Despite the fact that in modern society the use of rituals has almost been reduced to zero, we constantly see many echoes of traditions in our everyday life. As for such an important ancient rite as a wedding, to this day in many countries you can see some signs of traditionalism in wedding costumes. Since a wedding is a significant, turning point in a person’s destiny, people tend to pay attention to national traditions.
Today we will show you the most expressive and colorful elements of traditional costumes from around the world.
Bulgaria
Rhodope Mountains. Bride in traditional costume.
Ribnovo. There is a custom here to paint the bride's face with white paint and then cover it with silver threads.
Slavic wedding dress
In the old days, a shirt and chemise were an integral part of the costume of a Russian girl from a poor family. The shirt was made of very thin fabric and was always decorated with thin laces. The shirt was made of coarse homespun fabric, on which flowers, bird designs or other ornaments were embroidered. The design often depended on the bride’s place of residence.
Rich embroidery decorated the wedding shirt of the Ukrainian bride. The suit was also decorated with spare tires. This was the name given to the rectangular piece of thick fabric that was fitted around the girl’s waist.
The national wedding costume of Belarusian brides is the same shirt or narrow fitted jacket, which is combined with a homespun skirt and an apron with a bright pattern embroidered on it.
“Spring is coming”: Nastya Kamenskikh gave advice to novice sports fans
I make my own lip balm that protects from the sun: I use it all year round
Helping carrot seeds sprout faster: two proven methods from gardeners
Japanese outfits
The classic bride's costume from Japan is a kimono made of white silk, a brocade cape, massive gold jewelry and a wig with silver spikes and pins. Sometimes it is replaced with a scarf or hat called tsuno kakushi. It symbolizes respect for the future husband and the desire to hide one’s shortcomings. The bride usually holds a traditional wedding fan in her hands. After the ceremony, before dinner, the girl exchanges her kimono for a red and white dress decorated with gold and silver. Red, according to the Japanese, drives away evil spirits and symbolizes family happiness.
Not everyone was worthy of it: who in the Soviet Union was not accepted into the Komsomol
The secret of Alferova’s happy brother is “For me he is a man, not an actor”
Getting ready for Maslenitsa 2021: why you can’t stay at home, and other rules
At the end of the evening, the bride changes again into a bright kimono, which is usually worn by unmarried girls, as if saying goodbye to her past life. A wedding dress must be white. This color in Japan is considered a symbol of new beginnings. However, purple should not be used in wedding decorations. It is considered a harbinger of the inevitable collapse of a marriage. Traditionally, the groom's suit in Japan is made of black silk, but his family's outfits should be made of white.
Wedding traditions of the peoples of the world
Unusual wedding traditions of different nations
Russia, of course, has its own wedding rituals, which date back to ancient times. And every action performed on this special day is performed in a certain sequence and has a special meaning. So, at Russian weddings it is supposed to:
- Distribute candy to children in the yard after the bride's ransom and her and the groom go out into the yard.
- Block the path of the wedding column.
- Arrange ransom for the newlywed.
- Release white doves into the sky.
According to custom, a Russian girl is supposed to cut the bread, thereby symbolizing her assumption of the rights of a mistress in the house. At the end of the wedding, the groom's mother removes the veil from the head of her future relative, showing that she has accepted her son's wife, her daughter-in-law, into the house. An equally popular Russian custom is “bread and salt,” during which the newlyweds are welcomed home with a loaf of bread and a salt shaker. The newlyweds bite off a piece of it: whoever has the most is the head of the house.
The Slavs also have another ritual - throwing the bride’s bouquet to her friends. Whichever girl catches him will be the next to marry. Interestingly, men also have this custom, but it is less known and popular. In this case, the groom throws the garter from the bride’s leg to his friends. Accordingly, whichever guy grabs her will marry first. This custom was written about in manuscripts from the 15th century. At that time, it was believed that any item of clothing of the newlyweds, taken off by them and given to someone, would bring favor to the man or woman.
One of the fun Russian wedding traditions that has survived to this day is the rite of ransoming the young woman. During it, the bride is ransomed by the groom's groomsmen, but the task of the opposite side is to do everything possible so that the future husband also participates in the event and completes it. Not only money is used as ransom, but also alcohol, food, jewelry and even flowers. Everyone participates in this ritual, because the more people there are, the more fun such a bright event will be.
