Breaking dishes at the hen party

The word "Polterabend" is probably derived from the word "Poltergeisterabend". This evening is all about chasing away evil spirits - with as much noise as possible. It is not known exactly why crockery is smashed on stag night, but it is assumed that over time the custom of making a racket has merged with the general wisdom that "broken glass brings good luck". However, if you really want to be lucky, you should never break mirrors or glass, as superstition says this brings bad luck. Instead, use porcelain, earthenware or ceramics.

Veil and wedding dress

The white of the wedding dress stands for purity, light and innocence. In the past, the white dress symbolized the bride's virginity. The tradition that the groom must not see the dress before the wedding under any circumstances is still very much alive today. In the past, however, it was believed that the man's gaze on the dress would attract demons.

The veil also used to stand for innocence and virginity. It was also intended to protect the bride's face from evil or prying eyes.

Throwing rice after the wedding ceremony

The wedding ceremony is over, the bride and groom come out of the church and friends and relatives throw rice at them. According to an old Asian tradition, throwing rice is supposed to ensure a fruitful marriage with many children. Rice was already an important staple food in the Middle Ages and was therefore associated with fertility. Nowadays, throwing rice is no longer welcomed in many places or is even forbidden, as it is a waste of food, there is always the risk of someone slipping on the grains and it can also attract rats or pigeons.

Wedding custom tree trunk sawing

When sawing up the tree trunk, it is important that the bride and groom work together as equals, as they have to alternate between sawing and loosening. This is not so easy. This popular tradition can therefore be seen as the first joint test for the newly married couple.

Carrying over the threshold

This tradition is hundreds of years old. Carrying over the threshold was supposed to prevent bad luck. According to ancient superstition, the doorstep was considered a place of evil spirits. The groom protected the bride from demons by carrying her over the threshold. The threshold also symbolizes the transition from an old phase of life to a new one.

Flower children

Flower children are present at almost every wedding, running in front of the bride and groom and scattering beautiful blossoms and flowers from small baskets. The custom has its origins in Germanic paganism. The scent of the flowers was supposed to attract the goddesses of fertility, who were supposed to bestow a rich blessing of children on the newlyweds.

Something different: the sand ceremony

This beautiful custom from the USA can be incorporated into a free wedding ceremony or a wedding on the beach after the exchange of rings, for example, to give your wedding an individual touch. For the sand ceremony, the groom and bride take turns pouring different colored sand into a container that is empty at the beginning - until it is filled with the colored sand at the end. The deep connection between the couple is emphasized by the sand flowing together. Family members or friends can also be included. However, the end of the ceremony should be reserved for the bride and groom. After the wedding, the couple takes the jar home with them and has a wonderful memento of their wedding day.

Author: Ilka-Marie Hagenbücher

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