Discover wedding traditions from 10 different countries around the globe

Just as the culture of each country has its particularities and differences when compared to others, the traditions in the universe of weddings also vary according to the customs of each place – whether due to the influence of a religion or historical heritage, which passes from generation to generation. .

Just to illustrate: for example, while here in Brazil the bride usually gets married wearing white (a custom inherited back in 1840, thanks to Queen Victoria of England, and who represented purity and chastity), in India the costumes for the big day they are as colorful as possible – and are always accompanied by lots of jewelry to adorn the bride and ask for prosperity.

With globalization and increasingly frequent cultural exchanges, some countries have started to incorporate elements from others in their ceremonies and parties, but this does not prevent the existence of some customs exclusive to each region – often little known by most people. we do MofWomantogether with the platform specialized in weddings i Marriedwe show you what they are and where some of them come from.

Congo:

They say that in the Congo region, on the African continent, grooms (men) cannot smile either during or after the wedding ceremony. The gesture, made as a sign of respect, serves to show all the guests, especially the couple’s families, how seriously the man intends to take this union.

Mexico:

Mexico, a country with a Catholic majority and known worldwide for its big parties and celebrations (such as the Day of the Dead, one of the most famous on a global scale), also has its particularities when it comes to marriage. There, the bride usually carries two bouquets when entering the church: one of them is the conventional one, her own. The second must be offered to Our Lady of Guadalupe, along with a prayer at the end of the ceremony. It is known that, also in Mexico, the groom must offer thirteen gold coins to the future wife, so that each one serves to represent fidelity, symbolizing the figure of Jesus and his twelve disciples.

France:

Ever heard of Croquembouche? Well, know that this is the name given to the traditional French “wedding cake”, which is not exactly a cake, but a tower strategically placed on the table of the bride and groom. The original recipe, created by chef Marie-Antoine Carême (known for being the founder of classic French cuisine), calls for a heap of profiteroles filled with pastry cream and topped with caramel – but today there are already versions made with macaroons, carolinas, and the most different toppings, such as chocolate and almonds.

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Colombia:

There are two main best-known traditions in Colombia. The first of them consists of attaching a coin to the hem of the bride’s dress, a gesture that serves to attract fortune to the couple. The second is a kind of ‘rule’ for weddings not to be broken: over there, brides should not wear pearl accessories on the day of the “I do”, since tradition states that the material brings tears and, consequently, sadness.

Germany:

German couples must break old porcelain pieces on their wedding day. According to tradition, the act serves to attract good vibes to the couple throughout their life together. Oh! It is also necessary that future grooms or brides, after breaking the objects, clean up all the mess together, as proof that, from now on, the “work” will always be done in pairs.

Having the couple cut a tree trunk in half, right after the wedding, is another custom found in ceremonies in the country. Once again, this goes to show the two’s ability to work together, always overcoming obstacles.

Italy:

Italian weddings are very similar to Brazilian ones – dresses tend to be white, brides tend to wear veils and carry classic bouquets. However, if in Brazilian lands people usually turn their noses up at a wedding in the rain, in Italy it is very welcome: it is seen as a sign, literally coming from heaven, that the couple will have good luck.

India:

You will hardly come across a bride dressed in white in India, as over there, the color is commonly used by women when they become widows. Therefore, if there is one thing that draws a lot of attention in Indian weddings, it is the amount of colors present in the ceremony: whether in the decoration, in the costumes of the guests and the bride and groom.

Another very common tradition not only in India, but also in other Asian countries, consists of “tattooing” the bride and other female relatives using the so-called “Mehandi” or “Mehndi”, which is nothing more than a kind of henna🇧🇷 The drawings, present mainly in the hands, symbolize spiritual awakening, joy, beauty and contribution.

China:

If in Brazil there are still few brides who dare to get married wearing strong colors, such as red, in China the color is usually included in weddings (not only in the dress, but also in the decor), and it has a whole special meaning. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes strength, good luck and, of course, love. Still in China, another very common habit is to present the bride and groom with generous amounts of money, instead of gifts.

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Japan:

Despite being increasingly westernized, Japanese wedding ceremonies also have their own particularities. Among them is the moment when the couple drinks three sips of sake, the country’s traditional alcoholic beverage, in three different-sized cups (small, medium and large). The ingestion of the drink made in this way serves to show how the life of the bride and groom tends to prosper after the wedding.

Puerto Rico:

A subtle detail usually draws attention at weddings in Puerto Rico, as, according to tradition, a doll dressed in the same clothes as the bride and similar in appearance to hers is installed at the main wedding table. In addition, the doll must be adorned with different amulets, which will be distributed to guests. In exchange, they must leave money near the toy, as a contribution to the couple.