Marital union, typically, a man and a woman is life cycle events celebrated in all cultures and is the focus of considerable folklore. It starts with beliefs and customs that can be observed in the lead-up to the wedding day.
For example, in a Christian or a European society that is widely considered to be unlucky for the bride and groom to see each other for twenty-four hours - sometimes more, sometimes less - before the wedding.
Wedding cars can be decorated with ribbons and also, lately, with Barbie Doll, wearing the same material with the bridesmaid dresses', attached to the hood. Other mascots and forms of decoration are also common, including the traditional white ribbon.
Beliefs and customs that are relevant to the wedding day itself is very varied. In the tradition of Lithuania, for example, it is popular practice to prevent the bride and groom entering the reception. The groom had to convince the guards at the door and the guests that he and his wife should be allowed in.
Prizes are offered as an incentive. Restrictions on travel to the country fully married, with all rights and obligations of officers, is the area in terms of customary marriage, a rite of passage that marks the transition of the new bride from unmarried to married. Customs restrictions are also reported in British, American, Japanese and Carpathian tradition.
There are many wedding customs are interesting and full of color observed in ethnic groups and religious groups in Australia, such as the establishment of a drinking glass (Jewish), linking Coronets ribbons worn by the bride and groom (Greece), the groom arrives at the wedding on a horse (India), and sweet almond given to wedding guests (Greece, Italy and many other ethnic groups).
Habit of sweet almonds have also been reported in France, Wales, England, Scotland, Israel and Belgium. Elsewhere, raw nuts is considered an appropriate food and / or gifts at weddings, is the continuation of broad beans and fertility associations, although in the tradition of Italian beans are generally said to symbolize good luck.
Almost always, an Australian wedding ceremony followed by a reception, dinner or a party for the newlyweds and their friends and family. Often held in reception centers or other public facilities leased for that purpose, wedding receptions can also be done at home the bride or groom.
Characteristic elements include music, dance, song, food and beverage, and speeches and toasts by the father of the bride, best man and man. It is the duty of the best people to read the telegrams, letters, cards and faxes from well-wishers absent on this occasion.
In the past, this message may have to be kidding suggestive, although this feature seems to have faded from the contemporary observance of the custom. Gifts for the newlyweds are usually displayed at the reception.
It is important to note the dramatic changes in marriage practices in Australia even in the last twenty years, and the consequent effect on traditional marriage. This change has been documented by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Census 2001 showed changes such as increases in non-church weddings.
Civil celebrants performed 53% of marriages in 2001, and of all marriages, 32% of all marriages, the church and celebrant, is expected to end in divorce.
In the same census, 72% of couples stated that they had cohabited before marriage, although this has not stopped many of these couples eventually celebrating the marriage law, sometimes with children who are now, in simple or elaborate ceremony that can be designed by the bride and the men themselves.
Another marked change in Australian society is a high rate of marriages between couples from different ethnic groups. All these changes indicate that social commentators, need to be careful making statements about the wedding, or weddings, in Australia.
