Wedding Traditions Around The World Part 2

Nigerian Wedding Traditions

Among the Nigerians, an introduction ceremony is held where the families of the bride and the groom come to know each other. Normally the groom's family goes to the bride's place with a letter asking for their daughter's hand in marriage. This ceremony includes traditional dances and paying money to the bride's family to accept the letter. This is done few days before the wedding.

The next ceremony is the engagement where the groom's family again visits the bride's place to find out their response to the letter given during the introduction ceremony. Now both the families are formally introduced before the guests.

The reply to the letter is read out by the bride's sisters. The groom's family brings to this ceremony, traditional food stuff such as palm, yam, sugar and drinks.

The groom's family also provides a suitcase packed with traditional clothing and jewelry.

On the wedding day, the bride goes to the church with her father and the family. After the wedding, the reception and the night party takes place. After the night party, the bride is again taken back to her father's place. There she changes her outfits and waits for her husband who would come with his family to claim his bride. Then they leave together to start a new life.

Travour.com describes and provides information on the wedding traditions of Nigeria and around the world.

Norwegian Wedding Traditions

Norway is a wonderful land with snow capped mountains. Wedding traditions are equally wonderful here. The Norwegian groom traditionally wears a hand made woolen suit known as a bundas. It is a very colorful and bright dress typical of Norway. The bride also wears a traditional white or silver wedding gown. She also wears a silver or silver and gold crown and there are small spoon shaped bangles dangling around the crown. As the bride moves her head, the bangles produce a melodic music. Norwegian tradition holds that the music from the bride's bangles will ward off all the evil spirits. Traditions also say that the bridesmaids dressed similarly as the bride will confuse the evil spirit and protect the bride from evil influences.

Music plays a very important role in Norwegian wedding. Often the traditiomal Norwegian tune is used- 'come to the wedding'.

In the ceremony, the bride and the groom exchange gold and silver wedding rings and the wedding kiss takes place which symbolically seals the relationship between the husband and the wife. The round ring with no beginning and end represent unending love and the kiss suggests exchange of each other's souls.

The wedding ceremony is followed by a lavish reception. The guests and family members wish the new couple happiness through speeches. Music and dance parties also fill up the air. Then the wedding cake is cut. And finally, two small fir trees are planted on either side of the door as a symbol of children to come.

Portuguese Wedding Traditions

In Portugal, most of the population is Roman Catholics and thus most weddings follow the modern wedding patterns of USA and Western Europe. But certain old customs of Portugal are followed even today. For instance, it is customary to attend a stag party for the groom at which he bids farewell to his single life and single friends. The ancient custom of passing around the bride's shoes at the reception and stuffing it with money to help the new couple in their honeymoon is performed still today.

Usually, the bride's family holds the engagement party where the groom would send a friend or a relative to ask the bride's father for her daughter's hand. The groom's father also performs this task at times. If the girl agrees, the wedding is to take place with the blessings of the father. A mass would follow the engagement and after the mass the relatives would be invited to a small reception. The bride would then choose a 'madrinha' or maid of honor and the groom would choose a 'padrinho' or the best man.

The wedding ceremony takes place in the church and the groom could not see the bride until she entered the church. Portuguese weddings involve a Roman Catholic mass where the priest would bind the couple's hand with his stole and ask them to exchange rings.

As the couple leaves the church, the friends and relatives customarily throw bonbons and flowers.

Wedding reception does not have a firm schedule and the party could last long till the night. Guests are often served with food prepared at home. Portuguese wine being very famous is also served at the reception. An important part of the reception is the custom of 'copo d agua' or cup of water where the bride and the groom go from table to table to spend time with the guests and ensure that everyone is having fun and enjoying their meal. A champagne toast is offered to the new couple when they cut their wedding cake and offer the first slice to a single friend.

Pakistani Wedding Traditions

The wedding ceremony in Pakistan generally lasts for four days. As Pakistan is a Muslim majority country, the wedding rituals follow the Muslim patterns. On the first day, the family members of the bride and the groom dress in yellow and celebrate the upcoming festivity separately. The bride and the groom are not supposed to see each other from this day on.

On the second the celebration of 'mehendi' takes place which includes dancing and singing traditional songs. The bride also puts the henna paste on her hand and feet. The groom's family gives the wedding dress to the bride on this day.

