Brit Reacts to German wedding traditions you'll want to adopt

Is this really what Germans do at weddings?
Original video: • German wedding traditi...
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[@danielw.2442]

The ring finger of the left hand symbolizes the direct path to the heart of the beloved partner. That's why in Germany the engagement ring is worn on the left hand. Basicly as a sign, that the heart is already occupied. After the wedding, the engagement ring 'can' be moved to the ring finger of the right hand and is then worn in front of the wedding ring. In Germany, the wedding band is traditionally put on the right hand´s ring finger. This dates back to the Romans, who believed that the right hand was symbolic of 'honor and trust'. Basicly an upgrade from the passionate side of love to a serious more deeper level of love and commitment.

[@AutorTAMLang]

Jap, thats the way i learned it too. Or simple: Engagement comes from the heart, marriage is a hell of pure hard work.

[@Holilo7]

Shards are said to bring good luck, but the bridal couple tidying up and cleaning up the chaos caused by the guests is supposed to symbolize their first work together and is often celebrated in front of the guests present.

[@alexanderblume5377]

You always wear your wedding ring and never take it off. If the ring has stones or decorations, this is very impractical. So wedding rings are usually kept very simple and smooth. I've had mine for 33 years.

[@thorstenkettler-thiel1198]

Engagement Ring left hand Marriage Ring Right hand

[@jolandafrijlink6103]

Queen Victoria was German and i guess she was the one that introduced these traditions in Great Brittain like the witness and (i might be wrong but) she was the first to wear white as a wedding gown. And din't forget that the christmass tree was also German.

[@june4976]

Right hand is oath hand. So you put the ring symbolizing your vow on the right hand, and the ring symbolizing your love (engagement ring) on the left hand, which is "nearer" to the heart.

[@onnasenshi7739]

A funny little story My girlfriend at the time was at a ladies' party. One of her friends was getting married a few days later. I was out with friends and realized early on that I had my keys in my friend's bag; I called her and told her that I would come over quickly and leave right away; I didn't want to disturb her party. I went into the pub and immediately saw where the ladies were partying; I went over and nudged my friend; a guy next to her told me to get lost because he was on to this girl. I just told him to tell me if he was successful because I was living with the girl. He wasn't seen again after that.

[@JohnHazelwood58]

"I wear my ring on the left hand!" ... < yeah, and you drive your car on the wrong side of the road, too! XD For our wedding-rings we spent about 200€ only! And we didn't went to church and had no special type of clothing. I mean: I put on my best and new shirt and my new jeans for sure, ... and my wife got a new dress < which she wears quite frequently since, as it is just a usual summer-dress! XD We had no "Polterabend" (< breaking stuff) nor games like kidnapping the wife, etc. ... Or to cut a long story short: Every wedding is different and depends on the people! Some may use traditions, others simply not!

[@kabuki6417]

What can also be said about wedding rings is that they should be cast, which is typically done by a goldsmith. By casting the rings, the ring has no weak spot, which means the marriage has no weak spot where it can break. In other manufacturing methods, such as building a ring from a sheet metal that needs to be soldered, the ring has a weak spot due to the joint. Therefore, it's better to have them cast and forged, making the marriage break-resistant, so to speak. :)

[@mortanos8938]

Marriage in German is called "Ehe" which is old German for Iron. The Ehering (Iron ring) symolises the strength of the bond.

[@kabuki6417]

@@mortanos8938 Thank you for sharing this information, I didn't know that :)

[@mortanos8938]

@@kabuki6417 🙃 You're welcome

[@twinmama42]

