Body of the Paper Essay

People see pai hollo as a bond between deuce community that involves responsibility and legalities, as headsp hollo as committedness and challenge irregardless of how the watching took place. This concept of hymeneals hasnt changed over the divisions. The notion of marriage as a sacrament and not just a contract can be traced from the books of St. Paul who comp atomic number 18d the relationship of a husband and wife to that of Christ and his perform (Eph. v, 23-32). Different cultures argon rich with hymeneals rituals and traditions.The said practices call for both(prenominal) sort of historical and spiritual explanation amongst slew with varying traditions worn-out from their ancestors. A certain belief was incorporated in their culture which makes each ritual unique from one another. Nonetheless, all of them acknowledge the union of ii individuals. oneness universally cognise tradition is that of the engagement ring. It is a ring that is given prior to the get m arried ceremony which means that two mickle argon engaged and ar scheduled to be married soon. This fashion can be dated back to the ancient Romans. It is believed that the roundness of the ring repres terminals eternity.Therefore, conjoin rings lay outs a union that is to last forever. It was once perspective that a vein or nerve ran directly from the ring palpate of the left hand to the heart (Wedding Traditions 2008). The objective of this paper is to review nuptials rituals and traditions being practiced by people across cultures. More specifically, we leave alone look into the rich and unique wedding practices observed by the Philippines, Chinese and Hindis. Moreover, we lead study the signification of each wedding ritual for either culture and why it is return key apart of their tradition.Body of the Paper A wedding ceremony is celebrated in recognition of the union or questionable marriage of two people. It may be performed by either a highly-respected reli gious elder or a government-sanctioned officiator. conjugation more than often than not creates shipment between the individuals involved and too with their melt downed families in most cases. passim history, and even to daylight, families arrange marriages for bridges. The people involved didnt and dont wealthy person much to say about the decision. Most couples didnt hook up with because they were in relish but for economic contact.People connect for dissimilar reasonsit may be one of the following public declaration of love, wants to prep ar legal, social and economic stability, formation of a family unit or legitimizing internal relations. Some marriages involved a bride price wherein the raiment or his family pass on give capital or a pre direct to the brides family some mandatory dowry where the brides family allow be the one to offer money and delivers to the grooms family, few had underwent some sort of dating or courtship for some time, but most of us ar gon generally accustomed to our own traditions (Wedding Traditions 2008).In this paper, seven wedding rituals across several(predicate) cultures volition be discussed. Egyptian, Korean, Lebanese and Libyan wedding traditions will be reviewed. Specifically, the Filipino, Chinese and Hindoo wedding rituals will be studied in details and will be compared. Weddings in Egypt are huge family events irregardless of their social status. Even in this generation, some of them quiesce hold the significance of customs and symbols to the celebration. Al-zaffah is a slow procession performed by the couples family and friends. It is accompanies by music until they reach the reception hall.Also, the henna party called laylat al-hinna is still an important tradition to them. Egyptian weddings are celebrated with a military group that comes from the respect of family bonds. Like other couples, they also wish for a content married life. In Korean wedding ceremonies, wild geese is used as a symbo l of faithfulness. The grooms father will ease up red dates at the bride for fertility and good luck. In addition to that, cotton wool fiber seeds, red beans and salt are thrown by their neighbors to drive venomous spirit up away. Three days after the wedding, the bride will be sent to the grooms house.There, the bride then crosses a sack of grain and ruin straw to wish for a good harvest. In Lebanese weddings, roses are generally used. The bride then wears bangles and tiara on the wedding day. The new couple will serve ghoraibi to their guests as a symbol of the brides purity. Their weddings are godlike by rose petal shaped chocolates and white butter cookies. Libyan weddings ceremonies are Islamic in nature and is generally presided by an imam. At the brides house days earlier the actual wedding ceremony and reception, the marriage contract is already being signed. At the reception, the couple doesnt eat with their guest.Rice and candy are suggestered on the bride. a. Fil ipino pairing Gone are the days of arranged marriage (kasunduan) and shotgun marriage (pikot) where individuals, the bride and the groom, had no choice but to obey and comply with their parents wishes of them getting married. However, the Filipino style of courtship (ligawan) and suitors perform (harana) have been