Wedding Day Traditions in Italy

NicoleMaui Photography

Wedding Day Traditions

 

In various parts of Italy, wedding day traditions often included:

-The bride and groom walking together as a couple to the wedding chapel.

– During their walk, the town’s people would attempt to block the bride’s path with obstacles to get a sense how she reacts to certain situations. For example, a child would be put in her path and if she stops to tend to the child then she would be a good mom. In the event she picks up a broom along her walk, then she will have a clean house.

– Certain regions of Italy would have the soon-to-be couple cut a log together, with a double-handled saw, in half to show they are in partnership in their marriage.

– In the front area of the wedding chapel, you will find a ribbon being tied, which represents the couple’s bond with one another.

– Getting married during Advent or Lent was frowned upon and/or banned. Having ceremonies in May (veneration of the Virgin Mary) or August (considered bad luck) was also frowned upon for religious purposes.

– The sposalizio, which is the wedding ceremony, is usually done by either a civil authority or a priest.

– Many celebrations were lengthy as they started with a morning mass, followed by eating, drinking and dancing until the very early hours of the morning.

– At the ceremony, certain foods were also symbolic for good luck and fertility. For example, there would be Wandas, a bow tie that was made with fried dough, twisted and topped with powdered sugar. They would also toss mesh bags at the couple filled with almonds that were candy covered.

Did You Know….

– That diamond rings have been the engagement ring of choice for Italian brides dating as far back as the 1400’s? Going back to Italy in the medieval times, it was common for grooms to pay with precious stones to buy their brides. The diamond became popular because Italians believed that flames of love were used to create diamonds.

– In Italian folklore, a groom might carry around in his pocket a piece of iron to fight off evil spirits. At the same time, brides wore veils to keep their faces hidden so that they weren’t seen by jealous spirits.

– The tearing of the veil was thought to bring good luck to the bride and her new groom.

– Until the wedding rings have been exchanged, it is thought that the bride should not wear gold on her wedding day as it was considered bad luck.

– In various Italian regions, at the end of their wedding day, it was customary for the bride and groom to shatter a glass, or perhaps a vase, into pieces. The number of broken pieces it had meant the number of years of a happy marriage they would have.

– The luckiest day of the week to be married on is Sundays.

 

Wedding Photo taken by: Maui Wedding Photographer- Nicole Sanchez

Wedding rings, photo