Polterabend shows how well you as a couple will work together as you have to clean up the mess of shards, again and again - as everybody can throw porcelain at any time and the couple is obliged to swipe the broom asap. My husband and I also got pranked at Polterabend (the girlfriends of our witnesses planted multi-colored cotton balls (2 big packs) with Nivea creme on my car)... and in the wedding night (the same girls filled plastic soup plates with water and placed them on the wooden steps of the spiral staircase leading to our bedroom - wasn't good for the stairs or the carpeted floor beneath as my husband had half a dozen or more swiped from the stairs and flying through the room before he realized that there was water involved). I had a Disney princess dress - imagine Sowwhite's dress with the short puffy sleeves, a bodice, and a slightly puffed (petticoats are a great invention) skirt, all in white silk. On a Sunday evening, my fiance and I walked from the cinema to our parked car and strolled past a bridal boutique we didn't know beforehand. There were three dresses in the window, one was reduced to a fifth of the normal price, there was no size mentioned. I saw the dress and said, "This dress is mine". The next day I was there when the shop opened, I put on the dress and it fit perfectly - no alterations needed. The dress was not in fashion anymore but I looked beautiful in it and I couldn't imagine any other dress on me. It was ... just perfect. My wedding band is a tricolor. Three simple bands of white, yellow, and red gold winding around each other. It's still beautiful after 35 years...

[@anwincorin2742]

Incidentally, this is also a German word that can be taken literally. "Polterabend" means nothing other than "rumbling evening", because the smashing of the porcelain is so loud. I think that the saying "Scherben bringen Glück" ("broken glass [or china] brings good luck" also applies here.. By the way that's why a noisy ghost is also called "Poltergeist".

[@laurasworld4043]

@@anwincorin2742the breaking of the porcelain is also to keep the bad spirits away from the marriage. The loud noises drive the spirits away.

[@JensFrank]

The Polterabend, which is what the the party on the night before the wedding is called, is often the bigger party. While the wedding party is for family and close friends, the Polterabend is for all the acquaintances. The club mates, neighbours, school friends, and in smaller villages: All the villagers. On the next morning, the bride and groom have to clean up the mess (while many guests are watching and commenting), before they separate and prepare for church. This is a lot of stress for the couple, so these days, the Polterabend can be days or weeks before the wedding, or the couple decides to have a Polterhochzeit: Church wedding in the morning, porcelain smashing in the afternoon, and big wedding party in the evening. This is also often a nice way to close the often boring gap between "Kaffee & Kuchen" - coffee and cake served at 3pm - and the actual start of the 'real' party with music and dancing in the evening. One tradition they didn't mention in the video: After the wedding ceremony, when leaving church, the club mates (fire brigade, sports club, motorbike gang, etc) have a "surprise" for their buddy: They will form a guard of honour ("Spalier") and at the end of it, there will be a challenge. The path will be blocked by something that the bride and groom have to clear away. This can be a big bedsheet and the two have to cut out a heart, using the smallest scissors available, or they have to cut a log of wood, using a mostly blunt two-man-saw. They have to demonstrate how well they will work together in the future. Another tradition is the garlanding. It's not wide spread any more. I've never seen it in the city. It seems to only survive in smaller villages. The neighbours meet to make a garland from green plants and flowers. They "secretly" decorate the house door of the couple with the garland and the surprised couple will then have to invite the neighbours for Schnapps and sparkling wine.

[@LasseRinstroem]

There is also the custom that the bride should wear "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue". "Something old" symbolises continuity with the bride's family and past. "Something new" symbolises hope for a happy future. "Something borrowed" symbolises happiness and contentment. "Something blue" symbolises love, purity and loyalty.

[@verohavre3920]

Wedding season is mostly in the month of may. Because of the separation of state and church, weddings at the church are only allowed, if they went to the register office before. My wedding ring is very simple, mostly the engagement ring (if you do an engagement) for the bride has a diamond or something like that.

[@Frohds14]

Incorrect! That was abolished in 2009. Since then, the religious wedding no longer has to be preceded by a civil wedding. However, only civil marriages have legal validity; anyone who gets married religiously only (in Germany - It's different if one gets married abroad, where the clergy are allowed to carry out legally binding weddings.) is not considered married by law. The big churches - Catholic, EKD, VELKD, UEK - also continue to require a civil wedding in order to carry out a church wedding. Only in exceptional pastoral cases can it be done without . In EKD; VELKD, UEK, even after a church wedding without a previous civil wedding, one is still considered unmarried under church law. The churches were not involved in the the political decission; the state wanted to accommodate other religions with it.

