Wedding traditons around the world
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 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.

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.