Wedding Traditions Essay

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Wedding Traditions and Customs around the World Bridal Customs in different Countries The word “wed” is derived from the ancient Greek word for “pledge.” And that’s exactly what a wedding is, no matter what country it takes place in, no matter what culture its part of. To wed is to pledge yourself to another. There are few acts we perform that are more pure or more beautiful than the act of marriage. The pledge that lasts a lifetime. Marriage is the most solemn pledge we make in our lifetimes. Traditionally the wedding pledge is made in front of family and friends who take special pains to stand up and witness our pledge. The wedding pledge is to be true and faithful and loving to another human being. To wed is both the most basic of all human pledges, and at the same time the most sublime. Marriage carries with it the most solemn of promises, but it also embodies the potential for the greatest joy of human existence – the pure joy that flows from two hearts beating as one. There are few joys in life as deep or as long lasting as the joy that springs from the well of true love and a lasting marriage. If we are lucky, we find our one, true soul mate. We even have a term for it: soul mates. Two people, individual but at the same time inextricably a part of each other, so in-tune with the wants and the needs and the desires of the other that often words is not necessary. A mere glance between two lovers speaks volumes. In almost all cultures the marriage ceremony ends with the bride and groom exchanging a kiss. The wedding kiss transcends cultures, it bridges tribes, and it is one of the very few things that bind all of us together as human beings. From ancient times to the modern day, from the deepest jungles to the tallest skyscrapers, the wedding kiss symbolizes for all people everywhere the physical uniting of two souls. Marriage is the strongest
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