Archive for the ‘news’ tag
Russia Coin
The Most Romantic Wedding Traditions from Around the World: Germany, Russia & Ireland
Millions of couples are embracing their ancestry and choosing to incorporate some of the best traditions from around the world in their ceremonies here at home. Here are some of the most interesting wedding traditions you might find if you attended a wedding in Germany, Russia or Ireland. If you or your family are from one of these countries, why not try adding some phrases from your ancestor’s native tongue in your wedding vows for a truly memorable touch!
Germany
To fund her future wedding, when a baby girl is born in Germany, several trees are planted and tended throughout her childhood. When she is to be married, the trees are sold to pay for her wedding and to act as a dowry. To help defray costs of a honeymoon, friends and family of the wedding couple will make a newspaper or newsletter featuring pictures and articles about the couple’s youth. This newsletter is sold at the wedding.
A German wedding can last up to three days. There is first a civil ceremony, then the following day is a traditional ceremony. Finally on the third day is a religious ceremony. Guests bring old dishes to the second night’s party to break, and the couple sweeps them up. This symbolizes that their home will never be broken.
As the wedding couple leaves the church, they throw coins to the children who have attended. A customary tradition is for the best man to steal the bride and take her to a local pub, where they drink champagne and hide.
The groom must find them, and pay for all they drank. Also, before leaving the reception hall, guests block the door and demand payment from the groom (usually in the form of a promise of a party) before they allow the wedding couple to leave for their honeymoon.
Russia
What are referred to in western society as wedding rings are in Russia called engagement rings. These plain gold bands are worn on the ring finger of the right hand. When a person is widowed or divorced, they will move the ring to the left hand. The groom pays for the ring, although the couple chooses them together.
A holdover from the days of communism is a procession of cars that arrives at the ceremony. Since large cars were a sign of wealth, effort is made to rent one for the bride and groom. In addition, guests to the wedding will each drive to the wedding alone to increase the size of the procession. The groom traditionally takes the bride to the church, but before he is allowed to do so, he must pass a series of challenges put up by her family and friends, including trivia questions, physical obstacles, and even an actual climb up to the bride’s window.
Marriage ceremonies are held in the licensing office, and must be witnessed. Although church weddings are held, they have no legal significance, so they are often held after the legal ceremony. At the reception, it is customary to drink to excess, with a series of toasts offered to the bride and groom. Prior to leaving the reception hall, the bride is stolen away by the friends of the groom. He must then locate her and pay her ransom. This can happen several times, so the groom must be ever watchful of his new wife.
Ireland
Instead of wedding bands, more and more Irish couples are choosing to wear the Claddagh ring. This design has a heart being held on either side with a hand, and a crown on top. Wearing the ring on the left hand with the heart facing you indicates marriage, wearing it with the heart facing away means you are single. The ring may be used as an engagement ring or a wedding band, and is often passed from mother to daughter.
As the bride and groom leave the church, they throw a handful of coins into the crowd of waiting guests. The bride will carry a horseshoe with her for luck throughout her marriage. This is usually sewn into the dress, although it might be a plastic cake decoration today. Truly traditional Irish weddings are held only from April through October, but never in the month of May due to superstition. This half of the year is considered the “light” half. Mead, which is a honey wine, is served at Irish receptions, and is believed to be the source of the word honeymoon. It is thought to increase virility and fertility, and is therefore in great abundance at weddings. As the bride and groom leave the reception hall, there are often bagpipes stationed just outside to play them to their waiting car, which whisks them away to their honeymoon spot.
Chris Simeral is the creator of The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, the wedding-coordinator-approved home-study course for couples personalizing or renewing their wedding vows. Sign up for the free wedding vow mini-course at http://www.weddingvowtoolkit.com.
About the Author
Soviet Russia and coin target
|
|
Medal commemorating armed neutrality at sea; obverse Photo Mugs Medal commemorating armed neutrality at sea. Obverse From a mailed arm, sword in hand, hang by chains the oval shield of Russia (centre), Sweden (right), Denmark (left) and Netherlands (below). Reverse Beneath the heavenly eye, with rays….. |
|
|
Medal commemorating armed neutrality at sea; reverse Photo Mugs Medal commemorating armed neutrality at sea. Obverse Bust of Catharine II of Russia in a low dress and armour, with cloak, veil and coronet (right). Reverse Neptune with trident upraised standing in a car on which are the shields of Russia, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. Left, Mercury, seated on an empty cornucopia, a seaman standing (right); shipping in distance, a star shining above….. |
|
|
Medal commemorating armed neutrality at sea; reverse Photo Mugs Medal commemorating armed neutrality at sea. Obverse From a mailed arm, sword in hand, hang by chains the oval shield of Russia (centre), Sweden (right), Denmark (left) and Netherlands (below). Reverse Beneath the heavenly eye, with rays….. |
|
|
RikkiKnight Cherno Russian Flag Messenger Bag – Book Bag ***with matching coin purse wallet*** -School Bag – Reporter Bag – Unisex – Ideal Gift for all occassions! $47.99 Whether from home to the office, on a business trip or to school, the Cherno Russian Flag Messenger Bag School Bag keeps you comfortable and your cargo safe and sound – this bag features pockets on the outside below the flap for your cellphone, pens, ipod, notebook etc. and also a zippered compartment on the inside, and plenty of space to store your textbooks, folders, files, etc. The bag is wide … |
|
|
Eighteen coin RUSSIA uncirculated Crown Type,MINT set with certificate and holder $48.99 DESCRIPTION: Russian Commemorative coins were released in the USSR between 1965 and 1991. Most of them were made of copper-nickel alloy. All of the coins were minted either by the Moscow Mint or by the Leningrad Mint.With certificate,holder… |
|
|
1970 U.S.S.R. Russia Rouble Coin … |
|
|
First Coins of the Russian Republic $29.95 December 1, 1991, the first coins for the new Russian Republic were released. These are the first Russian coins in generations without the Communist Hammer and Sickle Design. This set includes a 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Ruble coin…. |
|
|
Copper Coinage of Imperial Russia $90.00 … |
|
|
A Fantasy Medley $20.00 A Fantasy Medley features the superlative storytelling abilities of four diverse authors:In Zen and the Art of Vampirism, Zoe Takano, the only vampire in Toronto, a city filled with supernatural creatures of Kelley Armstrong s Otherworld, finds her place in the hierarchy threatened by two interlopers. Riding the Shore of the River of Death returns us to the world of Kate Elliott s Crown of Stars. … |
|
|
Standard Catalog Of World Paper Money Specialized Issues $65.00 Complete Listings for:Central and South America – Provincial, Private and Commercial BanksChina – Foreign, Military, Provincial and early Communist BanksEurope – Commercial and Colonial BanksWorldwide Guerrila, Revolutionary and Siege Issues… |