英格兰人的婚俗丰富多采，从求婚到度蜜月均按自已的传统方式进行。在英格兰北部约克市求婚方式颇为奇特，继承了古代民间遗风，女孩子成熟以后，需要出嫁了，便穿上不同颜色的紧身服饰，向男性示意。不同的颜色表示不同的意思，恰恰和交通信号灯一致。绿色的表示：来吧！我愿意恋爱，大胆地追求吧！黄色表示：机遇是有的，如果合我的意还是有成功的机会。红色表示：目前我还不想谈情说爱，不要追求我。勇敢的小伙子会根据对方的服色，根据自已的选择去大胆地追求，决不会被扣上行为不端的帽子。
一旦双方确立了恋爱关系，男方要送给女方订婚戒指并举行仪式。这种习俗遍及整个英国。结婚或定婚戒指是许多民族的传统习俗，英格兰人在教堂里举行婚礼仪式时，新郎给新娘戴戒指是不可缺少的一项重要内容。人们甚至认为不戴戒指的婚姻是无效的。当神父询问一对新人是否愿意做对方的妻子或丈夫、能否相互尊重、白头偕老后，新郎给新娘的无名指上戴上一枚戒指。它象征着丈夫对妻子的纯真爱情，同时妻子也表示接受并忠实于这种爱情。
戴戒指的习俗可以追溯到古代埃及、中国，它不仅作为一种信物也是一种装饰品。婚姻戒指最初并不镶嵌钻石、翡翠以及红蓝宝石等饰物，纯洁的圆形象征着由婚姻联袂在一起的两个人的团圆。在一些民族中象征着一种魔力，保佑夫妇幸福长寿，同时，施予者表示对接受者的信任，接受者表示对施予者的忠诚。
金戒指象征爱情的纯真，银戒指意味情感温柔。英国人同西方各国一样，定婚戒指是金制的而不镶嵌任何宝石，结婚戒指应加装饰物，至于戒指冲盯的质量则根据个人的经济条件不同而不同。定婚、结婚戒指可戴在同一无名指上，也可以由结婚戒指取代定婚戒指。
英国在16世纪时，结婚戒指的内侧经常刻是家族的图案或箴言，诸如上帝使我成为某某的妻子，某位主教的妻子的戒指上刻上一只手、一颗心、一顶主教冠和一个骷髅，铭文是：前三个我赐予你，第四个使我超脱。今天戒指上的铭文大多只刻上新郎和新娘名字的开头字母。
英国人结婚要穿礼服；新娘身着白衫、白裙、头戴白色花环，还要罩上长长的白纱，手持白色花束。总之，散锋和英国人崇尚白色，它象征爱情纯洁、吉祥如意。而戴头纱的习俗可以追溯到公元前10世纪，当时两河流域就已盛行女子戴头纱。在古希腊，举行结婚仪式时不仅新娘要戴亚麻或毛织品的头纱，而且一对新人都要戴上花冠。到了罗马时代，不同宗教信仰的人要戴不同颜色的头纱以示区别。中世纪以后，宫廷贵族之中出现了用珍珠装饰的花冠。尔后，发展成为白色头纱，并且尺码日益延长基陆，并遍及欧洲各地。
一旦举行完婚，新郎新娘从教堂里出来的时候，人们要向新人祝贺，这种祝贺不是亲吻、拥抱和握手，而是向他们撒五彩缤纷的纸屑。撒纸屑的习俗起源于撒麦粒。1491年英国国王亨利七世携王后到布里斯托尔旅行。旅行途中，被一位面包师的妻子看到，于是她从窗子里向他们撒麦粒，并高呼：欢迎你们，陛下！祝你们幸福、长寿。这成为一段佳话，到16世纪时，这一习俗已广为流传，人们向新郎、新娘撒麦粒，有时还染各种颜色。麦粒象征着丰收和生活富裕，同时也祝贺新婚夫妇幸福长寿，子孙满堂。
度蜜月也是英国各地青年结婚的重要内容之一。他们把积蓄下来的钱用于旅游，而结婚后去旅游便称作度蜜月。这原是古代的习俗，在新婚之时一定要饮用一种用蜂蜜特制的饮料，用来象征家庭美满、爱情甜蜜和生活幸福。而这种饮料从结婚开始要喝30天，因此就把新婚第一个月称作蜜月了。
在英国对于结婚纪念日十分重视，每年都要庆祝并有不同的称谓。第一年是纸婚，第二年是棉婚，第三年为皮革婚，第四年为毅婚，第五年称木婚，第六年称铁婚，第七年叫铜婚，第八年叫陶器婚，第九年为柳婚，第十年是锡婚，以后是钢婚、绕仁婚、花边婚、象牙婚、水晶婚。从第十五年以后，每五年各有一个称谓，依次为搪瓷婚、银婚（第二十五年是个大典）、珠婚、珊瑚婚、红宝石婚、蓝宝石婚、金婚（五十年是第二大典）、翡翠婚、钻石婚。这最后一个是第三大庆典，但很少有人能够庆祝这个庆典。
England's Wedding rich, from their honeymoon to marry him according to their own traditional way. In northern England York City marry him rather peculiar way, inherit a legacy of the ancient folk, girls mature, the need to get married, they wear tight clothes of different colors to indicate male. Different colors, different meaning that precisely the same and traffic lights. Green said: Come! I am willing to love, to pursue bold! Amber said: The opportunity is in the affirmative, if I of the Italian still has a chance of success. Red said: I do not want to present minute, I will not pursue. Courageous man will root The color of each other's clothes, according to their own choice to pursue bold, not misconduct will be taken on the label.
