I've been privileged to attend some weddings and wedding receptions this summer. One of which, Daphne and Caleb's, was refreshing in its departure from some of the rituals we normally keep but whose meaning has become divorced from its form or practice. It made me start thinking of all the rituals and superstitions we practice in the States but don't know why.
Why do we?
-Have a bouquet toss at receptions?
-Have a garter toss at receptions?
-See newly husband and wife cut the cake together and shove it in each other's faces?
-Have the father walk the daughter down the aisle when the preacher says "who gives this woman to this man?" Why not abandon this altogether because of its sexism? Or have a mother walk a son down the aisle while the preacher says the same thing?
-Why in the movies do preachers pronounce someone MAN and wife? Is it that manhood is conferred upon marriage and intercourse? Or is it sexist because the wife's relationship is dependent on her relationship to the man and the man's identity is not dependent upon anything else?
-Why, as a Christian, do we celebrate Christmas with Christmas trees?
-Why do we celebrate Easter on a Lunar calendar (moon based calendar) instead of a Solar calendar?
-Why do men wear neckties or collars?
-Why do we ask: If anyone has anything against this couple getting married, speak now or forever hold your peace? What do we hope is going to be accomplished? A big scene? A preacher calling off the wedding?
-Why do so many hotels not have a "13th" floor elevator button but skip over it to 14?
-What if, at the beginning of time, men started wearing their hair long and women wore their hair short? Would that trend continue today?
4 comments:
this is great brent. about the wedding ones: there is actually one of those rituals on the list that we did and it might be the only thing i regret about our wedding. ask me about it at lunchtime. it's kinda a funny story.
and why can't the bride and groom see each other before the wedding? If they could, then all the pictures could be taken before the wedding, and we wouldn't be starving at the reception hall as we waited an hour or more for the bride and groom to show up. it makes sense to me (at least to my stomach)
I forgot...why have a maid of honor and best man? I actually read part of a book about how a best man is antiquated...the position was designed in case a fight broke out. The best man was to protect the husband from other suitors for the bride.
i've been thinking about these lately too - especially the patriarchal wedding rituals. planning to throw those out...some day.
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