If you have never fasted before in your life, it would be important to prepare for your first fasting in life. You would expect the groom and bride to have all their past mistakes forgiven during the union of their marriage. This is to symbolize that two souls are being merged into one complete soul. For this unification, the two partners have to fast from morning until when this ceremony comes to completion.
If you are one of those people who does not plan their events in advance, you may find this tradition to be quite inconveniencing. This is due to the requirement that both you and your partner should not see each other a week to the official marking of the ceremony. Therefore, a good rule of thumb would be to make early preparations so that this time finds when everything is set.
Traditional wedding ceremonies for Jews must take place under a canopy. This is one of the most significant symbols of the day. It is a symbol of the home that the two partners are going to build. If you will be working with a wedding planner, it is important for them to understand how these canopies are built. The tent usually has all its sides open to symbolize unconditional hospitality.
One of the best things about the Ashkenazi customs is that it disregards material possessions during the marriage ceremony. This can go a long way towards giving a low budget event. It is expected that the groom and bride should not be in any kind of jewelry when exchanging their vows under the canopy. This is to give more significance on the principles that bring two parties together and not material items.
If you had made plans for soft drinks and other beverages in the traditional wedding mimicking the practice done by Jews, you may want to reconsider your choices. The ceremony gives more meaning to wine. This is the drink used to symbolize joy and celebration in their customs. You will always find the wedding couple drinking to it after the rabbi has said their betrothal blessings.
The tradition of Jews regards marriage with esteem. It is seen as something that ought to be of simple, devoid of blemishes and carrying beauty. This is where the giving of the ring comes in. The chatan gives a valued item to their kallah for officiating the marriage. The custom allows the use of rings that are made of plain gold. Making sure the ring does not have ornaments or blemishes is crucial.
You may want to practice some of Aramaic language since the marriage contract is read in that language. The best thing about this is that it outlines the roles and responsibilities of each party in the marriage. The contract is often signed by two witnesses and can stand in as a legally binding agreement.
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