Modern and Native American Marriage Customs
You must be aware that in modern American marriage customs men and women select their own marriage partners and arranged marriages are very rare. Courtship is more dating and marriage often follows a simple engagement with an exchange of rings. Court marriages are also very common. However, Native American marriage customs and traditions that have been handed down the generations are still very popular among the brides and grooms who chose to have a traditional marriage.
American Marriage Customs: The Wedding process
You will note that the American weddings are usually preceded by a bridal shower, where everyone gifts the bride what she requires to start her home. This may be held a few days before the marriage, but after the engagement is announced to friends and relatives and the date of the marriage is intimated. The marriages are held in the church and conducted by the priest. This is often followed by a party for all the marriage guests. All guests at the party are given marriage favours when they depart to remind them of the marriage they attended.
Native American Marriage Customs: Beliefs and traditions
Native American marriage customs are riddled with superstitious beliefs. These are adhered to by the brides and grooms for the sheer fun of it or traditionalism of it. You must also be familiar with the saying ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and silver sixpence inside your shoe’. Each part of the saying has significance on the marriage day. This is a native American marriage custom that enjoins that the bride and groom must invite their relatives and friends and they represent the “old”. The “New” is the new relationship that is being formed through marriage. The “borrowed” is an attire or accessory that is borrowed for the marriage day and must be returned to the owner. Brides always wear “something blue” for luck and it represents their virginity. This may be worn openly or tucked out of sight. Brides also ensure that they have sixpence tucked into their shoes. This is said to bring luck and prosperity to the union. The bridesmaids and the veil are also part of the native American marriage customs and traditions handed down the generations. They are not merely decorative, they are envisages as clones for the bride and the groom. While this custom allows friends and relatives to participate intimately in the function, they are said to confuse the evil spirits who lurk around the couple on this day. American Marriage are the statistically the highest in June. The belief is that a marriage on the full moon day in June ensures happiness and long lasting union. A marriage on a bright sunny day in June is also said to bring luck to the bride and the groom. Rice is thrown over the couple and all the guests on this day. You will notice that several countries of the world have this custom and in most cultures rice represents fertility, prosperity and long lasting happiness. American women also hold the belief that the bride should not make her own marriage dress if she wants to be happy. Catching the bride’s banquet when it is thrown outside the church door is considered a sign that you will be the next to be married. It is also believed that if she or he sleeps with the banquet under his pillow will dream of his or her future spouse that night. Among the strange American marriage customs and traditions that are still followed today is the belief that one needs to borrow the coffeepot for the first three months of marriage and then purchase one together for future use. A new broom and frying pan is also considered to be essential for happiness. The bride too must cook the first meal for the husband and her self and should not be eaten outside their home. The marriage dress should also never be sold. It should be preserved if the marriage must last a lifetime.
Colours and Days
Colours too have significance to the bride and groom. American marriage customs demand that the bride-to-be is dressed in white if she wants to do the right thing. In fact there is a jingle about the colours that the bride should wear on her marriage day: Marry in white, you will do all right Marry in blue, your man will be true Marry in brown, you will live in town Marry in green, you should be ashamed to be seen Marry in red, wish yourself dead Marry in black, better turn back Marry in yellow, not marrying the right fellow Marry in gray, sadness will come your way There is also a strong belief that marriages on specific days of the week also have a bearing on the kind of life the couple will lead in the future. Marry on Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the very best day of all, Thursday you will soon be counting your losses, Friday your crosses, and if married on Saturday, you will have no luck at all!
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