The Native American culture is filled with custom and tradition. These customs are deeply ingrained in their beautiful wedding ceremonies. It may add an extra bit of spirituality to incorporate some of these traditions into your nuptials.
It is customary in the Native American tradition for the hopeful groom to ask for permission to marry into the bride's family. It is customary for him to seek permission from the shaman or priest. Once permission has been given it is customary for the families to exchange food, livestock or other gifts to show their approval of the union.
It is customary in many Native American tribes for the couple to move in with the bride's family after their union. It is the responsibility of the groom to provide for his new in-laws and to take orders from the new mother-in-law. A gift that is customarily given to the couple is baskets of corn which represents fertility.
An engaged couple of the Algonquin tribe selects four sponsors. Sponsors are older individuals who will provide wisdom and advice to the newly wed couple. In tribes that follow traditions, divorce is not an option. That is the reason for the sponsors; so they can offer advice if the couple should need it. At the wedding ceremony the sponsors make a commitment to provide and guidance to the couple throughout their lifetime.
Native American tribes in Northern California practice two types of marriage, the half marriage and the full marriage. A full marriage takes place if the groom is able to pay the full amount that was requested from the bride's family. If the groom is only able to pay half of the requested amount, then a half marriage takes place. In a half marriage the couple resides with the family of the bride and the groom is under the authority of his bride's father.
One traditional Native American wedding ceremony that is still used today is the fire ceremony. To perform this ceremony a large circle is made of stones. A pile of wood that consists of seven different types of wood is place in the center of the stone circle. Two small fires are placed on two sides of the pile of wood. One small fire represents the bride and the other one represents the groom. The bride and groom will slide their own fire into the large pile of wood. The large fire that ignites represents the couple's new union.
Another beautiful ceremony is the blanket ceremony. The bride is wrapped in a blue blanket just as the groom is. These blue blankets symbolize the sorrows that the couple has endured on their own. After the marriage has been blessed the blue blankets are removed and the couple is wrapped together in one white blanket. This symbolizes the act of the couple becoming one.
One more Native American wedding ceremony is the seven steps ceremony. The wedding ceremony starts with lighting a sacred fire. The bride and groom proceed to take exactly seven steps around this fire. The groom takes the first step and then stops to say a vow. The bride follows with a step and recites a vow of her own. The groom will then take another step and recite another vow. This continues until seven steps and seven vows have been completed. It is not uncommon for the couple to exchange corn or stones to show their commitment.
It is customary in the Native American tradition for the hopeful groom to ask for permission to marry into the bride's family. It is customary for him to seek permission from the shaman or priest. Once permission has been given it is customary for the families to exchange food, livestock or other gifts to show their approval of the union.
It is customary in many Native American tribes for the couple to move in with the bride's family after their union. It is the responsibility of the groom to provide for his new in-laws and to take orders from the new mother-in-law. A gift that is customarily given to the couple is baskets of corn which represents fertility.
An engaged couple of the Algonquin tribe selects four sponsors. Sponsors are older individuals who will provide wisdom and advice to the newly wed couple. In tribes that follow traditions, divorce is not an option. That is the reason for the sponsors; so they can offer advice if the couple should need it. At the wedding ceremony the sponsors make a commitment to provide and guidance to the couple throughout their lifetime.
Native American tribes in Northern California practice two types of marriage, the half marriage and the full marriage. A full marriage takes place if the groom is able to pay the full amount that was requested from the bride's family. If the groom is only able to pay half of the requested amount, then a half marriage takes place. In a half marriage the couple resides with the family of the bride and the groom is under the authority of his bride's father.
One traditional Native American wedding ceremony that is still used today is the fire ceremony. To perform this ceremony a large circle is made of stones. A pile of wood that consists of seven different types of wood is place in the center of the stone circle. Two small fires are placed on two sides of the pile of wood. One small fire represents the bride and the other one represents the groom. The bride and groom will slide their own fire into the large pile of wood. The large fire that ignites represents the couple's new union.
Another beautiful ceremony is the blanket ceremony. The bride is wrapped in a blue blanket just as the groom is. These blue blankets symbolize the sorrows that the couple has endured on their own. After the marriage has been blessed the blue blankets are removed and the couple is wrapped together in one white blanket. This symbolizes the act of the couple becoming one.
One more Native American wedding ceremony is the seven steps ceremony. The wedding ceremony starts with lighting a sacred fire. The bride and groom proceed to take exactly seven steps around this fire. The groom takes the first step and then stops to say a vow. The bride follows with a step and recites a vow of her own. The groom will then take another step and recite another vow. This continues until seven steps and seven vows have been completed. It is not uncommon for the couple to exchange corn or stones to show their commitment.
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