[@verohavre3920]

Oh, I missed out something. But I'm married since 30 years and don't plan another one.😂

[@lynnm6413]

@@verohavre3920 congrats to you and your lovely partner…30 years are quite the accomplishment… Sending my best wishes for the next 30 years..💞

[@verohavre3920]

@@lynnm6413 Thank you, Lynn. 💖

[@ClaudiaErnst]

The Polterabend was earlier days in the night before the wedding. But because the drinking and party thing raised a lot the day happens now some days/ weeks before the wedding. US movies changed sadly the German weddings alot.

[@lynnm6413]

Usually at least the weekend prior or two weeks prior to the real wedding…

[@digdigktn]

Its a tradition in germany to engrave something on the inside of the wedding ring of the man. It says: "Ein Ring sie zu knechten, sie alle zu finden, ins Dunkel zu treiben und ewig zu binden". Or in english: "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them" XD Sorry, thats just a joke.

[@emilwandel]

One thing really missing is that bride and groomsmen go to the altar/table together. No walk with your parents.

[@der_greis_ist_heissl2816]

I did a medival marriage on a castle in a dress of that time. :)

[@laurasworld4043]

That sounds so cool!

[@DJone4one]

I remember the tradition in our village. One of my neighbours got married and on the day of the Polterabend we celebrated in the village fire station. With lots of people from the village. The village fire brigade has a small hall especially for this, also for other events or village gatherings. After the dishes was smashed against the wall of the house (old crockery, toilets, washbasins, etc.), the couple had to sweep away the rubble. Just the two of them, no guests. (Quasi as teamwork). Afterwards, the almost-husband had to take off his trousers and throw them in a hole in the fire brigade's garden and set them alight. Afterwards the hole was filled in by the husband. The bride had to take off her old shoes and one of her relatives nailed the shoes to a tree (there were already old shoes on the tree). This was also meant to symbolise the change in life.

[@laurasworld4043]

I heard about the shoe tradition… something about not being able to walk away or something… I’ve never heard of the trouser burning! lol

[@cacklebarnacle15]

Wedding pranks are also a big part of the celebration. My uncle's fellow EMTs filled the car he and my aunt were supposed to drive from the church to the reception with helium balloons, they also blocked the way out of the church with bandages and only gave my uncle scissors, dulled by cutting casts of off patients, to get through it, then they brought a container of hot soup and several tanks of coffee and wouldn't let my aunt and uncle leave until they handed out all the soup and coffee to the guests and everyone passing by. My parents had a suprise, when they went into their new appartment after the reception and discovered their new IKEA bed had been disassembled by their friends, one of the witnesses had been send earlier that day to pick something important for the wedding up, that they had forgotten, and he let everyone else in. My cousin and his wife were pranked, when one of the games to show their cooperation as a couple, was him having to break a pinata, but he was wearing a blindfold and she had to direct him. The audio recording of her instructions was later played as "a peek into their wedding night".

[@pippiswelt9464]

There is another Tradition too. The bride has to wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something used and something blue. Then the merriage will be lucky.

[@sarderim]

wearing the wedding ring on your right hand comes from catholic tradition. back in the day it was said, the left hand is "unclean" so can´t wear the symbol of true love on this hand. in Germany, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, Norway and Russia it´s tradition to wear your wedding ring on the right hand (that´s what google said)

[@paulnesseler5809]

One assumption goes back to the Germanic tribes. It is said that the vein of love runs through the right hand among the Germanic tribes and that is why the ring is still worn on the right ring finger in Germany today. Other traditions, however, say that this tradition dates back to the 16th century and can be traced back to the Reformation. According to this, Protestants deliberately wore the wedding ring on their right hand as a symbol of their faith and protest, instead of on their left hand as was previously customary. Some people see another reason for wearing the ring on the right in the Bible quote Exodus 15.6, which says (das die *_rechte_* Seite) that the right side stands for good. This belief is still widespread in the German language today. For example, people speak of *_Recht_* und Ordnung ("law and order") when something is going well or say that something is *_"Rechtens"_* (legal). In addition, it is considered polite to shake hands when greeting someone. However, it is unclear why in many countries with a Catholic faith the wedding ring is still worn on the left hand.

[@cacklebarnacle15]

Of all the weddings I went to in Germany, only one had a bride with a long train on her dress, and that train later was pinned up so she was wearing just a normal floor length dress. Dancing and other activities are part of the party after the ceremony and the bride better can at least walk quickly, if not run.

