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Unusual Wedding Traditions Across Europe
Around one in 10 people move to a different country to be with a loved one. Since Hamiltons Removals provide high-quality UK to Europe removals packages, we have often helped people who are moving because of love – and possibly marrying a foreign partner in their home country. Here, we look at five of the more unusual wedding traditions across the world.
Germany
In Germany, weddings are marked with a ceremony called Polterabend. Guests traditionally arrive the night beforehand, usually at the bride’s home, and break as many porcelain objects as they can get their hands on – including those which they have brought along themselves.
This is believed to bring the newlyweds good luck and, as they are supposed to clean up the mess afterwards, also teaches them that married life will not be easy but by working together they can overcome any obstacles.
Any glass objects should escape unbroken, as this is supposed to bring good luck. In more recent years the ceremony has taken place on the day of the wedding. The tradition is believed to have started with ancient Germanic tribes, who believed that throwing and clearing up shards helped the couple ward off evil spirits.
Sweden
During the ceremony, the bride and groom walk down the aisle together, rather than the former being accompanied and given away by her father. This is meant to symbolise the couple uniting in marriage.
If the groom leaves the wedding reception for any reason, then all the other male guests in the room are permitted to kiss the bride. The same applies for the groom and the female guests if the bride leaves the room. This custom is known as The Kissing Tradition.
In Sweden, couples often wear three rings during their relationship – one for their engagement, one for their wedding ceremony and a third to mark the arrival of their first child.
France
In France, couples can have a civil ceremony, which officially recognises them as man and wife, followed by a religious one. In some regions of the country, the groom goes to the bride’s home, and escorts her to the ceremony. Young children sometimes stretch long white ribbons across their way, which the bride must cut through in order to proceed. As in Germany, this is meant to prove that the couple can overcome any obstacles that married life can sometimes provide.
Once seated at the venue, the couple exchange their vows on red velvet chairs. Laurel leaves may be scattered across their path by members of the wedding party when the bride and groom leave. During the reception, some couples opt to serve a croquembouche, a profiterole-style dessert of cream-filled puff pastries laced with caramel, rather than a wedding cake.
Switzerland
The Swiss also have a civil wedding service, at a registration office, so, if couples do opt for a second church ceremony, they are already officially married by the time they walk down the aisle. The church service tends to be in the afternoon, and it is usually followed by a cocktail party and a formal dinner.
However, there is still plenty of fun entertainment laid on. The maid of honour and the best man are usually responsible for organising games for the guests – and these can include setting quizzes for the bride and groom, and all the questions about their new other halves.
Italy
There are a whole host of customs associated with Italian wedding ceremonies. Services are rarely held on a Friday, which is when evil spirits are supposedly created. During the service, the groom sometimes carries a small piece of iron in his pocket while the bride sometimes tears her veil, both of which are supposed to bring good luck.
The bride-to-be should avoid looking at herself in the mirror before the service, unless she has removed a glove or shoe first. And there is also a tradition of wearing something green, rather than blue, during the service.
UK to Europe Removals with Hamiltons
Hamiltons Removals can help you with UK to Europe removals. If you are thinking of moving home to Germany, Italy, Sweden, France or Switzerland, we can either provide you with a dedicated service, where you have sole use of a shipping container, or a groupage service, where your possessions are combined with other consignments before being delivered.
We can pack, load and transport all your items to your chosen destination, including unusual or bulky objects. If you would like to learn more about our removals to Europe, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
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