Fun Ways to Include Cultural Traditions in Your Wedding

Italian Traditions

Share the love. Traditionally, your best man cuts the groom’s tie into little pieces, which are then sold to guests as wedding keepsakes. Historically, this was done to help raise money to pay for the wedding, but you can choose to ask the best man to hand them out for fun as guests exit the wedding. (Just remember to take your pictures before he starts cutting!)

Chinese Traditions

Pick a lucky date and time. Traditionally, Chinese couples look to fortune-tellers, feng shui experts, and the Chinese calendar (and sometimes their birthdays) to determine the perfect day to say, “I do.” Consider getting married on an even-numbered day and month of the year for good luck. It is also auspicious to marry on the half-hour to begin your new life together on an “upswing,” like the minute hand on the clock.

African-American Traditions

Take a leap of faith. If you’re of African descent, jumping for joy after you’ve tied the knot can mean more than you realize. During the days of slavery in the US, African-American marriages were forbidden, so to symbolize their love and commitment to one another, they “jumped the broom” instead. It’s said to symbolize “sweeping” away your past life in favor of the new one. To have some fun with this, have a custom broom designed with your monogram and wedding date. Then, after your big kiss, hold hands and jump across it together.

Spice things up. Many African-American couples participate in a ritual tasting at their wedding ceremony. It’s known as “Tasting the Four Elements” (adapted from the Yoruba tradition), and is said to represent the promise to love your partner “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.” Vinegar, lemon, cayenne pepper, and honey are traditional choices used to represent the bitter, sour, hot, and, of course, sweet parts of life and a new marriage.

Greek Traditions

Think in threes. During a Greek wedding ceremony, couples often exchange wedding bands three times and wear crowns made of gold or flowers that are traded three times. Consider having three flower girls or bridesmaids and using three different types of flowers in your bouquet.

Bring a lucky charm (or two!). Charms are a big part of Greek wedding rituals. Have the groom carry a small piece of iron in his pocket to ward off unwanted spirits, or give out charm bracelets to your bridesmaids as thank-you gifts during the rehearsal dinner. They can wear them during the ceremony.

Hispanic Traditions

Get your extended family involved. Godparents have a major role in Latino-American ceremonies. They act as guides or sponsors for the happy couple, offering both financial and spiritual support on their wedding day, and throughout their lives. The godparents are responsible for making three bouquets for the wedding -- one is for the altar, another is for the bride to toss at the reception, and the third is for the couple to have as a keepsake.

Show them the money. During many Catholic ceremonies (particularly in Spain, Panama, and Mexico) the bride will be presented with 13 gold coins, called arras, from her groom which have been blessed by a priest and passed through the hands of each guest. The coins represent the husband's ability to financially support his new wife. Small, personalized coins can make great favors, and having one that each guest touched is a sweet memento.

Ø Study the topical vocabulary consult your dictionary if needed, write all the words with translation.

Ø Read the text “Fun Ways to Include Cultural Traditions in Your Wedding” for obtaining its information

Ø Use the topical vocabulary in making up 7 sentences with the new words in written form.

Ø Describe a wedding you were present at, which had elements of any cultural traditions included into the ceremony.

V. Контрольный блок.

Prepare a project about a wedding ceremony of your dream. Be ready to present the project in front of the audience.

Тема «Развод и его причины»

I. Краткая аннотация

Данные учебно-методические материалы предназначены для студентов 4 курса факультета педагогики и психологии при организации КСР по теме «Развод и его причины». Комплекс заданий, направленный на достижение поставленных целей и задач КСР, разработан в соответствии с учебной программой по дисциплине «Практика иностранного языка».

Цель темы — совершенствовать умения устной и письменной речи при возможно более полном творческом применении языковых средств.

Задачи:

§ развитие умений составления письменных сообщений: проект, эссэ, сочинение;

§ развитие умения жанрового письма в соответствии с нормами и стандартами письменного делового (профессионального общения);

§ овладеть грамматическими навыками, достаточными для реализации коммуникативных намерений в устной и письменной речи;

§ развивать память, логическое мышление и воображение студентов.

II. Тематический план

4 курс, 8 семестр

Тема: «Развод и его причины»

III. Список основной литературы:

V. Учебно-методический блок

Write an essay on the topic “The Divorce. Reasons of the Divorce” & be ready to represent it in written form (express your opinion in 20 sentences).

Тема «Идеальная семья»

I. Краткая аннотация

Данные учебно-методические материалы предназначены для студентов 4 курса факультета педагогики и психологии при организации КСР по теме «Идеальная семья». Комплекс заданий, направленный на достижение поставленных целей и задач КСР, разработан в соответствии с учебной программой по дисциплине «Практика иностранного языка».

Цель темы — совершенствовать умения устной и письменной речи при возможно более полном творческом применении языковых средств.

Задачи:

§ развитие умений составления письменных сообщений: проект, эссэ, сочинение;

§ развитие умения жанрового письма в соответствии с нормами и стандартами письменного делового (профессионального общения);

§ овладеть грамматическими навыками, достаточными для реализации коммуникативных намерений в устной и письменной речи;

§ развивать память, логическое мышление и воображение студентов.

II. Тематический план

4 курс, 8 семестр

Тема: «Идеальная семья»

III. Список основной литературы:

V. Учебно-методический блок

Make a project on topic “The Ideal Family” & be ready to represent it to your group-mates.