Quirky Wedding Traditions From Around The World
Celebrant: one who celebrates and/or helps others to celebrate, particularly marriages.
But how do people around the world celebrate their weddings? Let’s explore a few wedding traditions and rituals from around the world.
I’M BLUE DABA DEE DABA DI
England (and many Western countries)
The original rhyme went, “Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe.”
The “old” is meant to represent the bride’s ties to her history and family. The “new” represents a new chapter in her life. “Borrowed” is meant to be an item from a friend or family member who is happily married and is able to transfer some of those vibes across. “Blue” is the colour of love, purity, faithfulness, and modesty. The sixpence in the shoe is to represent wealth, or at least the hope for prosperity in the marriage. Some wedding supply shops will carry sixpences. I assume any denomination would work though. Or an open cheque.
A CLOSE SHAVE
Greece
On the wedding day the groom’s best man (koumparos,) takes a razor to the face of his mate and gives him a nice, close shave. Wait a minute, “grooms” man. A ha!
TOILET SOUP
France
In some French weddings, guests will gather leftover food and drink, mix it in a toilet bowl (new and unused I assume,) and serve the newlyweds the lovely mix. How romantic!
UPCROWN GIRL
Norway
One of the traditions from one of the “happiest places on the planet” ensures that the bride wears an ornamented silver and gold crown which has charms hanging all around it. The sounds the charms make as the bride moves is believed to chase off nasty spirits.
LASSO OR NEVER
Mexico
To symbolise eternal union a popular wedding ritual in Mexico among Catholics in particular, is to place ell azo (wedding lasso,) in a figure 8 around the marrying couple. El lazo is a often a string of flowers and rosary beads. Couples will wear the lasso until the priest removes it at the end of mass.
SPIT TO BE PAIRED
Kenya (Massai)
What’s a little saliva between family? In this ritual the father of the bride will spit on his daughter’s head and breasts. This is meant to show that he is willing to step back and not be so invested that he will ruin his girl’s day.
SNEAKY PASH
Sweden
During the wedding reception, whenever the bride isn’t around, other ladies are allowed to sneak a kiss from the groom. When the groom isn’t in the room dudes can do the same.
BEAT THE FEET
South Korea
It’s called Falaka and here’s what you do. If you’re a wedding guest, you grab a cane or a dried fish, and while somebody holds down the groom, you beat his feet. It’s not done with any viciousness and the groom as well as everyone around has a good laugh.
BACK IN BLACKENING
Scotland
1 day before the wedding, the bride and groom are taken by family and friends and then completely covered in stuff like curdled milk, flour, rotten eggs, and molasses and then made to walk around town. It has a pretty “rockstar” name: The Blackening! It’s meant to ward off evil spirits. I think I’d prefer the charming Norwegian crowns.
If you’re someone that can talk to a crowd, gets a kick out of romance, and can see yourself helping couples to celebrate their special day, talk to us now about becoming a Registered Marriage Celebrant.
- Email and Phone Tutor supportGot a question? Great! We have an excellent team of supportive trainers and assessors who are available to answer questions via email or by phone.
- Premium Online resourcesStudents get 12 months of access to RTA’s user-friendly online learning resources - written and designed by experienced Marriage celebrants. Rose Training uses an award-winning online learning platform that maintains all of your learning materials and assessments in one place.
- Interactive Learning PlatformAt Rose Training we pride ourselves on providing the best resources available, which results in excellent student experiences. We use an Australian designed online learning platform to provide a rapid response to questions and quick turn-around of assessments.
- Fast Assessment MarkingRose training is an industry leader with more new graduates going on to become licensed Marriage celebrants than any other training provider in the last 5 years. We’ve learned that keeping students motivated and moving forward is all about keeping their momentum up. Fast assessment turnaround helps students to know they are on track and moving towards their goals.
- You have 12 months to complete your course from your enrolment dateContact us for information
- Email and Phone Tutor supportGot a question? Great! We have an excellent team of supportive trainers and assessors who are available to answer questions via email or by phone.
- Premium Learning resourcesStudents get 12 months of access to RTA’s user-friendly online learning resources - written and designed by experienced Marriage celebrants. Rose Training uses an award-winning online learning platform that maintains all of your learning materials and assessments in one place.
- Interactive Learning PlatformAt Rose Training we pride ourselves on providing the best resources available, which results in excellent student experiences. We use an Australian designed online learning platform to provide a rapid response to questions and quick turn-around of assessments.
- Fast Assessment MarkingRose training is an industry leader with more new graduates going on to become licensed Marriage celebrants than any other training provider in the last 5 years. We’ve learned that keeping students motivated and moving forward is all about keeping their momentum up. Fast assessment turnaround helps students to know they are on track and moving towards their goals.