Once the two sides established a dating relationship, the woman gave the man to engagement rings and held a ceremony. Such practices throughout the whole of the UK. The rings are married or engaged to the traditions of many peoples, England held in the church wedding ceremony, the bride and groom to wear a ring is indispensable one important element. Even people not wearing the rings that marriage is invalid. When a priest asked whether the couple would be willing to do each other's wives or husbands, whether mutual respect and remain live after the bride and groom to wear a ring on my ring finger. It symbolizes a husband to his wife of pure love, while his wife also accepted and be faithful to this love.
The custom of wearing the ring can be traced back to ancient Egypt, China, it not only as a chop is a decoration. Marriage is not the first ring inlaid diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and red accessories, as a symbol of pure circular jointly together by the marriage of two people together. In some peoples as a symbol of a magical, bless the couple a long and happy life, while giving recipients the right to express confidence that the recipients are subject to loyalty.
The rings symbolize the pure love, silver rings that emotional tenderness. With Western countries like Britain, engagement rings is part of the system without any mosaic stones, wedding rings should be installed accessories, the quality of the rings are based on individual economic conditions are different. Engagement, wedding rings can wear the same ring, wedding ring can be replaced engaged by the ring.
Britain in the 16th century, wedding rings engraved on the inside is often pictorial or family Proverbs, such as God made me a certain wife, Bishop's wife, a certain ring inscribed on one hand, one heart, one bishop and a skeleton champion, is the inscription: Before I give you three, I detached the fourth. Today the inscription rings are only inscribed the names of the bride and groom initials.
Married to British costume; The bride dressed in white, football, wearing a white garlands, but also cast a long white, carrying white flowers. In short, the British advocating white symbolizes purity of love, acting. The first yarn wearing the custom can be traced back to the 10th century BC, when women wearing Your brothers were first popular yarn. In ancient Greece, held not only marriage ceremony bride to wear the first flax yarn or fabric, and must wear a new Corolla. By Roman times, people of different religious beliefs to wear a different color yarn to show the first distinction. Since the Middle Ages, the nobles of the court appeared Corolla decorated with pearls. Afterward, become the first white yarn, and increasing the size of the extension, and throughout Europe.
Held once married, the bride and groom from the church by the time, people would like to congratulate the couple, not on kissing and hugging and shaking hands, but they scattered to the colorful confetti. Debris scattered on the origin of the custom Samai tablets. 1491 Britain's King Henry VII portability queen travel to Bristol. Travel the way, was a baker's wife that she yard from the window to Samai tablets, and shouted: Welcome to you, Your Majesty! I wish you happiness and longevity. This has become a legendary, 16 century, the practice has been widely circulated, people to groom new Mother Samai tablets, sometimes with various colors. Granule a symbol of good harvest and an affluent life, but also congratulate the newlyweds a long and happy life, quietly.
Honeymoon is married British youth around one of the important contents. They put down money for savings tourism, and tourism after marriage to be known as the honeymoon. This was originally an ancient custom, when the wedding must drink a special drink with honey, to symbolize the family happy, love sweet and happy life. This marriage began drinking beverages from 30 days, put the wedding of the month as a honeymoon.
