Transcript Weddings Across Cultures Weddings Across Culturesx

Weddings Across Cultures
Commonality
Most wedding ceremonies involve:
• Exchange of wedding vows by the couple
• Presentation of a gift (offering, ring(s),
symbolic item, flowers, money)
• Public proclamation of marriage by an
authority figure or leader.
Chinese Weddings
Tea Ceremony is the equivalent of an exchange
of vows at a Western wedding ceremony.
When the bride leaves her home with
the groom to his house, a "Good Luck
Woman" will hold a red umbrella
over her head, meaning "raise the
bark, spread the leaves."
Chinese Weddings
Before the bride and groom enter the nuptial chambers,
they exchange nuptial cups and perform ceremonial
bows as follows:
first bow - Heaven and Earth
second bow - ancestors
third bow - parents
fourth bow – spouse
Hanfu
Cheongsam
Traditional Chinese Ritual
Six Etiquettes
Proposal: When an unmarried boy's parents found a potential daughter-in-law, they
then located a matchmaker whose job was to discuss possibility of marriage
Birthdates: If the selected girl and her parents did not object to the proposal, the
matchmaker would match the birthdates in which suanming (Chinese fortune telling)
is used to predict the future of that couple-to-be. If the result are good, they then
would go to the next step.
Bride price (Betrothal gifts): At this point the bridegroom's family arranged for the
matchmaker to present bride price, including the betrothal letter, to the bride's family.
Wedding gifts: The groom's family would then send an elaborate array of food, cakes,
and religious items to the bride's family.
Arranging the wedding
Wedding Ceremony
African Weddings
A typical African traditional marriage
ceremony involves members of the
entire community. Feasting, singing,
and dancing are some of the greatest
features of the event.
Traditionally, there is no need for
paper evidence of marriage. The whole
community bears witness to the
marriage, and the parents of both
parties have agreed to the union.
Ceremony
• The couple will walk together followed by their parents who would switch
partners to symbolize the union of the 2 families. They in turn will be
followed by friends of the couple, one each of the opposite sex
• An incantation, which is to express proverbial ideas of marriage to spur
the new couple into bold new ways of life, & to inspire other singles who
are present into bold decisions of marriage, is read
• Swahili song is sung
• It is not customary for Africans to wear marriage rings, but if they are
exchanged, the man gives to the woman a silver ring & the woman gives a
gold ring to the man. Silver equates to the female aspect of God, the
Moon-Mother Goddess, personified by the Queen Mother of many African
societies. Gold personifies the Sun-male aspect of God.
• After Consenting Words by both the parents and the couple, there is an
exchange & a sip of wine in front of all to complete the symbolic union of
the two families. The couple will embrace only, handshake congratulations
are given and 4 or more women will interpret the West African song by
throwing extra cloths, handkerchiefs or headwraps at the feet of the
couple as they walk out.
Traditions and Customs
Tying the knot
Libation Ceremony
Jumping
the
Broom
Tasting the Four Elements
Kola Nut
Attire
Dashiki –
West Africa
Akoma Gye Nyame Osram Ne
Nsoromma
Me Ware
Wo
Mexican Weddings
Combine the dignity of the Catholic Mass with
the Latin passion for music, dance and
celebration
Madrina
(godmother)
Padrino
(godfather).
Attire
Bolero
Guayabera
Mantilla Veil
Traditions and Customs
Las Arras
El Lazo
Reception
A Hispanic wedding reception is a lively event
that lasts long into the night.
Family oriented and festive
Various Countries Attire
Hindu Wedding
On the wedding day, the bride and the bridegroom
garland each other in front of the guests. Most
guests witness only this short ceremony and then
socialize, have food and leave. The religious part
comes hours later, witnessed by close friends and
relatives.
Yajna
Hindu priest arranges a sacred yajna (firesacrifice), and the sacred fire is considered the
prime witness of the marriage. He chants
mantras from the Vedas and subsidiary texts
while the couple are seated before the fire.
Attire
Langa oni