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In Love, Engaged, Married....Part 3
In the first article of this series, we examined some of the more interesting things Germans do on Valentine's Day to impress their loved ones, and to ensure that the special someone knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, just how special s/he is. In the second article we talked about the next step of the love relationship...the engagement. We learned about the old tradition of the Freiersmänner, and marveled at the idea of a Polterabend. Now we must ask ourselves...what do Germans do to ensure that the day at the altar will be a memorable one?
A Penny For Your Feet
Some of the traditions leading up to the wedding (Hochzeit) actually begin when a baby girl is born. Sometimes the parents, and later on the little girl, will save pennies. These pennies will later be used to buy the wedding shoes. Other times the father will plant a number of trees in honor of the girl's birth. When she is ready to get married, these trees are dug up and sold for her dowry (or to defray the cost of the wedding).
The Bride Hunt
An interesting little ritual that is practiced in only a few regions of Germany is the agreed upon abduction of the bride by her (and/or the groom's) friends. The groom must then go in search of her before the actual wedding can take place. Grooms know where to look, however: the local watering holes! The groom is expected to pick up the tab of his bride and friends as they sit waiting for him to "discover" them.
Again And Again
Germans get married twice! (At least if they desire a religious ceremony.) First, a couple is required to appear before a Justice of the Peace (Standesbeamter) who will satisfy the legal requirements of the marriage, i.e. that the parties are not related to one another by blood or extended marriage, are of legal age, etc. While this is a momentous occasion, only the couple's closest friends and family will attend. If a religious wedding is desired, it will take place either later in the afternoon, or a few days later. At that time the couple will enter the church together and walk down the isle together since, under the law, they are already married.
Engagement Rings
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend in the States, but a traditional German bride will wear a plain gold engagement ring on her left hand until the day of the wedding. During the marriage ceremony, the ring is moved from the left to the right, and become the actual wedding band (Trauring). Yes, you read correctly, in Germany the wedding ring is worn on the right hand!
Saw a Log?
Prior to their marriage, the traditional couple will most likely have already spent some time cleaning up -- after their friends and family dropped loads of china in front of the door and made a huge mess during the Polterabend. An interesting custom that awaits some traditional couples when they exit the church after the ceremony is a saw horse that sports a thick log and a handsaw. The couple is expected to saw the log in half, symbolizing their taking on the first hard task of their new life together.
The Parade
The wedding is over and it is time to party! The happy couple leads the way in a car decorated with a huge bouquet of flowers fastened to the hood, with all the guests following them, loudly honking their horns. The guests will have tied white ribbons to their cars' antennas. Onlookers will also honk their horns in honor of the wedding party.
All's Well That Ends Well
The party that follows after the wedding lasts long into the night. Some of the traditions include the passing of the veil, when the bride will give her veil to one of the female guests present. It is said to indicate who will walk down the isle next! Germans also love to play tricks on the new couple. Sometimes a bunch of friends can be seen laboriously lugging furniture and other items onto the roof of the couple's home while they are away at church. Other times these friends may decide to barricade the entrances to the home, and the newlyweds will have to work together (without outside help) to find a way in.
Who knew?
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