Wedding traditions and customs of different countries

One of the most famous wedding traditions is common in the UK and English-speaking countries, who used to be her colonies. On the day of the wedding, there must be something old on the bride, something new, something borrowed and something blue. The old thing was to protect the first-born couple, borrowed from another happy bride - to bring good luck, and blue was considered a symbol of loyalty. In the original, this sign is added to the rhyme:

Something old,

Something new,

Something borrowed,

Something blue.

But not everyone knows that the verse has one more line: "... and a sixpence in her shoe" ("And sixpence in her shoes"). Sixpence silver coin was a symbol of prosperity, and was also designed to protect against the evil intentions of rejected fans.

In general, many peoples Wedding traditions and customs are associated with money, after all, they are needed as a young family. In many countries during the wedding guests dance the so-called "dance of money". In Greece and Poland, guests, dancing with the bride, attach money to her clothes. And in Hungary and Portugal, guests who want to dance with the bride put coins in her shoes. In many European countries, by the way, instead of shoes, a silver tray is used in this case.

In the countries of the East, there are their own wedding traditions and customs, more exotic (to our inexperienced look). So, in Turkey for a day or two before the wedding arrange a kind of "bachelorette", called kyna-gejessi, which means "night of henna". This is a very beautiful rite, accompanied by many rituals, one of which is the painting of the bride's hands with henna.

By the way, wedding traditions and customs of many eastern countries are connected with henna. Arab and Indian women believe that special wedding Mendy (or mehendi), a painting of henna on the body, will bring happiness andprotect against failure. The drawing is put on hands (and sometimes on the soles of the feet) during a special ceremony, and the remnants of henna should be buried in the ground - this will protect the marriage and prevent the betrayal of the husband.

A in Kenya ritual wedding patterns are applied moreresistant paint black and red. This paint lasts a whole year and symbolizes the new status of a woman. But Kenyan wedding (or rather - post-wedding) traditions concern not only the bride, but also the groom. A whole month after the wedding, the newly-made husband should walk in women's clothing. So he will feel on himself the full burden of women's concerns and in the future will be more tolerant of the economic duties of his wife.

The wedding ceremony in Judaism is called Hupa - by the name of the traditional canopy, under whichthere is a wedding ceremony. One of the traditions of the Jewish wedding ceremony is the breaking of the glass by the groom. A person who is not familiar with the Jewish tradition, this action may remind the breaking of the dishes "for luck", but in fact the glass is broken as a sign of sorrow for the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which you should remember even on your own wedding day.

In many cultures the custom is widespread sprinkle something with the groom and the bride - for happiness and wealth. In some countries young people are sprinkled with rice orwheat, but there are other variations of this tradition. So, in Bulgaria it is customary to shower the groom and the bride leaving the festival with the figs, and in India young ones are sprinkled with flower petals at the end of the marriage ceremony to protect them from evil forces.

Wedding customs and traditions of different nations are veryare diverse, but they all have one goal - to "lure" happiness, wealth and well-being into the family life of the newlyweds. You can be skeptical about these customs, but if you really believe in good things, it will come true!