[@SheratanLP]

I have no idea whether this is just a Thuringian tradition, but here the bride and groom saw up a tree trunk in front of the town hall after the wedding.

[@ReisskIaue]

It is a tradition in Brandenburg as well. Of course the saw is usually not perfectly sharpened. 😂

[@Mamaki1987]

Yes, thanks to Napoleons code civil, only weddings in a Registry Office or at some place (like some castles or what not, they advertise that you can have a wedding there) with a state official are legally binding. But if you want to have a religious ceremony of some kind as well, you are free to do that as well of course. And after the official part, you have your venue or nothing at all. I know people who had a very big party. And a fromer collegue of mine and her now-husband went to the registry office for the paper work you have to do beforehand. The office wasn't very busy at that time so they got married in their plain clothes, not rings, no wittnesses no family or friends no nothing. And yeah, Germans are very superstisious. After all we had the Brothers Grimm, didn't we ;-) Oh, and what she didn't mention: normally you have the name of your spouse and the date of your wedding engraved inside the wedding band. Don't know why we wear weddings ring on the right hand. Maybe because we are the right-hand-person for our spouse? Fun fact. In Austria too, you wear your wedding ring on the right hand - but in Switzerland on the left hand. Smashing of plates is still done, but more in the rural parts of the country, I think.

[@mortanos8938]

Marriage in German is called "Ehe" which is old German for Iron. The Ehering (Iron ring) symolises the strength of the bond. The groom historically would always stand to the right side of the bride because people were generally right handed and ad their sword on their left side so that they could use their left hand to protect their wife and have the right hand free to unsheath their sword. The last wedding I visited, we kidnapped the bride and went on an entire tour of pubs, drowning ourselves in cocktails and working up a lovely receipt for the groom. Luckily many pubs will spare you the cost since it is a special occasion. Fun fact: The Poltergeist derives from the same word as the Polterabend.Polter means Rumble. People won't just bring cups and saucers, I once went to a Polterabend where some loonies brought a massive sink.

[@josefineseyfarth6236]

It's called "Hochzeit". "Ehe" is the marital status itself.

[@mortanos8938]

@@josefineseyfarth6236 Wrong. Ehe is Marriage. Hochzeit is the wedding.

[@mrcolumbiade]

@@mortanos8938 Ehe is the abbreviation of "Errare humanum est" 😉

[@mortanos8938]

@@mrcolumbiade 😂 bonum humor facit in die enim bona

[@Herzschreiber]

The authority and church thing: You first have to be married at your "Standesamt" (Registry office). If this is not done, you cannot have a church wedding. The church is not allowed to held a wedding without the paperwork from the Standesamt. So no, you don't have a choice depending on wether you are religious or not. You must have the registry office thing done at first. If you are not religious that was it! (of course you may have an event location to go and party later on, but it will not be a church), and if you are religious you will have the church wedding some weeks or even months later. I have never experienced a marriage where the cake was cut and consumed at midnight! Maybe this is a very modern thing which I am not aware of because I am too old, or it may be different in some regions. Usually the cake will be cut in the afternoon, at "Kaffee und Kuchen"-time, which can freely translated with the English tea time.

[@sebahabu]

you wear your engagement ring on your left hand - the wedding ring on the right. Some women wear both rings together on their right hand, sometimes.

[@filipieja6997]

All Germanic tribes were traditionally superstitious as from their many legendary tales (culture, people, religion, marriage etc...), some of which (like smashing plates, vase etc..) survive to this day only slightly in more modern ways ;-)

[@cailleanmccain]

My wedding band also is simple, except for the stones embedded in the metal. I had them embedded so they would not stick out and be able to cling to stuff, that would have been impractical. And that way, they also cannot get lost that easily. Those jewels came from another ring. My grandmother gave me one of her bejeweled rings when I turned 14, the one I told her as a small kid I would love to inherit if she died one day (I was like maybe 4 years old back then). It never really fit me, because she had very small hands, so I just kept it for later. When we were choosing wedding bands, I knew I wanted the jewels from that ring embedded, so that I can always remember her. As there are not only four mini diamonds, but also a blue sapphire, I had 3 of my "somethings" right there, with that ring: something new, something old and something blue... I wear that ring every day. If I take it off and hold it against the light, I can see the blue from the sapphire through a small hole on the inside of the ring, so it seems to glow inside.

