Analysis of Jewish and Greek Weddings - Research Paper Example

Impressions Jewish and Greek Weddings   A study conducted by Sir. Mayim deals about the fact how the new marriage rituals are related with the ancient symbolism. His idea is to educate the upcoming generation about their rich history which bought these marriage rituals and why the Jewish needs to be connected with their cultural signatures. From the wedding invitation to the valued kiss, every step of the marriage ceremony is a shadow of what was performed by the God’s noblest men on earth. The best book I would refer a person planning a Jewish marriage; Anita starts with the enlightenment about the rich Jewish cultural heritage and declares marriage as an essential part of it. She then explains some of the antiques like The ‘Kettubah’ and The ‘Huppah’, the environment under the ‘Huppah’ ‘with joy and fun everywhere around to the ring ceremony. A checklist for the arrangement of the cultural wedding show is also fantastically defined by the author. The book, “An Accidental Greek Wedding” is an effort of fiction presenting the connection of the land of Greek and its people. The author tells the reader about love, sex and marriages and how love extends around the Greek island. Love develops with a stranger as they spent time together developing into a willingness to tie for the long route of marriage. In the book ‘The wedding in ancient Athens’, history has redefined itself. The centre of all mythologies ‘Athens’ had its incredibly own charm of rejoicing nuptials. Everyone in Greece would plan for the marriage whether they are affluent or indignant. Spiritual rituals were held in large numbers to honor the assistance of God for the newly wed couple. The pictures of the marriage were sculptured on the walls at the home to keep in mind its event and importance. Marriage is that grave vow we make in our lifetime for the one who is clandestine and sweetheart for us. To tie the knot for a life time relationship, is both the most essential of all our pledges, and at the same time the most inspiring. The word “wed” is derived from the primordial Greek word for “pledge.” And that’s what a wedding is, no matter wherever on earth, in any country it takes place, no matter what culture and tradition it’s part of ,it’s a pledge based on love and for the development of humanity. Jewish culture and tradition dates back to the knowledge of ‘Torah’ and living of Moses –the noblest of all men sent by God for the comfort of human beings. Except the little changes brought by the hurricane of modernization, Jewish culture is renowned with the same poise in all Jewish households throughout the earth. Jewish law enjoins the complete population to bring joy and happiness to both the ‘Kallah’ (bride) and ‘Choson ‘(groom). A traditional Jewish wedding is composed of a number of rituals and activities portraying life in its best sense, showing the love of husband and wife for their lasting relationship of the near future. The rituals are also linked with Jewish society, which expects to see the relationship successful and prays for it. In Judaism, marriages occupy a place of a holy institution. It is a blessed union, and natural good, a heavenly command. The Creator of the universe wishes that His effort. Since marriage was fashioned for men and women both for this purpose, the Torah wishes to make a notion the sanctity of nuptials upon the pair. Its name "kiddushin," (in Hebrew) means "sanctification”. An unmarried man is deemed as half a person and wedding brings entire spirit to the body. In Jewish weddings, just like the Indian culture, the bride and groom are not allowed to see each other so that the purity of bride is reaffirmed. On the night of the wedding, friends and family all get to gather to celebrate before the great ritual and upcoming days. Excitement and enthusiasm can be seen clearly in the air. The couple doesn’t meet anyone before a few days of the wedding to upcoming whole week because they are treated as royals in Jewish tradition. Jewish tradition specifies that prior to the marriage formal procedure; standard conditions are predetermined in a document, on paper, by the groom, bride and their respective parents. This way of pledge is also followed in two of the religions following the holy books’ Christianity and Islam. The document attains legal values as it is acted in front of two witnesses. The other monotheistic religions also pattern the followers to commemorate their wedding with the help of witnesses. Then the symbolic rituals of breaking the wedding glass, wine and the great kiss covers the scene. In the Indian culture beginning of a new task is initiated with breaking a coconut at the footsteps of the house, which according to Jewish ideology is marked by breaking the wedding glass. This act symbolizes a men’s will to break all the previous bonds of his life and to start a new prosperous beginning. Wedding dresses also occupies a place among the outlook of a marriage. The color and styles of wedding dresses differ from area to area, cultural and ethical values and the mentality of the people. Wedding dresses are always not supposed to be white, a color which dates back