Where In The World?

We're going to head to Germany for this blog! There is a large influence of German heritage that is present here in Wisconsin, so I want to familiarize them with their many native rituals.

The fun begins weeks before the ceremony. In many small towns and villages across Germany a wedding inviter (Hochzeitslader) will visit friends, family, and others’ houses, to personally invite them to the wedding. The couple will make sure to choose someone who has a lot of character; see, he has to wear a top hat, ride a decorated bicycle from house to house, carry a cane with ribbons, and read a traditional poem. This may take many nights; the wedding inviter is often invited into the house and offered food and many drinks!! For people to accept the invitation, they must take a ribbon off the cane he carries, and secure it to his hat!

Following that, the groom/bride goes out with their friends (or all together) to do what's called junggesellenabschied, similar to bachelor/bachelorette party, but there is hazing/pranks done at the grooms expense. (These are not the only pranks that will be played throughout the next few days) Often, the grooms’ men make the groom wear any crazy costume they would like! This tradition also includes walking through town pulling a wagon and selling random items (boiled eggs for a dollar, a shot for a dollar).

A week before the ceremony neighbors will get together and have Kranzbinden. The men collect pine tree branches that will be tied and placed on front door of couples house, and the women will tie roses (made out of paper) and pin them to the branches on the door. That evening is a pre-wedding party for the neighbors. The couple must provide food and drinks for all!

Next, is the breaking of the dishes! Friends, family and acquaintances will smash dishes at the house of the bride and groom to be. Broken to bits and pieces the couple must sweep it up. This is done so that nothing will ever be broken in their house again. "Scherben bringen Glück" broken crockery brings you luck! The more broken pieces the more luck! Guests don't always stop breaking the dishes just because it has all been swept up once, so watch out for more smashing throughout the evening!

As for the wedding ceremony, the couple will wear their gold wedding bands on the right hand once wed. As the couple leaves the ceremony, guests throw rice at the couple and however many pieces of rice stay in the brides hair, is how many children the couple will have. After the ceremony, some newlyweds have discovered their home or hotel room booby-trapped with pranks from friends! (Random alarm clock placed around the room, set at different times/living room furniture from the house placed the on roof)

Once at the reception, it is popular for the best man to kidnap the bride and hide her. It is the grooms responsibility to search the town for her, which she typically happens to be at a pub. Once she is found the groom is responsible for the bill created by his loving bride and best man.

Since 1450 a tradition from Nuremberg has appeared at many receptions. During dinner there is a special cup that the bride and groom must share, and drink from together at the same time. It's tricky, but possible! Here at Details, we have first handedly witnessed the success of this tradition! There was a lot of pressure, as the parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on had success! Love, faithfulness and good luck come to the couple who drinks from the cup successfully.                                                           

While dancing later in the evening there is a veil dance. The bride takes her veil off and a few people will hold it up for her. If anyone wants to dance with the bride/groom, they must put a dollar into the veil. Their dance will continue until the next person places a dollar in the veil.

German ceremonies last well into the night, which I got to experience firsthand! Traditions will differ by regions, as expected in all countries. But, the newlyweds in Germany are definitely put to the test!

~Danielle