lost over the years, too. These so-called traditional courtship styles have been reduced to dating. SMS messages and emails are means of communication of single men and women in todays generation, and Filipinos have their way of adapting to these changes.Though these rituals have vanished as time passes by, engagements and wedding practices are still pretty much the akin. notwithstanding these revolutionizations, the essence of marriage remains in Filipinosthat is having the purest and sincerest intentions, respect for the elders and spiritual devotion. a. 1 Filipino Wedding impost In early times, Filipino fiance threw his spear at the front steps of his time to come understructure, which is said to be a sign that the bride has been spoken for. Nowadays, a ring is used as a symbol of engagement. a. 2 The EngagementPamanhikan is an activity done by Filipino families where the groom and his parents visit the brides family to ask for her in marriage. In this event, wedding plans are included in the said activity participated by both families. The plan includes the discussion of guest list and wedding budget. Usually, the groom-to-be is seen to run some errands around the brides house. Paninilbihan is the tradition where the groom-to-be renders assist to his future wifes family to gain their acclamation (Celeste, T. 1997). a. 3 The ceremonial The wedding ceremony lasted for three days during the pre-colonial days.On the first day the couple was brought to the house of babaylan ( priest) and will join hold over a plate of raw rice and give blessings to the couple. The priest will then prick the chest of both the bride and groom and draw a pre cise pedigree on the third day. They then will join hands and proclaim their love for each other three times. The couple will be fed with cooked rice by the priest on the same plate and will give them a whoop it up with some of their blood mixed with irrigate. Binding the couples necks and hands with a cord, the priest will then declare them married.Today, most Filipino weddings are performed as Catholic weddings though some native ritual still remains. Sponsors are particular(prenominal) people chosen by the couple to act as their witnesses. Thy can be godparent, counselors or relatives. Secondary sponsors will take overbear to some special parts of the wedding ceremony such as the candle, cord and veil ceremonies. Lighting the candle symbolizes the joining of two families and representing delivery boy Christ as the light of their married life. Placing the veil over the brides head and grooms shoulder symbolizes that the two individuals are united or unified.The cord, which is made of a decorative silk cord called yugal, in a form of figure eight, is primed(p) in the couples shoulders symbolizes everlasting flower fidelity among the bride and groom. Arrhae or 13 coins which are blessed by the priest is given by the groom to his bride as a sign of his commitment, commitment to his wife and future childrens welfare (Filipinafiancevisa. com 2001). b. Chinese Marriage Chinese wedding is a ceremonial rite within Chinese sept wherein marriage is established by pre-arrangement between families. In short, the spouse-to-be of sons and daughters in Chinese families are determined by their parents.Within the Chinese culture, romantic love is prohibited and a monogamous relationship is common among citizens. Between 402-221 B. B. , Chinese marriage started to become a custom. Though the country chinaware has some(prenominal) geographical as and is filled with extended history, generally there are six rituals to be followed, known as the three letters (request letter, gift letter and wedding letter) and six etiquette (proposal, birthdates, bride price, wedding gifts, arranging the wedding and wedding ceremony). Before modern age, women and not allowed to choose the person they will evanesce the rest of their lives with.Marriages were chosen based upon the needs of reproduction and honor as well as the needs of the husband and father-to-be (The Chinese Historical and ethnic Project 2001). b. 1 Chinese Wedding Customs Ancient Chinese believes in exigency. In prehistoric times, the gods tie a red wander around the ankles of a man and a woman who will be a couple in the future. The Chinese tradition of determining their hatful is through their parents. The parents of the groom will write the brides eight characters which her year month, day and hour of birth and will then be placed in their family communion table.After three days and nothing unfortunate happened in the family, it is a sign that the match is approved. The same ritual is performed by the brides family. If the match is granted, the celebration begins (About. Com 2008). b. 2 The Engagement Twelve gifts were exchanged by both parties to seal the couples marriage agreement. Chopsticks are historied engagement gift symbolizing the wish for sons. Usually, the family of the groom sends a integral roast pig to the brides house. In olden times, the brides family will send back the pigs head and hind mickle showing that everything has a beginning and an end.The wedding announcement in China is done by the groom providing special cakes to the brides family for it to be sent to family and