Well, upon my previous entry, Mr. Red asked me what traditions there are in Italian weddings. Not coming from an Italian background, I looked some up online, and am now posting the ones that I like and wouldn’t mind including in the wedding:
- Wearing of green by the bride the night before the wedding brings luck and abundance to the couple.
- Folklore called for the groom to carry a piece of iron in his pocket (Toc Ferro) on his wedding day to ward off the evil eye (mal’occhio) since his happy situation might provoke envy, and invite supernatural danger.
- The bride wore a bridal veil to conceal her from malignant spirits, yet tearing the veil was considered good luck.
- In Southern regions of Italy, the couple shattered a vase or glass into many pieces at the end of the wedding day. The number of pieces represented the number of years they’d be happily married to one another. (ALSO A JEWISH TRADITION IN THE CEREMONY!)
- All the men at the reception kiss the bride for good luck — and to make the groom jealous. (mwahaha, I don’t think Mr. Red will like this one!)
- In ancient Rome, a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the heads of the bride and groom to ensure a fertile and fulfilling life. Guests would eat the crumbs for good luck.
- The wedding couple remains for the entire time at the reception and not only, sometimes the very close friends stay with the couple even after the reception. For instance, going with them for a drink or even going to their house. The honeymoon starts one or two days later!
- The bride herself presents her new mother-in-law with an olive branch, symbolizing peace.
- The bride and groom don’t get much rest; they go about from table to table, greeting and chatting with every guests, so no one should feel left out.
- Today it is common to spend the honeymoon in a foreign place, in far-away destinations or even in unique places. In the past the honeymoon, for a lot of people, was the first trip of their life and would always take place in Italy. It was the best occasion to discover our beautiful country and cities like Florence, Rome, Venice, or the Amalfi Coast… However today, like yesterday, for the Italians the honeymoon is a ritual which cannot be avoided as it is a unique and unrepeatable trip. (I really hope we get to go to Italy for our honeymoon!)
Catholic and Russian customs to come later 
D!