Traditions at weddings of some peoples of the world also have a ransom ritual at their disposal. For example, Muslims pay bride price for their daughter-in-law. But, of course, the difference between these traditions is obvious: bride ransom from the Slavs is more of a comic performance than a real bargain for a girl. The bride's friends are trying to come up with more tricky tasks for the groom so that he will not be able to see his beloved for as long as possible. The entire redemption process is accompanied by jokes, fun and laughter. In general, almost all Russian wedding customs are more humorous and funny than serious.
Customs at weddings of other peoples of the world are sometimes amazing in their diversity. For example, Australian couples begin to prepare for the celebration a whole year before it begins. Australians are Catholics by religion, and civil marriages are not accepted among them. Usually the newlyweds get married in a church, and then a ceremonial feast begins. A season before the wedding, the couple visits the priest for conversations, as well as preparation and organization of the wedding ceremony. Very practical people live in Australia, and future spouses always make a list of the gifts they need. This list is distributed among the guests, and the newlyweds receive exactly what they really wanted for the wedding.
Like many other Catholic nations, Australians have a tradition of making noise on the way to church. The custom goes back to the deep past, when local residents believed that noise could drive away evil spirits. Nowadays, newlyweds tie a garland of empty beer cans to their car to create noise.
The custom of breaking a wedding wine glass is also one of the common wedding traditions of the peoples of the world. When the newlyweds leave the temple, they are given a tank of wine: they need to drink the contents and break the container. According to the legend, if two wine glasses break at once, happiness and an excellent family life await the newlyweds. If only one of them breaks, the marriage will be unsuccessful. The custom is explained by the fact that the sound of breaking glass should scare away evil spirits.
Wedding traditions in Europe
Hungary
This country has some interesting customs. Firstly, the young wife takes off her shoes, takes her shoes and puts them in the center of the banquet hall where the wedding is taking place, thereby inviting the young guys to dance. If there is such a volunteer, then he is obliged to put coins in her shoes. The one who shares the most coins wins.
Another Hungarian wedding ceremony is associated with water procedures. On the second day after the celebration, the newlywed goes with those invited to a source of water. There the girl washes people one by one, and then wipes them herself with a towel.
Slovakia
Contrary to the traditions of other nations, it is customary here that the bride herself chooses and gives the groom a ring and a silk shirt. The guy also presents his beloved with a piece of jewelry in return, after which he always puts on a fur hat with a belt. In Slovak metropolitan areas, weddings are already celebrated according to modern rules, but in rural areas, holidays are still held in compliance with all ancient rituals.
Norway
It is generally accepted that the colder the climate in a country, the more restrained its inhabitants are in their feelings. Norwegian wedding traditions once again confirm this fact. There are much fewer lovely ladies here than male representatives, and therefore they try to find a bride almost from childhood. In Norway, women have equal rights with men, so both first-born boys and eldest girls become heirs in families. In this northern country there is no dowry, and the wedding is organized by a couple in love using their own savings. One of the most sophisticated Norwegian traditions that has survived to this day is traveling to the celebration site on brightly decorated boats.
Netherlands
Wedding customs in the Netherlands can greatly surprise residents of other countries. Here they believe that the more obscene the banquet is, the happier and more fun the young people will live. Therefore, the celebration is held without observing any norms of behavior.
You won't find a fancy cake at a wedding in the Netherlands. Instead of everyone's favorite delicacy, guests are treated to custom-made confectionery products called “bride's sugar.” If one of the invitees gets the same shaped candy, it is considered to be a lucky sign.
African wedding rituals
Nigeria
According to the customs of this people, future father-in-law and mother-in-law call a real matchmaker into the house, who helps choose a bride for their son who meets all the criteria put forward by the father and mother. The matchmaker personally checks the girls' candidates for innocence, and then shows the selected candidates to their parents.
There is another rather funny custom among the Nigerian people: immediately after the wedding, the young husband is passed through the “corridor of relatives”, and each of them beats him with a stick. This is how relatives initiate a young husband into family life.
