Wedding traditions from other countries
BY RONDA ADDY

Every civilization past and present has had traditions that are uniquely their own. This is particularly true when it comes to weddings. Regardless whether the traditions are practiced today, they are part of a country's unique heritage. Let's take a look at some wedding traditions from other countries.

In Africa, there are over 1,000 different tribes, some of whose traditions date back thousands of years. Some tribal wedding traditions incorporate Christian and Islamic influences, resulting in large weddings that can last for days. Despite all the diversity in tribes, there are some customs that are common throughout Africa. Among one of the most common is jumping the broom, which originated during the Civil War in the Deep South when slaves weren't allowed to get married and another ceremony had to be invented. In this tradition, a broom is put on the floor and the couple jumps over it, symbolizing the sweeping away of the old and starting new. It is not uncommon in African communities for the bride to receive training in how to be a good wife. As part of that training, the bride learns secret codes so she can talk freely with other married women without her husband understanding what she is saying.

In Bermuda, cakes are topped with a tiny sapling. Newlyweds plant the sapling in their garden so they can watch it grow throughout their marriage.

In Fiji, the groom presents the bride's father with a whale's tooth or tabua. This symbolizes wealth and status.

In Finland, the bride and a married man holding an umbrella to symbolize shelter and protection go from house to house with a pillowcase collecting wedding presents. At the reception, unmarried women spin around the blindfolded bride who is wearing a crown. The bride places the crown on the head of the next person to get married.

In Germany, the couple kneels during the ceremony. The bride steps on the groom's foot when she rises as a sign that she is asserting herself, while the groom puts his knee on the hem of her gown to show he plans on keeping her in line.

In Korea, ducks are part of the wedding procession because they mate for life. In the past, the groom would ride to the bride's home on a white pony carrying a gray goose and gander, which also mate for life, as a symbol of his fidelity.

In Malaysia, costumed children deliver the groom's gifts to the bride. They carry trays of food and money folded into flower or animal shapes. Each wedding guest is given a decorated hard-boiled egg as a symbol of fertility.

In Mexico, the groom gives the bride 13 gold coins that are blessed by the priest during the ceremony as a sign of his unconditional commitment to support his wife and his confidence and trust. When the bride accepts the coins, she unconditionally accepts the groom's confidence and trust. During the exchange of vows, a white ribbon or rosary is wrapped around the couple's necks as a symbol of their joining.

In the Philippines, someone in the bridal party carries coins. After the rings have been exchanged, the coins are given to the groom, who then gives them to the bride, who then gives them to her maid of honor. By accepting the coins, the groom accepts his responsibility to support his wife. The couple is lassoed while they are kneeling for the wedding prayer and a white satin circle cord is draped around their heads and shoulders. A veil is then placed over their shoulders showing they are united as a couple. After the prayer is finished, the lasso and the veil are removed.

In Wales, instead of an engagement ring, the man would carve a spoon from a piece of wood and the woman would wear it around her neck as a sign of their engagement. This is how the term "spooning" came to be associated with going steady or courting.

This is just a small portion of the wedding traditions around the world. Hopefully, there are people out there willing to keep the traditions alive.