- Face to Face Zoom ClassroomZoom Classrooms provide the best experience next to being physically present. Zoom’s video and audio functions are excellent - enabling students to interact with their experienced Marriage celebrant trainer and fellow students. Learning in a Zoom classroom provides the convenience of being present in a learning environment without leaving your home. Students have the benefit of progressing in a group and building relationships with fellow students.
- Marriage Celebrant TrainersAll of our trainers are experienced Marriage celebrants with years of experience and many wedding ceremonies to their names. On your course they will share their knowledge and experience with you. Oh, and they are excellent trainers too. We frequently get 4 and 5-star feedback from our students who praise their trainers for helping them through their studies and inspiring them to become the celebrant they desire to be.
- Course recording availableare you a student who likes to review the lesson a few times? Students get access to a recording of each course.
- You have 12 months to complete your course from your first day of workshopContact us for information
- Email and Phone Tutor supportGot a question? Great! We have an excellent team of supportive trainers and assessors who are available to answer questions via email or by phone.
- Premium Learning resourcesStudents get 12 months of access to RTA’s user-friendly online learning resources - written and designed by experienced Marriage celebrants. Rose Training uses an award-winning online learning platform that maintains all of your learning materials and assessments in one place.
- Interactive Learning PlatformAt Rose Training we pride ourselves on providing the best resources available, which results in excellent student experiences. We use an Australian designed online learning platform to provide a rapid response to questions and quick turn-around of assessments.
- Fast Assessment MarkingRose training is an industry leader with more new graduates going on to become licensed Marriage celebrants than any other training provider in the last 5 years. We’ve learned that keeping students motivated and moving forward is all about keeping their momentum up. Fast assessment turnaround helps students to know they are on track and moving towards their goals.
- Face to Face Zoom ClassroomZoom Classrooms provide the best experience next to being physically present. Zoom’s video and audio functions are excellent - enabling students to interact with their experienced Marriage celebrant trainer and fellow students. Learning in a Zoom classroom provides the convenience of being present in a learning environment without leaving your home. Students have the benefit of progressing in a group and building relationships with fellow students.
- Marriage Celebrant TrainersAll of our trainers are experienced Marriage celebrants with years of experience and many wedding ceremonies to their names. On your course they will share their knowledge and experience with you. Oh, and they are excellent trainers too. We frequently get 4 and 5-star feedback from our students who praise their trainers for helping them through their studies and inspiring them to become the celebrant they desire to be.
- Course recording availableare you a student who likes to review the lesson a few times? Students get access to a recording of each course.
- Business start-up training PackAs a celebrant, you will be creating a service-based business. There are a number of things you must do to legally operate your business and be successful. The Business Startup Pack is essential information for starting any business in Australia and details what you must do to start your business.
- Facebook Live Weddings Pack
Facebook Live is the most immediate and convenient way to include family and friends in the unmissable events of our lives.
- The do's and don'ts of amazing online wedding ceremonies.
- How to avoid "nostrils and navel" gazing.
- A list of things that must be done before you click GO LIVE NOW.
- What to say to include your remote audience, making them feel included in the proceedings.
- Scripted opening introductions that bring professionalism to your ceremony.
- Involving the witnesses.
- Scripted "outro" to conclude the ceremony so the audience doesn't feel cut-off.
- What hardware to use and where to get it.
- Simple tips on lighting, framing, and sound quality.
- How to use Facebook's simple editing and caption tools for the rebroadcast.
- MC (Emcee) - Celebrancy Presentation Skills PackAre good Celebrants born or made?A good Celebrant is expected to embody certain skills. The fact that you may already have many of these skills is probably what has led you to enquire about becoming a celebrant, but a good celebrant knows there are always ways one can improve. The MC (Emcee) - Celebrancy Presentation Skills Pack is an excellent place to begin - even if you are an expert!
- Client Generator PackAfter you have completed your Certificate IV in Celebrancy, become licenced with the Attorney-Generals department, and establish your business, you will now need to acquire customers. If only there were a way to generate clients consistently and sustainably?! There is, and we show you how in the Customer Generator Pack.Want to know how to reach out to engaged couples? Want to know how to get them to beat a path to your door or inbox? Want to know how to network in the industry? The Client Generator Pack answers these questions and more!
- Zoom Wedding Pack
This 45-minute Zoom Wedding ceremony training is set at a beginners level and covers the following items:
Going Live on the day - Before, During and After
What is Zoom?
Beginners guide to navigating the Zoom software settings.
Needed hardware and software for a successful online wedding ceremony.
Essential video, audio and recording must-dos.
Teleprompter Apps - never forget your lines again!
Script templates for Intros, outros and audience participation.
Zoom is now an integral part of wedding ceremonies, helping couples include family and friends who can not presently travel more than 150 kms, interstate or overseas.
- You have 12 months to complete your course from your first day of workshopContact us for information