Ethiopia
Living in an African tribe is a real test for a girl, and wedding customs here are not easy and romantic. So, in the Surma tribe, 6 months before the expected date of the festival, the girl’s lower lip is pierced and a clay disc is placed in it. In order for it to take the correct position, 2 teeth are pulled out from the front, since it is commonly believed that the size of the disc symbolizes the degree of wealth of the young bride, and is also intended to protect her from evil spirits that enter the body through the mouth.
Egypt
It should be mentioned that the Egyptians were the first to come up with the idea of raising relations between representatives of the weaker and stronger sex within the framework of the law. The marriage contract arose precisely in Egypt, and there it was spelled out point by point what the husband should do and what the wife should do. Of course, Egyptian wedding customs are directly related to the religion of this country. According to Muslim canons, a man can have up to 4 wives, however, only if he is able to provide for each of them. Therefore, in modern Egypt, few people can afford such a number of spouses.
The wedding customs of this people are also interesting for their colorful entertainment: belly dancing, as well as with swords and skirts. Other countries also adopted the ritual of exchanging rings from Egypt. According to ancient beliefs, a ring is a symbol of eternal feelings and love. It must be worn on the left hand, on the middle finger, since the cardiac vein is located in this place. Thus, the ring unites the couple’s hearts forever.
Rwanda
The wedding customs of the Bahutu tribe surprise Europeans even more, since here the newlyweds are required to show not love, but hatred for each other. At the end of the wedding, the bride, covering her face with a veil, heads to her new home, and from that moment a real fight begins.
The quarrel lasts until the morning, and during it the newlyweds do not speak to each other. After the fight is over, the wife moves in with her husband. Having completed such a difficult ritual, they will no longer quarrel until their death. Thus, this strange tradition prepares newlyweds for tests of strength in family life. Perhaps this is why families from Africa are more united than those of other nations.
Customs of the peoples of Asia
Thailand
A wedding ceremony in this country does not require a classic white dress for the bride. On the day of the holiday, the newlywed can try on almost ten clothes. Moreover, the outfits can be of completely different colors and styles, it all depends on what ceremony is taking place at the moment. The only prohibition regarding the choice of clothing is an anthracite-colored dress. In Thailand, it belongs to widows, so it is considered bad luck to highlight any details of the wedding image with this color. Most often, brides use orange, red, and yellow tones for their formal dresses.
China
The most favorite color in China is scarlet. Therefore, at a wedding, any details can be emphasized in red: the newlywed’s dress, envelopes for money, and flowers, the petals of which are showered on the newlyweds. And the popular tradition of the couple drinking drinks at their wedding from wine glasses, the legs of which are belted with a red ribbon, also came to the world from the Celestial Empire. Organizing a Chinese wedding banquet is usually expensive, but the newlyweds quickly justify it through gifts from the guests. After all, in China it is customary to give only money. Moreover, they are usually given by those relatives who cannot attend the holiday.
India
The traditions at Indian weddings are perhaps some of the most impressive in beauty in the whole world. This is a kind of quintessence of all the customs, culture and religious rituals of the Indian people. Despite the fact that newlyweds very often meet for the first time right at the ceremony, divorce is not accepted here.
The main wedding decor in India is flowers, which are considered almost the main item in the budget. But the festive space is literally buried in bright fragrant colors. The wedding table in India consists exclusively of vegetarian dishes; neither meat nor eggs are allowed.
Bali
The wedding ceremony on the island is currently considered the most popular event among couples in love. First of all, it’s stunningly beautiful here. Secondly, it is believed that a marriage registered on this island will be long and happy. And thirdly, the wedding event is quite exotic: the place is fumigated with incense, hundreds of flowers are sacrificed to the gods, and the newlyweds themselves are dressed in luxurious outfits, decorated with gold embroidery.
It is customary to arrive at the ceremony site here on a gilded carriage. And the wealthiest couples ride up on elephants, the decoration of which is stunning in its beauty. During the event in the holy house, the newlyweds are sprinkled with flower petals, and special prayers are read to help the newly-made spouses find a happy family life. Dancing, tropical plants, music, treats with local cuisine - all this becomes a wonderful beginning of a new union of hearts.
