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What’s up with Tying Tin Cans to your car at your wedding? Tying tin cans to the back of the newlywed’s car is good luck because the noise will frighten away evil spirits

Wedding Traditions of Western Europe’s Upper Northwest Region

Wedding traditions within the Western European countries of England, Iceland, Ireland and Scotland are just as steeped in tradition and pageantry as anywhere else on Earth. However, like everything else, some traditions may alter in time and become a more modern celebration.

England

In England, on the day of the wedding, it is customary for young girls to scatter flowers in front of the bride and her party as they walk together towards the chapel. Other wedding traditions in an English wedding may also include:

-          It is considered good luck for the bride if she sews to the hem of her dress a good luck charm. A traditional charm would be the silver horseshoe of royal British brides.

-          Wedding vows may be done at the doorway of the church so that all on lookers can watch the nuptials take place.

-          The reception cake includes the fruitcake. At the top of the cake is a layer known as the “christening cake” which is saved and served at their first child’s baptism. Along with the fruitcake, the groom’s cake is also served.

Iceland

Although Iceland weddings have taken on more of a western culture, it still is steep in tradition, such as:

-          It is not unusual for a long engagement in Iceland to take place, as many engagements can last as long as three years or longer.

-          Weddings are generally done in one day, but there was a time where the wedding was a week long process. It would start the day before the church ceremony with many speeches, songs and drinking.

-          The groom’s arrival includes him being surrounded by local nobles, relatives and his best man, as church bells would then be rung announcing the groom’s arrival.

-          At the reception, the head table is propped much higher than the rest of the tables in a royalesque manner, as they look down at the rows of guests. The table generally includes the new couple, along with the priest, fathers of the married couple, best man and any toastmasters that will be toasting the new couple.

-          The type and size of the feast will depend on the wealth of the bride and groom. The more they have, the bigger the feast will be.

-          Traditionally, prior to the conclusion of the reception, the bride would be taken to her bridal bed, where the bridesmaids would then undress her completely, leaving only her headdress. The groom would then bring her a present. Today it is often that both would exchange a gift. After the groom removes her headdress, he would then lie with her in the bed and the priest would perform one final prayer, and to seal their marriage they would drink out of the bridal cups.

Ireland

In Ireland, it is customary for the bride to wear a Claddagh ring, which has the motto of “Let love and friendship reign.” Worn on the left hand, symbolizes the woman is married. However, worn on the right hand, you would have to see which direction the heart is facing. If it’s facing toward her, then she is engaged, but if it is facing away from her, she is available and looking.

Other Irish wedding and reception traditions include:

-          An old wedding day tradition would be for the couple to walk together to the church while on lookers, not only threw rice at them for blessings, but also such items as brushes, pans and pots.

-          The white wedding dress was introduced in 1499, where prior to that, the bride’s dress was blue.

-          Having the bride wear her hair in a braid on her wedding day symbolizes feminine luck and power.

-          The reception may include such things as the “Jaunting Chair” in which the groom is hoisted into the air showing he is now married.

Scotland

In Scotland, many of the past traditions have been altered, but often can be mixed into modern day weddings. Some Scottish traditions include:

-          The groom and his party wear the Scottish kilt, sans the undergarments

-          Today’s engaged couple still make formal announcements of their intent to marry, which is their way of honoring the past where the tradition of “banns” was more formal and prolonged.

-          Often prior to the day of the wedding, the groom’s friends go out drinking until the groom is so drunk that his friends may leave him in front of his house naked and sometimes tied-up.

-          On the             wedding day, the town may form a path for the couple to walk thru leading them to the church behind bagpipers.

Wedding Traditions of Western Europe’s North-Central Region

Wedding traditions in Western Europe are steeped in tradition, with many going back several centuries. However, like much of the world, these traditions have also taken on modern roles and found a way to combine the new with the old.

As you will see, some of these wedding traditions can be very meaningful, glamorous and take on religious overtones. At the same time some of these can also be silly, odd and all out bizarre.

Austria

Many of Austria’s traditions all stem from what is considered to bring good luck and thwart off bad luck, such as:

- Wind and cloudy skies is meant the marriage will be stormy.

- Although it is good luck for the bride to look into the mirror before leaving for her wedding, it is bad luck if she looks at it a second time.

- Red and white flowers symbolizes blood and bandages. Therefore, this floral arraignment is avoided.

- The bride is not to make her own wedding dress.

- The bride is not to wear the entire wedding dress ensemble prior to her actual wedding.

- It considered tempting fate if the bride-to-be practices writing her new name before her wedding day.

- It is unlucky to marry a man with the same first letter of the surname.

- For some good luck, seeing a chimney sweep on the way to the church.

- In addition, seeing rainbows, black cats and spiders on the way to the church is also a good omen.

- Although ugly skies are of concern, rain itself is considered good luck and snow means wealth and fertility.

One other note about an Austrian wedding, an old tradition is whichever partner buys the other a new gift first is considered the dominant person in the relationship. Brides are usually the wiser and often plan ahead as they buy a small item from a bridesmaid directly after the wedding ceremony.

Belgium

Like many of the European countries, Belgium is no different. A Belgium wedding can be done either as a religious ceremony or it can be done in a civil ceremony fashion.

Many of the Belgium’s new and old traditions include:

- Wedding invitations being printed on two pieces of paper. One sheet is from the bride’s family, while the other is from the groom’s. These sheets represent the bringing together of the two families.

- During the ceremony, the bride will stop during her walk up the aisle and hand her mother a single flower and embrace. The same will be done during the recessional, with both the bride and groom to the groom’s mother, as symbolizes the new bride accepting her new mother.

- During the ceremony, the bride and groom are considered the King and Queen for the day. Therefore they will sit in two large chairs that is located near the front alter.

- The kiss that takes place at the end of the ceremony is a sign of breathing a portion of themselves into their new partner’s soul.

- For the ceremony, the bride will carry with her an embroidered handkerchief. The bride’s name is embroidered on it and after the ceremony it is hung on their wall in a frame. Later, it will be handed down to another bride and the tradition will continue.

- At the ceremony, the bridesmaids will go and collect coins from the guests and as the new couple exit from the church, the coins are then tossed to the poor waiting outside the church. Giving money as gifts symbolizes prosperity for the new couple.

Germany

With its rich traditions, Germany is no different than any other Western European country filled old and modern traditions, such as:

- After the wedding date is announced, trees that were planted the day the bride was born, are sold off to help pay for the dowry.

- It is also customary for a wedding newspaper to be created by family and friends that contains stories and photos of the newly engaged couple.

- A German wedding can last up to three days. Day one is a civil ceremony for family and close friends. Day two is the big ceremony for all to attend. Day three is a religious ceremony.

- Wedding guests bring, and then break, dishes thus leaving them to be swept up by the new couple. Sweeping up the mess as a couple means nothing will be broken in their new house.

- While leaving the church from the ceremony, coins are tossed to watching children.

- After the third ceremony, the best man will take the bride from the reception to a local pub. While there, they will drink champagne together until they are found by the groom. Once the groom finds them, he is to pay the bar bill.