Wedding traditions around the world
BY TRESA ERICKSON

Tossing the bouquet. Wearing something old, new, borrowed and blue. Throwing birdseed or confetti. These are just some of the traditions of a typical wedding in the United States. But what about the rest of the world? What kind of wedding traditions do other cultures practice? Here is just a sampling.

• In Chile, the couple exchange rings when they announce their engagement. They wear their rings on their left hands until they are married, and then switch them to their right hands.

• In Egypt, the groom's family proposes to the bride.

• In Morocco, the bride becomes mistress of her new home by walking around the outside of it three times.

• In India, the bride must enter her in-laws' home for the first time on her right foot and knock down a container of uncooked rice to bring good luck to the house.

• In Pakistan, the bride wears red, which symbolizes happiness.

• In China, a hair stylist arrives at the homes of both the bride and the groom the night before their wedding to comb their hair for good luck and prosperity.

• In Taiwan, the couple exchange rings at the engagement party.

• In the Ukraine, the couple share wedding bread with motifs symbolizing eternity and the unity of their families.

• In Poland, the bride's mother gives the bride and groom each a shot glass. One is filled with colorless vodka and the other with water. Whoever receives the vodka is predicted to be the breadwinner.

• In Sweden, women wear three wedding rings, one for engagement, one for marriage and one for motherhood.

• In Finland, all of the single women gather around the bride. The maid of honor then places a crown upon the bride's head, blindfolds her and spins her around. Whoever is in front of the bride when she stops receives the crown and is the next to marry.