A wedding is an occasion where two individuals are legally joined in matrimony. The wedding ceremony takes place in the bride’s or groom’s house, called a wedding hall. Wedding traditions and customs greatly differ between cultural groups, religious beliefs, states, and other social groups. Nevertheless, many wedding traditions have remained the same throughout history.
In years past, wedding ceremonies took place in temples or churches. However, with modernity and less need for religious involvement, many couples today choose non-religious weddings. The first non-religious wedding ceremonies were held in Great Britain in the eighteenth century. At that time, the custom was for the couple to wed on St. Valentine’s Day, which fell on February 14.
St. Valentine’s Day was not without its controversial followers. This day was seen as grounds for divorce proceedings, as well as grounds for not marrying at all. As times progressed and the church began to sponsor more traditional weddings, the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day grew in popularity. Though not officially recognised by the United States government, this wedding tradition was adopted and included into many non-religious weddings.
A wedding ceremony involves two individuals: the bride or groom and the guests or family. During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom recite the ceremony vows. The vow reads as follows: “In the presence of the bride and groom (or some one else) the person now swears that he or she will be both true to her and to his or her parents and relatives and will love them and obey them always, according to the principles and laws of his or her faith and morals.” Once the couple has finished reciting the vows, the best man, or anyone else standing by to see the ceremony take place, may make a brief toast to the newlyweds. Then, in front of the guests, the bride and groom take a few bows and say a few words to each other.
Following the wedding ceremony, a wedding party may go to a party store where they can purchase gifts and souvenirs to take home with them. One popular souvenir is a “Mazel tov” hat. The word “mazel tov” means “good luck” in English and is used to give out at parties all over the world. This is also a symbol of peace and good cheer; the saying goes, “Let it pass through me, for I am happy, for this mazel tov.” In Israel and the United States, this is often said as part of the wedding vows. However, some couples choose to use this saying in the foreign language.
Other traditions include putting a ribbon around the bride’s neck and tying the groom’s to his arm. Both of them then hold a glass of water and make a sign of the sacred wedding vows. The water is then tossed backwards and forth between them. This is said to represent the battle of good and evil. Another tradition that has roots in Jewish folklore is the bride bringing seven eggs to her husband and breaking them on the ground near the entrance to the ceremony.
Many couples choose to combine two or more of these traditions into one. For instance, instead of just reciting the wedding ceremony order, couples will also toss their eggs in a bowl or vase. Some couples have made their own ways of having the seven eggs break, by actually tearing them prior to being thrown into the bowl.
Of course, the symbolism of the breaking of the egg is just one of many things that this symbolic act symbolises. For example, in traditional Jewish weddings, the groom breaks the egg by throwing it over his head while the bride catches it with her hand. This act symbolises the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. Also, in most non-Jewish weddings, the couple will both break the egg over their heads, symbolising God’s forgiveness.
When it comes to wedding flowers, roses are still the most sought-after flower for groomsmen and bridesmaids However, there are many alternative options. The lilac is among the most requested flowers for groomsmen and bridesmaids floral arrangements. The lilac is not only beautiful to look at, but it also holds a traditional meaning that means love. This is why many florists are using the lilac in their floral arrangements to communicate romantic thoughts. Gerbera daisies and orchids are among the most popular alternatives.