Across the world, there are thousands of wedding traditions unique to each culture. Some of these traditions date back centuries; some are more modern.
Many of the traditions are symbolic and a way for the couple to show how well they can work as a team. Other traditions are for luck. These two themes run true for wedding traditions around the world.
Do you have Czech heritage? Have you ever wonder which Czechoslovakian wedding traditions you could incorporate into your big day?
Keep reading to find out all about the unique wedding traditions from the Czech Republic.
1. Rosemary Wreath
Rosemary symbolizes love and fidelity. This fragrant herb also brings good luck and loyalty. The bridesmaids will typically create a wreath from rosemary to give to the bride on the night before the wedding.
The bride can wear the wreath in her hair on the day or carry it with her bouquet. At some Czech weddings, guests will also receive a spring of rosemary to bring them luck.
2. Bottle and Axe Tradition
Before the wedding, the groom is given a little test at the bride’s house. Before he enters, he has to choose between a bottle and an ax.
If he chooses the bottle, it symbolizes he will be drunk and lazy. Choosing the ax means he will be hardworking and strong.
3. The Broomstick
The traditional test for a bride was to use a broom to sweep a room. If she could do it fast and replace the broom where she found it, it would show she would be a good housewife.
Perhaps not a tradition you want to follow today! But one that’s fun to know about.
4. Tree Planting
Some of the wedding guests and family plant a tree for the bride, decorating it with painted eggshells.
This is to symbolize longevity, health, and vibrancy for the marriage. It’s also to bring luck to the bride when bearing children.
5. Coinand Grain Throwing
Another of the wedding traditions from Czechia before the wedding day itself is throwing things at the couple’s house!
It may sound a little extreme, but the throwing of coins, grains, and sometimes figs is an offering to the house Gods. It means they will protect the house of the newly married couple.
6. Getting Through the Barrier
After the ceremony (traditionally in a church), the groomsmen produce a rope at the exit. This rope is decorated with flowers, ribbons, and empty bottles.
The groom needs to pay a ransom for the couple to get through the rope! This is him paying his way out of the sins from his past.
7. Flower Throwing
The pagan tradition of throwing petals is also carried out at Czech weddings. As the bride enters the church, the flower girls walk in front of her, throwing petals.
After the ceremony, the bride throws her bouquet over the shoulder to the waiting guests. The girl who catches it will be the next one to get married.
8. Plate Smashing
This wedding tradition is typical in many European cultures. It typically brings luck. The couple then has to clear the shards of porcelain away together to show they can work well together as a team.
In Slovakian wedding traditions, the plate (or plate) will be broken at the couples’ feet at the beginning of the wedding reception.
9. PisenSlavebni
This is one of the Czech wedding traditions that the guests are involved with. It’s a traditional song the guests at the reception will sing to the couple.
After the song is over, the groom’s shoes and the bride’s veil are passed around the room. The guests put in money for the couple to take a honeymoon.
10. Sharing the Soup
At the beginning of the meal, the couple share soup from the same bowl and spoon. Instead of cutting the cake together, the couple shares the soup to show they share everything from now on.
Often the couple will feed each other the soup.
11. Bride’s Dance
After the party has been going on for a while, the wife does a ceremonial dance. She dances with her eyes closed with all the single girls at the wedding around her.
The girls try to hold on to the veil. Then the bride will choose one of the girls to put the veil on. That will be the girl who marries next!
12. Kidnapping of The Bride
Now this one is a bit of fun, and maybe one you’d like to include in your Czech wedding! It traditionally happens at the end of the night.
The groomsmen will kidnap the bride and hide her somewhere. The groom has to find her in the shortest amount of time. If he cannot find her, he needs to pay a ransom!
This is a silly game that can be entertaining for guests. It traditionally symbolizes that the man will protect his beloved.
Czechoslovakian Wedding Traditions For Modern Ceremonies
You may not want to incorporate all these wedding traditions from Slovakia into a modern ceremony. Some are quite outdated and don’t recognize the equality of women and men.
However, many of them are a bit of harmless fun and can easily be incorporated into a modern-day ceremony.
Planning Your Wedding
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