What is Polterabend custom in Germany?
Polterabend is a German wedding custom in which, on the night before the wedding, the guests break porcelain to bring luck to the couple’s marriage. The belief in the effectiveness of this custom is expressed by the old adage: “Shards bring luck” (German: Scherben bringen Glück).
Do Germans have bachelorette parties?
While bachelor and bachelorette parties may not be as popular in Germany as they are in the USA, UK or Australia, the Germans do have their own customs when it comes to celebrating the end of single life before a wedding.
What are some wedding traditions in Germany?
So we’ve put a list of the weird and the wonderful traditions that you’re bound to see at any authentically German wedding.
- Polterabend.
- Sawing the tree trunk.
- Junggesellenabschied.
- The Veil Dance.
- Invitations.
- Kidnapping the bride.
- Throwing rice.
- Main image via A Boho Chic Wedding in Germany.
Do they have bridal showers in Germany?
There is no such thing as a bridal shower in Germany. Brides-to-be are not showered with gifts in advance of showering them with more gifts, and while wedding plans involve many details, the industry built around them is miniscule compared to the North American version.
Who pays for the wedding in Germany?
Wedding traditions in Germany differ from region to region. Here are some of the highlights: Car Procession – after the wedding a car procession is formed and drives through town honking their horns – others honk back wishing the couple good luck. Costs – the father of the bride has to pay the wedding.
What is Polter night?
Polter night The day before the wedding, stoneware and porcelain — never glassware — is violenty smashed by friends and family in order to chase away evil spirits. The shards are traditionally swept up by the betrothed.
Do Germans get married late?
According to deutschland.de, couples in Germany are also marrying later in life. A total of 407,000 couples tied the knot in Germany in 2017, and they were roughly five years older than wedding couples 25 years ago. On average, women now marry at 31.5 years of age, and men at 34.
Who pays for wedding in Germany?
Costs – the father of the bride has to pay the wedding. This is an old custom but today normally both parents and the couple itself divide the costs for the wedding. Dance – the first dance is danced by the bride and the groom, it is traditionally a waltz.
Who pays for weddings Germany?
What do Germans give as a wedding gift?
A traditional wedding gift, the German bridal cup, or maiden cup, comes from centuries-old German folktale. The tale concerns a suitor who could win the approval of his beloved’s father only by fashioning a vessel from which the couple could both drink without spilling a drop.
How expensive is a wedding in Germany?
In Germany a regular wedding costs between 10,000 and 20,000 euros, wedding couples spend averagely 13,000 euros on their wedding, calculated for 60 guests. In comparison, a similar-sized wedding in the United States costs 30-35,000 euro.
What kind of tradition is Polterabend in Germany?
Polterabend. Various German regions have their very own tradition and custom which may or may not run in consonance with the rest of the country. Some aspects of the tradition such as polterabend wherein everybody breaks crockeries from the table and the bride and groom are supposed to clean the mess together.
What do you throw on the ground at Polterabend?
The actual high point of the custom is the throwing onto the ground of porcelain that has been brought by guests. However, stoneware, flowerpots or ceramics such as tiles, sinks and toilet bowls are also happily thrown items. Metal objects such as tin cans and bottle tops are brought along to the festivities.
Where does the smashing of the Polterabend come from?
Relatively new is the so-called Polter-wedding. In this case, the wedding is combined with the Polterabend, and the smashing occurs in conjunction with the wedding reception. The origin of the Polterabend is not precisely known. Some believe the origin to be Germanic tribes who threw shards to drive off evil spirits.
When does Polterabend take place at a wedding?
And shards is what it is all about at this special pre-wedding party known as Polterabend. Initially, Polterabend took place until midnight on the night before the wedding. The traditional ritual represented the threshold in the transition from bachelorhood to marriage.