Irish
Wedding Traditions
- by KissMeGoodnight.com
Many nationalities have their own wedding
traditions. The people of Ireland have their own distinct traditions
that make it easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from weddings
of other cultures. The traditions include Claddagh rings, superstitions,
a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes.
The
Claddagh ring has a special meaning in a traditional Irish
wedding. The Claddagh ring is a traditional ring that looks
like two hands holding a heart that is adorned with a crown.
Tradition holds that Claddagh rings be passed down from mother
to daughter. As these rings are meant to be passed down for
generations, it is not considered proper to buy a Claddagh
ring for yourself. Yet another tradition involving the Claddagh
ring relates to how it is worn. An engaged or married woman
or man would wear the ring with the tips of the crown facing
towards their fingertips. In this position the ring is considered
to be turned inward and symbolizes that the heart of the person
wearing the ring is taken. A man or woman who is not involved
in a romantic relationship would wear the ring with the tips
of the crown facing towards their wrist. This outward position
of the ring symbolizes that the person wearing the ring is
reaching out for companionship.
Traditional
Irish weddings also adhere to several unusual superstitions
in an attempt to ward off bad luck. A rain or
overcast day might be cause for concern at a traditional Irish
wedding. This is because one of the strange superstitions is
that the sun must shine directly on the bride to ensure that
the couple will be blessed with good luck. Birds also factor
into some of the traditional Irish superstitions. Hearing a
cuckoo bird or seeing three magpies are also considered to
be signs of luck for the couple. Yet another final superstition
relates to offering well wishes to the bride. At a traditional
Irish wedding it is considered bad luck for a woman to be the
first one to congratulate the bride and wish her well. For
this reason a close friend or relative of the groom will also
take it upon himself to ensure that he is the first to congratulate
the bride.
A
traditional Irish wedding usually concludes with a toast
that has been recited
for many years. At the end of the reception
the guests will gather around the couple for the final toast.
The couple will begin the toast by saying, "Friends and
relatives, so fond and dear, 'tis our greatest pleasure to
have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest
memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead
and ask God's blessing in your hour of need." The guests
then respond to the toast with the following answer: "On
this special day, our wish to you, the goodness of the old,
the best of the new. God bless you both who drink this mead,
may it always fill your every need." "Friends and
relatives, so fond and dear, 'tis our greatest pleasure to
have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest
memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead
and ask God's blessing in your hour of need." The guests
respond: "On this special day, our wish to you, the goodness
of the old, the best of the new. God bless you both who drink
this mead, may it always fill your every need."
Of course, no
traditional Irish wedding complete without the presence
of bagpipes and kilts. It is customary for friends
and family members to bring along their bagpipes and pipe the
couple into the mass and into the reception. They may also
continue to charm the guests with an assortment of bagpipe
tunes suitable for dancing. Not only do friends and family
members enjoy performing for the couple and the other guests
but they also enjoy taking the opportunity to dress in traditional
kilts for the occasion. The look and sound of the bagpipers
creates the feel of a truly traditional Irish wedding.
A traditional Irish wedding is a festive occasion filled
with good friends, food and music. In addition to these traditional
elements the Irish people also have traditions regarding the
Claddagh ring and standardized toasts that are used to wish
the new couple well. Superstitions also play a role in a traditional
Irish wedding. Many of the traditional superstitions relate
to objects or occurrences that are thought to bring the couple
good luck.
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KissMeGoodnight.com : 2005
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