German wedding traditions include a civil ceremony before a religious ceremony. An engagement ring is worn on the left hand before marriage and the right hand after. The Polterabend party the night before involves breaking plates that the couple cleans up together for good luck. A procession through town displays white ribbons on cars. Dances at the reception begin with the bride and groom waltzing followed by dances with their parents.

1. WEDDING IN GERMANY
BY NASTASYA CHOKOVA

2. GERMAN WEDDING TRADITIONS AND
CUSTOMS
• IF YOU FIND YOURSELF INVOLVED IN A GERMAN WEDDING, THERE ARE SOME
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF WHICH YOU SHOULD BE AWARE. SOME OF THESE
ARE OBSERVED NATION-WIDE AND SOME ARE OBSERVED IN CERTAIN REGIONS.
AND SOME MAY NOT EVEN BE OBSERVED AT ALL (ESPECIALLY AMONG THE
YOUNGER GENERATION). HERE’S A SHORT LIST OF SOME OF THE MOST
COMMON TRADITIONS.

3. A CIVIL CEREMONY IS
USUALLY HELD AT THE
LOCAL STANDESAMT A
COUPLE OF DAYS OR
EVEN MONTHS BEFORE A
LARGE CHURCH
WEDDING.
A CIVIL CEREMONY IS ALL
THAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE A
MARRIAGE LEGAL IN
GERMANY AND MANY
COUPLES OPT ONLY FOR THIS
SIMPLE CEREMONY THAT IS
USUALLY HELD WITH A FEW
CLOSE RELATIVES AND
FRIENDS AS WITNESSES

4. N GERMANY THE TRADITIONAL ENGAGEMENT RING IS
USUALLY A GOLD BAND WORN ON THE LEFT HAND. AFTER
THE WEDDING THE SAME RING IS WORN ON THE RIGHT
HAND. MEN ALSO WEAR THEIR WEDDING RING ON THE
RIGHT HAND.

5. ON THE EVE OF THE WEDDING FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAY GATHER
FOR A PARTY CALLED A POLTERABEND. THIS NORMALLY INVOLVES
FOOD, DRINK AND THE BREAKING OF PLATES AND OTHER
TABLEWARE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GLASSES AND CRYSTAL). THE
BRIDE AND GROOM ARE EXPECTED TO CLEAN UP THE SHATTERED
PLATES TOGETHER THUS SHOWING THAT THEY CAN GET ALONG
WELL. IT’S ALSO BEEN SAID THAT THIS CUSTOM BRINGS GOOD LUCK
TO THE SOON-TO-BE-MARRIED COUPLE.

6. Friends of the groom may throw a modest Bachelor Party (Junggesellenabschied) at a
local pub a couple of weeks before the wedding.

7. A WHITE RIBBON IS TIED TO THE ANTENNAS OF CARS FOR THE
PROCESSION THROUGH TOWN. CARS WILL HONK THEIR HORNS
DURING THE PROCESSION. HONKING BACK IS OPTIONAL. THE
RIBBONS ARE USUALLY HANDED OUT BY THE BRIDE TO GUESTS AS
THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH.

8. At the reception the first dance is usually a waltz and reserved for the bride and groom.
The next dance is for the bride and her father and groom and his mother. The bride's
mother will dance with the groom's father.

10. • https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/german-weddings.html
• https://www.google.com.ua/search?newwindow=1&biw=1280&bih=918&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei
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