Vinyl 95.3

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All Repped out and Back in Jail . Hopefully I got everyone. Have a Great day!

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10 Wedding Traditions Around the World

By Robin Esrock

There are many beautiful wedding traditions around the globe, spanning ritual, religion and tradition. With my own wedding taking place this month, I took special interest in how other couples celebrate their special day. You might notice how some traditions are strangely similar, across vast distance and culture.
African
Wedding traditions differ wildly across the tribes and cultures of Africa, although bringing together family is a common thread. In some cultures, girls are “trained” to be wives, even learning special language and signs to communicate with other women without the husband’s understanding. Husbands must pay the new wife’s family in cattle, sheep, or money for the right to marry their daughter. As a result, having daughters can be very profitable for a father. Some marriages are sometimes arranged before children are even born. (credit: Getty Images)

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Japanese
Japanese nuptials include the wonderful tradition of formerly honouring the parents of the bride and groom. The bride is dressed in a traditional kimono, which is wrapped around her according to tradition. While she might change her dress several times over the course of the day, the ceremonial kimono is typically white, signifying the passing of childhood and the entrance into a new life. The newly-weds drink nine cups of sake, followed by their respective families, who are formally introduced to one another after the ceremony. The wedding is therefore not just a union of the couple, but also a union of the two families. (credit: Getty Images)

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Indian
Indian weddings are multi-day affairs, bringing together huge groups of families and friends for a long feast and celebration. Typically, the bride and groom will undertake feet washing to prepare for the ceremony, with the bride decorating her hands with beautiful henna. Customs differ throughout India. For example, Punjabi brides might wear red and ivory bangles belonging to an uncle, bringing good luck. Sister and brothers-in laws exchange gifts in Parsee ceremonies, which also include rituals that ask the groom to symbolically pay for the honour of the bride. Sapta Padi has the bride and groom walking around a fire seven times symbolizing their bond and vows. (credit: Getty Images)

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Chinese
Prior to the wedding, the bride retreats from her daily routine in a period of reflection, mourning the loss of one family before she can celebrate the gain of another. The day before the wedding, it is good luck to install the bridal bed. Fruit, sweets and nuts are put on the bed, and children are invited onto the bed for good luck. On the wedding day, red is featured prominently to symbolize joy. Selecting the date is an important consideration for Chinese couples, who select “auspicious” days according to the Chinese calendar. Food served at the banquet is also carefully considered, symbolizing happiness, longevity and fertility. (credit: Getty Images)

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Native American
Indigenous weddings differ across tribes and bands, and might be formal or informal. One custom is the Rite of Seven Steps, in which the couple take seven steps clockwise around a fire, separately reciting a vow with each step. Guests join hands and form a circle around them. Couples might exchange gifts like corn, symbolizing fertility. The blanket ceremony wraps the couple in a blue blanket, symbolizing sorrow and hardship from past lives. After the union has been blessed, it is removed and replaced by a white blanket, which is worn for the rest of the ceremony. (credit: Getty Images)

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Jewish
Jewish brides wear a veil, to remind the groom he is marrying the bride for her soul, not her looks. The Rabbi makes seven blessings over the couple, representing thanks, rejoicing, commitment, peace, friendship and tranquillity. A wedding ring is placed on the bride’s forefinger, so it is easy to show others, before she transfers it to the ring finger. The groom breaks a glass under his foot, as a reminder that even in times of joy, there are still problems and hardships to be reflected on from the past. The couple retire privately for their first few moments of husband and wife, and eat something after fasting the whole day. They return to their guests for a wild celebration of dancing, drinking and feasting. (credit: Getty Images)

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Celtic
Celtic wedding traditions are still popular in the United Kingdom and beyond. These may incorporate all or some of nine parts of the wedding ceremony, including the consecration of a circle, presentation of the bride and groom, statement of the bard, declarations, ring exchanges, the binding of hands, passing of light, thanksgiving and blessing of the circle. Music is often played, commonly in the form of a bagpipe. Men wear kilts, and women wear dresses of colour. Carrying a horseshoe symbolizes good luck, and sometimes the bride and groom choose to be barefoot, symbolizing a connection to the earth. (credit: Getty Images)

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Greek
On their wedding day, the bride and groom are honored as king and queen. Each wears a crown of flowers, connected by a silk ribbon. Traditionally, a bride wears a red or yellow veil, symbolizing fire to protect her from evil spirits. The bride might also carry a lump of sugar, for a sweet life, or some ivy, as a symbol of endless love. Of course, a huge party of feasting and drinking follows the ceremony. Dishes are smashed on the floor for good luck. In nearby Italy, a vase or glass is also broken, with the number of shards representing the number of happy years ahead. (credit: Getty Images)

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Caribbean
Weddings across the Caribbean might span Western, European and African traditions. In the Caribbean, weddings often don’t have a Best Man. Instead, the bride’s father or both parents perform the role. The bride and groom will often parade through a village on their way to the church, cheered on by members of the community. Typically, the ceremony is open to anyone who wishes to attend. A traditional island wedding cake is called a “Black Cake”, with the recipe passed along from mother to daughter. Made with fruits and nuts, it is usually served with a rum sauce. Relatives who cannot attend the celebration are often sent a piece of wedding cake. (credit: Getty Images)

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Middle East
Across the Middle East, a wedding might consist of five different celebrations. It starts with the engagement party, followed by the signing of the wedding contract. The Henna party takes place the day before the wedding, where the bride’s hands and feet are painted to ward off evil spirits. At the wedding celebration itself – besides the partying and feasting – each guest might receive five almonds, signifying the five sacred wedding wishes: health, happiness, longevity, wealth and fertility. The final party takes places seven days later in the home of the bride’s mother, and is open to women only. Here, the bride receives gifts from friends and family. Variations of these celebrations are very common across the Middle East, which spans a variety of cultures and religions. (credit: Getty Images)

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On top of the worldAt Neck Point in Nanaimo, BC.

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Virginia Falls, NWT Mason's Rock, situated in the centre of Virginia Falls, on the South Nahanni River, NWT, Canada. The rock is named after Bill Mason, famous Canadian canoeist, filmmaker and author.

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Charelston Lake Cahrelston Lake Provincial Park

Ontario.

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Bullrushes Bullrushes at sunset near Burford, Ontario