Wedding traditions with breaking glass and plates

Breaking glass or crockery at a wedding is a custom with many meanings. It can recall a loss, scare off evil, bring luck or make a loud noise to mark a moment. It appears in Jewish, Greek, German and Balkan weddings.

The Jewish glass

At the end of a Jewish ceremony the glass is stamped on and the guests shout mazel tov. Explanations include remembering the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, reminding the couple of the fragility of life, and a wish for the marriage to last as long as the glass cannot be repaired. In some communities both partners break a glass, and some couples use a light bulb or keep the pieces in a mezuzah or a frame.

Plates and porcelain

In Greek weddings and celebrations plates are sometimes smashed, though many restaurants now use plaster plates or flowers. In Germany the Polterabend is a party the night before where friends smash porcelain, and the couple sweep up the pieces. In Armenia the bride may break a plate on the roof, and in Russia, glasses are thrown after a toast, to bring luck.