The marriage ceremony takes place on the third day. On the wedding day, the bride usually wears the traditional red wedding dress. The bride's gown is very elaborate with a veil and heavy jewelry. The groom wears a traditional turban. A compulsory amount of money is given by the groom's family to the bride's family known as 'meher' and the amount is decided by the elders of both the families.

Before reading out a selected piece from the Koran, the priest will ask the bride if she is happy with the marriage and agrees her groom. The groom is also asked the same. The marriage is then registered known as 'nikaahnama', first signed by the groom and then by two other witnesses. The groom is then taken to the women's section where he gives money and gifts to the sisters of the bride and takes the blessings of the elders. Then dinner is served separately to men and women.

After the first meal, the bride and the groom sit together and a long scarf is used to cover their heads as the priest reads out prayers. Then the holy Koran is kept between them and they are allowed to see each other through reflection by mirrors. The dried dates and sweet dishes are served to the guests. The groom spends a night separately at the bride's house with a younger brother and in the morning he is given clothes, gifts and money by the bride's parents. That afternoon the groom's relatives come to accompany the bridal couple to their home.

The farewell is given by the bride's father giving her hand to the groom asking him to protect her always.

On the fourth day, the couple hosts their first dinner as husband and wife. The groom's family invites all the guests for reception.

Persian Wedding Traditions

There are two phases in a Persian traditional marriage. Usually both take place on the same day, but occasionally there could a gap of two three days between the two. The first ceremony is called "Aghd", which is the legal process of getting married where the couples sign a marriage contract. The second stage is "Jashn-e Aroosi", or the wedding reception celebrations.

The ceremony takes place in specially decorated rooms with flowers and elaborately decorated Sofreh-ye Aghd". Traditionally Sofreh-ye Aghd is placed on the floor facing east in the direction of sunrise (light). Accordingly when bride and bridegroom are seated at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd they will be facing "The Light" symbolizing the 'Light of the God'. Normally Aghd takes place at the bride's house.

After all the guests are seated the bridegroom is the first to take his seat in the room at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd. The bride comes later and joins the bridegroom at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd. The bridegroom at all times sits on the right hand side of the bride. In Zoroastrian culture the right side authorize a place of respect.

A tray comprising of seven multi-colored herbs and spices "is placed to guard the couple and their lives together against the evil eye, witchcraft and to ward off evil spirits. This tray consists of seven elements in seven colors namely poppy seeds, wild rice, angelica, salt, nigella seeds, black tea and frankincense.

The marriage requires a mirror and two candle bars on either side of the mirror symbolizing the brightness of the married couple. The bride enters the room covered with her veil, as the sits beside the groom he lifts up her veil and sees the first reflection of his bride's face in the mirror.

A scarf or shawl is held over the couples head throughout the marriage ceremony mostly by happily married couples. A holy book is placed on the carpet and holy prayers are read out to remind the couple of importance of prayer both at blissful times and times of hardship. This prayer kit includes a prayer rosary or a cross & Holy Bible or a small rug "Sajjaadeh" and a strand of prayer beads "Tasbih". A grand feast is organized at the reception ceremony.

Peruvian Wedding Traditions

In Peruvian wedding traditions the suitor asks for her beloved's hand for marriage from her parents. After the approval of the parents the wedding ceremony takes place following the traditional wedding customs.

A Peruvian custom is to include wedding charms between the layers of the wedding cake, attached with ribbons. Before the cake is cut and served to the guests, each single woman pulls a string. It is believed that the one who pulls the ribbon with the 'ring' on the end is the next one to marry within a year.

An old person starts reading and reminds the couples about their marriage responsibilities. The couples exchange their marriage vows and the elders bless them immediately after the wedding.

The bride and the groom flaunt traditional Peruvian wedding costumes to make their wedding day special and also to pay tribute to their traditions.

After the wedding ceremony a grand feast is organized at the reception party wherein traditional songs in Quechua is sung along with some traditional dance movements where the newlyweds join and makes merry.

After this the newlyweds receive gifts from their well wishers who bless them to lead a happy prosperous married life.

Punjabi Wedding Traditions

Punjabis are well known for their zest for life, liveliness and of course the mind blowing bhangra. They celebrate every occasion with lot of pomp and show. As soon as the couples decide to get married the roka or saith ceremony is organized. The bride to be flaunts a nose ring henceforth gifted to her by her maternal uncle.

