Wedding is the occasion of happiness with well-known ceremonies and rituals, passed down through generations. Based on religion and tradition, these ceremonies commemorated with zest in almost every region of the world.
In almost every culture selection of months and days are very important for planning wedding occasions. For Muslims, Friday is the best day and Rabi-ul-awwal is the best month to marry. In English folklore, Wednesday is the excellent day to marry Monday wedding brings wealth Tuesday is good for health while Saturday is unlucky day for nuptials.
Chinese prefer to get married in the month of July during the rainy season because it is a common belief that rains on wedding day forecast wealth affluence, prosperity, blessing and good life. Greek orthodox weddings usually carry out on Saturday or Sunday.
A rhyme "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixpence in your Shoe" originated during the Victorian reign. This rhyme is still popular among British brides as a formula of happy married life.
It is an old saying that a bride should not stitch her dress because for every stitch she will shed a drop of tear during her marriage. For bridal dress, it is said, "Married in White--You have chosen right. Married in Blue--Your lover is true. Married in Pink--Your fortunes will sink. Married in Green--You will not long be seen." A bride should throw away every pin when removing her dress and veil, or she will be unlucky.
Indian wedding ceremonies have many ancient and colourful traditions that go back hundreds of years. Both the bride and groom start the wedding day with fasting.
A special place Mandep (four-pillar canopy) set for wedding rituals. Bride's mother greets the groom with garland and her father washes the right feet of the groom with milk and honey. Bride arrives to the mandep with her maternal uncle and cousins. The bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom amidst the sacred mantras. The bride and groom greet each other by placing garlands around their neck. The priest tie wedding knot and lit the fire, which is holy fire (created from 'ghee' and woolen wicks) .
The mother of the bride assists her to step onto a stone slab and counsels her to prepare herself for a new life. Bride's brother gives her rice half of which slips into groom's hand. She prays for long life and happiness of the groom.
The groom holding the bride's hand walks around the fire four times. Each time they stop to touch a stone with their toe symbolising that they will overcome difficulties of life together. The couple then takes seven steps around the fire together symbolizing lifelong relationship. Groom then apply sandoor on her forehead and gives her mangal sutra representing their love.
The bride offers yogurt and honey to the groom as a token of purity and sweetness.
It is a custom to place a tray full of a mixture of water and milk before the couple. A ring is thrown into the mixture and husband and wife are asked to find the ring. The one who finds the ring is considered winner and dominant partner in the relationship.
Traditional Chinese wedding customs have been around for thousands of years. Before sending proposal, Chinese couple's families consult with fortune-teller compatibility of their birthdates. The boy's family then sends "betrothal gifts" to the girl's family. Gifts consist of clothes, jewelries, gold, silver and cash. In addition, a silver coin bearing the word "qiu" (meaning "proposal") is among the gifts. The girl's family sends back another coin bearing the word "yun" (meaning "agreed") among their gifts presented in return to confirm the marriage.
Traditional colour of wedding is red representing happiness. Bride usually wears Red Quipao wedding gown. The bride will receive jewellery or money wrapped in red envelopes. Brides not allowed wearing wedding gown before the wedding day because it is believed that this act might ruin the ceremony.
During the wedding ceremony, the couple pays respect by kneeling three times. They kneel to the heaven and earth, the ancestral tablets and their parents, and then to each other. A tea ceremony follows, in which the bride serves tea to the groom's family.
During the wedding dinner, breaking of some glassware is good luck for the pair. Fish is an important dish of lavish wedding dinner, which is a symbol of abundance.
The Greek wedding ceremony starts with a celebration called Krevati (Greek for bed) at the wedding couple's new home. Friends and relatives of the couple put money and young children jump on the couple's new bed for richness and lushness in their life.
On wedding day, the groom arrives first in church and waits for the bride. The marriage service consists of exchange of rings, crowning of the couple, handling of candles and Joining of hands. The crowning of the couple with the stefana (two flowered crowns attached by white ribbon) is most important ritual of Greek wedding. The white ribbon symbolising unity joins the crowns. The crowns are packed in a special box after the ceremony. By ancient custom, they are to stay with the couple for life.
The couple drinks red wine from the same glass as a remembrance of a religious miracle. At the end of the wedding ceremony, as the newly wedded pair leaves the church, the guests throw rice and flowers for fertility and felicity. Special guests, such as close friends and family receive sugar-coated almonds (traditionally an odd number, usually seven but sometimes five) as a gift from the couple.
When bride reaches the groom's house, she throws a piece of old irons to the roof symbolising the strength of her new home. At the wedding party, immediate members of the family shatter plates on the dance floor for good luck. There is a traditional money dance at the reception where people dance with either the bride or groom, pinning money to their clothes.
For over five thousand years, henna has been a symbol of good luck, health and sensuality in the Arab world. Bride's hands and feet decorates with beautiful henna patterns to ward off evil spirits and promote fertility.
To celebrate big and lavish function of wedding women of family gather to make many different kinds of desserts: baklava, makroud and other sweet treats. Five almond pieces distribute to every guest. Each almond piece represents one of five wedding wish, health, happiness, wealth, fertility and longevity.
Persian wedding rituals inspired with old Zoroastrian traditions. The main ceremony called Aghd. A very detailed embroidered floor spread (sofreh) made of satin or silk specially prepared for the occasion. The spread is also passing down from mother to daughter. The spread is typically set on the floor facing the east so that the couple facing the sofreh will face the light. Traditional music played when the couple walks to the sofreh. When the couple make their entrance, a person carrying smoking Esfand seeds, walks around the couple to ward off evil spirit.
Sofreh consists of a large Mirror symbolising brightness and light to couple's life, a try with seven herbs and spices ( to keep away evil spirit) including Poppy Seeds, Wild Rice, Angelica, Salt Nigella Seeds, Black Tea, Frankincense in the middle of the spread. Other items of Sofreh are decorated eggs, almonds, walnuts (for fertility), Flat bread (for prosperity), pomegranate (for joyous happiness) rose water, honey and the Holy book etc.
Girls holds white cloths over their heads and then grinds together two lumps of sugar above the couples' heads. This symbolic act means to sweeten the couple's life. In addition, a small part of the cloth, maybe on the left side of the couple is sewn together with needle and thread to symbolize sewing the mother-in-law's lips together.
Now wedding in Pakistan, all events of the occasion marked with richness of customs and traditions. The first event of the ceremony is Mayun and Mehndi in which the close relatives of the bride and groom apply a paste Ubtan (made from turmeric, sandalwood powder, herbs and aromatic oils) to their face and hands. After the ceremony of mayun bride is not allowed to leave the house. Only close female family members and friends allowed meeting the girl. In traditional families girl have to spend seven to ten days in mayun.
Most beautiful tradition of Pakistani wedding is Aarsi Musshaf. The couple sees each other in the mirror and the bride unveils her face which she keeps hidden during the Nikah. In some families bride keep her face covered to protect from evil eye.
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