The Wedding Traditions of the US and Greek Culture Essay Example

US marriages differ by culture, for instance Greece weddings vs. US marriages. While some cultures share the same traditions, there are many cultures that have their own traditions in place. What is the difference between cultures in engagements, bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal party, wedding ceremonies, and receptions? This paper focuses on the wedding traditions of the US and Greek culture.

In the US when a man finds a woman, he plans on spending the rest of his life with he asks the women to take his hand in marriage. But first the man sits down with his partners parents and request their approval, this is a tradition that became popular in the 18th century. Back then asking the parents was more of a permission over a blessing. The tradition of getting down on your right knee and holding an engagement ring asking the love of his life to marry the women of his dreams. The engagement ring is only worn by the women on her left ring finger, forth finger on your left hand. This tradition started in the Western cultures with the belief that the fourth finger on your left hand has a vein running directly to the heart. In Greece the man visits and asks the father for permission to take the lady’s hand in marriage. A date is then set for the engagement ceremony where family and close friends attend. In Greece the engagement ring is a gold band that is also worn on the left ring finger by both male and female. But in Greece there is an engagement ceremony that is a separate ceremony that offers blessings to the couple. When the engagement blessing is over the groom then gives the ring to his bride. But the same ring is used as the wedding band in Greece, but it then moves from the left to the right hand at the wedding ceremony. 

Who does not like to throw a party, especially a bachelor (stag) and bachelorette party? In the US a bachelor or bachelorette party is the bride and groom’s last night of freedom. Back in the 5th century a bachelor party would include a dinner and a toasting to the groom. Bachelor was a term that was used to describe a man that was not married. In the 1960s women were limited to only having bridal parties, which is a party for the bride to receive gifts. The bachelor or bachelorette party is planned and hosted by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. While in Greece the bachelor or bachelorette party is held close to the wedding date about 1-3 weeks before the wedding. The pre-wedding ceremonies after the engagement. The first thing that is done is that a Koumbaros is picked. A Koumbaros is a male sponsor that is the witness to the marriage ceremony, like in the US a Koumbaros is considered the best man. A Koumbara is a female sponsor or in the US the maid of honor. Greek Weddings usually take place on a Sunday. The Wednesday before the wedding there is a ritual of ‘Starting the Leaven’ that takes place. The couple then sieves flour and relatives observe the silence and once there is enough flour all the guests throw coins into the sieve and wish the bride and groom good luck. A sieve is described as “a device for separating lumps from powdered material, straining liquids, grading particles, etc., consisting of a container with a mesh or perforated bottom through which the material is shaken or poured” (dictionary.com). The Friday before the wedding, there is another ceremony called ‘Filling the Sack’, which is an occasion when the bride fills in the sacks all her possessions and the guests throw coins into them. The bride’s mother is the first one to place the collections she had piled up over the years into her daughter’s sack while the groom meets with his friends and relatives. 

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is a tradition in the US that the bride would wear. As stated in 21 Famous American Wedding Traditions You Should Know “Something old signifies the family and friends at the wedding. Something new signifies the couple, something borrowed is a veil or other item from mother or aunt. And something blue signifies the bride’s purity or virginity” (Istomina). Another tradition is the bride carrying a bridal bouquet. This tradition of carrying flowers used to signify the emotions of the bride during the wedding. Even though the meaning of a bridal bouquet may be gone the tradition continues. In the US there are many different types of weddings to name a few from traditional to religious to elopement weddings. The wedding would consist of the bridal party that includes the couple, groomsmen, bridesmaids, best man, maid of honor, flower girl, and ring bearer. The wedding ceremony in Greece starts out taking place at the groom’s house where a wedding flag is raised. A tradition the in central Greek is having the koumbaro shave the grooms head before the wedding. That is where the flag bearer leads the priest, groom, and guests to the bride’s home. Once at the brides house the bride’s mother offers him wine and when the wine is drunk by the groom the Koumbaro leads the wedding party to the Church. A Betrothal ceremony begins where the bride wears red veils that symbolizes fire to protect her from evil and has a lump of sugar that ensures a sweet future. The ceremony begins with the priests blessing the rings. The Koumbaro then exchanges the rings three times between the couple’s fingers. This symbolizes that the weaknesses of one shall be compensated by the other. Then the bride and groom are handed a pair of lit candles that symbolize the eternal light of Jesus Christ. The crowing is the most iconic part of the Greek Wedding. “The priest takes two crowns or Stefana and adorns the couple by placing them on their heads. Koumbaro then invites the couple to take their first step together by walking three times around the altar upon which rest the Holy Bible and cross” (Abhinav). 

Now the best part of the wedding happens, the reception. In the US the reception starts off with the grand entrance with the introduction of the wedding party and the newlyweds make their entrance to the dance floor. After the grand entrance comes the first dance as newly husband and wife where the newlyweds pick a special song of their choice. Sometime during the reception, the bride has her father-daughter dance, and the groom has his mother-son dance. During dinner time the best man and the maid of honor will give a speech about the couple. It can be funny, sad, but basically how they became best friends. Next, the father of the bride makes a toast to the newlyweds and the night begins. Did you know that cutting of the cake is one of the most popular things to do at the wedding? A traditional cake has three tiers, the couple will cut from the bottom tier. The couple will cut the cake together by placing their hands on top of each other and cut the cake together to symbolize their mutual support. Of course, at all weddings there is cake to the face, and this symbolizes the act of taking care of one another. Have you attended a wedding where a bouquet and garter toss was done? This is a dated tradition, but still happens during weddings today. If you would like the newlyweds to kiss at all during the night just clink your glasses together. And to end the night the groom carries the bride into the house to protect from evil spirits, yet another dated tradition. At the end of the Greek ceremony the couple goes back to the groom’s house where the wedding flag is raised again, and the bride then throws a small piece of iron on the roof that symbolizes strength of her new life. In Greece the bride’s parents plan and pay for the reception. At the reception the bride will lead a raucous dance known as the kalamatiano, where the entire bridal party joins hands and skips in a circle. Who hates cake? At a Greek wedding a classic Greek cake is made up of thin layers of sponge cake with a sweet cream filling. Another customary treat at Greek receptions is sourdough wedding bread that is decorated with beads and blossoms. At the reception the brides first dance is called Nifiatiko where the dance floor is open. Pinning money on the bride’s clothes is a popular wedding gift. “Making it rain” symbolizes helping the couple be strong, healthy, and a kickstart to their new life together. 

United States weddings and Greek weddings have some similarities but many differences. The main idea of a wedding in both countries is celebrating the commitment of each other by joining your hands in marriage. Both countries have wedding engagements, bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal party, wedding ceremonies, and receptions.