|
|||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Resources Art, Cuisine, Famous Italians, Festivals, Folklore, Genealogy, Holidays, Hotels, Photos, Real Estate, Sports, Travel and More Guides Surname Collection Add your name to the collection. Recipes Authentic Italian recipes for you to enjoy. Photo Galleries Enjoy photos of Italy, wine making & more. Proverbi Proverbs in Italian & English. Our Paesani Weekly column dedicated to today's Italy. by Francesca Di Meglio Italian Memories Articles on growing up Italian. by Cookie Curci Una Mamma Italiana Articles for Italian mammas. by Tiffany Longo Learn Italian English-Italian guides Spanish-Italian guides. Molto Italiano Sign up for our FREE newsletter. Trivia Test your knowledge of Italy. |
Italian Weddings
Part 3 of 4: Wedding/Mass Traditions & Customs Continued from part 2
* Does the bride and groom wear anything special the day of the wedding?
It is not too difficult to find something new, earrings are usually used for something old, the mother usually lends her handkerchief (used for something borrowed) and why not a blue garter or ribbon to respect the blue color tradition! Among some Italian families it is tradition to hand down from generation to generation the bridal veil. Wearing the grandmother's or great-grandmother's bridal veil means opening a present that comes from the past. The groom on his side has to follow some important rules, for example no short socks and no tuxedo. The groom fulfils the tradition wearing black or dark grey thin socks, cufflinks, boutonniere and a tailcoat including a silk top hat and gloves.
* Are there any colors or items that are considered bad luck if the bride or groom wears them during the wedding?
* Are there any special traditions that take place during the mass?
The groom arrives in advance, waits a few minutes in the parvis and enters the church only a few minutes before the ceremony giving his right arm to his mother. The bride is usually a few minutes late and her father helps her to get out of the car. The father gives his left arm to the bride and the wedding march starts to be played. The bride's relatives sit on the left side of the church looking towards the altar and the groom's family sits on the right side of the church. The first bench is reserved for the wedding couple's parents and close relatives, the second rows of benches are for grandparents, uncles and aunts, the third rows of benches are for special guests and then distant relatives and friends follow. In front of the altar the bride's father gives her daughter away to the groom by shaking the groom's hand and taking his seat on the first left bench. At the very beginning of the rite it is the groom who “unveils” the bride. The exchanging of the rings is definitely the climax of the religious and civil wedding and has a strong symbolic meaning in every culture. The wedding ring is the “fede” ring (Italian for faith) both for men and women and it has very ancient and distant origins. The classic wedding band “francesina” never fades, now as in the past the queen among wedding bands: it is thin and slightly rounded in yellow or red gold (fashionable today also in platinum). Apart from the type of wedding bands chosen, it is a common practice to engrave the bride's and groom's names together with the wedding date in the inner side of the rings. When the couple exits the church, the celebrations start: the throwing of the rice still remains a good luck symbol normally done both for town hall and church weddings: a symbol of love and prosperity. At each side of the church main door it is preferable to put two little olive trees as a symbol of good luck. For people who get married for the second time, the Roman Catholic religion doesn't allow a second religious Catholic wedding1. Therefore the ceremony will take place at the town hall, so in a more discreet atmosphere, with a small wedding party and usually the bride doesn't dress in white or with a veil.
* Does the groom still carry a piece of iron in his pants?
* Do wedding /mass traditions vary throughout Italy? Are there different traditions in the south as opposed to the north?
1You can get remarried in a Catholic Church under two instances. Your spouse has died or you received an annulment from your previous marriage.
Part 1: Italian Weddings Introduction Part 2: Engagement Traditions & Customs Part 3: Wedding/Mass Traditions & Customs Part 4: Reception Traditions & Customs
Related Information:
REGENCY SAN MARINO S.R.L http://www.weddingsitaly.com info@weddingsitaly.com Tel from US: 011.378.0549.941108
|
Buy Now on Etsy Buy Now Partner Links Shops/Stores Italiansrus Gear Proudly display the colors of Italy with these great products. The world largest online retailer for Premium Italian Fashions.
|