In Britain attaches great importance to the wedding anniversary, celebrated every year and with different title. Paper is the first year of marriage, the second marriage is cotton, leather for the third year of marriage, Yi married for the fourth year, the fifth year that wooden marriage, said Rail sixth year of marriage, copper is the seventh year of marriage, pottery is the eighth year of marriage, Liu married for the ninth year, is the tenth year Tin, is the future of marriage, around-marriage, marriage lace, as teeth marriage, crystal marriage. After the 15th, have a five-year term, followed by enamel married Heroes (Diershiwunian a ceremony), beads of marriage, marital coral, ruby marriage, sapphire marriage, marriage (50 years is the second ceremony), jade marriage, marriage diamonds. This last one is the third largest celebration, but few people can celebrate the celebrations.
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British Marriage and Weddings
Before the Wedding
Marriage is usually initiated by a proposal of marriage, simply called a proposal. In a heterosexual relationship, the man traditionally proposes to the woman and the actual proposal often has a ritual quality, involving the presentation of a ring (an engagement ring) and the formalized asking of a question such as Will you marry me? The man may even go down on one knee before proposing. If the proposal is accepted, the couple become engaged.
In the United Kingdom, the engagement ring is worn, by the woman, on the fourth finger of the left hand.
In the UK the 29th of February (in a leap year) is said to be the one day (coming round only once every four years) when a woman can propose to her partner.
It is usual for a couple to be engaged for a while before they get married. An engagement is actually an agreement or promise to marry, and also refers to the time between proposal and marriage. During this period, a couple is said to be affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged.
A man who is engaged to be married is called his partner's fiancé; a woman similarly engaged is called her partner's fiancée.
Once a wedding date has been set the banns of marriage, commonly known simply as the banns, (from an Old English word meaning to summon) are announced. This is a notice, usually placed in the local parish church or registery office, that a marriage is going to take place between two specified persons.
The purpose of banns is to enable anyone to raise any legal impediment to it, so as to prevent marriages that are legally invalid. Impediments vary between legal jurisdictions, but would normally include a pre-existing marriage (having been neither dissolved nor annulled), a vow of celibacy, lack of consent, or the couple's being related within the prohibited degrees of kinship.
In England, a marriage is only legally valid if the reading of the banns has taken place or a marriage licence has been obtained.
The People
In addition to the bride and groom, traditional weddings involve a lot more people. Typically, these positions are filled by close friends of the bride and groom; being asked to serve in these capacities is seen as a great honour.
For the couple:-
Ringbearer - an attendant, often a young boy, who carries the wedding rings.
Ushers - helpers, usually men, who assist with the organization.
For the groom:-
Best man - a close male friend or relative of the groom, given a place of honour.
Groomsmen - one or more male attendants who support the groom.
For the bride:-
Maid of honour - a close female friend or relative of the bride, given a place of honour. If she is married, she is instead called the matron of honour.
Bridesmaids - one or more female attendants who support the bride.
Father of the Bride - One who symbolically gives away the bride. If her father is deceased or otherwise unavailable, another male relative, often an uncle or brother, will give the bride away.
Flower girl - a young girl who scatters flowers in front of the bridal party.
Junior Bridesmaids - young girl typically between the ages of 8 and 16 who is too old to be a flowergirl, but the bride wants to be a part of the wedding.
Wedding guests are generally sent invitations to which they are expected to reply (rsvp). The guests are generally invited to both the wedding and the wedding reception afterwards, although sometimes reception places are limited. Often certain people are invited due to perceived family obligations, as to not receive an invitation can be considered an insult.
The Wedding Ceremony
When the guests arrive for a wedding the ushers' duty is to hand out the correct books, flowers and the order of service, they also ensure the guests are seated in the correct places. Traditionally, the side on which people sit depends on whether they are friends or family of the bride or of the groom. The front rows are generally reserved for close family or friends, with the very first seats reserved for the bridal party. However, in many ceremonies the bridal party will remain standing at the altar during the ceremony along with the bride and groom.
The groom and his best man wait inside the church for the arrival of the bride and her entourage.
This entourage generally arrives in elegant cars or in horse-drawn coaches, specially hired for the occasion. The bride's entourage normally consists of the bride, the bride's father and all the various bridesmaids, maids of honour, flower girls and page boys that are intended to attend her.
The ushers and/or groomsmen escort the grandparents of the bride and groom to their seats.
