FOOD & DRINK AND TRADITIONS
Food trends seem to be ever-changing, but are there any wedding food traditions that have persisted over the decades?
“Throwing rice at newlyweds is an iconic American and Italian tradition, but the use of rice is prevalent in many other cultures as well,” says Stewart. “Rice is revered in numerous societies as a dietary staple, but it also represents fertility all over the world. Some cultures believe it is bad luck to visit the home of newlyweds until the bride has cooked rice for her new husband. Another tradition includes some Indian brides throwing rice at the family home when they leave for the wedding ceremony, representing her wish that her parents’ home will always be blessed with food.” Nuts and seeds represent fertility all over the world, which you’ll see incorporated throughout cultural wedding practices. “Some Greek traditions will have a bride smear honey in the shape of a cross on her door,” says Stewart. “She then throws a pomegranate at the door, and if a lot of seeds stick to the honey, she will have many children and a sweet life. Walnuts, which naturally break into four sections, can be symbolic of the bride, the groom and the two newly joined families.” And of course, you can’t have a wedding without breaking bread! “Bread is also ceremonial, with the challah in Jewish ceremonies and the Christian communion wafer as obvious examples,” Stewart explains. “Round breads and cakes are popular as well, meant to symbolize an unbroken circle just as with wedding rings.”