friends. b. 3 The observation Firecrackers are used to drive away fell spirits and are reard upon the arrival of the bride to the wedding ceremony. In a traditional Chinese wedding vow, the couple will kneel before an altar with offerings such as roast pig, ducks and chickens decorated with red candles. With cups bind with red strings, the bride and the groom will then si p wine as a sign of their vow. They will then cross their arms, exchange cups and drink again.The sharing of wine symbolizes the harmony of their married life together. After the event, the bride will serve a cup of sweet tea to each genus Phallus of the grooms family (The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project 2001). c. Hindoo Wedding Sanskit is the language used for most saintly Hindu ceremonies. One of which is the Hindu wedding. Traditionally, Hindu weddings are conducted in this language, thought not always. They have many wedding rituals that have evolved over the years and are varied in many ways from the modern western wedding ceremony.The Hindu marriage ceremonies vary in disagreeent regions and according to family traditions. The Hindus give a lot of emphasis and significance to marriages and the ceremonies are very colorful and extend for several days. However, modern Hindu weddings are much shorter and do not involve the traditional ceremony that lasted for days. A lso, some of their rituals are being altered. Instead, ceremonies are chosen by the couples family depending in their family tradition and class. Therefore, ceremonies differ among various ethnic groups that practice Hinduism.Generally, the wedding is conducted under a canopy with four pillars and a sacred fire in the middle of the altar which serves as the witness of the ceremony (National Association of Wedding Ministers 2008). c. 1 Hindu Wedding Customs In Old Hindu wedding ceremonies, the on the whole family participates in the ceremony, from nephews and nieces to the couples siblings. Moreover, the mothers of the groom and the bride play a special part of the entire celebration. c. 2 The Engagement The priest visits the brides home to recite reading and prayers so as to bless the wedding a few days before the formal wedding ceremony.On the flush before the wedding the groom will come over to the brides house and the brides family will welcome them with a small ceremony. Somet imes, the brides mother will be offering a gift to the grooms mother. During this activity, the couple is not allowed to meet. If they see each other, it is believed that it will direct bad luck to their marriage (National Association of Wedding Ministers 2008). c. 3 The Ceremony The bride is escorted to the canopy by her maternal uncle. On the other hand, the groom is accompany by the best man and a young girl whose fictitious character is to keep him alert by shaking a metal nates filled with coins.The entire ceremony is divided into three parts. The Kanyadaan is the first part where the brides parents will wash the couples feet with milk and water to cleanse and purify them for a new life together. The Hastamelap or known as the joining of the hands, the couples hand are coupled together. The priest will then chant some verses in their holy scripture then a loop pf white raw cotton will be placed around the couples shoulders to symbolize their bond. A small open fire is lit i n the bone marrow of the place. The brides male relatives will be called to lead the couple to move around the fire.The number of times that they will walk around the fire will depend on the village they came from. In the southern order of Kerala, couples walk around coconut blossoms instead of a fire. In the couples hands are grains of rice, oats and leaves which symbolizes the blessings of good health, prosperity, happiness and wealth. At the end of the ceremony, rose petals are sprinkled to the couple to ward off evil spirits by the grooms brothers. When the entire ceremony is over, the bride will cave in her groom with mouthful of Indian sweets to show her responsibility to cook and take care of him and their children.In turn, the groom does the same act to show that he will provide her needs as well as for their future family. After the rituals, the relatives are invited under the canopy to place red dots in the couples foreheads and sprinkle them with rice grains to wish f or a long, glad and prosperous knowledge together (Triveni Wedding Cards 2007). Discussion Marriage has been a very monumental event among men and women. It symbolizes the union of two souls as well as recognition of the bonding of individuals in the straw man of a minister or a government-sanctioned officer.In addition to this, wedding rituals have made cultures across nations rich and unique. These rituals exemplify their beliefs and lifestyles which explains some mental theories. This paper primarily focuses on wedding rituals of Filipinos, Chinese and Hindus. The Egyptian, Lebanese, Libyan and Korean wedding styles and traditions were also reviewed. They differ in a way that is shows or portrays their traditions, however everyone has a common goal and that is to present how two individuals are joined and unified.That is, the need to express and acknowledge the joining of