A Jewish wedding

A Jewish wedding is a wedding ceremony that follows Jewish law and traditions.

While wedding ceremonies vary, common features of a Jewish wedding include a ketuba (marriage contract) which is signed by two witnesses, a wedding canopy (chuppah or huppah), a ring owned by the groom that is given to the bride under the canopy, and the breaking of a glass.

Technically, the Jewish wedding process has two distinct stages: kiddushin (sanctification or dedication, also called erusin, betrothal in Hebrew) and nissuin (marriage), when the couple start their life together. The first stage prohibits the woman to all other men, requiring a religious divorce (Get) to dissolve, and the final stage permits the couple to each other. The ceremony that accomplishes nisuin is known as chuppah.

Today, erusin/kiddushin occurs when the groom gives the bride a ring or other object of value with the intent of creating a marriage. There are differing opinions as to which part of the ceremony constitutes nissuin/chuppah; they include standing under the canopy - itself called a chuppah - and being alone together in a room (yichud). While historically these two events could take place as much as a year apart,they are now commonly combined into one ceremony.

om Kippur

According to the Talmud, only the man and the woman united compose a complete human being. As these two parts unite and enter a new stratum of their existence, some of the old gets erased. The Talmud says that when a person gets married his sins are corked. (Yevamos 63b) Thus the day of ones wedding is also a personal Yom Kippur.

As on Yom Kippur, both the chosson and kallah fast. In this case, from dawn until after the completion of the marriage ceremony; although some fast only half a day so as not to be too weak for the wedding. And at the ceremony, the chosson wears akittel, the traditional white robe worn on Yom Kippur.

Kabbolas Panim

It is customary for the chosson and kallah not to see each other for the week preceding the wedding. Separate receptions, called Kabbolas Panim, are held just prior to the wedding ceremony.

The chosson’s reception is also called the Tisch (Yiddish for table). The signing of the Tannaim and the Kesubah take place at the Tisch.

Badeken

Next comes the badeken, the veiling of the kallah by the chosson. The chosson, accompanied by family and friends, proceeds to the kallah’s reception room and places the veil over her face. A tender ceremony that perhaps dates back to the Talmudic period, the Bedeken serves as the first of many actions by which the groom signals his commitment to clothe and protect his wife. It is reminiscent of Rebecca covering her face before marrying Isaac. According to some opinions the Badeken may even be considered as Chuppah. (Chuppah means covering)

Chuppah

The Jewish wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah (canopy), a symbol of the home to be built and shared by the couple. Although the chuppah itself belongs to the second part of the wedding ceremony known as Nissuin, presently the entire wedding ceremony is conducted under it. The chuppah is open on all sides, just as Abraham and Sarah had their tent open all sides to welcome friends and relatives in unconditional hospitality.

The chuppah is usually held outside, under the stars, as a sign of the blessing given by G-d to the patriarch Abraham that his children shall be as the stars of the heavens.

The chosson and kallah traditionally don’t wear jewelry under the chuppah(marriage canopy). Their mutual commitment to one another is based on who they are as people not on their respective material possessions.

The chosson, and then the kallah, are usually escorted to the chuppah by their respective sets of parents.

Under the chuppah, the kallah circles the chosson seven times. Just as the world was created in seven days, the kallah is figuratively building the walls of the couple’s new home. The number seven also symbolizes the wholeness and completeness that they cannot attain separately.

The kallah then settles at her chosson’s right-hand side.

Photos and information courtesy of Rabbi Mendel Druk from

Including mexican traditions on your #destinationwedding

Today is February the 2nd and in Mexico we celebrate the DIA DE LA CANDELARIA.

"LA CANDELARIA" Is a Virgin just like Virgin Mary. And this tradition follows the ROSCA DE REYES on January the 6th tradition of cutting the bread and who ever gets in their slice a "hidden" baby jesus must buy TAMALES

(corn and cornmeal dough stuffed with a meat mixture

then wrapped in corn husks and steamed)

and invite their friends over on the 2nd of february.

So today is our day for TAMALES and ATOLE.

According to Mama Latina tamales are one of Mexico's favorite dishes. You can find them all year long almost everywhere. Most people know about savory tamales, but there are also sweet tamales. The tradition is to have your Tamal with a hot beverage called Atole. It's sweet and corn based very delicious and we have different flavors to chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or plain.

But how is this culinary tradition even important for my DESTINATION WEDDING?

Well this is where the story gets its twist. You know how we are always looking for ways to incorporate traditions of the place where our Wedding will take place, so that our guests and family can have the complete DESTINATION experience?

