The Japanese are an advanced nation, but at the same time conservative when it comes to traditions, including wedding ones. Modern Japanese weddings, of course, are significantly different from the ceremonies of past years, but still retain their originality. What are the customs and traditions of the celebration? What are the features?
Historical facts
Japanese wedding in the 12th century was not like it is now. The Japanese were polygamous and had several wives. At the same time, the spouses did not move to live with their husband, but he visited them when he considered it necessary. Only with the advent of the samurai, men began to choose only one wife. But even here we are not talking about love, since marriages were most often carried out to consolidate family and other ties. Usually the wife was chosen by the parents. There were cases when future family unions were agreed upon immediately after the birth of children. It wasn't until the 20th century that Japanese people were allowed to marry for love.
Today, the average age of Japanese people entering into marriage reaches 30 years, as soon as this milestone appearsmaterial well-being. In addition, sometimes it is difficult to issue the relevant documents, which also scares off future newlyweds.
As in the old days, today's traditional Japanese weddings are held either in the spring, during the cherry blossom season, or in the summer. In autumn and winter, the bride and groom prepare for the upcoming celebration.
Engagement
When getting engaged, gifts play a very important role. The bride receives 7 envelopes as a gift from the groom and his family, one of which contains money for organizing the celebration. The rest of the envelopes in ancient times were filled with ritual products, but today this tradition is not observed.
In modern Japan, this ritual is replaced by a European one - giving the bride a ring with a diamond or a stone that corresponds to the girl's zodiac sign. The future wife gives the groom gifts in the form of things.
Preparation for a Japanese wedding starts from the moment of engagement and lasts six months. During this time, a list of guests is compiled, a restaurant is ordered, a menu is selected and, of course, costumes for the newlyweds are purchased. Invitations must be sent 1-2 months before the celebration, since each person who receives it must have time to consider the offer and send an affirmative or negative answer. The wedding expenses are traditionally covered by the groom's family.
Wedding rings
Classic rings in Japan are made of platinum or gold, rarely silver. Such important pieces of jewelry are most often made to order, and theycan be custom designed, engraved or embellished with stones.
Costumes
Traditional Japanese wedding dresses are usually very expensive, as the fabric is produced and decorated by hand. For this reason, a wedding dress can be rented in almost any city in the country. On the day of the wedding, specially invited women do the classic hairstyle and make-up for the bride. To do this, the face is "bleached" with powder to a light pearl shade, then blush, lipstick, and mascara are applied. The traditional headdress of the bride is a cocoon of white light fabric.
Kimonos and tsunokakushi (headwear) are used primarily for marriage ceremonies. After that, the bride can change into a classic European wedding dress and put on a veil.
A man at the official part is dressed in a kimono with family crests. After that, he also changes into a classic black suit.
At the wedding ceremony, which takes place according to all traditions, the bride can change the official women's kimono for a colored one. This symbolizes that she has become a wife. As in European countries, wedding dresses are used only once, so in Japan, this kimono is no longer worn after the wedding.
Guest costumes
It is customary for men to wear a formal black suit and a white long-sleeved shirt for a Japanese-style wedding. Women wear knee-length evening or cocktail dresses. To the traditionalIt is customary for weddings to appear in Japanese kimonos for both men and women. Guests are allowed to change into more informal attire after the ceremony.
There is also a ban on black clothing for women at a wedding, as it is the color of mourning. Dresses that bare the shoulders are also considered indecent.
Marriage ceremony
In the photo of a Japanese wedding, you can see that the wedding takes place according to all the ancient rules. The ceremony is performed at a traditional Shinto shrine by the head worshiper. The bride enters the temple first, followed by the groom. A small number of guests are allowed. It can be parents and closest friends.
The newlyweds lay branches of the sacred tree of sakaki at the altar, followed by the tradition of triple exchange of rings and solemn drinking of sake in small sips. A feature of the Japanese wedding is the mutual pronunciation of vows in front of each other.
Unfortunately, today fewer and fewer newlyweds resort to getting married in churches. They are limited to only an official ceremony in the places of state registration.
Celebration
After a religious wedding, Japanese wedding traditions involve a lavish banquet. All relatives, work colleagues, friends are invited to it. The average number of all guests is 80 people.
Saké and wedding cake are sure to be on the festive table. It is not customary to dance here and there is no presenter familiar to Russian people, toasts are pronounced according to a clear schedule drawn up in advance. However, afterthe end of the official part of the banquet, Japanese youth do not mind having fun and singing karaoke.
Gifts
Congratulations at a Japanese-style wedding are traditionally carried out not only by guests, but also by newlyweds. The guests most often give money, while the bride and groom present each guest with a personal gift, which looks like a box of sweets. Since there are many guests at weddings, the donated money is often enough to spend a honeymoon in Hawaii or other islands.
Christian wedding and other
In today's world, there are often Japanese and Japanese women who profess Christianity, are Catholics. They conduct a classic wedding ceremony in the temple. At the same time, European costumes are also selected. This is a classic wedding dress, bridal veil, black suit for the groom.
There are also representatives of other religions, as well as atheists who choose a European-style wedding ceremony only because of its external attractiveness. In this case, the ceremony is conducted not by a priest, but by a disguised employee of the agency that organizes the celebration. The fashion for such rituals appeared in the 1980s, after the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