After roka the ceremony of sagai takes place wherein the bride's family visits the boy's house carrying beautifully wrapped gifts. The bride's father adorns his son-in-law's forehead with 'tikka' and gives him his blessings and some money. In return, the girl's family receives a basket of gifts symbolizing acceptance of the marriage from the groom's family.

Nowadays the tikka ceremony is usually combined with the engagement. First, the bride flaunts a traditional chunni (stole), which is usually very ornate. In some families this chunni is a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. A tiny dot of mehendi is applied to her palm for good luck, and the function is sealed through the exchange of rings. Everyone present congratulates the couple by feeding them sweet.

After this prayers are offered individually at the bride and groom's house. Just three days before the wedding the bride and the groom are not supposed to meet each other.

The bride's relatives tie a kalira (jingle) on the churas, which convey their good wishes and blessings. The unmarried girls line up and the bride lightly bangs her kaliras on their head. The girl who receives this kalira is presumed to be married off next.

At the grooms house the same day the groom is made to sit on a female horseback his sisters tie a mauli (sacred thread) on the reins of his horse. They also capture the horse in the tradition known as baagpakdai, saying that can leave its reins if their brother bribes them. Once they are content with the cash or jewelry bribe, they free the reins so the groom can gallop off to get his bride.

At the marriage ceremony the couples garland each other and the pundit chants the necessary mantras. The couples circle the sacred fire and exchange marriage vows in front of the sacred fire. The couples take four rounds of the fire and seven steps to the North to signify progression as they walk together through life. The bride is instructed to put her foot on a stone and pledge that no matter what problems come their way, she will be firm - solid as a rock. The bride's parents give her hand to the groom in marriage in what is called as the kanyadaan.

At last the bride's father sprinkle holy waters on the newlyweds and bless them and promises to ward away evil spirits from their life.

A grand feast is arranged at the reception party along with songs dance and lively music which makes their wedding a memorable event.

Puerto Rico Wedding Traditions

The wedding party is organized at the bride's house. Lights are strung to make it more bright and attractive. The bride and the groom flaunt traditional costumes and traditional food is served at Puerto Rico weddings. The bride and the groom are offered a traditional drink called cafe con leche using coconut cups. The wedding cake gets decorated with sea shells and pine apple motifs.

At the reception the bride and groom cut off the capias from the bouquet and pin them on the guests. The capias includes a piece of folded narrow ribbon printed with the bride and groom's names on one end, and the date of the wedding on the other.

The bride's bouquet is made up with beautiful flowers specially the traditional flower amapola. The bouquet usually includes a fan which is a part of the traditional Puerto Rican wedding attire. The bridesmaid carry amapola, fan to the wedding which symbolize good luck. During the ceremony a soft music is played to make the ambience romantic and cozy.

While the priest performs the traditional Puerto Rican wedding he blesses a plate of coins and offers it to the groom. After exchanging the wedding vows the groom gives the plate of coins to his bride which she treasures as a part of wedding gift from her husband. The gifts of coins signify good luck and prosperity for the newlyweds.

At the traditional Puerto Rican wedding it is mandatory to place a doll dressed identical to the bride at the head of the main table. This bride doll is covered with charms and is offered to the guests.

Following this a feast is organized along with traditional Puerto Rican music and dance. A Puerto Rican traditional wedding is a happy and joyful event.

Russian Wedding Traditions

In Russia church weddings are not considered as official weddings so every couple who wants to tie their knot must exchange their marriage vows at a Russian marriage civil ceremony. Here it is customary to give the bride and the groom bread and salt symbolizing health, prosperity and long life.

The Russian civil ceremony is a small event attended by family members and close friends. The reception is celebrated with lot of pomp and show. The main affair of the wedding reception lasts for two days which involves singing, dancing, feasting and drinking.

As the reception party commences a relative or a close friend makes a wedding toast in honor of the newlyweds. In following Russian customs everybody present there throws their champagne glasses on the floor. It is believed that as the glasses breaks hitting the ground it will bring along good luck into the couple's life.

The newlyweds are crowned as royalty for the day. The bride and the groom are required to stand on a special carpet as they recite their marriage vows. Whoever reaches the carpet first is presumed to be the head of the family.

Following this a feast is organized along with Russian music, songs and dance.

Scottish Wedding Traditions

Scottish wedding traditions dates back to the thirteenth century. The couples were required to announce their marriage on marriage banns in church for three successive Sundays. Finally now the banns give away to simple announcement of intent to get married and secure the marriage license.

