Each country has its own wedding traditions. In ancient times, the Portuguese used to get married simply to raise a family. Many ancient customs have been revived and are now included in modern wedding ceremonies. Many of the customs that were practiced in this European country have evolved over time to symbolize the mutual love of the couple.
More than 99 percent of the Portuguese are Roman Catholic. Therefore, most wedding ceremonies are based on the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. More and more couples are opting for the romance of the oldest wedding traditions passed down from generation to generation. Wedding celebrations in Portugal usually include a Roman Catholic mass in which the priest asks the bride and groom to exchange rings or binds the couple’s hands with his stole. When the couple leaves the church, family and friends throw flowers and candy. In most European countries, relatives of the bride and groom traditionally throw rice on the newlywed couple.
In Portugal it is customary for neighbors and friends to help in the celebration and in the wedding itself. Held in a restaurant or private home, the ceremony is usually small and limited to close family members. Many couples choose to prepare their own food for the wedding party instead of using the services of a caterer. Family and friends gather to exchange stories about the newlywed couple and enjoy traditional singing and dancing. They also collect money for the bride and groom. Usually, the money is collected in the bride’s shoe.
As soon as the ceremony is over, the bride and groom parade through the streets where family, friends and even strangers wish them happiness. On the north coast of Portugal, brides wear black dresses as a sign of fidelity to their future husbands. Her look is completed with the famous earrings of the Queen of Portugal (Rainha brincos) and lots of gold jewelry. This is the dress that will be buried when they die.
In the past, the bride wore a white Chinese robe adorned with colored jewels. The groom wore a dark top hat, a white shirt, and a dark suit. At the end of the ceremony, they placed their wedding rings on each other’s hands. The tradition of passing the bride’s check to all the guests to receive money that will help the newly married couple build their own house is still practiced today. The bride and groom must also choose a padrinho (best man) and a godmother (maid of honor).
