Taking a peak into wedding traditions!
There are so many aspects to weddings and, while individual elements and
traditions vary both by religion and within a religion, they are all
time-honoured and serve to celebrate the couples families, communities, and
cultures.
Elements often have historical meanings and significance and choosing to
incorporate these traditions is both a nod to the past as well as an embrace
of the future, and we have had the privilege, here at Granny Mouse Country
House & Spa, to experience some beautiful traditional ceremonies!
For those of you in the know, this will no doubt make you reflect on your
wedding day or having attended a wedding that falls outside of your
traditions and relishing in the experience.
A number of different types of wedding ceremonies are available to couples
wishing to get married. In general, they can be grouped into religious and
non-religious types. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Catholic
ceremonies are examples of religious wedding ceremonies.
The different beliefs and traditions of these religions are reflected in
their wedding ceremonies. Non-religious ceremonies may have a variety of
different components, but often still include the exchange of wedding vows.
Christian weddings are one type of religious wedding ceremony. An important
aspect is the bride’s walk down the aisle with her father, after which she
is “given away” to her groom. The ceremony often includes readings from the
Bible, hymns, and a sermon by the minister. Perhaps most important is the
exchange of marriage vows and rings between the couple. At the end of the
ceremony, the new couple walks back down the aisle together.
Jewish wedding traditions can vary but some common aspects are the Ketubah,
which is a marriage contract and is read out loud during the ceremony,
detailing the groom’s responsibilities to his new wife. The ceremony takes
place under a canopy, called a chuppah, which symbolizes the home the couple
will build together in their marriage. Finally, the famous breaking of the
glass marks the end of the ceremony, which has many interpretations, but is
often believed to mean that marriages are fragile and must be protected.
Finally, guests shout Mazel Tov! (Congratulations) to celebrate the new
union!
The Muslim wedding ceremony is most commonly known by its Arabic term,
nikkah. The nikkah typically happens at a mosque on the morning of the
wedding day, before the reception. The bride herself has no role to play in
her wedding ceremony, as the nikkah is essentially a procedure whereby the
groom accepts a proposal from the bride’s father, to marry her to him. Many
brides don’t attend nikkah, and await their groom at their home, or in a
hall close to the mosque. Nevertheless, more and more brides are beginning
to visit the mosque since the nikkah is what makes the marriage official,
and they don’t want to miss that.
A Hindu wedding normally takes place over the span of three days with
different events taking place each day. The main ceremony and reception on
the third day as well as the sangeet, during the second day, are attended by
most of the guests. Hindu wedding celebrations are based on auspicious times
predetermined and provided by the priest. An intimate Hindu wedding can
consist of an average of 150 to 200 guests.
Greek wedding traditions feature elaborate rituals with crowns, the Koumaros
or wedding sponsor then intertwines the crowns three times symbolizing the
couples union. Similar to the Russian orthodox wedding, this is the
importance of placing crowns onto the heads of the couple than the
exchanging of rings. The couple shares a cup of wine and then they both
follow the priest three times around the lectern to symbolise their journey
into married life.
Of course there are also non-religious ceremonies which are presided over by
judges, clerks, or other public officials. They can occur at a court house,
or at another location chosen by the couple. Many people choose to have an
outdoor wedding in order to take advantage of a scenic backdrop, such as
Granny Mouse. The content of these ceremonies differs according to the
couple, but typically still includes the exchanging of vows, meaningful
readings, and music.
So there you have it! When next you are looking for a wedding venue, contact
Granny Mouse Country House & Spa on www.grannymouse.co.za – the perfect
location for that special day.
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Inspired by:
https://www.easyweddings.com.au/articles/15-amazing-russian-wedding-traditio
ns
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-wedding-ceremonies
.htm
https://www.news24.com/w24/style/bride/perfect-wedding/the-low-down-on-musli
m-weddings-part-1-20160902