North and South America
USA
For America, unlike other countries, a wedding is a kind of business, and the preparatory work for it is left in the hands of holiday agencies. The decoration of the celebration has the same classical stages as in other peoples of the world:
- A man proposes his hand and heart to his beloved.
- The engagement date is announced, at which the groom gives the ring.
- A celebration is taking place.
There are no prohibitions in American weddings, but, as a rule, the newlyweds’ outfits have a rather traditional look. However, according to custom, the girl must wear an old piece of clothing and a blue item. An old thing is a symbol of connection with parents, and a blue one is a sign of fidelity in marriage. Another interesting point is that the number of bridesmaids is not limited!
Mexico
The peoples of Latin America descended from the Aztec and Mayan Indians. Therefore, wedding customs here have their own nuances. Usually sponsors take care of organizing the celebration. Moreover, they do not necessarily have to be the mother and father of the young; sometimes godparents or distant relatives act in their role.
It is worth noting that during a wedding ceremony near the newlyweds, the priest circles a symbolic circle with special rosaries, which serve as a symbol of the unity of two souls.
The Mexicans inherited even more ancient customs from the Indians. There are two weddings celebrated here: one is official, the second is an informal ceremony designed to help the couple unite. To do this, the girl washes herself, after which she and the groom approach the oldest tree to perform the ancient ritual. In this way, they notify nature and the surrounding world of their unity forever.
As you may have noticed, all rituals and ceremonies associated with a wedding are aimed at:
- Provide the newlyweds with a long and happy life.
- Drive away evil spirits from the bride and groom.
- Make sure that the newly made husband and wife do not quarrel.
- Have fun, dance and have a wonderful holiday.
- Clearly demonstrate to everyone that the bride is a worthy housewife.
- Get to know each other better.
- Recoup financial costs.
Of course, every nation holds a wedding in accordance with its own customs, but no one forbids bringing a little exoticism from another country into the ceremony of your own holiday.
Korean national wedding costume
A Korean bride's outfit consists of several dresses that are sequentially put on each other. It is believed that it emphasizes the nobility and aristocracy of the girl. First of all, they put on a green dress, with a floral outfit on top of it. Both costumes are decorated with flowers and butterflies embroidered on the fabric. The sleeves of the dress must be white. This color represents purity and respect. Multi-colored ribbons are tied to them: red, blue and yellow.
A red belt with birds embroidered on it is tied around the bride's waist. Her head is decorated with a black cap with precious stones. Traditional makeup is applied to the girl's face - a large red dot is painted on each of her cheeks. They are believed to protect the bride from evil spirits. The groom wears a dark green suit trimmed with gold embroidery for his own wedding. Ribbons are also tied to his sleeves. Like the bride, the groom's suit is complemented by a black hat and a red belt.
It's time to pamper yourself: we're preparing a delicious cake with berries and cream
By stopping cooking on weekdays, a woman improved her life and saved money
Take your own socks: rules for choosing shoes for training
Chinese national traditions
Wedding suits for the bride and groom in Asia are traditionally made of silk. The outfit must be made of red or gold fabric. These colors in China are considered symbols of marital happiness and financial wealth.
Long-term weather forecast for March 2021 by region (works on site)
“Typical French - they don’t care”: the world champion gave up in the middle of the race
Cindy Crawford is unrecognizable as a child. Cute photos from the 1960s
In different provinces of the country, wedding dresses differ from each other. In Northern China, the bride's dress is made only from red fabric. The dress should not only fit tightly to the figure, but also have a high collar. In the southern provinces, a much more popular costume consists of a jacket and several skirts, which are sequentially put on each other. The bride herself should decorate her dress with unique embroidery, for example, a golden bird. In China it represents marriage. Flowers embroidered on fabric bring happiness and good luck to a girl. Before the wedding, the girl’s face is covered with a red silk veil, and her head is decorated with beaded tassels. Rich brides can also wear a wedding tiara made in the shape of a phoenix.
It is noteworthy that the girl must change her dress three times throughout the celebration. The bride wears a red dress to attend the wedding ceremony and then changes into a white suit. The groom's classic suit is a dark blue shirt with a red silk belt and trousers. The man wears a long jacket made of black silk over it.
