Did you know that may be tree trunks to saw during the wedding? And that kidnapping the bride is a very common wedding game? And what about Polterabend?
Today we list some of the most common wedding traditions in Germany!
German Wedding Traditions
The Shoes
Following this funny tradition, the bride has to prove that she can be a responsible spender, so she has to pay by herself her bridal shoes in cent coins. One of these cents can be saved and put into her left shoe the wedding day. During wedding party, one of the bride’s shoes is auctioned (symbolically). The guests put their bids into the shoe, but the groom has the duty to win and to return the shoe to her loved one.
Polteraband
This German word literally means “eve of making a racket,” and It refers to the night before the wedding. The groom and the bride-to-be plan an informal party for friends, during which they smash a bunch of porcelain! This is made for good luck, of course! The invites are not sent as for the wedding day, people just know by word of mouth. After all the dish-breaking, there is the tradition for which the bride and the groom clean up together the mess-as they will do for the rest of their lives as a married couple.
Baumstamm sägen
There are many games played during German Weddings, one of them (for both brides and grooms) is the Baumstamm sägen (sawing a tree trunk). In fact, often after the ceremony, the married couple is asked to win a challenge together: sawing a piece of wood in half.The groom is on one side of the saw, the bride on the other side. The work together to sever the wood, proving they are a strong couple, in every situation.
Brautentführung
Another example of German wedding game is the Brautenfuhrung, or kidnapping of the bride. While in some countries (as in Russia), the bride is often “kidnapped” or hidden before the wedding, in Germany there is the custom to kidnap the bride after the ceremony, dragging her from bar to bar, while the groom tries to find her.
Baumstamm sägen
There are many games played during German Weddings, one of them (for both brides and grooms) is the Baumstamm sägen (sawing a tree trunk). In fact, often after the ceremony, the married couple is asked to win a challenge together: sawing a piece of wood in half.The groom is on one side of the saw, the bride on the other side. The work together to sever the wood, proving they are a strong couple, in every situation.
Brautentführung
Another example of German wedding game is the Brautenfuhrung, or kidnapping of the bride. While in some countries (as in Russia), the bride is often “kidnapped” or hidden before the wedding, in Germany there is the custom to kidnap the bride after the ceremony, dragging her from bar to bar, while the groom tries to find her.
Schleiertanz
The Schleiertanz, or the veil dance, is another common German tradition.
It involves taking the bride’s veil and let the couple dance under it. Suddenly the music stops, and the single women have to try to rip off pieces of the veil. Following the tradition, the one who take the biggest piece will be the next who will be married.
Engagement Rings
Engagement rings before wedding are not as common as in other countries. Generally, there is only the custom of switching the ring from the left to the right hand after the ceremony.
Pop balloons!
One tradition – though not as common – is that at the end of the wedding, couple’s friends fill all their bedroom with balloons. When the newlyweds come, they have to pop all the balloons before starting their lives together.