Italian Wedding Customs
In Italy https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/7473-why-do-women-have-to-be-perfect-at-work, like in many other countries, a few may decide to implement practices that represent their traditions or basically add to the splendor of their marriage day. From the throwing of grain to the groom serenading his bride the night before, italian bridal traditions are a way for couples to make their service even more memorable.
In many cultures the couple gives their guests a wedding favor to thank them for their presence. These are known as bomboniere in Italy https://toprussianbrides.com/italian-brides/ and typically consist of a present, printed ribbons, and sugared almonds ( confetti in Italian ). The number of almonds in the wedding favour- five or seven- is important as it symbolizes fertility, long life, health, riches and happiness.
Before the ceremony the bride has her hair done in an elegant updo and has a special headpiece called a toc ferro. This custom dates back to antiquity and is intended to ward off bad luck, including the possibility that her bride will change her mind.
Because it was once believed that a vein ran from the left finger to the heart, symbolizing love, the groom puts his wedding ring on the left hand. The couple’s commitment to one another led to the wearing of the ring as a sign of faith.
As the ceremony draws to a close, guests greeted the newlyweds by distributing rice ( meaning fertility ) over them. Wheat is used in some areas, but more and more municipalities are now urging residents to use alternative confetti that does n’t harm the environment.