The other custom includes 'creeling the bridegroom'. This ritual requires the bridegroom to carry a large basket filled with stones on his back. He has to carry the basket as long as his proposed bride comes out of her house and kiss him.

The bride flaunt white wedding gown while the groom gets decked up in traditional Highland kilt, kilt jacket and sporran. The couple is led down the isle by playing traditional Gaelic hymns.

On the day of the wedding the couples are happily taken to the church where marriage vows are exchanged. Following the vows the groom often pins a strip of his clan's tartan color to the bride's dress signifying that henceforth she is a member of his clan. At the end of the ceremony the couples exchange rings and kiss each other in front of the guests.

Following the wedding the guests accompany the newlyweds to the reception party where they dance, sing, dine and makes merry. Traditionally the first dance of the night is led by the wedding couples customarily a reel and which later gets joined by the guests.

Finally as the newlyweds arrive to their house the bridegroom is required to lift his bride off and protect her from the evil spirits that inhibit the threshold of doors and carry her across the threshold. The priest then blesses the newlyweds and their new home on their wedding bed.

Scandinavian Wedding Traditions

Marriage is a serious business in the Scandinavian countries and thus it allows ample time to the engaged couple to know each other. The wedding traditions in the Scandinavian countries go back to the ancient past. For instance, in Denmark, an arch of pine branches is to be built in front of the bride's home. This is known as gates of honor. In Denmark, at the wedding reception, it is customary for the groom to disappear during a part of the ceremony so that the young unmarried men could kiss the bride and the same thing is done by the bride when the single girls kiss the groom. The Danish couple is expected to cut the wedding cake together holding the cake to ward off the evil spirit.

In Finland the tradition for the bride is to walk from house to house with a pillowcase to collect her wedding presents. As she walks, an old, married man walks beside her with an umbrella which is a symbol of protection and shelter. Another tradition in Finland is for the bride to wear a golden crown and during the wedding reception she is blindfolded and spun around while all the unmarried girls dance around her. The one whom the bride places the crown on will be the next to marry.

Thus the customs and traditions of wedding in Scandinavia are more or less same, although the detailed rituals vary from country to country.

Swedish Wedding Traditions

Sweden is a beautiful land with great traditional and cultural heritage. Thus the Swedish weddings are also performed according to the traditional rituals and customs.

The parents of the bride to be perform an age old custom. Before the daughter leaves for the church to be married, the mother of the bride gives her a gold coin to be placed in her right shoe and the father gives her a silver coin to be placed in her left shoe. In this way it is said that their daughter would never become poor.

After the Swedish couple exchanges their marriage vows on the wedding day, the new bride wears three gold rings on her fingers. A Swedish girl receives a ring during her engagement. Again during the wedding the groom puts a wedding ring and a ring for motherhood into her finger. Thus, a Swedish bride receives three golden wedding rings.

After the wedding ceremony, the reception takes place where there is an elaborate dance party with music. The wedding cake is also cut by the bride and the groom together.

Tamil Wedding Traditions

Married women sprinkle water on nine clay pots filled with different varieties of grain. Traditional songs are sung and the next day the pots are immersed into the pond so that fishes fed on them could bless the new couple. The ceremony of 'naandi' involves honoring few Brahmins with gifts and sweets. Then the bride's parents perform ganesh puja in front of the officiating priest. Then the priest formally reads out the wedding invitation and this is followed by an elaborate dinner.

On the wedding day, the 'mangal snanam' is the auspicious and purifying bath that the bride and the groom have in their respective homes. This is followed by kashi yatra where the groom pretends to go into pilgrimage and the bride's father requests him to accept his daughter.

Then the bride and the room exchange garlands thrice. After this the ritual of 'oonjal' takes place when the couple is made sit on a swing and married women give spoonful of milk and banana pieces. They circle rice balls around the couple to prevent evil forces. At this time, traditional songs are sung. Then the 'kanyadaanam' takes place.

After the wedding ceremony, the bride's mother applies kajal in the groom's eyes. The bride's father washes his son-in-law's feet. The bride sits on her father's lap with a coconut in her hands. The father and bride offer the coconut to the groom while the bride's mother pours water over the coconut thus symbolizing the 'giving away of their daughter.

The groom's parents gift the bride a nine-yard sari and a blouse to be worn for next moment, the auspicious occasion of tying the mangasultra. The priest and relatives bless the mangalsutra or sacred thread and hand it to the groom who ties it around the neck of his bride with two knots. The groom's sister ties the third knot. The three knots symbolize the marriage of the mind, spirit and body.

