Africa
A well-known custom in African weddings is “jumping the broom” which is symbolic of jumping from your single, carefree life into a life together with your spouse.
Have you heard the term “tie the knot”? This likely came from Africa, where couples are linked together symbolically by tying their wrists together with a ribbon during the ceremony.
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Argentina
The couple exchanges their wedding rings at the time of engagement, rather that doing so at the wedding.
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Armenia
The groom’s family visits the family of the bride-to-be at her home. The young woman stays in her room as the request takes place, and she cannot come out until her parents have accepted the proposal.
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Australia
A popular wedding gift in Australia is a bible, which is then passed down to future generations. Wedding ceremonies and receptions are similar to what is found in the United States, and are considered a celebration to be shared with family and friends.
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Austria
In the past, the groom sent his friends or family to offer a proposal of marriage to the family of the bride-to-be. If they encountered goats, pigeons, or wolves on the path to the house, they considered these signs that would bring good fortune to the marriage.
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Brazil
Think you have it tough coming up with a romantic place to propose? Brazilian folklore says that a man would have to prove himself a suitable husband by taming an unbridled donkey. They called this “bumba-meu-boi”.
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Chile
As they do in Argentina, a Chilean couple exchanges wedding rings when they become engaged, and wear them on their right hands until they exchange their marriage vows. After they say “hago” (“I do”), they then switch the bands to the left hand to tell the world they are husband and wife.
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China
In ancient times, a negotiator communicated between the parents of the bride and groom-to-be. The family of the groom gave the negotiator gifts and a proposal request to present to the prospective bride’s family. If the brides’ family accepted, they gave a document to the negotiator that contained the girl’s date and hour of birth. Next step was to put the document on an altar for three days. And then, if no harm came to either family, an astrologer looked at the birthdates of the bride and groom-to-be to determine that the marriage union would be successful. It was only after these steps were taken that the family would investigate each other’s backgrounds, position in the community, education and appearance. Then a decision would be made to proceed with the marriage.
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Czech Tradition
Tough for a bride in Czechloslovakia to not get the hint: the night before the wedding day, an infant is laid on the bed of the couple, representing hope that the couple will produce children.
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Egypt
Weddings are often times arranged in Egypt, and the groom’s family proposes to the bride-to-be. A wedding march, called a Zaffa, takes place before the wedding, and incorporates drums, horns, Egyptian music and belly dancers.
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England
Way back in the Middle Ages, the groom had to kidnap his bride in order to marry her. Because the bride was very valuable to her family (she helped take care of the farm and the household chores), the groom would often pay his debt by offering the family gold rings to pay for the hired help to replace their daughter.
If you plan to propose on one knee, you’ll be honoring a custom that is acceptable and considered the ultimate romantic gesture, even in the 21st century. Back in medieval times, the knight would bend his knee to show his respect for his master and mistress.
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Filipino Tradition
A woman who found a spear thrown at the front of her house was officially engaged. Traditions are still extremely important to the Filipinos, though there is no record that the groom-to-be still proposes in this manner.
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Finland
A proposal is considered a private affair. You won’t likely see proposals on the big board at a sports event.The couple may also present the future in-laws with small gifts to celebrate the engagement and future with the new side of the family.
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France
The “trousseau” or hope chest originated in France. A young woman would often start saving items for her honeymoon and future home long before she even started to date.
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Ireland
The Claddagh ring dates back to 1689. If you see a woman wearing this lovely ring, note these generally accepted “rules”:
- On the right hand, crown in heart out, the wearer is free as the birds in the sky. (translation: she’s available!)
- On the right hand, crown out heart in, the lass is spoken for (translation: she’s got a boyfriend or fiancé)
- On the left hand, place of choice, heart in crown out, she is happily married for evermore. (no translation needed here)
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Israel
"Be thou my wife according to the law of Moses and of Israel" is the marriage proposal. The ketubah, following in time as it does the betrothal and its oral proposal formula, "You are hereby betrothed unto me according to the law of Moses and Israel," is written by witnesses testifying that the groom in fact proposed to the bride. The formula has remained intact for some 2,000 years. The Talmud considered variants, but this language of proposal endured.
A traditional proposal from the past would be brought about by a third party, or a matchmaker. The rabbi, as a person enjoying special confidence, was also often employed as intermediary. Although the marriage preliminaries were the concern of the parents, their children were not forced into marriage over their objections.
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Italy
In the past, a matchmaker would contact the bride’s family regarding an intended suitor wanting her hand in marriage. The family would then convene and the father could either accept or reject the proposal. The father would be open to everyone’s viewpoints before making his final decision.
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Japan
Starting in the 15th century, Japanese marriages were arranged by a “go-between” called a Nakado. The Nakado arranged for the engagement and the rituals that
followed and acceptance. A betrothal period call “Yui-no” involves a gift exchange between the groom and bride-to-be. The bride-to-be is presented with a sash, or “Obi,” that represents virtue. Then, a skirt called “Hakama“, representing fidelity, is returned to the groom. In all, up to nine gifts are exchanged that represent fortune and happiness.
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Korean Tradition
In the past, when a man in Korea wanted to ask for his bride’s hand in marriage, he would ride a white pony to his future bride’s home where he would present her family with a pair of geese as his promise to be faithful for life.
Unlike Western engagements where the groom seeks approval from the bride’s parents before proposing, a Korean bride must first be introduced to the groom’s family before she is accepted as his bride-to-be. Instead of throwing rice at the happy couple outside the church, the groom’s father may throw red dates, symbolic of fertility, at his new daughter-in-law.
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Mexico
In Northern Mexico, tradition calls for a “commitment” ring about a year before the formal engagement ring is presented. The engaged couple may also have “wedding godparents” who help cover the cost of the wedding.
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Morocco
Henna is an important part of a Moroccan wedding. The bride receives a ritual henna painting on her hands and feet after her ceremonial purification bath, and then anoints the palm of her guest before the ceremony. The newlywed bride walks around the outside of her new home three times, before she is officially the “mistress” of her house.
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Native American Tradition
The groom and bride each wash their hands to cleanse themselves of past loves. The bride wears a dress that features traditional colors of white, blue, yellow and black, each pointing to one of the four corners of the earth. The black points north, yellow points west, blue points south, and white points east.
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Russia
Engagements are quite informal, except for the rich. A man will propose without giving an engagement ring, and the wedding will take place within three months. The government requires a one-month waiting period from the time the marriage license is requested until the wedding. The engagement is not discussed much except with immediate family, and the weddings are very informal compared with the United States.
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