The Finnish Wedding
I had the pleasure to be invited to a friend of mine`s Finnish wedding last week end,Helsinki Finland.It was to be the first time that I have joined in the ceremony and reception afterwards.It was to be an All-Finnis affair.
Finnish Wedding Traditions and Customs
I turned up a good hour before the service in a Very Old Church,some miles to the North of Helsinki.In Finland it is a Tradition and custom that the Bride to be,walks from door to door with a pillow case to recieve her wedding presents and or gifts.Traditionally in Finland an older married man is to accompany her holding a Parasol or Umbrella to cover her.This pre-wedding Finnish Tradition isa Symbol of shelter and protection for the new bride.
Some Finnish Brides may be seen to be wearing a tradional Golden Crown with her wedding gown.Once the wedding vows have been exchanged,on this occasion in front of a Papi(priest),the new couple move off in a pre-arranged car to head for the reception.The remaining guests slowly make their way to the same reception as the wedding couple.
A Finnish Wedding Reception
The actual celebrations begin at the reception when everyone has arrived.All the women blindfold the new bride and dance around her.The new bride then places the crown from her head on to the head of one of the woman who will be lucky enough to get married next.This is can be seen as a ritual from the tradion where the beauty Queen passes on her crown to the next years beauty queen.
I believe it is to represent an eve ending circle.I could see and feel they were deeply in Love
It is also a Finnish Custom for the newly wedded couple to sit side by side together in designated seats of honour at the Reception.The bride on the wedding I was invited to also held a sieve covered by a cloth shawl in to which guests can deposit gifts of gold or cash.At this wedding The Newly Wedded Brides Mother placed a china plate on top of the brides head when the new couple are to begin their wedding dance together.The traditional dance is usuakky a Waltz.When the plate falls from the newly wedded`s head the plate breaks.People then collect the broken pieces.These pieces are meant to foretell how many ofsprig the couple will be lucky to have together.
Finnish Custom of The Wedding Waltz
The crown gets passed to a Lucky Lady
The final dance at the Finnish Wedding reception is know as the Weaning Waltz.It is customary for the women to start the dance with the Bride and the men with the Groom.It was a sight to remember as the children are also encouraged to participate.Each guest only dances for a very short time with the Bride and Groom.The origins of this Finnish Wedding Custom,go back thousands of years and is supposed to test has how quickly the Bride and Groom will forget each other.
It was an eye opening experience being involved in a traditional Finnish Wedding and its Customs.I actually learnt s0me new Finnish Traditions by attending this Finnish Wedding and I wish the both a lot of luck and pleasure in their new found lives togetherl
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It is wonderful to passes the crown to the next girl who married next.
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Traditional Wedding is always fascinating and can say a lot on the people and counter.
Thanks, the interesting has found for itself a lot of
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Our country has also lots of wedding traditions like this Finnish Wedding Traditions in Finland but with different concepts. Well I guess almost all of the countries around the world has that differs only to cultures. There’s no scientific evidence actually for these but it could give the couple a good luck! Still it depends on faith.
Thanks for your comment.
I agree with you that each country has variations on the traditions.I believe that tyhe wedding traditions themselves cross all borders and no doubt stem from the same cultural history pool.
I was reminded that it is also a tradition here at Finnish weddings for the couple to share a shot of Absinthe(A strong mint herbal spiritdrink)Absinthe is commonly made at home and is primarliy known to get you drunk but leaving you with a clear head
Regards
Greg
All so I got site for you. You have good review.
What about the absinthe?
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