A Look Into Wedding Customs From Around The Globe

Some reflection will reveal how significant weddings are. Especially if the wedding happens to be yours, you will never attend anything else as important in your life. The act of procreation, by which our species enjoys continuous existence on the planet, is given spiritual stature by the institution of marriage. It becomes, through weddings, an act of commitment to each other and to your children instead of being just the fulfillment of a basic urge. Through the symbols and rituals associated with marriages, the community’s aspirations for the couple are given a kind of magical expression.

Among the different nations in the globe, many different symbols and rites meant to express those aspirations have been used at weddings..

A Look Into Wedding Customs From Around The Globe
There is a comic ritual practiced in China after weddings and during the party for the wedding guests. An apple is dangled in between the newly weds in the ritual. Without holding the apple, they are supposed to take a bite from it at the same time. But when they do stretch out their heads to take that bite, the apple is whisked up into the air and the newly weds end up kissing each other lips to lips.

The symbols and rites used internationally to signify those aspirations are many and varied.

The disappearing apple act in Chinese weddings

The Chinese have a traditional ritual which is often seen during the wedding reception just before the banquet and merry-making begins. The couple’s best friend dangles an apple between them. The couple, without using their hands, are supposed to grab a bite off it. But just as the they their faces touch the apple, their best friend pulls the string and the apple goes up into the air. The couple, of course, ends up doing a lips-to-lips and everyone cheers happily. That signals the start of the festivities.

The two candles held in their hands stand for extinguished selfish concerns. The third candle which both man and woman light up stands for the light of cooperation and love that they will guide them in the future. On another level, the ceremony stands for the fact that both man and woman have to give something of themselves to create new life on earth, that part of them that dies finds life again in their offspring.

Japan’s strong family ties

There is a Colombian wedding ritual that is often seen in weddings. After the groom gives the ring to the bride, they both are handed two candles which they light. Holding those lighted candles in their hands, they approach and light up a third candle with the ones they are holding. After that, they put out the original two candles.

The first two candles which are put out may be interpreted to stand for the death of their old personality as they transform themselves by the act of uniting in marriage. The third candle stands for the union of the two. Taken from another aspect, the ritual could also stand for the birth of a new life as a result of their union. The putting out of the two first candles stands for the part of themselves that die in order to procreate.

Japan’s strong family ties

A peculiarity in some Japanese weddings is the practice of making the wedding couple drink three times from a vessel of rice wine. After doing so, they turn towards each other to say their vows. At the same time, the members of both families also turn around towards the other family.
Doc. No:BC-1122-ULT10-112210