Worlds apart

If you have and, like me, have loitered around the church gates to curiously watch what is happening, you'll have probably noticed a number of subtle (or in some cases, not so subtle) differences between the wedding you are witnessing and ones you have attended in Britain.

You may have seen a couple sawing a log in half in Italy or friends banging pots and pans outside the window of a newly-married couple's bedroom in France. You may even have had the chance to visit a couple in their bed chamber in China!

Each culture has its own traditions and superstitions interwoven with the ceremony which binds a man and woman together. Here are just a selection of some of them:

Chinese

Invitations sent to the guests are wrapped in red gift-wrap as the traditional colours of happiness and wealth are red and gold. After the ceremony, firecrackers are lit to chase evil spirits and demons away from the couple.

In contrast to elaborate preparations, the wedding ceremony itself is quite simple. The bride and groom are taken to the family altar where they pay homage to Heaven and Earth, the family ancestors and the Kitchen God, Tsao-Chun.

Tea, generally with two lotus seeds or red dates in the cup, is offered to the groom's parents. Then the bride and groom bow to each other and this completes the marriage ceremony. However, in some regions, they also drink wine from the same goblet, eat sugar moulded in the form of a rooster and have a wedding dinner together.

Immediately after the ceremony, the couple are led to the bridal chamber, where both sit on the bed. In some areas, honey and wine are poured into two goblets linked by a red thread. The bride and groom take a few sips and then exchange cups and drink it down. On the day of the wedding (and sometimes for the next three days), the bed chamber is open to visitors who tease the young couple!

Generally, separate wedding feasts are given by the parents of the bride and groom for their respective family and friends.

Cuban

All the men who dance with the bride have to pin money to her dress.

Czech

Before the ceremony, the couple's wedding bed is 'blessed' by laying a child on it to enhance their fertility. The bridesmaids' duties include pinning pieces of rosemary on each guest as a symbol of fertility.

Dutch

After the wedding, the couple plant lily-of-the-valley in their garden so that they can renew their love for one another every year when the plant blooms.

French

After the wedding reception, friends of the couple will 'interrupt' their wedding night by banging pots and pans and singing loudly outside their bedroom window. The groom is then supposed to invite them in for refreshments.

Italian

In some of the smaller villages of Italy, after the wedding mass, the newly married couple will saw a log in half with a double handled rip-saw to symbolise that a man and woman must work together in all of life's tasks.

Jewish

Traditionally the Jewish wedding begins with the signing of the marriage contract or ketubbah which describes the rights and obligations of the bride and groom. This is often framed and displayed in their home. After signing the contract, the groom will gaze in the face of the bride to check she is the woman he has chosen to marry. This is a symbolic representation of the story of Jacob who was tricked into marrying Leah instead of Rachel.

The wedding ceremony takes place under the huppah (wedding canopy). The huppah is supported by four poles or by friends or relatives.

After the introduction by the rabbi, the groom recites his wedding vow and gives the ring to the bride. Traditionally the ring is a plain gold band because it shows the true value and purity of the ring. Next the ketubbah is read aloud. This is followed by a reading of the seven wedding blessings by various guests. During this reading the bride and groom sip wine. When it has finished the groom breaks a glass with his foot. This represents various things, one of which is the destruction of the Temple. The shattered glass also reminds us of how fragile is life.

The wedding party then proceeds down the aisle, led by the bride and groom. A typical celebration includes circle dancing where the bride and groom may be lifted above the circle. In Orthodox communities, where dancing with the opposite sex is forbidden, a special dance may be done where the dance partners will hold opposite ends of a scarf.

Korean

A Korean bride is welcomed into the groom's family by participating in the P'yeback, or Introduction ceremony. The bride's makeup includes a large red dot on each cheek to ward off evil spirits or demons and her silk gown is colourful, except for the sleeves, which are all white. The groom's parents are introduced to the bride by the groom and his father collects a handful of ju jibes, or red dates that he tosses towards the bride, to show his hopes for many grandchildren.

Latin America

The Flowergirl and Ringbearer are dressed as miniature versions of the bride and groom.

Moravian

During the ceremony the couple light a candle. They then pass the flame along to each guest who has been given a hand-made beeswax candle. Gradually, the church becomes full of candle flames which represent the warmth of family and friends' love.

Russian

At the reception, after the couple is toasted, champagne glasses are thrown to the floor. If they break, it is said they will have a happy marriage.