Wedding, in Judaism, is considered as union of two souls for oneness and is hence, marked by great fervor and enthusiasm. The commencement of wedding celebration does not only mean the practice of wedding rituals, but making merry in the pre-ceremonial events as well. In almost all religions, wedding rituals begin days before the actual wedding day or D-Day and Jewish wedding is no exception to this fact. Friends and family gather together to toast, sing, dance and rejoice the upcoming celebration. There are two prominent rituals that take place, before the commencement of a Jewish wedding - Yom Kippur Viddui Confessional Prayers and Badeken tradition. In case you want to know in details about each of two pre-wedding ritual practiced, browse through the following lines.
Jewish Pre Wedding Customs
Sabbath
A week prior to the wedding day, the Choson (groom) and the Kallah (bride) do not see each other. Later, in that week, the Choson is called to the Torah (ufruf), to impress upon the couple the duty to look to the Torah as their guide in married life. Once the groom pronounces his promises, he is blessed with raisins and nuts. These are symbolic of their wishes for a sweet and fruitful marriage blessed with many children.
Yom Kippur Viddui Confessional Prayers
On the day of marriage, the groom and bride observe fast. If the wedding takes place in the afternoon time, the couple privately recites Yom Kippur Viddui confessional prayers. It is done before the wedding ceremony to forget the past and make a fresh beginning of married life.
Badeken Tradition
In this tradition, the bride and groom are given an opportunity to catch a glimpse of each other, along with the friends and relatives of either party. It takes place before the commencement of wedding ceremony. The bride is seated on the bed and is surrounded by her mother and relatives. The groom, then, lowers the veil of the veil over her face, setting her apart from everyone else and also stating that he is solely interested in her inner beauty.
Chuppah
The next stage is the chuppah, wherein a decorated piece of cloth held aloft as a symbolic home for the new couple. It is held outside underneath the starry sky. The groom, along with his parents, moves to the chuppah. While the groom offers prays for his unmarried friends so that they find their true partners in life, the bride enters the chuppah along with her parents.