to the Victorian era. Israel and Jews around the world prefer white color for women’s wedding dress. For them the color represents spiritual purity and clarity. Blue occupies the second rank among the choice of wedding dress in Isreal.This color embodies mystical powers. The Africans usually choose a color representing their villages and natural way of life. As they are connected spiritually with the natural surroundings, the Africans usually prefer green color for their wedding dresses. Ancient mysticism is also believed by the Africans, bringing yellow color as their second choice for wedding dresses. For them the yellow color protects them from the evil eye. The Chinese and the Indians believes Red color as a symbol of happiness and Joy so the wedding dresses as made out of this color. In addition to the red color Indian brides are also covered with a number of jewels and ornaments to show off wealth and beauty. The second of the Cultural wedding I am going to deal here is one of the most prominent ,ancient and the most promising culture of the world ‘the Greeks’. In the Greek the social order, marriage has always been regarded as an auspicious relationship. Marriage is considered to have immense importance for the purpose of carrying the family heritage. In there culture every decent woman became a partner for her man. Destiny always plays an important part in bringing a marriage ceremony. The sanctified wedding rituals are interwoven by a mixture of ceremonies. These ceremonies had ritualistic meanings and have common characteristic cremation. There is evidence in Greek history about these practices, which aids to providing a complete version of Greek ethnicity. Gifts, dedications and sacrifices are made by the bride and the groom with the help of there families. Marriage is made up of a private agreement where the woman was transferred to her husband. In the Greek lifestyle marriage consists of a transfer and transformation of one’s soul into his/her partner’s soul. Transformation literally means giving the liability of the woman to the man, her husband. Many of the rituals performed during the wedding points towards their transformation. For example cutting of hair and offering themselves to virgin deities. In Greece, the couples are not made-up to get married on certain days, like Lent and other days observed by the Christians throughout the world. The Hindus also observe the wedding at fixes date and times according to what are written in their very own ‘KUNDLI’. Though the wedding traditions may differ, depending upon the region and beliefs, there are definite wedding customs that are commonly followed and believed. Earlier than the wedding, an engagement ceremonial is held, in which the bride and the groom exchange rings. The uniqueness of the Greek wedding is the time when the bride and the groom are bejeweled with crowns, followed by the wedding dance as in Europe and the US. The two are treated royally throughout the wedding session. When the ceremony ends, the parents of the bride gives the couple honey and walnuts symbolizing sweetness. The same way in which the couples are adorned with stuff symbolized with mystical effects. One of the interesting traditions in Greece is to break a pomegranate on the floor at the beginning of the weddings. It is a symbol of fertility, profusion and good luck. Same as the coconut in Indian tradition a glass works for Jewish weddings. Wedding throughout the world have some similar magic. People will gather at your place from far away places. Some of the guests may become surprised to see you in wedding dress as the last time they saw you was in your early childhood. For the recent years, the wave of modernization is changing family values throughout the world. People now prefer a modest wedding with few close ones. A pre ancient custom of a society may be seen a strange or foolish act by others. These wedding traditions show the rich diversity of customs in our world. Let me begin an example from Korea. At the end of the wedding ceremony, groom’s friends seize off his socks, bind a rope around the ankles, and start pounding soles of his feet with dried yellow ‘corvina’, a kind of fish. This humorous act is performed to compose the groom stronger before the first wedding night. The next tradition belongs to Scotland. There is an aged Scottish tradition termed as ‘feet washing’. It s held at the eve of the wedding. People gather in huge number to wash the feet of the upcoming bride. The wedding ceremonies, either of the Greek, Jewish or elsewhere, are a symbol of beauty, love, wealth, relationship and great spirituality. The air filled with happiness and joy meditates one’s mind. The way families plans marriages truly defines them. If a person wants to learn about a culture, in my opinion he/she should have a visit to the way where wedding is celebrated. References: Diamant, A. (1985). The New Jewish Wedding. New York: Summit Books. Grace, C. (2004). An accidental Greek wedding. New York: Pocket Books. Oakley, J. H., & Sinos, R. H. (1993). The wedding in ancient Athens. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press. Mayim Hayim. A Fresh Look at the Jewish Wedding. Study Read More