Wed
08
Dec
2010
A wedding, your wedding, is easily one of the most significant ceremonies that you will ever attend in your life. The act of procreation, something that is basically an animal instinct, is given
dignity and institutionalized in keeping with the spiritual nature of human beings. Weddings are important because through this ceremony people are able to express their best hopes for the
outcome of the union between bride and groom By using symbols, the blessings of faithfulness, abundance of offspring as well as of material wealth and divine guidance are evoked and made to rain
on the wedding couple.
The symbols and rites used internationally to signify those aspirations are many and varied.
The disappearing apple act in Chinese weddings
There is a comic ritual practiced in China after weddings and during the party for the wedding guests. An apple is dangled in between the newly weds in the ritual. Without holding the apple, they
are supposed to take a bite from it at the same time. But when they do stretch out their heads to take that bite, the apple is whisked up into the air and the newly weds end up kissing each other
lips to lips.
Although seen over a million times, the routine never fails to amuse. The humor of that situation has a deeper meaning. Specifically the ritual means to underscore that fact that in the midst of
the pursuit for material goods, the couple should always maintain love and unity in their home.
The Colombian candle of unity
There is a Colombian wedding ritual that is often seen in weddings. After the groom gives the ring to the bride, they both are handed two candles which they light. Holding those lighted candles
in their hands, they approach and light up a third candle with the ones they are holding. After that, they put out the original two candles.
The first two candles symbolize the extinguishing of selfish motives while the third candle stands for the light of love and cooperation which is supposed to light up the path of their future
lives. Another way the ritual can be interpreted is the transfer of life from themselves to their children, the new life. Light (life) is first given the new candle before the original ones are
put out. It stands for the strange relationship between love, life and death.
Japan's strong family ties
A peculiarity in some Japanese weddings is the practice of making the wedding couple drink three times from a vessel of rice wine. After doing so, they turn towards each other to say their vows.
At the same time, the members of both families also turn around towards the other family.
We can imagine that the three sips of wine stand for the fact that the love of the couple stands firm even in a state of intoxication. There must have been a time in ancient Japan when couples
were required to get drunk before committing themselves just to make sure that they were doing so from the deep within their hearts.
The fact that the families of the couple also turn to face one another signifies their approval of the union as well as the fact that wedding, to a certain extent, binds both families
together.
Other than those mentioned above there are many more, beautiful wedding practices from all around the world that can be incorporated in weddings to make them more meaningful.
Jameson Daniels is a writer for skylighter.com check out his colored smoke or his ice fountain.