Well we are adding bite size "Tamales" to your Hors d'oeuvre (literally "apart

from the main work or translated into the food items served before the first course), and serve them at the beach on your cocktail party after your ceremony.

This is an amazing way to add the mexican flavor, TAMALES can be a VEGETARIAN

option also and they are full of flavor.

You can fill them with beef, pork, chicken or cheese; and if you want to try them sweet you can fill them with almost any fruity flavor, they are the best.

There is no reason not to get GOURMET on your "Tamales"

you can add a little culinary twist by filling them with duck,

roasted turkey or even a signature dish by Bride & Groom.

What ever you do don't stop surprising your guests and familly INCORPORATE MEXICAN TRADITIONS TO YOUR WEDDING its a fun way to say I DO and VIVA MEXICO!!!

All photos provided by my FRIEND and amazing Mexican Chef

MICHEL BUNNY from TRES DE AZUCAR signature kitchen, poetry and more ....

Mexican Traditions: DAY OF THE DEAD

TODAY IS HALLOWEEN!!!

One of my favorite holidays.

I have adopted this Holiday

because its fun and I adore costumes.

BUT I´M MEXICAN AND AS MUCH AS I LOVE TO ADOPT CUSTOMS

FROM OTHER COUNTRIES;

I EMBRACE MY CULTURE, AND AT HOME WE ALSO

CELEBRATE THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

Halloween and Day of the Dead have somethings in common:

celebrating souls that are not living with us anymore.

In Halloween people dress up as ghouls, ghosts,

mummies and skeletons,

so spirits can confuse them and will not do them

any harm on the 31st.

And November 1st and 2nd Day of the Dead

we celebrate the Dead by

visiting their graves with their favorite food,

or making altars with

drinks, food, some of their favorite

things that our beloved ones

enjoyed while they where alive.

We decorate with candles, photos and flowers.

The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in some

Latin American countries.

For example, it is a public holiday in Brazil,

when people visit churches

and cemeteries. This holiday is also observed in the

Philippines. In the United States,

The Day of the Dead is also observed as a holiday among

Mexican-American communities. So, while majority of

America celebrates Halloween on October 31st night,

the Hispanic population considers The Day of the Dead as a special

event honoring the dead. In Mexico it is a

traditional holiday.

El día de Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time of

remembering and rejoicing.

Families prepare an altar

decorated with flowers, bread, fruits and candy.

Pictures of deceased family members are kept on that altar.

In late afternoon, candles are lit, as to remember the departed souls.

Just as in the United States, there are Halloween special recipes and treats,

Day of the Dead is also celebrated with unique and weird recipes like

chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, white chocolate skeletons,

milk chocolate bones.

There are skeleton figurines, skeletal brides, evil dolls,

spirit and ghost figures, are quite popular

gift and home décor items.

November 1st and 2nd can be a wonderful

time to visit Mexico,

as you will get to see a celebration full of flowers

and chocolates.

People parade through the streets dressed as

skeletons and

ghosts and candles are meant to burn all night.

We have culture which believes in a vibrant afterlife

and remembers the departed ones with joy!

it all starts with a KISS: FYI

I think of myself as a romantic person, I really had to know how did the custom of kissing start. And as we all know Google is our best friend (most of the time) when learning things you are curious about; so I looked it up.

And most of the information tells mostly the same story:

The custom of kissing swept from France through Europe to Russia, where Russian nobility loved to ape the French. Eventually, the kiss was incorporated into marriage ceremonies, and today lip-locks couples into

sweet matrimony.

The custom of kissing today, as well as in ancient times, serves to show respect, and to pay homage to another. For example, early Romans kissed each other on the mouth or on the eyes to greet one another in a manner they deemed to be a dignified. One Roman emperor even ranked a person's importance by the body part he was allowed to kiss. He allowed important nobles to kiss his lips, less important ones to kiss his hands, and the least

important ones to kiss his feet.

In Russia, the highest sign of recognition from the Crown meant a kiss from the Tsar himself. Today, natives of many African tribes pay homage to their Chief by kissing the ground over which he has walked.

Over time, the custom of kissing developed as a way for adults to express their love and affection for one another. The roots of this form of affection can be traced back to primitive times, when mothers fondled their children, much as mothers do today.

Much later, in the sixth century, society apparently accepted the custom of kissing between adults as an expression of their affection. Not surprisingly, France first accepted kissing in courtship, and in amore. There, figure dancing was the rage, and each dance was sealed with a kiss.

Now you know every time you kiss you are keeping one of the oldests traditions of mankind alive!!!

XX ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.