedding and honeymoon. Bank on it! Turkey 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. Venezuela 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. Mongolia 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. Brazil In Brazil it’s traditional for brides to write down the names of their single female friends inside the hem of their wedding dress (Greek brides also do this, but on the soles of their shoes). This blessing is to bring them good luck and marriage. The Brazilian bride also wears gold shoes which, during the “heel-and-toe dance” at the reception, are placed on the dance floor for guests to drop gifts of cash into. Tunisia Drawing on very old wedding traditions, henna, which is believed to bring good luck, plays a special part in a Tunisian wedding, where the couple is celebrated for six days before the actual ceremony. In the initial henna ceremony the paste is painted in intricate floral and butterfly designs on the bride’s hands and feet by a female member of her family. The harkous ceremony comes the day after, where henna is reapplied as female musicians play traditional Tunisian songs. Italy A superstitious nation when it comes to wedding ceremonies, Italians avoid getting married on a Tuesday (dedicated to the God of war) or a Friday, which is believed to be the day evil spirits were created. May and August are crossed off the calendar too, as are Advent and Lent. On a lighter note, wedding traditions in Italy include surprising the bride with la serenata, where the groom arranges a serenade under his wife-to-be’s window the night before. UK English folklore has it that a bride wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe” will bring good luck to the union. The tradition, which is also widespread in America, says that the old item will bless the bride’s future baby, something borrowed from a happy bride will bring good luck, something new brings in a bright future, blue represents fidelity and the coin wishes in prosperity. Conclusion Wedding traditions all over the globe vary depending on the country and the period. In many cultures, customs are kept and passed down to the following generations, with African brides-to-be often wearing dresses reminiscent of their ancestral origins, to brides in Brasil who bless their single friends on their wedding day. Some are funny, some are pretty gruesome, but all of them have their roots in wishing good fortune, fidelity and fertility to the newlyweds.
