MARRIAGE AROUND THE WORLD
Marriage is a recognized union between two people, called spouses, which establishes rights and
obligations between them. Also known as matrimony or wedlock, this union can be recognized through
social norms and laws or a ritual, and it also accepts the indisputable rights that any children born or
adopted within that union have. People around the world have been performing marriage ceremonies
for a long time, with each culture adding something special and unique.
A Brief History of Marriage
• Ancient societies started practicing marriages because they needed to secure a safe
environment in which they could have offspring and pass their property onto someone.
• One of the earliest Hebrew laws required a man to marry his deceased brother's widow.
• Dating back to the Ancient Rome, the engagement ring is a custom that was believed to
represent eternity and everlasting union.
• In the 5th century, the Christian Church took an interest in marriage as a religious
ceremony, but it was only in the 12th century that the Church defined marriage as sanctioned (officially
accepted or allowed) by God.
• Even though divorce (ending the marriage) was practiced by ancient Greeks, it was not
recognized by the Catholic Church. British King Henry VIII even broke his ties with the Church and
started his own Church of England so that he could divorce his wife and marry a new one.
Indian Wedding Celebrations
Celebrated with numerous rituals and ceremonies, Indian weddings last for days. The wedding
starts with pre-wedding ceremonies, such as the engagement ceremony, where the bride and the groom
exchange rings. Then there is the Mehendi Ceremony held at the bride's house, where her palms, wrists
and feet are decorated for the wedding. On the wedding day, the husband and wife put flower garlands
around each other's necks, which symbolize the bride's acceptance of her husband. The traditional
wedding is followed by many other traditions, such as for example, stealing the groom's shoes. The
bride's sisters play a trick by stealing the shoes once the groom has entered the wedding tent, so the
groom must bribe them in order to get his shoes back.
Japanese Wedding Celebrations
In Japan, wedding ceremonies are traditionally held in Shinto shrines. Painted white from head
to toe, the bride also wears a white kimono (Japanese clothing). During the ceremony, the bride puts on
a white hood to hide her "horns of jealousy" that she feels towards her mother-in-law. She declares
herself a maiden, and promises to become a gentle and obedient wife. Throughout the celebration,
Japanese brides change their costumes several times, so they also wear a red kimono, and a more
modern dress. As a symbol of the newly established union, the happy couple drinks sake, a Japanese
alcoholic drink made from rice. In this tradition, known as san-san-kudo, the bride and groom each
take three sips from three different sake cups. Their parents do the same.
Jamaican Wedding Ceremonies
In Jamaica, the entire community participates in nearly all stages of the wedding. More precisely,
everyone in the village comes together to help plan the wedding. On the wedding day, everyone goes
out in the street to see the bride and judge her looks – if she is not perfectly dressed, they will criticize
her. The wedding celebration also involves a lot of traditional dancing, including Quadrille, a dance
which originates from the colonial times, when slaves secretly copied the dance moves from their
masters. Several cakes are served, and they are all brought in by married women wearing white. One
such cake is the traditional black cake, made from dark fruits and rum.
Welsh Wedding Ceremonies
According to Welsh wedding tradition, a man should carve a wooden spoon and give it to the
woman he loves. If she wears it, that means they are engaged. Another wedding custom in Wales
suggests that brides should be kidnapped by their families shortly before their wedding day, so if the
groom comes and rescues her, that means they will be married. Welsh brides also put myrtles (a
flower) in their bouquet, because it symbolizes love. The bridesmaids receive a cutting of the myrtle
and, if they plant it and see it bloom, they will also marry soon.
