Thailand
Most Thais practice Theravada Buddhism. Astrologers are consulted to help set an auspicious wedding date, usually in even-numbered lunar calendar months. The morning of the wedding, the couple visits the local wat, or temple, to make an offering of food to the monks, who grant blessings in return. Later, a monk performs the ceremony, where Buddhist scriptures are recited, but no vows are made. Couples sometimes wear crowns while an elder male joins them together with a mongkol, or blessed white thread. The sai sin, or white cord, is then encircled around their feet to create a sacred space, and the monk sprinkles holy water over the couple with a tree branch. He pours water over the couple's joined hands, allowing it to drip onto flowers held below. Guests are also sometimes invited to take turns pouring holy water in the same way with a conch shell. As they leave the ceremony, the couple bows to each guest to show respect and gratitude.
Togo
In the past, marriages were arranged for the purpose of combining two families, and among the Ewe-Mina of the south, the bride's aunts took drinks, money and provisions to the bride's home as a finalization of the marriage. There were no wedding ceremonies, civil or religious, in those days. Today, the traditional Togo marriage ceremony has been replaced by the more popular, Western-style wedding.
Turkey
In the past, Turkish brides were hidden behind doors while their grooms signed a contract before an imam and a brideprice was paid to the bride's family. Modern Turkish wedding traditions might be short civil ceremonies, the bride and groom in western clothing, or a large traditional wedding, with the bride dressed in white. A wedding procession accompanied by musicians is customary, and after the ceremony, feasting and traditional folk dancing are enjoyed by all.
Ukraine
In the Ukraine, brides may wear traditional dress or the western white wedding gown and veil. Some wedding traditions include: a formal engagement of the couple; an exchange of gifts between families; the baking of the bread korovai; the devich vechir, a farewell party for the bride at which she and her friends make the ceremonial hiltse for the wedding table; the wedding train to the bride's house, at which the groom pays a ransom; wedding cake and feasting. Traditionally, a breakfast is held for the bride and groom the morning after the wedding ceremony, followed by the controversial period of frivolity engaged in by the newlyweds and guests called tsyhanshchyna.
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