Marriage Traditions in Asia IB English

"Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking." (Chinese proverb). The continent of Asia, full of long lost history, battles, honor, but over all, mystery in its colorful culture and traditions that lights the spark of wonder and excitement. Today, my dear followers, it’s special, I will talk about marriage traditions in the continent of Asia, come together and learn with me some of the different costumes this people share in the most special day of their lives with the same basic concept, the union of two hearts into one forever in love.

Let’s start first of with the beautiful island of Japan. Japanese weddings are either Shinto or Buddhist. The Shinto weddings have a tradition of the rice wine, a couple drinks three times in front of a priest and it means that they promise to be dedicated to each other for life. Also, for Japanese the color purple symbolizes love and usually brides use kimonos covered with purple iris flowers; by the way a kimono is a Japanese traditional garment.

Koreans have a very peculiar way of celebrating weddings; it’s like having to weddings at the same day (with the same person, of course). First of all they a fortune-teller to looks into their future as a couple and see if there would be prosperity and love. At the wedding, they share a western like ceremony, with a white-short dress for the woman and a black suit for the man; after finishing the ceremony, they change into traditional Korean cloths and bow to their respective families which gives Jujube and nuts. This means a happy marriage and to have children. 

In Indonesia, the bride and the groom get their lips dry by greeting each and every guest they invite to the wedding before the festivities can begin. Also, the brides will get a holy shower with water and flowers by the mother or a woman close to her before the ceremony.

The Chinese’s traditions where the ones that got my attention the most due to their symbolism and surprisingly by the good humor. During the festivities, an apple is held with a thread ahead of the couple; the guests asks for them to give a bit at the same time but when their lips touches the apple someone pulls the thread and they share a kiss. The gown of the bride are adorned by golden phoenixes, chrysanthemums and peonies, the color is bright red, which in China symbolizes good fortune and joy, happiness in its entire splendor. Firecrackers (which I personally adore) are always to be seen in Chinese weddings to scare off evil spirits.

This were some of my favorite traditions, there are even more and maybe in the next entry I will share some more with you. I will leave you with a question; which tradition did you find the most romantic, hilarious, or interesting? “See you” next time. With love, Anie.

Bibliography

Cheng Limin, Kartika Sinclair, Maki Kubo, Kim Young Lee. «Wedding Customs from Around the World.» 2005. TOPICS online magazine. 1 de September de 2011 <http://www.topics-mag.com/internatl/weddings/wedding-customs.htm>.

«Wedding Traditions in Asia.» 2004. World Wedding Traditions. 1 de September de 2011 <http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/asian_traditions.html>.

Marriage Customs IB English Class

"A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Marriage customs have been evolving since ever to create pleasant and fun traditions that everyone enjoys (Bachelor and Bachelorette party, anyone?) and keeping the history in wedding celebrations that make it special. The marriage evolvement created, through the passing years, three stages which are marriage by force or capture, marriage by purchase or contract and marriage by mutual love. Today we are going to talk about the traditions created during the stage of “marriage force or capture”.

Did you know that “best man” and “maids of honor” where created during this stage? Well, now you do. The best man was originally a fellow-warrior, someone (usually a best friend or someone who was quick with the feet) who would help snatch a woman from another tribe and fight alongside if conflict was to start. Tribes use to be in constant fighting and that’s why the abduction and raped (which means in Latin “to carry off”, you dirty minded) was pretty normal, but when they were in good terms and violence was nowhere to be seen, women where easily exchanged. Bridesmaid’s work was to help the bride-to-be escape and get away from possible suitors or a protective family and marry the groom she liked. They would also wear similar outfits to confuse evil and unpleasant spirits around the wedding ceremony.

So, that’s it for today, next would be marriage by purchase or contract and marriage by mutual love, but I leave you guys with one question, what do you think about best man and bridesmaid costume? “See you” next time.

«A COMPILATION OF CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS REGARDING MARRIAGE.» s.f. Waterfront Wedding Chapel. 25 de August de 2011 <http://www.limarriages.com/customs.html>.

Arranged Marriage IB English

Marriage is a huge step in someone’s life; you’re getting to spend the rest of your life with another human being that’s making the same promise, until death turns us apart. Usually, the one that is next to you is someone you are deeply in love with, someone you know for a while and you felt a connection, but sometimes, mostly in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan and India, Bangladesh and some Muslim/Islam countries, you don’t have a clue on who you are marrying and the person you going to spend your whole life with is a complete stranger, and this, my friends, is an arranged marriage.

This kind of tradition it’s not looked good by western society (although there are some arranged marriages in this society, specially with royalty) and it’s criticized by human rights since everyone has the right to choose, specially, who you are sharing your bed. Despite all negative opinions, arranged marriages have a lower degree of divorces (maybe because they come from conservative countries) and they are not all in force action, families try to chose a good partner and someone respectful and honored (like they do in China).  Marriage is difficult, would not know the person you are marrying makes it easier? What are your opinions? 

Source from:

«Arranged Marriage Facts.» Professor's House. 18 de August de 2011 <http://www.professorshouse.com/Relationships/Marriage-Advice/Articles/Arranged-Marriage-Facts/>.