The Language of love in 20 cultures

This video is composed by a group of university students and explores the diversity of marriage traditions in various cultures. It is designed by Ella, Faiza, Shabnam and Faith who have equally contributed and have worked together to create this video. We have also created a Blog that will show you the diversity of many cultures around the world and their unique marriage traditions, and how all cultures differ from one another. To view the YouTube video click on the following link: https://youtu.be/d6ybzh9Sl34 <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6ybzh9Sl34" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> 

Many people may be familiar with Greek weddings thanks to the 2002 film, My Fat Greek Wedding. If you have watched the movie then you will know just how seriously Greeks take their weddings. Greek weddings tend to be big…. very big! Anyone and everyone is invited and even if you aren’t invited you sure will hear about it. What makes Greek weddings so interesting and entertaining are the many traditions that are practiced. Stefana The Stefana symbolises the couple being King and Queen. It is blessed by the priest and passed between the couple a few times before being put on their heads. The Stefana also represents the official union of marriage. It is usually made of white flowers and evergreen leaves to symbolise fertility. The Stefana is probably the most important part of styling the bride. The Koumbaros The Koumbaros is like the sponsor of the marriage and performs rituals throughout the wedding ceremony. The groom’s godparents are usu...

Malaysian Weddings and how they are celebrated: A traditional Malay wedding is one of the most diverse, lavish and cultural traditions in the world. Malay weddings are well known as they are generally festive, grand and celebratory that is celebrated with their families and friends. Like all other weddings, ceremonies of a wedding may be held over several days, but in some cases, recently Malay couples have chosen to simplify their marriage, opting to have only the solemnisation ceremony also known as the Nikkah along side with a simple lunch reception celebrated with their close family and friends. This may be done to decrease costs or to ensure that the wedding is more aligned to Islamic beliefs. Those couples who choose to have a grand wedding, have various activities which can be conveniently divided into two parts. The first part is known as the ‘Akad Nikkah’ also known as the marriage contract, which is the legal and religious aspect of the wedding. The second part how...

“The fascinating country of Turkey has a rich culture of wedding traditions, which vary throughout its cities, provinces and villages” By Helen Schrader The Historical marriage arrangements In the past there were numerous different kind of marriages, especially in the rural areas of Turkey. It was the custom to pay a dowry to the brides family. Occasionally, a family with a son and their daughter of marriagable age would marry their daughter into another family with a son and daughter, therefore cancelling out the need for a dowry. In the past, marriages in turkey was arranged in the case of the death of a brother, where they became widowed sister in law was wed with a single or widower brother in law (Levirat). Thus, it was also possible for a sister to be married to a deceased sister husband (Soroat). This was then practiced in order for them to keep the inheritance in the family and for their children’s welfare.  Searching for a bride In the traditional Turkis...

Indonesian love birds- How do these love birds tie the knot! An Indonesian marriage has three components such as; civil, religious, and a celebration which follows regional customs and traditions. During, Indonesian weddings the festive celebrations is often separate, and may occur during days and weeks after the legal and religious ceremonies. Each region and ethnic groups practices its own marriage customs. However, the families from both the groom and brides side get together and decide of how they should celebrate the wedding by deciding it together, but usually the community traditions are prevailed. With the Indonesian wedding there a different types, for instances: Javanese Wedding: As the Javanese are an ethic majority, fifty six percent of Indonesian population. Attending a Javanese wedding is a good way to accumulate to the nation’s culture. Javanese wedding begins with a formal meeting and agreement between the couple’s families. Once they have collectively se...

Wedding traditions in Germany vary across the Country. Many Germans practice unique wedding traditions that are respected throughout Germany. Below are some of the most popular traditions that are practised.  The civil and religious ceremony: The Civil ceremony happens before the religious ceremony and usually only close family and friends attend. The purpose of the civil ceremony is to ensure the marriage is legally recognised. The religious ceremony will take place in a church or a similar venue after the civil ceremony. Just like Swedish Weddings, the bride and groom will usually walk down the isle together. While walking down the isle the bride will carry some salt and bread as an omen of good harvest. The groom will carry a grain for good luck. As they both exit the church at the end of the ceremony, rice is thrown on them by their guests. A popular belief among Germans is that the amount of grains of rice that stay in the bride’s hair will determine how many ...