[@zoivac1048]

Only very few people in germany have the typical fairy tale rings, but also every married couple have them. Because also a "wedding" tradition is that the engagement ring often has a bigger meaning than the actual wedding ring. The engagement ring is mostly the typical fairy tale ring, also "simple" but with a stone (mostly a diamond) and some little engravings. It is the promise from the future groom to marry his wife withhin a year. The engagement ring often is also more expansive then the actual wedding ring.

[@Auriane02]

Stealing the bride... Oh yes, there are amusing stories about it. For example, I was a guest at a wedding once, where the groom had Italian roots (he wasn't really Italian...), but his (funny) nickname was Mafioso. Now his friends took this as an opportunity to steal the bride and say: They want mafia? Mafia they get! Usually the bride is secretly led out of the hall during a dance. In this case it was different. The group of friends came into the hall dressed like an Italian mafia gang with (fake) machine guns at the ready. From the hairstyles to the leader with a gold chain swinging around one finger, everything was very detailed. The guests were kept at bay with the "pistols" and the bride was officially grabbed and kidnapped. The first few moments when the group came in were really funny, we guests looked pretty puzzled, but it was an absolutely fantastic event that I still remember fondly today, 15 years later.

[@silkeeickhorn4077]

My wedding dress was handmade by my mum, my sisters and auntie were Allowed to help but not me, cause this will bring bad luck. My fiance bought the weddingbouket and I bought his shirt(tradition from Hinterpommern where my mum comes from)

[@mickypescatore9656]

Hi, Dwayne! Even though I`m already divorced (!!! 😅) I don't have much knowledge about the background of wedding traditions. I just wanted to say "hello" because there is only one comment by now! 😀👋

[@buschhuhn9197]

We preferred the wedding ring on the left hand which is more "internationally" understood as such. Very simple one but for special occasions I got an additional one with 2 tiny stones (more bling wouldn't be me). We actually used our engagement rings and just added the wedding date to the engraving. Oh, and not everyone is superstitious. We skipped the Polterabend thing.

[@a.s.6748]

Actually Polterabend is often 1 week before the wedding

[@andreaschluter7844]

My parents got married in 1969, they had their civil wedding in may and their church wedding in October. In the summer in between they went on holiday and ran into my dad's aunt. They had to lie to her about not sharing the same room because they were not "properly" married yet

[@Palmetum1]

I don't know if things have changed but both partners usually wear identical simple rings when they get engaged on the left hand and from the wedding😮 on change them to to right hand. You practically could identify if you will who is married to whom by the Design of the ring.

[@peekay8369]

I have my own reason for wearing my wedding ring on the right. My husband's name is written in the ring and is therefore a symbol of him. I wear the ring on the right because he is the right person to spend my life with. And he must be, after all, I married him three times: first as a same-sex couple, a registered civil partnership in the registry office, then in the church and finally again at the registry office when marriage for all was introduced in Germany.

[@catymoonlightlove241]

she also forget to mention some regional diffrences ^^ in my region you have always a gold coin in your left shoe as symnol of wealth for the couple ans its the left shoe because of left side is the side of heart and feelings, tghe golden choin is usually given by the father of the groom as aprove and welcome to the family and wishing luck to the couple in my region we do also week befor the so called Mitgift and actully is old tradion ( of the bride brings her belonging into the mens familie ussaly it was the bedroom and bed carfted by hand pretect them from evil today they get driven to the village in hand craft bed and village cities give the Bride lucky gifts. in form of cake, money; or just other things kids ussaly give flowers . if you do we part of the 1 may Maibaum stecken then you give your future wife yourlast love prove but this time you not only making a heart with her name but also with yours to prove to the rest of the village / city she is yours. the junggesellenabschied is ussaly done 2 weeks befor where the bride and groom celebarte the last evening with there friends seperated. in my region we also have 3 weeedings , so the state weeding, the church and then the tradition weeding in traditional weeeding clothes of my region ^^ the weeding ring has to be casted because to make sure it can not break and is soild ring for a solid marriage. The engagement ring is worn on the left side of the heart. and the wedding ring on the right. This comes from the Roman period because the right hand gave me honor and respect and trust. So the wedding ring symbolizes feelings and I am taken while the wedding ring has a deeper meaning that you now support each other no matter what and share your life with each other and look after each other and take care of each other and the groom carries the bride over the threshold of the house. This symbolizes that from now on he will carry her in his hands and take care of her. For same-sex couples, a draw is drawn to see who will carry whom over the threshold. There's also a funny idea when cutting cakes: Whoever holds their hand over the other person's. determines where things go in the relationship or as we say, wears the pants. so to couple odes funny fight who hand is on top while friends laugh watching or filming it. then groom feeds the bride sometimes they also feed each other. same sex couples its the same process on weeding day we ussaly do some wierd games. dance a lot and then the bride kidnapping is happing. its funny because if tehj groom cant sing he has to sing at least 3 songs befor getting his bride back then the couple opens the dancefloor and then we dance until night. the fresh marryed couple retire then and he lifts her over the house door

