Czech Wedding Traditions

FLOWER BOUQUET TOSS

The bride throws the flower bouquet over her left shoulder into a crowd of single women, once she leaves the church or town hall - the lucky one who catches the bouquet is supposed to be the next one to get married.

BREAKING THE PLATE

At the beginning of a Czech wedding reception, a plate is broken at the feet of the bride and groom, and they must sweep up the shards together. This tradition has its roots in two superstitions; firstly, that shards will bring happiness and secondly, that if the newlyweds show their will to cooperate with each other by sweeping up the shards together, their marriage will be harmonious.

EATING SOUP TOGETHER

At the wedding reception, the bride and groom are "joined" together by being covered in a large cloth symbolizing unity, and must finish a bowl of soup using one spoon to symbolize their mutual cooperation. Another meaning, which may be even more substantial, is the symbol of a joint loaf of bread, from which they both must "give and take" an equal piece. Because of its concise symbolism, this tradition is still widely popular today.

KIDNAPPING THE BRIDE

This tradition symbolizes a woman's separation from her parents and her transition into a new living community: when the reception is almost over, friends of the groom kidnap the bride; if the groom finds her, he is obliged to "pay" the bill as a kind of ransom for the bride, whom he intends to get back.