Then the ritual of 'saptapadi' is performed where the groom takes the bride's right hand in his left hand and leads her around the sacred fire seven times. The bride begins each round by touching her feet to a grinding stone.

After the wedding the two families exchange clothes and gifts. The bride and groom seek the blessings of the senior members of the family by prostrating in front of them. They also offer them a gift of fruits and a token rupee.

After this the bride is escorted to the groom's house and lunch is served at that venue. In the evening the reception takes place.

Turkish Wedding Traditions

In Turkey, the traditional Turkish families form the core of the Turkish culture. The traditional Turkish wedding which used to last for 40 days and 40 nights now lasts for only three days in rural areas. But in cities this ceremony is further shortened.

The groom's family sends a variety of presents to the bride's family prior to the three-day long wedding feast. Moreover, the bride is hidden by her friends and the groom's relatives are expected to find her. The girl's friends are given a small cash gift in return for information about the bride's whereabouts. In the meantime, the elderly of both families make up a list of goods they will buy for the young couple. This list is then authorized by the village alderman and given to the groom's family. In the meantime, the groom's family gives a small tea party.

Among the Rumelian Turks, the traditions are deep rooted. The news of ceremony among them is spread by beating drum in the village. Folk dances are performed and henna rituals also take place. On the third day of the wedding, the outdoor festivities begin and in the afternoon the bridal procession is carried on which first goes to the groom's house. Finally the outdoor festivities begin.

In the region of Anatolia, boys of 18 years and girls of 16 years are considered to be eligible for marriage. Before making any proposals, the family members of the boy visit the girl's family and they take a good look at the girl. According to regional custom, a marriage can not take place unless the family members come to an understanding. A second visit is then made and the boy's relatives ask for the girl's hand in marriage in the name of God and the Prophet Mohammed. Wedding preparations are started after they come to an agreement.

The families exchange gifts. Two marriages are contracted, one civil and the other religious. The religious marriage is held at the girl's home one week before the civil wedding ceremony. The relatives of both sides witness this event. The henna ritual is also held here and drums are played for three days and three nights.

Ukrainian Wedding Traditions

The Ukrainian wedding traditions have a long history. But all the ancient rituals are not performed these days. The wedding ceremony begins 30-40 days before the actual wedding. The groom, his parents and friends ask the bride's parents for her hand. The bridegroom's parents come with a Ukrainian round loaf (homemade, round, big bread beautifully decorated) on an embroidered towel made by the bridegroom's mother, and on top of the bread there is some salt. If the bride agrees, the elders decide on the time and venue of the wedding. But if she is unwilling, she gives them a pumpkin.

On the wedding day, the groom comes in a car and honks at the door of the bride's place. They take the bride to the church and city hall to get married and register their marriage.

When the groom and bride walk out of the bride's house, the bride's mother throws seeds (symbol of wellbeing) onto their heads, as well as roseleaves (symbol of prosperity and health) and coins (symbol of financial stability in a family). After the ceremony, the spouses receive congratulations from friends and relatives. The "newly-made" husband takes his wife from the City Hall in his arms.

The Ukrainian wedding reception is of absolute entertainment and fun. They bring along gifts of various kinds. All the guests along with the hosts dance and sing till late nights. There is also an elaborate feast.

Vietnamese Wedding Traditions

In Vietnam, an astrologer sets the wedding date. The groom's mother visits the bride's place along with pink chalk (so the bride may paint a rosy future) and betel nuts (symbolizing respect). The groom travels to the bride's home with his relatives, who carry lacquered leather trunks lined with pink satin, filled with gifts of clothes, jewelry, and money.

As most Vietnamese are Mahayana Buddhists, they have two different ceremonies. But these days the two ceremonies often take place on the same day: one at the bride's home and then one at the groom's. The groom presents an "entrance fee" in a red envelope, and then lays his gifts before the bride's ancestors.

The group then moves to the groom's home, where the bride must step over burning coals to banish evil spirits before entering. While tea is served to guests, a separate wedding ceremony is set up facing south, and cooked rice (stained red), a boiled chicken, and incense are laid before it. The groom's parents bow and invite a priest forward, who asks the gods of marriage to bless the couple. He binds them with a red thread and wraps it around the altar. The couple is considered married and all celebrate by eating rice and chicken.