[@Arch_Angelus]

Some people believe that the change of hands in Germany has something to do with the Reformation: Protestants are said to have deliberately worn their wedding rings on the ring finger of their right hand as a symbol of separation from Catholicism. On the other hand, the left hand was already considered indelicate in Catholicism, and our very Catholic Polish neighbors also wear their wedding rings on the right. Another theory therefore invokes the ancient Germanic tribes. They, in turn, are said to have believed that their love vein was on the right side of their body. But perhaps the German language also gives us a clue: rechts engl right “rechtens”, “rechtschaffen”, “aufrichtig” or “Gerechtigkeit” engl. righteous", ‘upright’, ‘honest’ or ”justice versus links engl. left “link” or “gelinkt” engl. “link” or “linked”. The right hand is the good, the right hand; the hand we shake in greeting. This cultural idea may also have played a role. However, there is no precise, verifiable explanation for the choice of the right hand. In Germany and Austria, as well as in Poland, Bulgaria, Norway and Russia, the wedding ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the right hand. However, this custom is not universal and there are also couples who wear the wedding ring on their left hand. The custom of breaking porcelain is probably based on the popular etymology of the saying: “Shards bring good luck”. The term “shard”, which originates from the pottery trade, originally referred to all earthenware vessels, not just those that were broken. “Shards bring luck” could therefore be interpreted to mean that many vessels, in the sense of filled storage containers, represent good fortune for the owner. Sociologists Peter von Haselberg and Heinz Abels have seen a remnant of the anthropological phenomenon of demonstrative waste known as potlatch in the ritual destruction of property. It is therefore a rite of sacrifice. Such rites are deeply rooted in Germanic customs, as in countless other cultures. Destroying the old can also be seen as a rite of passage from the circle of the unmarried into married life

[@KardoganLR]

My parents wedding rings were simple. White gold with yellow gold and a simple pattern. No stones at all. Inside were a engraving of their front names with a small heart between the names and their wedding date. That's all. Even their engagement rings were simple (white gold), but Mom's has a single tiny diamond in it. A diamond (no matter its size) is a symbol of purity, everlasting love and their promise to get married. The engagement ring on the ring finger of the left hand shows, that your heart is occupied, because it is closer to the heart. The wedding ring on the ring finger of the right hand shows, that you are "sworn in" to your partner, because the right hand is the hand where you take vows and oaths with. I think, that dates back into roman times. Putting you right hand onto your heart while giving a statement is also a sign of vow, that your words are true.

[@arnodobler1096]

The marriage ring on the right hand, you know immediately if someone is married. Efficient, isn't it? Normal rings are worn on the left.

[@markus-pg6me]

Trauzeugen sind so wichtig wenn alles Geschriebene verloren geht.

[@elkesoehner]

In Exodus there is a line that says that the right represents good, the left represents bad. Of course, there should also be law and order for marriage. Today, the tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the right is an integral part of both church and non-church weddings.

[@Schockii92]

My guess for wearing the ring on the right hand is, that it has to do with handshaking.. so ppl see the ring when they shake your hand

[@diemuebs4316]

I am not sure anymore if I really been married because at our wedding in Germany we missed most of these things.

