Wedding symbols
Fire, rice, henna, the ring, the knot, the veil, the broom, the broken glass and more: what a wedding carries, wears, ties, throws or breaks, and where each symbol turns up around the world.
Fire and the sacred flameFire is the oldest witness to a promise.15Rice and grainRice is the grain of plenty, and in many parts of the world a wedding without it would be strange.45HennaHenna is a plant dye that stains skin a reddish brown for days or weeks.21TurmericTurmeric, haldi, is the golden root that is ground to a paste and rubbed on a bride and groom before the wedding.10The ringThe ring is the best-known symbol of marriage in the world today.112Knots, cords and threadsCords, threads and knots express the idea that two people are tied.6The veilThe veil hides and reveals.34Crowns and wreathsCrowns and wreaths turn the bride and groom into a king and queen for a day.17Garlands and flowersA garland is a ring of flowers, and in the exchange of garlands a couple say yes without a word.48The colour redRed is the colour of weddings in much of Asia.125The colour whiteWhite is so tied to the Western wedding that many people think it is the only wedding colour.85Gold and jewelleryGold is the wedding metal.114Water and washingWater cleans, blesses, cools and joins.66SaltSalt is a small, humble thing with a big role.12BreadBread is the plain food of every table, and it is placed at the centre of many weddings.47Sweets, sugar and honeySweet things are given at weddings because they promise a sweet life.30Wine and the shared cupA cup of wine or a shared drink is a promise that two lives will be shared.54The wedding cakeThe wedding cake has changed shape many times.24Coconut and betelThe coconut is a sacred fruit in South and Southeast Asia, where it is offered to the gods, cracked for luck and set on top of the ritual pot.17Bells and noiseWedding bells are a phrase and also a practice.7Candles and lampsCandles and lamps bring light to a day of beginnings.23The canopyA canopy creates a small house in the middle of any open space.4The broomA broom sweeps a household clean and marks a threshold between two lives.2Breaking glass and platesBreaking glass or crockery at a wedding is a custom with many meanings.9MirrorsA mirror reflects the face, and in many wedding customs it reflects luck and truth.6Umbrellas and fansUmbrellas and fans give shade and dignity.2Horse and carriageThe horse and the carriage take the couple to the wedding in style.13Trees and plantingsTrees are rooted, long lived and fruitful, so they are natural symbols of a marriage.9Blankets, shawls and clothA blanket, shawl or length of cloth is a gift of warmth and a way of covering two people with one thing.3Tea and coffeeTea and coffee are the drinks of welcome, and at some weddings they are the whole rite.3Money and envelopesMoney is part of nearly every wedding.26Doves, butterflies and birdsDoves, butterflies and other birds are released at weddings or placed in decorations as symbols of peace, love and faithfulness.1Swords and daggersThe sword and the dagger are wedding objects in many parts of the world, as symbols of protection, honour and the groom's role.11