Veiling the Bride & Breaking a Glass
Exploring Jewish Wedding Traditions
Jewish wedding traditions dictate that before a wedding can begin, the Badeken ceremony occurs, where the groom veils his bride. With Jewish customs, it is traditional for the bride and the groom not to have seen each other three to seven days before the wedding. The groom must also confirm that he is marrying the right woman—a tradition that stems from the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. After the groom covers the bride’s face, she will stay veiled until the Seven Blessings are recited under the Chuppah.
An emphasis on music is nearly always present with Jewish wedding traditions. One of the most beautiful Jewish wedding processional songs is “I am my beloved...my beloved is mine,” with music set to the well-known passage from The Song of Songs by King Solomon. This is a representation of the love between the people of Israel and their God. Several versions of this song exist.
The wedding ceremony is over when the groom steps on a glass and breaks it. This originated when a rabbi broke a glass during a wedding feast in order to warn against an excess of joy. This is a reminder that even during times of happiness and feasting, the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem should not be forgotten.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom retire to a private room where they break their fast and relax for a few minutes before greeting their wedding guests.
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