Marriage
...t hand as a symbol of fidelity. After consenting their love for one another, the young couple takes part in an old ritual. It is a tradition to step on an embroidered cloth for good luck, prosperity, and a lifetime of happiness. After the wedding, this symbolic cloth is kept in the house. When the couple is formally husband and wife, they celebrate. The reception starts with toasts to the newly married, followed by a five-course meal and finally a night of dancing and entertainment. The first dance is reserved especially for the bride and groom, after everyone joins in. The party usually starts around four in the afternoon and does not end until early the next day. In some parts in is a ritual to have a two-day wedding. One day the hosts are the groom's family and the other day it is the bride's. Towards the end of the reception the groom's mother takes off the bride's veil, and replaces it with a shawl. The bouquet is replaced with an apron. These symbolize the woman is no longer a bride, but a wife. The bouquet is then tossed to unmarried girls and women. Ukrainian weddings are somewhat different from American, but both are special and full of tradition. "Here comes the bride, all dressed in white…" is a common tune that a bride would walk down the aisle to. American tradition is that the father walks the bride down the aisle, and gives her away. Before the wedding, the bride and groom are in separate places getting ready. It is said that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. While the bride is getting herself ready for the big day, she wears something new, old, borrowed, and blue for good luck. At the ceremony, promises are made; rings are placed on the left hand, and the marriage is sealed with a kiss. These rituals are common in most American weddings, but the Indian culture has unique traditions of its own. In the Indian culture, the Mandap ceremony is undertaken at the outset of most auspicious events. The families of the bride and the groom perform this ceremony in their homes a few days before the wedding. The families pray to, Lord Ganesh, the Hindu God who is believed to remove all obstacles and seek his divine blessing. This is an important Puja or prayer session and is held at the bride's home as well as the groom's. An "Acharya" or priest, in front of a sacred fire, performs the Puja. A mahurat or favorable time is cho...