Ethnic Wedding Traditions
Weddings and the way they are conducted, vary greatly from one
culture to another and from one religion to another. Many
couples who dont practice a religion seem to want a religious
or ethnic wedding ceremony. Here are a few wedding traditions
from various cultures. If you find a tradition here that you
feel has meaning for you feel free to adapt it for your wedding,
without demeaning the culture it came from.
Chinese - During a Chinese wedding ceremony, the couple drink
from goblets of wine and honey. The bride is fed jujubes, a date
like fruit, to increase the chance of having a son in the near
future.
Muslims C a Muslim wedding does not take place in a mosque as
one might expect but in the office of an Islamic magistrate, and
in the presence of three male witnesses. The contract is made
between the groom and the brides father or closest male
relative, with the girls consent. The groom is required to
give the bride, money gold and gifts to insure her future. When
all of this is completed the papers are signed and the couple is
now married. The bride then returns to her parents home to get
ready for the reception.
African-American C Many African-American couple today are
opting for traditional east African wedding ceremonies but most
have an American Wedding. However more and More couples are
incorporating the jumping the broom ritual into their
weddings. This practice originated during the era of slavery
when slaves were forbidden to marry. Jumping the Broom, was a
way of expressing their commitment to one another. Brooms were
used in African homes to sweep evil away from the home and
family. Some people believe that the ritual may have been a way
of rejecting the evil that forbade their union.
Jewish - There are three different branches within Judaism,
Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed. Orthodox grooms Veil
their brides in a ceremony before the actual wedding to signify
that they are betrothed. Then the groom signs the contract,
called the Ketubah, a beautifully decorated document which
details what the groom promises to provide the bride. Both men
and women have to have their heads covered. The ceremony takes
place under a canopy. After the vows are said, the Orthodox
groom places a plain gold band on the ring finger of his
brides right hand. The reformed bride wears her ring on the
left hand. The Contract is read and the ceremony ends with the
Seven Blessings. The Groom breaks a glass with his heel to
remind the congregation of the Destruction of the Temple and
other catastrophes that have befallen the Jewish people.
Native American There are many Native American tribes while some
wedding traditions are shared by several tribes, some are unique
to just individual tribes. We will only go into a few here.
Northern California Traditions A man of low social standing
would pay only half the bride price and then move into his
in-laws home and be under the rule of the brides father. The
Brides family would allow this because they needed another man
in the family.
Jewelry is considered a shield against evil and both bride and
groom wear turquoise and silver jewelry at the wedding.
Hopi Tradition
Either the male or the female may propose, they do it by
presenting food gifts
No marriage between members of the nuclear family are permitted.
Every culture has its own wedding traditions and they deserve
to respected. Many young couple today are choosing to
incorporate the traditions of their ancestors rejected by their
parents and grandparents in an effort to become “more
American”.
