Italian and Polish Traditions

Okay, so my family is of Italian descent (I know, so is a lot of Long Island )And my fiance and his family are from Poland. He was born and raised there until they moved here in 1990. Since I feel that marriage is more than just two people united, but it is two families as well, can anyone suggest some traditional Polish and Italian traditions to incorporate that will help us come together?

So far his parents will present us with the bread, salt and wine. And I would like to dance the tarantella. Other suggestions?

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

I think those are two very good things to do. Ask your DJ or band what they suggest also. Most are well equipped with the songs and traditions of many different nationalities.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

I am Polish/Italian. I am using something from each culture at the reception. At the reception there is a polish ceremony. It is the salt and bread ceremony. The parents give the Bride and groom salt and bread to represent different things. For the italian traditions, We are going to break a glass against a wall and however many pieces they break into is how long your love will last. I know this italian one sounds like the jewish tradition of breaking the glass but they are different. I looked all this up when I started planning. I'll look it all up again and let you know exactly what they both symbolize.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

The bread, salt, wine we have covered. He asked me if I would have any objection (he was worried, he's so cute) and I said of course we can do it. I told him I WANT to do it. The glass I didn't know about. Thanks. Keep'em coming

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

In some northern Italian villages, locals shower the couple with cakes and other baked goods as they wind their way through the streets after their wedding. And instead of clanging cans on the back of the newlyweds’ car, the front grill of the Italian getaway car is decorated with flowers, paving the way for a road to a happy marriage. At some Italian weddings, a pair of white doves is released to symbolize the couple’s love and happiness.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

Ooh doves. That sounds beautiful. I am getting excited now. I am smiling a little girl smile

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

Polish brides usually wore a lush wreath of fresh flowers and rosemary in their hair. Horsedrawn carriages were traditional at Polish weddings -- the bride and groom used to ride to and from the ceremony this way, with the wedding guests following after them to the reception by foot. In Polish tradition, guests rained oats and barley down on the couple rather than rice or birdseed as they exited the ceremony. Traditional Polish celebratory fare such as roasted duck and veal, pickled herring, dumplings, smoked sausages, potato leek soup, almond-filled pastries or dried fruits were served at the reception.

The Polish also hold a blessing ceremony before the actual wedding ceremony, for just the bride, groom and their parents, during which the parents give the couple a ceremonial gift of bread and salt, meant to represent the 'prosperity and bitterness' that all couples encounter throughout their lives. One of the most popular Polish traditions at wedding celebrations is called the 'unveiling', which takes place during the reception: Guests link arms and form a circle around the bride, and her mother takes the bride's veil off (symbolizing her coming into womanhood) and places it on the head of her honor attendant, who then waltzes with the best man. The maid of honor then passes the veil to the next bridesmaid in the circle, who dances with the next groomsman in line, etc. The significance of the passing of the veil is that the bride is offering her maids good fortune for marrying themselves one day.

Hope these help a little, I am pulling them from other places I found them.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

Tying a ribbon in front of the wedding chapel to symbolize the bond between the couple getting married is another popular wedding custom in Italy. The actual wedding ceremony (sposalizio) is officiated by a priest or civil authority. Old church tradition warns against marrying during Lent and Advent, and marriage is also avoided in the months of May and August. A lengthy celebration begins with a mass in the morning; and the dancing and feasting that follows may continue well into the wee hours of the morning.

Italian Folklore

To ward off evil spirits, a groom in Italy might carry a piece of iron in his pocket. The bride wears a veil to hide her face from jealous spirits. Tearing the veil is considered good luck.

Sunday marriages are believed to be the luckiest.

It is considered bad luck for a bride to wear any gold, on the day she is married, until wedding rings are exchanged.

Symbolic foods for fertility and for good luck are 'confetti -- candy covered almonds tied in mesh bags to toss at the couple; and twists of fried dough powdered with sugar called wanda (bow ties).

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

Sorry I am going crazy, This is just all the stuff I have found. I hope it helps.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

These are great. I like the idea of tying a ribbon on the church.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

I don't know polish tradirions, but my family (italian) has some. We tie a white ribbon at the front of the church, and then place a white ribbon around the shoulders of the B&G during the ceremony.

During the reception we do a 'veil dance' where the B&G go for a 2nd dance & the bridal party makes a circle around them & holds a veil over thier heads. They then drop the veil over the B&G and dance with each other around the B&G. I like this one & it looks great in the video & Pics.

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

That sounds beautiful

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

Hi! I just came across this information in one of the Etiquette book's I have, thought, I'd share:

ITALIAN TRADITIONS:
Ribbons signify the tying together of two lives. A ribbon is tied across the front of the church door to symbolize the wedding bond.

Wedding guest have for centuries tossed confetti (sugared almonds, not small pieces of paper) at the newlyweds. Sometimes, these decoreate each place at reception tables - in pretty little precelain boxes or tulle bags called 'bomboniere', which are personalized with the couple's name and wedding date - to symbolize the sweet (sugar) and bitter (almonds) in life.

The newlyweds lead the guests in dancing the tarantella

After a line dance called the GRAND MARCH, the reception may end with a second recieving line, where guests may receive their 'bomboniere' - and give the couple money envelopes in exchange. The couple then dance their last dance.

Stay tuned for Polish Traditions

(info. taken from Brides Book of Etiquette)

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

POLISH TRADITIONS:

For village weddings, friends weave a wedding crown of rosemary leaves (symbolizing remembrance) for the bride. Long white beaded ribbons - family heirlooms passed from mother to daughter - were tied to the crown.

Reception guests customarily buy a dance with the bride by pinning money to her veil or tucking bills into a special bridal purse (perhaps of white satin embroidered with the couple's names and the wedding date), to build a honeymoon fund.

Luck comes to the bride who drinks a glass of wine at the celebration without spilling a drop.

(info. taken from Brides Book of Etiquette)

Hope I helped a little bit!

FYI - I have TONS of traditions here, so anyone interested, let me know, maybe I have your country!

Re: Italian and Polish Traditions

I just heard from my fiance that his family will be throwing coins at us instead of rice. Ouch!!