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Hispanic/Latin Wedding
Traditions
Spanish
Before the ceremony, a Spanish groom
sometimes gives his Bride thirteen coins, symbolizing Christ and his 12 apostles. The
bride then carries them in a small bag during the ceremony as a sign that the groom
has pledged his support and care of her.
Hispanic
As part of the wedding ceremony, thirteen
gold coins, which represent the groom's dowry
to his bride are blessed by the priest and
then passed between the hands of the couple
several times and then placed on the
Bible.
A large rope or rosary is wound around the
shoulders of the couple in a figure 8 to symbolize their union.
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"A DONDE CASARSE?" (WHERE TO
MARRY?)
Choose a meaningful spot for your wedding. Look for a place that
holds Latin-American significance, such as a cultural museum, an
important church, a historical site, or a Latin-owned restaurant. Or
look for a site with a Latin feel, like a Spanish mission, a
hacienda, or even the tropical foliage in a local botanical garden.
And don't forget about the decorations. Use brightly colored linens,
flowers, and pottery. You can even hang "pinatas" from the ceiling.
At Puerto Rican weddings, a doll dressed in a bridal gown is placed
at the head table.
"PARA LA NOVIA" (FOR THE BRIDE)
Trying to decide on your "vestido de bodas" (wedding dress)? For a
subtle Latin feel consider wearing a dramatic mantilla veil, or a
slim dress with a bolero jacket. Or look for a dress with
Flamenco-style ruffles at the hem. Need something blue?
Brides in
many Latin-American countries wear a light blue petticoat or slip
beneath their dresses. White not your color? Well, in Spain, brides
wear black dresses to show their devotion until death. Touches of
red and black, for both bride and groom, also add a Latin touch. If
this seems like too much for you to handle, consider dressing your
wedding party in red and black.
"LA PROCESION" (THE PROCESSION)
Who's walking you down the aisle? At Argentinean weddings, the bride
is escorted by her father. There are no bridesmaids or groomsmen,
and only the couple's parents and godparents stand with them at the
altar. Similarly, in Chile, only the parents stand at the altar with
the couple.
"ARRAS" (COINS)
During Catholic ceremonies in Spain, Panama, and Mexico, the groom
presents the bride with 13 gold coins, known as "Arras," to
represent his ability to support the bride. The coins are blessed by
the priest and passed through the hands of the newlyweds several
times, ending up with the bride. Want to make the ritual a little
more balanced? Consider giving each other coins, to symbolize shared
responsibility.
"LOS ANILLOS" (THE RINGS)
Not everyone waits until their big day to get their wedding bands.
In Chile, engaged couples wear rings on their right hand until they
are married and switch to the left hand after the wedding.
Argentinean couples also exchange rings when they get engaged.
"MADRINAS Y PADRINOS" (GODPARENTS)
Throughout Latin America, specially chosen godparents guide couples
through their wedding ceremony. In Mexico, "madrinas" and "padrinos"
serve as wedding sponsors, supporting the couple both financially
and spiritually. In Bolivia and Equador, "compadres" or "compadrazgo"
are chosen either at birth or marriage. They play a large role in
the wedding, and continue to support the couple throughout their
lives.
"ATE EL NUDO" (TIE THE KNOT)
In Guatemala, the couple binds themselves together during the
ceremony with a silver rope. Mexican couples perform a similar
ritual, where a rosary or white rope is wound around their shoulders
in a figure eight to symbolize their union. While the couple is
bound together, the priest may recite the following: "Let the union
of binding together this rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary be an
inspiration to you both. Remember the holiness necessary to preserve
your new family can only be obtained by mutual sacrifice and love."
"BEBIDAS" (DRINKS)
Time to celebrate! Have your bartender mix up a giant batch of
sangria, a delicious punch made from a secret combination of wine,
brandy, sugar, fruit, and seltzer. Or serve a selection of
Latin-American cocktails. Consider the time-tested Cuban favorite,
rum and Coke. Or serve "Caipirinha," a Brazilian potion of fresh
lime juice, sugar, and sugar cane liquor. As for wine, Chile,
Argentina, and Spain all produce excellent white, red, and sparkling
wines. For non-alcoholic drinks, Mexican sodas come in a variety of
tropical flavors, and "batidos" are popular fruit shakes made from
fresh fruit, ice, and milk. And don't forget to serve some strong
"cafe con leche" with your wedding cake.
"COMIDAS LATINAS" (LATIN FOOD)
For appetizers, try "pasteles," Puerto Rican meat patties, or
"empanadas," Colombian pastries stuffed with meat and vegetables.
Spanish "tapas" make perfect appetizers. These bite-sized morsels
come in an astounding variety, such as pickles, olives, spicy
veggies, cheeses, omelets, garlic shrimp, and chunks of grilled
peasant bread. For real Latin-American flavor, set up stations of
make-your-own fajitas and tacos. Other must-have dishes include rice
and beans, paella, "arroz con pollo" (chicken with rice), "ropa
vieja" (beef stew), and fried plantains (bananas). And for dessert?
Flan, of course. This delicious custard made from milk, eggs,
vanilla, and caramelized sugar is the perfect way to end the night.
In Mexico, Panama, and throughout the Caribbean, traditional wedding
cakes are made with nuts and dried fruit, then soaked in lots of
rum. Ask local Spanish and Latino restaurants if they do catering,
and you're on your way.
"BAILEMOS" (LET'S DANCE)
There is an endless variety of Latin music to choose from: salsa,
merengue, mambo, flamenco, and samba, to name just a few. For a
really dramatic first dance, take some tango lessons before your big
day, and surprise your guests with a performance. Hire a Mexican
mariachi group or Cuban big band to get everyone dancing. Before the
dancing really begins at Mexican weddings, guests gather around the
couple in a heart-shaped ring. Cuban weddings often include a money
dance, in which each man who dances with the bride attaches money to
her gown.
REGALOS (GIFTS)
In Puerto Rico, small favors, called "capias," are presented to the
guests in a receiving line. They are made of feathers tied with
ribbon and printed with the couple's names and wedding date. For
your wedding, you can give guests little Mexican wedding cookies
wrapped in tulle, Spanish fans, a volume of Pablo Neruda's love
poems, or note cards with paintings by Frida Kahlo or Diego Rivera
tied with ribbon. If you're up for it, the little bride and groom
skeletons used during the Mexican holiday "Dia de los Muertos" (Day
of the Dead, which is really a celebration of life) would be perfect
favors.
"DONDE ESTAN?" (WHERE ARE THEY?)
Can't wait for the honeymoon to begin? Well, in Venezuela, it isn't
uncommon for a couple to sneak away from their own reception. But no
one gets upset once they discover the newlyweds are missing--it's
actually considered good luck.
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Robin Beth
Schaer
Robin Beth Schaer is a third-generation New Yorker. She has
worked as a writer and editor for several newspapers,
magazines and websites, and has taught literature and
writing at Columbia University and Cooper Union. She was
educated at Colgate University and Columbia University's
School of the Arts. Her poems have been nominated for a
Pushcart Prize, and have appeared in Rattapallax,
Small Spiral Notebook, Denver Quarterly, and
Guernica.
Special Thanks
to Latin American Wedding Traditions Author:
Robin Beth Schaer |
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