Wedding Traditions Of Western Europe's North Region
The North region of Western Europe is filled with great wedding traditions
, going back to the beginning of time. As the world as evolved so has some of these wedding traditions, going from old traditional to a more modern role. Some wedding traditions can vary in their meanings from glory, to luck or have religious overtones. Some wedding traditions can also have some unique twists.
Denmark
Denmark is no stranger to their own traditions that differ from the rest of the world, such as:
- In front of the bride's family house, the Gate of Honor is built. This is an arch made from pine branches. On the couple's 25th anniversary, another Gate of Honor is erected in front of their home.
- During the wedding reception, tradition is for the groom to excuse himself from the affair, while the male guests take their turns kissing the new bride. Upon the groom's return, the bride will exit and the female guests kiss the groom.
- Also during the reception, it is customary for guests to surround the groom while he is dancing and with scissors in hand, cut his socks and tie.
- The traditional wedding cake in Denmark is called a Marzipan Ring Cake, but can also be known as the Cornucopia Cake.
Finland
Like their counterparts of Europe, Finland's no different. A Finnish wedding has many of today's rituals and a few of their own. Such as:
- It is known for the newly engaged woman to go from door to door with pillowcase in hand as she receives wedding gifts. Usually an older married man will escort her to hold over her an umbrella or parasol. This symbolizes shelter and protection for her.
- A golden crown may be worn by the bride to go along with her wedding gown. At the wedding reception, women would then blindfold the bride and begin to dance around her. At this time, the blindfolded bride will place the crown on one of the girl's heads. She is next to marry. Much like today's tossing of the bouquet.
- The bride will usually carry a sieve that is covered up by a shawl and guests will place cash gifts into.
- Some traditions include the groom's mother to place a china plate on her head at the start of the wedding dance. When the plate falls and breaks, the amount of pieces on the floor represent the amount of children they may have.
- The end of a Finnish wedding reception is marked with the weaning-waltz, which is also the last dance of the event. The bride starts the waltz with the women, while the men all start with the groom. Each one gets to dance for a few moments with the groom and the bride. The dance represents a test to see how long it takes for the groom and bride can forget each other.
Norway
Norway is not only a beautiful country, but one with much passion in everyday life. This passion often spills into its wedding traditions, such as:
- On his wedding day, a groom will wear a bundas, which is a hand-made woolen suit and generally includes a shirt, stockings and short pants all made with white silk. He will also wear a topcoat and vest.
- A bride will wear on her wedding day a silver or white gown and either a silver or a silver and gold crown. The crown will include small bangles that dangle from it. The dangling bangles will make music as the bride moves her head. This music is believed to ward evil spirits away.
- Generally played on an accordion, it is tradition in Norway for 'Come to the Wedding' to be played as the bride and groom exit the church.
- At the reception, the tables are either decorated with blokaker cake, which is a layered cake, or a brudlaupskling wedding cake.
- Afterward, representing a symbol of children to bear, two small trees, usually fir, are planted at the door at the couple's home.
Sweden
- On the wedding day, prior to the bride leaving for the church, it is tradition for her mother to give her a gold coin and her father to give her a silver coin. The gold coin is to be placed in her right shoe, while the silver goes into her left shoe. This symbolizes that the parents know that their daughter will never go without.
- After the vows are completed on the wedding day, the bride wears three rings on her finger. You have the engagement ring, followed by her wedding ring and the last ring represents motherhood.
by: Nicole Sanchez
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