Wedding Culture Worldwide

In India, People there throw the rice to wish that the new couple has plenty of food in their new marriage. In ancient China, people threw rice to wish the new couple many children. But rice is only one thing people throw at weddings! Grains are very popular to throw at weddings.

---

In Bulgaria, if a man wants to become engaged to a woman, he needs his friend's help. The man's friend asks the woman's father for his blessing. If the father agrees to the engagement and marriage, he talks to his daughter. He asks his daughter three times if she wants to marry the man. If she answers "yes" all three times, the man can visit her house.

---

Many wedding traditions celebrate the uniting of a couple. A South African tradition uses fire as a symbol of unity. In this tradition, parents of the bride and groom take part of a fire from their own homes. They bring the fire to the bride and groom's new house. Then they light a new fire for the couple, with both flames.

---

Before the wedding in Germany, guests visit the house a bride and groom will live in. The guests bring ceramic, or baked clay, dishes. They break the dishes in front of the house. And the bride and groom must clean up the mess. If the couple works well together and keeps the area clean, they will have a happy marriage. It shows that the couple can work together.

---

Food is another way people celebrate weddings. Traditions in the Caribbean call for a special cake. It is called a "Black Cake". Mothers give their daughters the recipe, or directions, for the cake. The recipe passes from generation to generation. And each woman tries to improve the recipe.

---

In Bermuda, there is another tradition using cakes. On top of the wedding cake, there is a small young tree. After the wedding, the bride and groom plant the tree at their home. As their marriage grows, so does the tree.

---

Many marriage traditions are very old, and very beautiful! Marriage is a special link between two people. Celebrating with friends, family, and the whole community is a wonderful thing. But it is also good to remember that marriage is more important than just following traditions and customs. It does not matter if a wedding is big or small, if it costs a lot or a little, or if it follows traditional customs or not. A marriage is about a beautiful promise between two people - the bride and groom - a husband and wife.