[@lynnm6413]

I attended a Polterabend in the North of Germany, and the bride to be‘s shoes and old jeans were put on the fence and later burned…if I remember correctly, might have been the groom to be‘s jeans.. I‘m sure they explained it to me, it due to so much alcoholic fun I had that night I have hazy memories…lol… Maybe someone else can fill in the blanks…?

[@peterthill]

The thing is if I ‚build‘ a Wedding Buquett I have to be very carefully cause she is allergical to most of the fölwers

[@sandrakarls8466]

Well, some say a black cat crossing the street from left to right brings bad luck, also a brocken mirror! what else? Thowing over a salt shaker, too. About the kidnapping... well this can go extremly wrong! First, a few people are with the bride, other ones with the groom! But not all of the wedding guests. So they are left behind sometimes for a loooong time, if the groom don´t find his bride soon! That means, he goes from pub to pub and at every pub it´s his turn to pay and drink one shot. That means, that he might be already drunk until he finds his bride. Not to mention his friends who are with him... just not the driver. ( the same goes for the kidnapper. most likely not the bride) The mood of the "left behinds" can drop while waiting and even more after seeing all the people already drunk as they finally come back. Cutting the cake, it´s not always the man who has his hand above the woman, you need to look at wich one of the two has his hand above the other one. That means, the person has the upper hand at home, or has the pants on! (just a saying)

[@jacquie2004]

Plates, bowls, toilets...Scherben bringen Glück

[@arnodobler1096]

Old superstitions simply became traditions!

[@ixiwildflowerixi]

There certainly are superstitious people in Germany, but as the title says: those customs are traditions now and the video merely tries to (superficially) talk about their origins. For example: Breaking all the porcelain (literally) before the wedding is supposed to prevent having to break porcelain (figuratively and literally) during the marriage, i.e. ensuring a harmonious marriage without serious fights/disagreements. The couple then has to (repeatedly) clean up the mess together...displaying that they are partners that can rely on each other and work together. Oh, and noise is also meant to keep the ghosts away ;P One reason this is kept as a tradition (aside from the symbolism being nice) may be because it allows you to invite a different set of people that you wouldn't necessarily want to invite to your actual wedding (and in doing so still have them be a part of the general festivities): work colleagues, neighbors, people that are friends or you're friendly with but that aren't "family". It also means the main event can be smaller/more affordable with only the people you really want there without the rest feeling too offended for not having received an invitation.

[@fonkya1431]

Moin, dwanyne !!! Bachelor Party groups are banned from my City !!! Its a village ting to come wit da same pink Shirts and beggin only !!! The owners of bars hates dat !!!

[@maylinde986]

Just simple rings. Guess the shiny ones are from Disney (:

[@laurasworld4043]

Hi there, I love your Videos however there is an important Fact you always have to remember when it comes to traditions in Germany: Historically Germany has always been a State of many different „tribes“/Kingdoms/Earldoms/small regional collectives and so on… so the traditions are often very different in northern Germany to southern Germany or East/West and so on! My sister had a 5-Day Wedding. Starting Wednesday evening with a big pre-wedding celebration with friends, family and neighbours and doing the porcelain smashing. Thursday was a holiday so not much happens except that more guests arrived from further away, cleaning up the party and organizing bits and pieces for the actual wedding. Friday came the official wedding with the witnesses and signing the papers etc, a small gathering of friends waited outside and my sister and brother in law had to cut their way through a heart and step through it as a symbol of commencing their marriage/life together. After that a small party of friends and family stayed together for dinner. Saturday was the “big day” with the church wedding and big party afterwards. At the party it is often tradition that friends organize small games or songs or such to perform for the bride and groom. The party lasted all night and the bride and groom stayed till the end. On Sunday we had a big brunch with all the family and friends that came from further away and then everyone left. I have never heard of a German wedding where the bride and groom left their party early leaving the guests to party. The Honeymoon usually starts a few days later or even a lot later!

[@lhuras.]

