Philippine wedding

Philippine Wedding Culture and Superstitions

Filipinos still adhere to numerous widely-held folk beliefs that have no scientific or logical basis but maybe backed-up by some past experiences (yet can be dismissed as mere coincidence).

Below are just a few that concerns weddings. Some are still practiced to this day primarily because of 'there's nothing to lose if we comply' attitude while the others are totally ignored for it seemed downright ridiculous.

1. Brides shouldn't try on her wedding dress before the wedding day or the wedding will not push through.
2. Knives and other sharp and pointed objects are said to be a bad choice for wedding gifts for this will lead to a broken marriage.
3. Giving arinola (chamberpot) as wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to newlyweds.
4. Altar-bound couples are accident-prone and therefore must avoid long drives or traveling before their wedding day for safety.
5. The groom who sits ahead of his bride during the wedding ceremony will be a henpecked husband.
6. If it rains during the wedding, it means prosperity and happiness for the newlyweds.
7. A flame extinguished on one of the wedding candles means the one on which side has the unlit candle, will die ahead of the other.
8. Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their life.
9. The groom must arrive before the bride at the church to avoid bad luck.
10. It is considered bad luck for two siblings to marry on the same year.
11. Breaking something during the reception brings good luck to the newlyweds.
12. The bride should step on the groom's foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree to her every whim.
13. A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be an unhappy wife experiencing many heartaches and tears.
14. An unmarried woman who follows the footsteps (literally) of the newlyweds will marry soon.
15. Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.

In early Filipino custom, the groom-to-be threw his spear at the front steps of his intended's home, a sign that she has been spoken for. These days, a ring suffices as the symbol of engagement.

History

A typical ancient traditional Filipino wedding, during pre-colonial times, is held for three days and was officiated by a babaylan, a tribal priest or priestess. The house of the babaylan was the ceremonial center for the nuptial. On the first day, the couple was brought to the priest's home, where the babaylan blesses them, while their hands are joined over a container of uncooked rice. On the third day, the priest would prick their chests to draw a small amount of blood, which will be placed on a container to be mixed with water. After announcing their love for each other for three times, they were fed by the priest with cooked rice coming from a single container. Afterwards, they were to drink the water that was mixed with their blood. The priest proclaimed that they are officially wed after their necks and hands were bound by a cord or ,sometimes, once their long hairs had been entwined together. In lieu of the babaylan, the datu or a wise elder may also officiate a pre-colonial Filipino wedding.

After the ceremony, while at the just-married couple's residence, a series of gift-exchanging rituals was also done to counter the negative responses of the bride: if asked to enter her new home, if she refuses to go up the stairs of the dwelling, if she denies to participate in the marriage banquet, or even to go into her new bedroom, a room she would be sharing with her spouse.

Spanish colonialism brought changes to these marriage rituals because of the teachings and conversion efforts of Spanish missionaries, which occurred as early as the 18th century. As a result, the majority of current-day Filipino weddings became predominantly Christian or Catholic in character, which is also because of the mostly Catholic population, although indigenous traditions still exist today in other regions of the Philippines. Parts of Filipino wedding ceremonies have become faith-centered and God-centered, which also highlights the concept that the joining of two individuals is a "life long commitment" of loving and caring. In general, the marriage itself does not only signify the union of two persons, but also the fusion of two families, and the unification two clans.