The ushers and/or groomsmen escort the mother of the groom and mother of the bride to their seats.
The bridesmaids enter, escorted by the groomsmen.
The maid or matron of honour enters, either by herself or escorted by the best man.
The ringbearer enters.
The flower girl enters. (In some ceremonies, the ringbearer will accompany the flower girl.)
The bride then proceeds down the aisle, escorted by her father, to the accompaniment of music (usually the wedding march, often called Here comes the bride), and the ceremony starts.
During the ceremony the bride and groom make their marriage vows. Marriage vows are promises a couple makes to each other during a wedding ceremony. In Western culture, these promises have traditionally included the notions of affection (love, comfort, keep), faithfulness (forsaking all others), unconditionality (for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health), and permanence (as long as we both shall live, until death do us part). Most wedding vows are taken from traditional religious ceremonies. Touching love poems or lyrics from a love song can be revised as wedding vows. Nowadays some couples choose to write their own vows, rather than relying on standard ones spoken by the celebrant (priest).
After the wedding ceremony, the bride, groom, officiant, and two witnesses generally go off to a side room to sign the wedding register. Without this the marriage is not legal and a wedding certificate cannot be issued.
Afterward, guests file out to throw flower petals, confetti, birdseed, or rice (uncooked) over the newly-married couple for good luck.
Finally, a photographic session ensues of the couple leaving the church.
Nice Day for a White Wedding
The Western custom of a bride wearing a white wedding dress, came to symbolize purity in the Victorian era (despite popular misconception and the hackneyed jokes of situation comedies the white dress did not actually indicate virginity, which was actually symbolized by a face veil).
Within the white wedding tradition, a white dress and veil would not have been considered appropriate in the second or third wedding of a widow or divorcee.
Before the white wedding dress became traditional an old poem (which seems to favour blue) sang the praises or woes of various colour choices.
“Married in white, you will have chosen all right.
Married in grey, you will go far away.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow.
Married in brown, you’ll live out of town.
Married in pink, your spirits will sink.
The average price of a traditional white wedding dress is around £826.
The reception
After the ceremony there is usally a reception at which the married couple, the couple's parents, the best man and the wedding entourage greet each of the guests. At such events it is traditional to eat and drink.
During the reception a number of speeches and/or toasts are given in honour of the couple.
Any dancing is commonly started by the bride and groom, usually termed the Bridal Waltz, but dancing an actual waltz is comparatively rare - often the couple chooses their favourite piece of music or a song.
An arranged dance between the bride and her father is also traditional. Sometimes the groom will cut in halfway through the dance, symbolizing the bride leaving her father and joining her new husband.
At some point the married couple may become the object of a charivari, a good-natured hazing of the newly-married couple. While this is most familiar in the form of tying tin cans to the bumper of the couple's car, or spraying shaving cream on the windows, some of the pranks can be far more malicious. The worst one I've ever heard of is when the bride and groom returned from honeymoon to find their front door had been bricked over.
The final tradition is the newly married couple to set off for their honeymoon.
Have your cake and eat it
A wedding is often followed by a wedding reception, at which an elaborate, tiered, wedding cake is served. Traditionally this is a fruit cake. Often there are a couple of little figures on top of the cake, normally they are a representation of the bride and groom in formal wedding attire.
It is considered lucky for the couple to cut the cake together. A portion is usually stored, and eaten by the couple at their first wedding anniversary, or at the christening of their first child. The cake can be frozen and if the top tier of the cake is fruitcake, it can be stored for a great length of time.
British Wedding Traditions
Traditions include:-
The happy couple toast each other.
The newlyweds have the fiirst dance.
The couple cut the cake together, this symbolizes their first meal as husband and wife (see above).
The bride may throw her bouquet to the assembled group of all unmarried women in attendance, with folklore suggesting the person who catches it will be the next to wed.
(A fairly recent equivalent has the groom throwing the bride's garter to the assembled unmarried men; the man who catches it is supposedly the next to wed.)
It is usual for the couple to go away on holiday together. This is called the honeymoon.
On arriving back home it is traditional for the husband to carry his wife into their new home. This is called carrying the bride over the threshold.
In 2004 the average wedding in the UK cost £16,000 - and prices have risen since then, it now stands at a staggering £18,500. Of course there is no need to get caught up in Competitive Wedding Syndrome, none of it is actually necessary. You can simply get married and live happily ever after.