Just A Few Food-Tastic International Wedding Traditions

In Italy, wedding guests each receive five sugared almonds, like those coveted Jordan Almonds from my all time favorite movie, Bridesmaids. Each candy represents a different well wish for the bride and groom: health, happiness, wealth, fertility and longevity. The almonds also serve to remind the couple that life has both a bitter side and a sweet one. These sugar coated almonds have also been used to shower the bride and groom during their grand exit as a newly married couple. Edible confetti? A must.

 

In South Korea, the bride and groom's families toss chestnuts and dried dates to the couple, which the bride attempts to catch in the skirt of her wedding gown. It is believed that the fruits and nuts gathered in her gown represent the number of children that the couple will have. Hoping to have a large family? Extend the traditional invitation to your friends, too.

 

 

One of Japan's most famous wedding rituals is called the san-san-kudo, when the bride and groom take turns sipping sake from three different cups of varying sizes stacked on top of each other. The first three sips (san) represent three couples: the bride and groom, and the bride’s parents, and the groom’s parents. Ku, which means "nine", is considered a lucky number. This moment seals the marriage and represents the couple's newly formed and unbreakable bond.

 

 

Janice Hussey, Food-Tastic Friday Blogger