What Are Rituals?
Some 70,000 years ago the Sans people of Botswana are thought to have carried out rituals high above the plains in a little cave which was only found in the 1990s. Pictures in the cave python, giraffe, elephant – burning of spear heads indicates cognitive thought representing ritual. Today we have many types of rituals for many types of events. When we look at rituals mainly associated with marriage there are too many to list.
Wedding rituals are common around the world and range from quite simple where only the marrying couple are involved to rituals which involve many, many people. The one common factor for all rituals be it wedding or funeral however is – love!
Love is the one factor that is always present whenever a ritual is being performed. We may not understand some rituals, such as in the Congo a marrying couple are forbidden to smile on their wedding day because, marriage is a serious affair. Grooms in South Korea endure their feet being whipped by friends and family but when love, and happily ever after, are the expected outcome the groom will usually comply.
Germany: After getting married, couples in Germany are presented with a large log and a saw. By sawing the log in half as a team, it is believed they are proving their ability to work together in overcoming tough obstacles.
Peru: In Peruvian weddings, the cake is typically assembled with ribbons attached to charms, one of which is a fake wedding ring. During the reception, all the single women in attendance participate in the “cake pull.” Each participant grabs a ribbon, and the single lady who pulls out the fake wedding ring, per tradition, will be the next to get married.
Notice anything similar here with brides throwing their bouquet?
Israeli weddings often incorporate the traditions of other countries, like throwing sacks full of rose petals at the brides (a Persian custom); an Indian or Moroccan henna ceremony days before the wedding; or even the Georgian custom of opening the gifts and reciting the value out loud.
One of the most popular rituals is that of Hand Fasting. It is thought to originate from a custom dating back to ancient Celts. It can be carried out during any part of the ceremony and is a perfect way to include other members of your family in your ceremony. Ribbons of different colours, all with different symbolic meanings, are draped over the couples arms and then are drawn together in a knot at the end of the ritual. It is thought this is where the saying ‘tying the knot’ is derived.
Any of the above rituals, and hundreds more, can be incorporated into a ceremony officiated by HMD Celebrants.
Each religion and faith have their own rituals and it may even be that you would like to create your own family tradition. In my family we have the hymn When A Knight Won His Spurs by Jan Struther. It is sung at every event.
Your Story . Our Words
