Unique Marriage Traditions Around the World – Wedamor
A marriage is what brings two people close and together. It joins two families as one big happy family. Regardless of their cultures, traditions, religions, and customs, two people learn to embrace their love. Weddings are all over the world and due to the cultures; marriage traditions and customs there are various kinds of marriages that happen all around.
Here, we will be focusing on the unique ceremonies or customs these various nations have like the idea of a wedding and the procedures are almost similar.
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South African Lighting of the Hearth Ceremony
In South Africa, weddings are extremely vibrant. Colors like green, red, and black are incorporated in the bride and groom’s outfits. In an African Heritage wedding, drumming may be incorporated. Some of the traditional South African weddings showcase the parents of the couple. They are especially shown carrying growing embers from their own hearths during the processionals.
Later on, these are used to light the hearths in the newlywed couple’s home. It stands as a symbol for the newlyweds’ hearth. Some African couples also prefer to braid their hair for the wedding. The ceremonies are then ended with everyone congratulating the couple and blessing them with a healthy and long life.
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Indian Hindu Varmala Marriage Tradition
This is also known as the “Garland Ceremony.” This marriage tradition is done usually by the Hindus in India where the bride and groom exchange garlands. It is said to have been picked up from the ancient epics of India.
Deep-rooted in the culture, Varmala exchange is a ritual that was part of the Vedic time. It started during the ancient times, for a girl to be wed, she had suitors who would go and ask for her hand. Out of all, whoever the girl chooses as her husband, she puts a garland around his neck as a claim or a definite choice.
First, the bride has to put the varmala around the groom. Then, this is followed by the groom putting the garland around the bride. In some cultures, there is a fun hassle where the family members and friends pick the bride and groom and try and prevent them from putting the garland by holding them high off the ground. Once the varmalas are put, the commencement of the matrimonial ceremony begins.
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Japanese Sake Drinking Ceremony
A Japanese marriage tradition ceremony may be Shinto, Christian, Buddhist, or non-religious. A Japanese Sake Drinking Tradition happens in the traditional Shinto Wedding. A Shinto wedding is a small-scale wedding ceremony that involves the bride and the groom, their parents and close friends and families.
Most of the time, rings are exchanged between the bride and the groom, after which there is a sacred dance performed by the Miko. “Miko were once likely seen as a shaman but are understood in modern Japanese culture to be an institutionalized role in daily shrine life, trained to perform tasks, ranging from sacred cleansing to performing the sacred Kagura dance.”
Finally, the ceremony ends with an offering of tamagushi (a sacred branch) and a ritual sharing of sake. All people present share the sake. Here, the ceremony relies heavily on Shinto themes of purification, as performed by Miko. It involves ceremonial sake drinking of three cups three times, the nan-nan-san-Ku-do. The bride and groom then take three sips of sake from each cup, so that they drink three sips, from three cups; in total – nine sips, hence the name “three three nine times,” “the nan-nan-san-Ku-do.”
Finally, this concludes the list of Wedding Traditions around the world!