POLISH WEDDINGS

Traditions and Customs

SHARING OF THE BREAD, SALT, AND WINE

• Old tradition
• Parents of the bride and groom bring them the bread with salt sprinkled on it, and wine
• Bread symbolizes: hoping that bride and groom never go hungry
• Salt symbolizes: having to cope with struggles in marriage
• Wine symbolizes: hoping that the bride and groom are never thirsty, and are always healthy

SONG

• The Polish song, Sto-Lat, is sung
• It is sung at celebrations: weddings, birthdays, etc.
• Roughly translates to hoping that the person (or people) will live for 100 years
• Usually sung after the Bread and Salt tradition

CROWN

• Polish brides usually wear flower wreaths in their hair on their wedding day

TRANSPORTATION

• Bride and groom ride in a horse-drawn carriage
• Guests walk behind the carriage to the reception

FOOD

• A lot food is made and eaten
• Examples of food: perogies, kelbasa, kolachi, kruschicki

MORE THAN ONE DAY

• Sometimes, polish weddings go on for more than one day
• Poeple have two-day or three-day weddings

DOLLAR DANCE

• AKA: the Apron Dance or Money Dance
• Money is collected from guests as they dance with the bride
• All men (and women) can dance with the bride (polka)
• After the Taking off of the Veil

PICTURE OF DOLLAR DANCE

THROWING COINS

• After the Mass or ceremony, guests are able to throw small coins at the bride and groom

COSTUME

• A polish folk costume is worn
• A popular costume that brides (and/or grooms) wear

WORKS CITED

• Google Images, http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/qa/incorporatin...
• http://polishpresents.com/Polish_Wedding.html
• http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/weddings/p/polishweddings.htm
• http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Wedding.htm
• http://polandian.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/15-things-you-need-to-know-about-...

THANKS FOR WATCHING!