Fun, noise, dancing, champagne and wine - all this is a typical Italian wedding. For centuries, the Catholic Church, whose presence has been unchanged in the life of every Italian, has preserved wedding traditions, without which every celebration of creating a new family is still not complete.
Marriage Institute and History
An important event affecting the institution of marriage in Italy was the invasion of French conqueror Napoleon into the country, who recognized only civil marriage as legal, which fundamentally contradicted the laws and canons of the Catholic Church. However, this did not prevent the creation of new wedding traditions: now in ceremonies a special place was occupied by the so-called "tree of freedom", which the newlyweds had to go around three times. And only after that a new marriage was registered in local municipalities. After Napoleon left in Italy, church marriage entered into force again, and the tradition of the "tree of freedom" was preserved.
Wedding customs and traditions have much in common with those that we regularly observe in our country. So, for example, in Italy, as in the old days, today it is customary to ask the bride’s hands for her parents, but if in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, the potential groom addresses this with his beloved father, then in Italy this honor turns out to be the mother of the girl. And this must happen necessarily at a family dinner. After the permission for marriage was obtained, future newlyweds were forbidden to remain alone until the wedding.
Matchmakers
In the organization of the wedding, the key role was assigned and is now assigned to the matchmakers, who are engaged in arranging the long-awaited celebration, take into account all the details and ensure that all traditions are fully respected. Under their strict guidance, we are all familiar with the well-known procedure of "buying out" the bride, when the groom is subjected to numerous trials, the purpose of which is to prove his love for the girl. When the bride is finally “mined”, another colorful custom begins: a young farewell to her parents. All this invariably happens accompanied by songs and dances.
Italian registry office
Having said goodbye to parents, the bride and groom, as well as all friends and relatives invited to the wedding, go to the wedding house, where the solemn registration of a new cell of society takes place. As the ink on the marriage certificates does not have time to dry, the entire wedding procession is sent straight to the groom's house to celebrate a joyful event.
In the old days it was believed that if the bride stumbles on the threshold of her home, this will bring terrible misfortunes to the young family. And that is why Italians have found a very original way to avoid this: according to an ancient tradition, which, incidentally, originated in Italy, a newly-made husband must transfer his wife through the threshold of the house in his arms.
A feast for the whole world
And then the real fun begins with songs and dances, without which it is simply impossible to imagine an Italian wedding. Wine and champagne flow like water, and the tables are full of many delicious dishes and sweets. All guests are handed bags with five sweets, each of which means a wish to a young family: health, wealth, respect and much more.
During the festive feast, each bride must demonstrate her dancing skills by performing a dance that girls learn long before the wedding. But, as a rule, the young never succeeds in completing it alone: numerous relatives and friends join her.
Especially superstitious couples prefer to get married on Sunday at the end of summer or in the fall: this period is considered the most favorable for this solemn event.
Speaking of old wedding traditions, it is worth mentioning the custom that came from Ancient Rome. This is a "honeymoon" during which the newlyweds had to eat honey for the first few weeks of their life together. In modern Italy, especially in some of its provinces, conservative residents still welcome this tradition to strictly follow it, sacredly believing that honey will bring a young couple a sweet family life.
