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Cultural Weddings

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Cultural Weddings
A wedding is the marriage rite in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of wedding vows by the couple, presentation of a gift, and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader. Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is followed by a wedding reception. Music, poetry, prayers or readings from Scripture or literature also may be incorporated into the ceremony (Wedding, 2012).
Weddings, like any other major life event, can bring out the best and worst in all of us: generosity, creativity, humor, as well as jealousy, control, and even boredom. Weddings are a huge lavish thing in all cultures. They are bringing not only two people together, but families from both sides together. This can be a stressful and at times just not worth it for the bride or the groom. Psychology has taught me to look deeper into the differences in different cultures and their weddings. They can be so similar, but so different at the same time and there is a reason for most of the differences when it comes to different cultures and their place in the world (Besnette, 2000).
Wedding traditions around the world vary according to nationality, country, and religion. One of the different cultures I studied was the Indian culture in India. Though traditions may be similar, the meaning and practice behind them vary greatly. India’s Weddings are coupled with many traditions and beliefs. They perform a many ceremonies leading up to the actual wedding ceremony itself.
For a long time it has been a custom for India to arrange their children’s marriages. The parents would normally choose their child’s husband or wife to be. Unlike for Americans, who they base their marriage life on how they feel; Indians base it through the class status of their families. Freedom in America is


References: A Primer on Japanese Wedding Traditions - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com. (n.d.). Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://voices.yahoo.com/a-primer-japanese-wedding-traditions-1408967.html Besnette, J. (n.d.). Wedding-Board.com: The Psychology of Weddings. Wedding Board: Local Bridal Shops, Wedding Supplies and Services for your Destination Wedding. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://www.wedding-board.com/article-wedding-psych.cfm Cultural Wedding Favors & Gifts - Cultural Wedding Customs & Traditions. (n.d.). Cultural Wedding Favors & Gifts - Cultural Wedding Customs & Traditions. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://www.worldlyweddings.com/japanese-traditions-a/128.htm Indian Wedding Rituals - Indian Wedding Customs, Wedding Rituals in India, Wedding Customs in India. (n.d.). Indian Culture - Cultural India - Culture of India - Cultural Heritage of India - Cultural Attractions in India - Indian Cultural Heritage. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://www.culturalindia.net/weddings/wedding-rituals/index.html JAPANESE WEDDINGS: CLOTHES, CEREMONY, PARTIES, GIFTS, CHURCHES AND DISNEYLAND - Japan | Facts and Details. (n.d.). Facts and Details. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=617 Wedding - Psychology Wiki. (n.d.). Psychology Wiki. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Wedding people., r. (n.d.). Difference Between India and America | Difference Between | India vs America. Difference Between Similar Terms and Things. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-india-and-america/
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