Being a bride is one woman’s dream especially tying-knots with the man she love most. And this day, giving up her singleness and facing a new page of her life and new challenges as wife. But in every country there are customary traditions that are followed or else the newly married couple will have unhappy and unsuccessful life ahead of them. Superstitions and traditions that we have inherited from our ancestors and I think there is no harm in following the “old traditions”.
1) Philippine Wedding
Catholic Wedding Ceremony ( source:Wilkipedia image)
The Philippine tradition begins with “panliligaw” (courting), pamamanhikan (formal asking for the girl’s hand and parents to parents agreement with the groom’s side bring gift and foods to the bride’s house, wherein the reception, church and date of wedding will be discuss). Here there are superstition belief that should be followed: Not to fit the wedding dress or else the wedding will be canceled, not to drive or travel on a long journey or one of the couple will meet an accident, the coins or arras are gold plated it means prosperity and good luck and not allow the bride to use pearl it means unhappy married life.
Pangalay Dance In Wedding celebration
Filipino Tausug in Pangalay Wedding dance (source: Image from Wilkepedia)
The Filipino-Muslim perform the pangalay dance otherwise called as Daling-Daling or Mengalai in Sabah; this is a traditional dance of the Tausug tribes. Also the Samal and Badjao tribe perform the pangalay and call this Umaral or Igal dance rituals. The Tausug marry very young, as soon they reach the stage of puberty.
2) Malay Wedding (Malaysia)
Malay Wedding Ceremony (source: Rozita Mohd Said)
Bethrotal or Hantaran, giving gifts to the bride and the family is a pre-wedding arrangement to know how much dowry will be given to the bride and date of wedding. The Mak Andam(beautician) and member of bride entourage asked entrance fee to the groom, and if said amount is good enough, they allow the groom to see his bride. Then the Berinai (henna painting ceremony for the bride to be, is held before the wedding and oftentimes followed by “Tukar pakian” (change of costumes) for the bride and groom to be picture-taking session. The “Kadhi”, a religious official of the Syariat Court are officiating the wedding ceremony. The Akad Nikah forge the union “Mas Kaliwin,”a small amount of money (SG$22.50 (more or less US$0.15) that will seal the contract, so it must be said clearly during the solemnization rites and be heard by 3 witnesses that goes this way:
Kadhi: I hereby marry Fatima to Ahmed with the Mas Kahwin of SG$22.50
Groom: I do accept this marriage with Fatima with the Mas Kahwin of SG$22.50
With this contract the groom ensure that he will take care of his bride and shoulder all responsibility as husband to his wife. Then the sending of gifts and dowry takes place and called Istiadat hantar belanja. The upakara akad nikah (wedding ceremony) is held at the bride’s place, but some practice are held in their mosque. While exchanging gifts are performed they usually recite the Quran. Then relatives of the bride checked the “Gubahan”, a box where the gifts of clothes, perfumes and accessories and even payments, if the promised gift are complete as their agreement.
Tidong Tribe, also in Malaysia, they confined the newlyweds inside the house for 3 nights and 3 days and watched carefully that the couple prevent them from urinating and pooping within 72 hours. They are feed small amount of food and water. The Tidong believed when they pass the initiation they will live a prosperous and happy married life.
3) Indian Wedding
South India Wedding (source:wilkipedia)
The Celebrations and rituals are celebrated for several days, with 400 t0 1000 guests, many are unknown to the newly weds and families.
Hindu Marriage Ceremony (souce: Wilkipedia)
Bengali Wedding Ceremony
Bengali Bride in Red Sari with Henna paintings
Mehandi decoration of palm and feet
Mangni – the engagement where the groom and family give dowry to the bride and family; and also exchange rings to confirm the engagement.
Rokka – ceremony where the boy and girl commit to be married and accept proposals and agreement from both families and Ardaas followed by Mangni, exchange of gifts.
Dholki – celebrated for days, ladies singing traditional hindu song held in a banquet hall. (But now they practice it by hiring DJs and have dance party followed by dinner).
Mhendi or mehandi – the ceremony where they paint with henna the bride to be and the female entourage. The bride will be painted on both hands and feet, while the ladies only their hands will be painted.
Ublan – The bride to be have to stay home for the “yellow skin rituals”( turmeric powder mixed with mustard oil to become paste form) and “bathe” the bride with turmeric paste. Same rituals, the Ghara ghardoli and ublan ceremonies is also performed at the groom to be house. And also the “Varna”, where the groom’s bhabi lines his eyes with surma (kohl) to ward the “evil eyes” and cash are given away to the poor.
4) Sundanese Wedding In Indonesia
Sundanese Wedding In Indonesia (source: Wilkipedia)
Sundanese Wedding Ceremony
5) Chinese Wedding
Qing Dynasty Wedding Format(Source: Modern Ming Dynasty Wedding Wilkipedia)
The bride wearing blue hat and giving tea to the mother and the groom usually wear X form sash in front, and face the parents wgo are seated, this is how the Qing Dynasty wedding are performed.
Chinese still follow the old traditions, the pre-arranged marriages and called Xiangqin (mutual familiarity marriages). The matchmaker match the birthdate wherein Suan Ming (Chinese-fortune telling rituals) are used, predicting good luck and fortune to the bride and groom; and if the match is perfect then they begin with the agreement and discuss the wedding plans.
6) Japanese Wedding
Japanese Wedding Rites (source:Wilkipedia)
Japanese Tsunokakushi Headress
The bride wears all white from head to toe, declaring her singleness to the gods and they use headdress that comes into two type of covering for their heads. The “tsunokakushi” and the “wataboshi”, white hood and symbol of hiding “horns of jealousy” of the bride it also symbolizes of becoming a good and obedient wife in the future. There are two kind of pre-wedding arrangement; “miai or omiai”- an arranged marriage by family and the “ren-ai”- where couples are real sweethearts.
7) Jewish Wedding
Orthodox Jewish Wedding (source: Wilkipedia)
Chuppah Jewish Ceremony(source: Wilkipedia)
Ketubah or Marriage Contract
The two stages of Jewish wedding ceremony are the “Kiddushin” (sanctifying or dedication, also called “erusin”, Hebrew bethrotal and the “nissuin”. The “huppa or chuppa” are canopies wherein the bride and groom stand while solemniztion rites are held and officiated by “hazzan or rabbi”. After the “yiddish” (covering the face of the bride by veiling), while “Sheva Brachot or Seven Blessings” are recited by rabbi.
Iyer Wedding Ceremony (source:Wilkipedia)
Iyer are from the South Indian Brahmins and the Iyer are Tamil speaking. The Tamil wedding are commonly called Kalyaaman or Thirumanam. Their wedding dress code are silk skirt with a “kurta or veshti” for the groom and “sari/sarees or madisaar for the bride. After the “Nischayathartham”(engagement ceremony)they proceed with the wedding arrangement and giving of gifts or dowry. The wedding procession is called “Janavasam/ maapillai azhaippu”.
9)The Jumping-Broom Wedding
Jumping the Broom Wedding (source: Wilkipedia)
This wedding rites are practiced in a village in Africa, also known as the “slave wedding”.
There are many different cultures and traditions in any part of the world, and maybe by researching and exploring we will learn more about other countries’ culture.