You are on page 1of 3

African Wedding Traditions

Africa is a large and varied continent containing some oI the oldest civilizations on earth. It is
home to a wide diversity oI religions and cultures, and this colorIul diversity is reIlected in its
diverse and colorIul weddings traditions.
II any one wedding tradition might be said to be indicative oI the AIrican continent it would be
the importance oI 1,2. An AIrican wedding is, more than anything, the bringing together oI
two people as a single Iamily, or the combining oI two Iamilies or even the mixture oI two tribes
into one Iamily unit. The concept oI 1,2 is one oI the uniIying ideas oI the AIrican continent.
There are more than 1,000 cultural units in Africa and each culture, each tribe has its own
wedding and marriage traditions, many oI which can trace their origins back hundreds or even
thousands oI years.
There are also many diIIerent religions represented in Africa. Many northern AIricans,
especially, have been inIluenced by Muslim traditions, while Iurther south there are more
Christian, Hindu, and even Jewish traditions interspersed with more ancient traditions.
In many places in Africa young girls are trained to be good wives Irom an early age. They may
even learn secret codes and secret languages that allow them to talk with other married women
without their husbands understanding what is being said.
Depending on which part oI Africa you are in, wedding ceremonies can be extremely elaborate,
some lasting many days. OIten huge ceremonies are held during which many couples are united
at the same time.
In Sudan and in other areas along the Nile a man must pay his wiIe`s Iamily in sheep or cattle Ior
the loss oI their daughter`s labor in support oI the Iamily. A wiIe may cost a man as many as 30
to 40 head oI cattle. OIten it is diIIicult to pay the Iamily yet still have enough cattle leIt to
support his new wiIe.
In Somalia a man is allowed to have as many as Iour wives iI he can support them all, and it is
not uncommon Ior a girl to be engaged beIore she is even born.
Bright Iestive colors, song, dance, and music are vital elements oI many AIrican wedding
ceremonies. Common to all wedding ceremonies is the concept oI transitioning between
childhood and adulthood. In many AIrican cultures children are encouraged to marry as young as
13 to 15 years oI age, as soon as they have reached physical adulthood.
Divorce is rare in AIrican marriages. Problems in a marriage are oIten discussed with both
Iamilies and solutions Iound. OIten entire villages join in to help a couple Iind solutions to their
problems and keep a marriage Irom Iailing.
Marriage is sacred the world over, and that is deIinitely true in Africa, no matter which region or
which culture you come Irom, and no matter what your religious belieIs. In Iact, many cultures
have a special totem that is designed to remind a couple that cultural and tribal diIIerences must
be allowed Ior in order to make a marriage succeed.

Wedding Traditions in Asia


There is something inherently mysterious and romantic about Asia.the mysterious Far East. And
when it comes to weddings, the rich diversity oI Asian cultures, traditions and religions makes Ior a
wide variety oI colorIul and Iascinating wedding customs.
In tbe land of tbe rising sun
In Japan, Ior instance, purple is the color oI love and a young bride may choose to wear an
elaborately-embroidered silk kimono covered in purple iris-Ilowers. Weddings are traditionally
either Shinto, during which the natural spirits, the kami, are called upon to bless the couple, or it
might be a Buddhist ceremony during which two strings oI beads are interwoven, symbolizing the
joining oI two Iamilies into one.
Tbe dragon and tbe pboenix
Chinese traditions held that the giIt oI a whole roast pig given by the groom`s Iamily to the bride`s
Iamily was an appropriate engagement giIt. The traditional wedding gown in China is bright red,
symbolizing luck Ior the new couple. Chinese bridal gowns are traditionally adorned with elaborate
golden phoenixes, chrysanthemums and peonies, symbols oI wealth and good Iortune. The groom
traditionally wears a black silk coat over a robe embroidered with a dragon, and you can expect
loud Iirecrackers at a Chinese wedding to scare oII evil spirits.
Tbe reception tbat goes on and on...
In Indonesia it is not uncommon Ior more than 1,000 guests to be invited to the wedding reception
and it is customary Ior the bride and the groom to greet each guest in a long receiving line beIore
the reception Iestivities can begin.
ay good fortune always be yours.
In Korea it is traditional Ior a Iortune-teller, known as a kung-hap, to look into the couple`s Iuture
beIore they are married in order to see iI they will live harmoniously together. A harmonious union
is very important since the engagement giIts alone Ior a traditional Korean wedding can cost
upwards oI $40,000.
tbree-day wedding ceremony.
An early Filipino custom required the groom to throw a spear into the Iront steps oI his intended-
bride`s home. This was a dramatic symbol to everyone that she had been spoken Ior. Today this
tradition has been replaced with a gold engagement ring. Today the majority oI Filipino weddings
are Catholic, but in days gone by a Filipino wedding lasted three days, with ceremonies perIormed
each day until the third day when the couple joined hands and declared their love Ior each other
three times and their hands were bound together with a chord and the priest declared them married.
Tbe |ourney of a lifetime begins witb milk and water.
In India and other countries with a Hindu culture it is considered bad luck Ior the bride and groom
to see each other Ior several days beIore the wedding. As part oI the marriage ceremony the bride`s
parents wash the couple`s Ieet with milk and water as a symbol oI puriIying them Ior the journey oI
their new liIe together. As part oI the ceremony the couple holds in their hands grains oI rice and
oats and green leaves, signiIying wealth, good health and happiness.
any cultures, many traditions witb but a single goal: to unite two bearts into one.
Many Asian cultures, many traditions, but all are centered around the basic concept oI a new
beginning, a new journey down the path oI liIe together, hand in hand, Iilled with love and a new
commitment oI two hearts joined Iorever as one.

You might also like