Mexico
Since most Mexicans are Roman Catholics, weddings occur within a nuptial Mass. Godparents, padrinos and madrinos, play prominent roles in the ceremony. The madrina de lazo carries a rope (sometimes a rosary or wreath of orange blossoms, fertility symbols), which is wound around the couple's heads in a figure eight as they take their vows. The madrina de arras holds 13 coins (for Jesus and his 12 apostles) that are blessed by the priest and represent the sharing of finances between the couple. Other godparents hold the copas (wine glasses for the wedding toast). A madrina de velacion is a woman whom the bride can turn to for marital advice. During the liturgy, the couple may kiss a crucifix to show faithfulness to each other and the church, and godparents may present them with gifts of a prayer book, rosary and kneeling pillow. Mariachi music may be played as a recessional. At the reception, the guests enclose the couple in a heart-shaped ring before their first dance.
Morocco
Moroccans are predominantly Muslim and their wedding centers around the signing of the marriage contract. Five days prior to the ceremony, the negaffa (female wedding attendants) prepare the marriage chamber, give the bride a ritual Turkish bath and draw mehndi, or henna designs, on her hands and feet. The day of the wedding, the negaffa apply makeup to and veil the bride, then lift her up on their shoulders and carry her to the groom's home on a platform to the beat of tambourines. Children carrying candles may accompany them. The groom's mother lifts the veil to greet her daughter-in-law. The groom himself is veiled. The bride must circle her home three times before entering.
Navajo
Traditionally, friends and family bring food for the wedding feast, while the bride's mother brings ceremonial foods, such as corn mush. The groom, carrying a saddle, enters the wedding hogan and proceeds south around the fire, while the wedding party takes their place south of the fire. The bride enters with the basket of corn mush and sits next to the groom. The ceremony includes the cleansing of the bride and groom's hands by each other, and the sharing of the corn mush, which they usually feed to each other. A celebratory wedding feast follows.
Ndebele
In southern Africa, the mothers-in-law of Ndebele brides make them a jocolo, a beautiful five-paneled, exquisitely beaded goatskin apron, which is worn by all married women on ceremonial occasions.
Netherlands
Traditionally, the Netherlands wedding takes place in a Catholic Church or in town hall, but today, many couples do both. Before the ceremony, the bride and groom sit under a canopy of green boughs, symbolic of the freshness of their love, where they receive good wishes from guests. The bride and groom walk on a bed of flowers to the altar, torches lighting their way if it is an evening wedding, and flowers are tossed at them as they depart. Many modern couples plant a lily-of-the-valley on their wedding day to remind them to renew their love as it blooms each spring.
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