Morocco, one of the gems of North Africa, is the country with significant rich and active traditions. Like many cultures of the world, a Moroccan wedding is a great gala event as it is celebrated with many family and friends. According to Moroccan customs and traditions, a Moroccan wedding can take up to three days to seven days, depending on the family and region of Morocco.  The various festivities are an ideal opportunity to bring Moroccan families and friends together and reveals the richness of Moroccan customs and traditions through various clothing, art music and of course cuisine, which is represented through a range of delicious dishes. Before the wedding ceremony, the bride holds a henna party with her female relatives and closest friends. Henna has been used in Morocco for centuries and is used today to create intricate decorative designs that are mainly applied on the palms and feet of the bride and the bridesmaid. The henna designs have a number of variou...

Zulu traditional wedding: Photo credit Pinterest.com The Zulu traditional wedding ceremony is one of the most fascinating and beautiful wedding ceremonies in Africa. The Zulu culture takes pride in its colorful beadwork and traditional attires which is worn on important occasions. In the Zulu culture, it is the women who determine whom they marry. When a girl is certain that she now wants to settle down she informs her father who then throws a ceremony to announce to the rest of the community that her daughter has reached the marrying age. It is at this ceremony that the daughter chooses her future husband from many different gentlemen who parade themselves at this ceremony. The future bride then goes on to make two identical necklaces of beadwork for herself and the groom to be to inform the rest of the community that they are together. The ilobola negotiations are the most important element of the marriage process. The groom and his family ...

Sweden is a place of beautiful coastal islands, breathtaking glacial mountains, amazing cities and home to some very interesting wedding traditions. Marriages are celebrated a little differently in Sweden. Their weddings traditions are very quirky and aren’t the usual wedding practices you may see in other Countries.  In a Swedish Wedding, both the bride and groom walk down the isle together. Women aren’t walked down the isle by their father. This is because most Priests don't like the idea of a man owning a woman and then giving her away to be owned by another man. In Sweden, they like to keep their weddings simple. They don't tend to have many bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead they usually have one bridesmaid and one best man. An old tradition that is still incorporated into Swedish weddings is the Lysning held on the Sunday before the wedding. This consist of a daytime party for the couple where the wedding gifts are given out. Swedish weddings are ve...

The bride being prepared for wedding. In every tradition, love is celebrated in unique ways making it such a beautiful special thing. In Kenya however, you can't choose the love of your life, it is believed that elders know best hence your parents decide whom you settle down with. Marriages are arranged without consulting the bride or even her mother.A week before the wedding a meeting is held and consist of an arrangement in which both families agree on the number of cows the family of the groom will exchange for the bride. On the wedding day the bride is required to dress with a bold and colorful necklace with beads and shells.   . At the wedding ceremony held by the Massai people, the bride’s head is shaved and lamb fat and oil is applied on her head. The father of the bride blesses his daughter by spitting on her head and breasts.  Spitting is a symbol of disgrace usually but in Massai nation, it is thought to bring good luck and fortune. She then le...

Happily ever after- How Indian’s tie the knot! The Indian weddings are traditionally multi day affairs, and involve many intricate ceremonies, for instances applying heena on the brides hands and feet which is called mehndi. Garlands are presented to the guests in honour instead of corsages and lots of flower or rose petals are thrown on the bride and groom for good luck. The Indian weddings are typically divided into three parts such as, pre- wedding, main and post- wedding. The pre-wedding includes all the preparations and they organise a party the night before each of the family can meet each other and they all dance, have fun and enjoy their night. On the night of that party they invite a Pandit (Indian priest) who then selects the day of the wedding which is based on the bride and groom’s horoscopes, they then conduct a prayer with the family members to provide the couple with a happily married life. The wedding altar (mandapa) is built the day of and the groom is welcomed b...

Marriage is seen as an important culture among the Nigerian people. A woman who is single at a marriageable age is seen as a crownless woman. Husbands are seen as crowns and a single lady is seen as incomplete without her crown. Another reason why marriage is seen as an essential practice is because Nigerians love and cherish children. Mothers are fond of pestering their children (bachelors and spinsters) to get married so that they can see their grand-children before going to their graves. After the selection of a mate, both of them will visit their parents’ house for consent to continue the relationship and proceed with the marriage rites. The traditional marriage system is divided into two sections: Introduction and the Engagement Ceremony Introduction In Nigeria, proposing on one knee with a ring in hand does not count as a formal proposal. The groom has to go with his family and some friends (optional) to formally ask the bride's family for her hand in marr...