Wedding Customs and Superstitions
The decision to get married is one of the most important decisions in life. There are so many customs and superstitions associated with weddings. A lot of traditions go back to folklore and pre-Christian times and used to protect marrying couples against bad luck and evil spirits.
In the past young people could not just fall in love and decide to get married. First, they needed to obtain their parents’ consent. In fact, quite often it was the parents who decided who their children should marry and not the children themselves. Now things are not nearly as complicated. However, it is still considered romantic and proper to ask your beloved if he or she would like to marry you and exchange engagement rings.
Now the most popular day is a Saturday as most people work during the week. In the past choosing when to marry was a serious affair. Saturdays were considered unlucky, and so were Fridays, especially Friday the 13th.
The bride chooses her sister or a close friend to be her chief bridesmaid. Originally, bridesmaids were young women dressed the same way as the bride to confuse evil spirits and protect the bride. The groom also has a helper. The Best Man, who is normally the groom’s best friend, plays an important part in any wedding.
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