Weddings come with a plethora of customs and traditions, varying by culture and religion. One unique custom followed at Jewish weddings that’s become increasingly famous is the breaking of the glass. At the end of the wedding ceremony, the groom stomps on a glass wrapped in cloth, making a loud popping sound and bringing the ceremony to a close. The act holds symbolic significance and is practiced widely across Jewish marriages. Let’s take a look at why you stomp a glass at a Jewish wedding.
The Breaking of the Glass
The act of breaking a glass, while merely a small part of the wedding ceremony, holds significant meaning. Couples often incorporate this custom in the Jewish wedding, regardless of their level of observance. The tradition is typically performed at the end of the wedding ceremony, right before the duo is pronounced married.
Significance behind Breaking of the Glass
The breaking glass symbolizes various things and has a deeper meaning in Jewish culture. Here are some of the explanations for why you stomp a glass at a Jewish wedding.
A moment of Remembrance
One explanation is that the act of breaking the glass symbolizes the destruction of the second Jewish temple. It’s a moment of reflection. Couples take a brief pause during their celebrations to acknowledge the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people throughout history. It signifies the importance of remembering Jewish history and honoring the past.
Power of Humility
The crushing of the glass underfoot also represents humility. The noise created after crushing the glass is a reminder of the fragility of life, and it serves as a cautionary message that even during happy moments, the joyousness is fleeting. It’s a reminder to remain humble and accept the ups and downs of life.
The end of an Old Life and the Beginning of a New One
The act of breaking the glass also symbolizes the end of an old life and the beginning of a new one, a new chapter in the couple’s life together. The glass represents fragility, reminding the couple that they must handle their relationship with care, compassion, and respect.
Joy and Sorrow
The breaking of the glass represents that the new relationship will hold both joy and sorrow. While it’s a time of celebration, the reminder of past struggles and the awareness that mixed emotions will be present throughout their journey together makes the breaking of the glass all the more poignant.
How to Perform the Traditon
The action of breaking the glass is not as simple as smashing it with your shoe. The groom stomps on a glass wrapped in a white cloth napkin during the ceremony’s conclusion. The most common explanation for this is that it’s to protect guest’s feet if the glass breaks.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why breaking the glass is such an important tradition in Jewish wedding ceremonies. It’s a beautiful and poetic way for couples to honor the past, embrace the future, and ensure that the joy of their wedding day is never taken for granted. Breaking the glass serves as a reminder of the history of Jewish culture and is a meaningful symbol of happiness, sorrow, and hope for every couple starting this new chapter in their lives.
FAQ
Is breaking the glass Jewish wedding before or after kiss?
Breaking the glass is a traditional Jewish act that occurs during the wedding ceremony. It is an important part of the ceremony and carries important symbolism. But the question arises, is breaking the glass in a Jewish wedding before or after the kiss?
In traditional Jewish weddings, the groom steps on a glass wrapped in cloth after the couple has been pronounced married. When the groom breaks the glass by stomping on it with his foot, the glass shatters into small pieces. This is usually done at the end of the ceremony, just before the couple makes their way down the aisle together.
The breaking of the glass has several different meanings. In the Jewish faith, it represents the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and reminds couples of the sadness that still exists in the world. It also represents the fragility of human relationships and serves as a reminder that couples must handle their relationship with care and attention. Breaking the glass is also meant to bring good fortune and symbolize the breaking of the old and the beginning of the new.
Now, coming back to the question of whether breaking the glass comes before or after the kiss. In traditional Jewish weddings, the kiss actually happens before the breaking of the glass. The couple is under the chuppah, a canopy that represents the new home that they will create together. After saying their vows, the couple shares a kiss, and then the groom steps on the glass and breaks it. At this point, the ceremony has officially ended, and everyone cheers and shouts, “Mazel Tov!”
However, in some reformed Jewish traditions, the breaking of the glass happens after the kiss. This is not as common, but in these weddings, the couple will exchange their vows, share a kiss, and then the groom will break the glass.
Breaking the glass is an important part of the Jewish wedding ceremony that symbolizes the fragility of human relationships, the breaking of the old and the beginning of the new, and brings good fortune. In traditional Jewish weddings, the groom breaks the glass after the kiss, while in some reformed Jewish traditions, the breaking of the glass occurs after the kiss. Whatever the tradition, breaking the glass is always a beautiful and meaningful part of the wedding ceremony.
What does jumping over a broom at a wedding mean?
Jumping over a broom at a wedding is a tradition with African roots that dates back to the era of slavery in the United States. During that time, enslaved people were not allowed to formally marry and create families, making it commonplace for them to create their own rituals. As a result, jumping the broom became a symbolic way for enslaved couples to recognize their unions and honor their African heritage.
In its simplest form, jumping the broom entails the couple, holding hands, leaping over a broom that is placed on the ground in front of them. It is a beautiful and touching way to pay homage to African culture and unity. It is also a way for the couple to show their respect and appreciation for their ancestors and the struggles they endured to ensure that their future generations could live in a world where they could celebrate their love freely.
For some couples, jumping the broom is a way to connect with their heritage and traditions. For others, it is merely a fun addition to their wedding ceremony. Regardless of the reason, it is a beautiful way to honor the past and celebrate the present. Many couples today incorporate the tradition into their wedding ceremony to show the continuity of time and the endurance of love. Jumping the broom is not only a cultural tradition but also a reminder of the struggles and the triumph of love over adversity.
Do you kiss before or after breaking the glass?
In Jewish wedding traditions, the ceremony involves various symbolic rituals and blessings that are steeped in meaningful significance. One such ritual involves breaking a glass. You might have come across this tradition in movies or television shows where it is portrayed as a rather dramatic moment where the groom smashes a glass with his foot followed by cheers and applause.
But what does breaking a glass signify in Jewish weddings? Well, the reasons behind the tradition are many, and they can vary depending on the interpretation and belief of the couple and the rabbi conducting the ceremony.
One interpretation is that breaking the glass represents the sorrow and destruction experienced by the Jewish people throughout history, such as the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Breaking the glass signifies the need to remember and mourn those losses, even amidst the joy of a wedding celebration.
Breaking the glass can also symbolize the fragility and impermanence of life. It reminds the couple that just as a broken glass cannot be put back together, some things in life can be irreparably damaged or lost. This serves as a reminder to cherish and value each other and the moments they share together.
Now, coming to the question at hand- do you kiss before or after breaking the glass? The answer is that the kiss typically happens after the glass is broken. After the rabbi declares the couple as husband and wife, he invites them to seal their promises with a kiss. The groom then kisses the bride, and immediately afterward, breaks the glass with his right foot.
While it is not a strict requirement, some couples choose to add a personal touch to the tradition. For example, one might use a meaningful or sentimental glass, while another might involve their families by having them contribute to the collection of glass pieces. Regardless of the specifics, breaking the glass remains an integral and beautiful part of Jewish wedding ceremonies.