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While some wedding officiants will read the Seven Blessing themselves, others will ask if you would like close family members or honored guests to read the blessings. Some couples ask family and friends to compose and recite an English blessing or wish that accompanies each of the seven Hebrew blessings. After the final words of the Seven Blessings, the couple will drink from the second cup of wine, and the ceremony is then complete.
Breaking of the Glass
The end of the ceremony is marked by the breaking of a glass and the hearty expression of Mazel Tov! There are a number of different interpretations for the breaking of the glass:
- It reminds us of the fragility of personal relationships
- It recalls the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem so that we remember sadness at the height of personal joy
- The shattering of the glass scares off any demons that are attracted to the event
- It symbolizes the consummation of the marriage
Many couples choose to commemorate their wedding by collecting the glass pieces and placing them inside a mezuzah, candle sticks, kiddush cup or by creating their own mosaic. It is possible to purchase a special colored glass that is made especially for these purposes.
Yichud
After the breaking of the glass, friends of the couple escort them to a private room where a table is set with a snack and perhaps a bottle of wine or champagne. At this time, the couple can spend some time alone and cherish their first moments as a married couple.
Jewish Elements To Include During The Reception:
Food
No Jewish event is complete without Seudah Mitzvah, more commonly known as food! Chicken and fish are two dishes that are often present at Jewish weddings because both are symbols of fertility. Dance
It is common to dance the Horah and raise the bride and groom up on a chair or two. You might want to consider making special chairs for the occasion – thrones for the honored couple to celebrate on. The dancing will continue throughout the evening, however one particular dance is often done closer to the end of the evening. This dance is the mezinke tanz or krenzel which honors parents who have married off their last child. The proud parents are seated on chairs in the middle of the dance floor while friends and family dance around them. A crown of flowers and greenery is often placed on the parents' heads during the dance.
Jewish Wedding Traditions From Around the World:
For the Love of Children
In Japan, the newly wedded Japanese Jewish couple jumps three times over a large platter filled with fresh fish or steps seven times backwards and forwards over a fish. This ritual is a prayer for children.
In Western Russia, Jews have a custom of setting a raw egg before a bride. This is a fertility symbol and a blessing for the bride to bear children as easily as a hen lays an egg.
In the Balkans, the couple would dance a dance with a fish in hand in order to ensure their fertile nature.
So go ahead, plan out your wedding ceremony and get one more thing checked off your to do list.
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