Discover the real beauty of love worldwide through their unique marital symbols!
No matter which culture you belong to, the significance that weddings hold is the same all around the world. Marriage is a profound journey of tender love between two individuals. It is about the paths that they take to make their life together work. This commitment is elevated further through the diversity of different cultures. There are so many vibrant colours present worldwide that it would be unfair not to appreciate them from time to time.
That is why our team at Wedding Affair has brought you the list of some of the most unique and interesting marital symbols worldwide that will leave you astounded!
India
In India, marital symbols are not just worn for the sake of following the age-old customs or rituals. Instead, they are worn with pride by brides. During the sacred wedding ceremony, the groom ties the gold and black beaded necklace around the bride’s neck, known as mangalsutra. This elegant thread symbolised protection and lifelong commitment for the union.
Another significant part of an Indian wedding is sindoordaan, where the groom puts vermilion between the hair parting. This and the mangalsutra complete the divine union and symbolise the words I am a married woman now, for the bride.
In many parts of India, women also wear red glass bangles along with sindoor and mangalsutra, completing their married look.
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Nepal
During the traditional Nepali wedding, the bride receives a green necklace made from glass beads, known as pote, from the groom’s side of the family. This becomes the symbol of her marital status. Paired with a golden pendant called tilhari, it is usually worn by married women during special occasions, proudly showcasing their happy marital life. And we all know what a red sindoori tika means in Hindu culture. It is an additional mark of a married woman in India.
Kenya
When people in the Maasai tribe from Kenya, Africa get married, the brides wear intricately beaded necklaces and headpieces to signify their marital status. Especially, the Nborro necklace is a long necklace made of blue beads that, if worn by a Maasai woman, signals that she is married. The other tribes of Kenya, like the Kamba tribe, also have some unique rituals and rules regarding the union. Here, blood is exchanged during the wedding ceremony and the bride’s face gets tattooed.
South Africa
During the 19th century in South Africa, married women used to wear their hair in a very interesting conical hairstyle. This hairstyle later inspired isicholo, known as the married woman’s hat. It is now worn by South African women to show respect towards their husbands and their families. The hat is usually made of human hair in a flaring disk-like shape and is painted in red colour, symbolising femininity.
Western Cultures
One of the most recognised marital symbols around the world, especially in Western countries, is wedding rings. Traditionally worn on the fourth finger on the left hand, it is also known as the ring finger. According to Ancient Romans, the nerve in this finger led directly towards the heart, making it a perfect choice to mark for the eternal bond through a ring. Worn by both men and women, it serves the same purpose—to let the world know of their commitment. In some countries like Russia and Germany, the ring is worn on the right hand’s finger instead of the left one, further proving the diverse beliefs regarding the same sacred union.
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From a streak of sindoor to the jingle of bangles, from a shimmering ring to a beaded necklace, these marital symbols are a subtle ode to love and cultures all around the world!