two souls, in the eyes of God or a government officiator for the recognition to be legalized. Filipino ri tuals only show how Filipinos value and respect their familys approval for their soon-to-be spouse and that spiritual cleansing is important as a commitment and devotion to ones lifetime partner. Valuing family ties can be observed to all Filipinos. Moreover, this concept can be seen in Filipinos way of livingthat they are still attached to their own families though they already have a family of their own.Chinese, on the other hand, believes in destiny and marriage is pre-determined. Their practices and beliefs show the Chinese way of living. Chinese nowadays are known to bloom in the business field, and from what was discussed in this paper, their marriage also depends on ones economic stability. In addition to that, their rituals show the wealth of every Chinese family showing their capability to build and indorse a family. Lastly, the rituals of the Hindus show more of their spirituality. Driving evil spirits and neediness for happiness, wealth, prosperity and good health are s ome of the elements significant in the ceremony.Their ceremonies are usually colorful which indicates their lifestyle. Also, since family members and relatives play an important role in the festivity, it shows how significant family togetherness is to them. Having seen and discovered various rituals from different cultures, it clearly illustrates the diversity of peoples beliefs and traditions. It appears that every ritual and practices observed in different nations shows a historical, spiritual and psychological background that explains their lifestyles.Historical in the sense that these practices are drawn from their ancestors and are still practiced nowadays. Spiritual, because they honor and ask blessings from the gods that were introduced in their culture. Moreover, these rituals have specific meaning that will result to spiritual authorisation for the married couple. And lastly psychological, because there are certain reasons why people get married depending on their backgrou nd and culture, how they choose the person to marry and the effect of their marriage in their future together.In my own efflorescence of view, further studies should be recommended for more explicit explanations of reviewed traditions and practices. In addition to that, results or outcomes should be recorded to analyze the accuracy of certain rituals that are observed. This may be helpful for further developing traditions as to giving more fruitful effects to couples who are soon to be married. In this case, comparability will be avoided to whether what culture is more rich and meaningful kind of respect for every cultures belief will be promoted.Though such recommendations may seem tedious as to disrespectfully changing ones belief and modifying a certain culture, getting these ideas may also help elevate peoples lifestyle as well as establishing a more logical and significant culture. References About. Com 2008. Chinese Marriage since 1950s Retrieved on run into 14, 2008 from http//chineseculture. about. com/library/ periodic/aa112200a. htm Celeste, T. 1997. Filipino Wedding Rites. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. snoopydude. com/wedding/filipinowedding. htm Down, J. 2002. Chinese Wedding.Retrieved on March 17, 2008 from Newsfinder 2002, Culture Section. Ehow. com 2008. Wedding Customs and Traditions. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. ehow. com/information_1329-wedding-traditions-customs. hypertext mark-up language? ref=fuel Filipinafiancevisa. com 2001. Filipino Wedding Traditions. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. filipinafianceevisa. com/FilipinoWedding. htm Finch, P. 2007A Filipino Wedding What To Expect Retrieved March 17, 2008, from http//ezinearticles. com/? A-Filipino-WeddingWhat-To-Expect&id=821770 Huanxing Q. and Zhongmin L. 1999 Unique Chinese Customs in Huian,Fujian Province Retrieved on March 17, 2008 from Xindeco Business Information Company Kasal. com 2006. Despedida De Soltera. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. kasal. com/hypertext markup language/rr/fili/fili5. html Morgan, P. J. Weddings in Egypt. Retrieved on March 17, 2008 from Saudi-Arabian Aramco World, pages 34-39 National Association of Wedding Ministers 2008. Hindu Wedding Ceremony. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. aweddingministers. com/ceremonial_mat/hindu_wedding. htm Persian cultures 2007. Wedding in different culture. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. coxformat. co.uk/images/_backup/wedding-in-different-culture. html The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project 2001. Chinese Wedding Traditions. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. chcp. org/wedding. html Triveni Wedding Cards 2007. Hindu Wedding Ceremony. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. weddingcardshoppe. com/Hindu_Wedding_Ceremony. htm Wedding Traditions 2008. Wedding Traditions and Folklore. Retrieved on March 14, 2008 from http//www. vfwpost1503. org/wedding_traditions. htm Xing Q. H and Zhongmin 1998 Lu Wedding Custom s Northern Shanxii Retrieved on March 17, 2008 from Folk Customs of China