Added: 10/20/2007 |
Weddings Portugal and unique rituals - a guideWeddings Portugal or for that matter in any part of the world are happy occasions for family members and friends of both the bride and the groom. A wedding in Portugal is no different. A lot of socializing in fact takes place during wedding ceremonies held in this beautiful country. Many unique rituals are part of the entire wedding ceremony in Portugal. The internet is full of valuable information on the various rituals that are part of a traditional wedding in Portugal.
In days past, the Bride’s family would hold the engagement party. Tradition called for the Groom to send a friend or a relative to ask the prospective Bride’s father for permission to ask for the daughter’s hand in marriage. Often, the Groom’s father performed this task. If the Bride’s father agreed, the young man could formally ask for the girl’s hand in marriage, and having thus received the father’s blessing, the wedding was allowed to take place. An ancient tradition which has been now long abandoned called for the prospective Bride to pretend to be a cow that needed to be recognized by its owner, her soon-to-be husband, before the wedding celebrations could begin. Such unique rituals make weddings Portugal and in some nearby countries rather special. A wedding in Portugal is not complete without some of these unique rituals.
Considering that the majority of people in Portugal are Roman Catholic, a mass would follow the engagement. After this mass, close relatives would be invited to a small reception. The Bride would choose a Maid of Honor and the Groom would choose a Best Man. In some cases, two couples would be chosen to fill in these roles. A wedding in Portugal is a time when you can find out the various customs that are prevalent in Portugal. Weddings Portugal or for that matter in any other part of the world give an insight into the various customs and traditions of that particular country.
A Portuguese couple’s wedding invitation traditionally carries both the Bride’s and the Groom’s addresses, since it is customary to live with one’s parents until married. All wedding gifts are traditionally sent to the Bride’s house, and put on display to be admired by relatives and close friends who come to visit. Weddings Portugal is a time for fun and frolic for both family members and friends.
Portuguese wedding ceremonies usually consist of a Roman Catholic mass, where traditionally the priest would bind the couple’s hands with his stole, or call for the Bride and Groom to exchange rings, and then cover the couple with his stole, to unite and protect them. As the newlyweds exit the church, friends and relatives customarily throw bonbons and flowers. Such rituals have been followed in weddings Portugal and even in some other European countries for a long time now. A wedding in Portugal is a great occasion for family get together.
Portuguese wedding receptions usually take place at a private home or, more commonly, these days, at a restaurant. They typically involve traditional music and a lot of dancing which is common with weddings Portugal and even elsewhere in Europe. During this ritual, the Bride and Groom go from table to table to spend time with their guests, and ensure that everyone is having a good time and enjoying their meal; a champagne toast is offered as the newlyweds cut their wedding cake, and offer the first slice to a single friend, to bring them luck. The Bride then customarily throws her bouquet into an eagerly awaiting group of single girls. Such unique rituals make weddings Portugal an eagerly awaited affair. One can find a lot of valuable information on weddings Portugal or for that matter in any part of Europe by visiting dedicated online sources.
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