Wedding Traditions Across The World

By Tresa Erickson

Tossing the bouquet. Wearing something old, new, borrowed and blue. Throwing birdseed or confetti. These are just some of the traditions of a typical wedding in the United States. But what about the rest of the world? What kind of wedding traditions do other cultures practice? Here is just a sampling.

• In Peru, charms are attached to ribbons and placed between the layers of the wedding cake. Before the cake is cut, the single women gather around and pull a ribbon. The one who pulls the ribbon with a ring attached is the next to marry.

• In Venezuela, the couple sneak away from their reception, without saying good-bye, for good luck.

• In Chile, the couple exchange rings when they announce their engagement. They wear their rings on their left hands until they are married, and then switch them to their right hands.

• In Egypt, the groom’s family proposes to the bride.

• In Morocco, the bride becomes mistress of her new home by walking around the outside of it three times.

• In Sudan, seven broomsticks are burned and thrown away to symbolize the couple’s discarding of any bad habits that could pose a threat to their marriage.

• In India, the bride must enter her in-laws’ home for the first time on her right foot and knock down a container of uncooked rice to bring good luck to the house.

• In Pakistan, the bride wears red, which symbolizes happiness.

• In China, a hair stylist arrives at the homes of both the bride and the groom the night before their wedding to comb their hair for good luck and prosperity.

• In Taiwan, the couple exchange rings at the engagement party.

• In Japan, the bride and groom signify their union by sharing a sip of sake.

• In the Ukraine, the couple share wedding bread with motifs symbolizing eternity and the unity of their families.

• In Poland, the bride’s mother gives the bride and groom each a shot glass. One is filled with colorless vodka and the other with water. Whoever receives the vodka is predicted to be the breadwinner.

• In Greece, the bride puts a sugar cube in her glove for good luck.

• In Italy, the groom’s tie is cut into many pieces, and the pieces are then sold to guests to collect spending money for the couple on their honeymoon.

• In Scotland, everyone gathers around the bride’s feet the night before the wedding and washes them to make sure she and her husband trot off on a fresh path together.

• In Sweden, women wear three wedding rings, one for engagement, one for marriage and one for motherhood.

• In Finland, all of the single women gather around the bride. The maid of honor then places a crown upon the bride’s head, blindfolds her and spins her around. Whoever is in front of the bride when she stops receives the crown and is the next to marry.

These are just some of the many wedding traditions that take place around the world. For a more complete list, conduct a search online or go to the library. You never know—you may find custom you would like to adopt for your wedding.

Copy the Story Link