Superstitious. We germans? 😂 Other superstitions I know Don't walk below an open ladder Black cats, that cross the street in front of you -from left to right : bad luck -from right to left: good luck Touching the Shoulder of Chimney Sweeper brings good luck. If the Chimney Sweeper put some ash on your forehead (or nose) it's even more good luck Horse shoe with the opening up over the house door will keep demons off your house Crows on your roof bring bad luck and illness The lucky cent/penny/ pfennig should always be kept close. It will bring you wealth. Knock on wood/tables to wish someone else luck with their plans. And there are many more good luck symbols, like shooting stars, fly agaric, ladybug, clover with 4 leafes...

[@sinazimmermann8179]

Salz und Brot zum Einzug schenken

[@sinazimmermann8179]

Nicht in einen zerbrochenen Spiegel schauen

[@sinazimmermann8179]

Sich beim prosten in die Augen schauen

[@lhuras.]

@@sinazimmermann8179 yep 😀 wir haben so viele 😆

[@sinazimmermann8179]

Keine Wäsche zwischen den Jahren waschen

[@Why-D]

Funny, this mornig I saw a canadian reacting to this 6 year old video. Probably the same follower who suggested that. Is there a competition of followers, who could make the most reactor reacting to a video in the row?

[@svenk8268]

877 / 5.000 Why the wedding ring right? Lots of guesses... In the Bible (Exodus) there is a line that says that the right represents good, the left represents bad. Of course, there should also be law and order for marriage. One assumption goes back to the Germanic peoples. It is said that the Germanic people's vein of love runs through the right hand and for this reason the ring is still worn on the right ring finger in Germany today. Other traditions, however, say that this tradition goes back to the 16th century and can be traced back to the Reformation. Accordingly, the Protestants deliberately wore the wedding ring as a symbol of their faith and protest on their right hand, instead of on their left hand as was usual. But not only in Germany, but also in Austria, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Norway and Ukraine, people wear on the right.

[@ilsekuper3045]

Smashing porcelain is an old Egyptian tradition from pharaonic times. The couple smashed a mug. This was the wedding ceremony to bring luck. Somehow, this came to Germany. Maybe, people believe that smashing the plates before the wedding might prevent the couple from smashing them during their marriage. 😜

[@TyonKree]

When in doubt go to a shorter explanation Loud noise is supposed to scare away demons etc before the wedding the same as with new years.

[@Terra_Incognita201]

Egyptian tradition? Porcelain was only known in China. So, egyptians used terra cotta not china ware

[@ilsekuper3045]

@@Terra_Incognita201 well, in Germany we mostly smash old porcelain. Terracotta in the old way would be a bit too expensive. 😜

[@TyonKree]

Dwayne or any other Brit, can wedding parties end early where you are? Because I have not been to a single German wedding that did not end before 4am Sure there are guests who go home because of their children but more often than not they are put into a room that's a bit more silent and for the parents the party goes on

[@dwayneslens]

LOL well no, Brits as well as Germans have a tendency to enjoy one too many beverages at a wedding lol! They finish around 12 but continue on. They tend to end but a lot of the time the groom and groomsmen will go out on the town afterwards lol! Sometimes even the bride but less so on the female side haha

[@TyonKree]

Wait what Are you saying that the party guests might essentially separate and party on their own? If so that would be very unusual in Germany Bride and Groom usually rent out a venue where they can celebrate with their guests together till people decide that they've had enough and go home

[@Hey.Joe.]

Are we superstitious or do we just Opt-In, just for the case? My way to handle with superstition is like that: Oh the mirror got broke, don't worry, because we have the saying that shards bring luck, so both are canceling each other out, so you have neither bad luck nor good luck at all, just neutral. 😉

[@SPEEDY4004]

you cant smash stuff in germany would just give noise complaints kidding SCNR Olli

[@user-ks7rc7to6g]

dont look at the bride. you guys are superstitious. ok😂

[@sabineblume5341]

German people like expencive simple thinks, if you want to show you are wealthy to much you have no stil at all.😂

[@LarsDittmann-jz5kx]

Sorry bachelor parties are not big in Germany.. we don't do this

[@jkb2016]

3:40 wonderful Polish accent and even more wonderful Polish family name (if you know, you know 😉)

[@johnveerkamp1501]

it's everywhere the same. BULLSHIT !!!!!!!!

[@eBBeLBeBBeL]

i hate weddings