| Weddings and the way they are conducted, vary | | | | ceremony before the actual wedding to signify |
| greatly from one culture to another and from one | | | | that they are betrothed. Then the groom signs |
| religion to another. Many couples who don't | | | | the contract, called the Ketubah, a beautifully |
| practice a religion seem to want a religious or | | | | decorated document which details what the |
| ethnic wedding ceremony. Here are a few | | | | groom promises to provide the bride. Both men |
| wedding traditions from various cultures. If you | | | | and women have to have their heads covered. |
| find a tradition here that you feel has meaning for | | | | The ceremony takes place under a canopy. After |
| you feel free to adapt it for your wedding, | | | | the vows are said, the Orthodox groom places a |
| without demeaning the culture it came from. | | | | plain gold band on the ring finger of his bride's right |
| Chinese - During a Chinese wedding ceremony, | | | | hand. The reformed bride wears her ring on the |
| the couple drink from goblets of wine and honey. | | | | left hand. The Contract is read and the ceremony |
| The bride is fed jujubes, a date like fruit, to | | | | ends with the Seven Blessings. The Groom |
| increase the chance of having a son in the near | | | | breaks a glass with his heel to remind the |
| future. | | | | congregation of the Destruction of the Temple |
| Muslims - a Muslim wedding does not take place in | | | | and other catastrophes that have befallen the |
| a mosque as one might expect but in the office | | | | Jewish people. |
| of an Islamic magistrate, and in the presence of | | | | Native American There are many Native |
| three male witnesses. The contract is made | | | | American tribes while some wedding traditions are |
| between the groom and the brides father or | | | | shared by several tribes, some are unique to just |
| closest male relative, with the girl's consent. The | | | | individual tribes. We will only go into a few here. |
| groom is required to give the bride, money gold | | | | Northern California Traditions |
| and gifts to insure her future. When all of this is | | | | A man of low social standing would pay only half |
| completed the papers are signed and the couple is | | | | the bride price and then move into his in-laws |
| now married. The bride then returns to her | | | | home and be under the rule of the brides father. |
| parent's home to get ready for the reception. | | | | The Bride's family would allow this because they |
| African-American - Many African-American couple | | | | needed another man in the family. |
| today are opting for traditional east African | | | | Jewelry is considered a shield against evil and both |
| wedding ceremonies but most have an American | | | | bride and groom wear turquoise and silver jewelry |
| Wedding. However more and More couples are | | | | at the wedding. |
| incorporating the "jumping the broom" ritual into | | | | Hopi Tradition |
| their weddings. This practice originated during the | | | | Either the male or the female may propose, they |
| era of slavery when slaves were forbidden to | | | | do it by presenting food gifts |
| marry. Jumping the Broom, was a way of | | | | No marriage between members of the nuclear |
| expressing their commitment to one another. | | | | family are permitted. |
| Brooms were used in African homes to sweep | | | | Every culture has it's own wedding traditions and |
| evil away from the home and family. Some | | | | they deserve to respected. Many young couple |
| people believe that the ritual may have been a | | | | today are choosing to incorporate the traditions |
| way of rejecting the evil that forbade their union. | | | | of their ancestors rejected by their parents and |
| Jewish - There are three different branches within | | | | grandparents in an effort to become ""more |
| Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed. | | | | American". |
| Orthodox grooms "Veil" their brides in a | | | | |