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The Tradition of Throwing Wedding Rice and What it Means
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The tradition of throwing
rice is a custom which has survived in Europe
since the Middle Ages. This practice began in the East,
where rice is
considered to be a symbol of fertility. In weddings
the guests
throw rice over the bride and groom in the hope
that the
couple have many children.
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Therefore
the rice which is thrown when the bride and groom leave the church or
wedding ceremony means prosperity and fertility, which is
wished
upon the new marriage so that it results in a great family,
and
abundance in all meanings of the word. These days rose petals
are also thrown to represent a sweet and full future.
In
Poland, as well as the cusom of tossing rice, there is a tradition of
geuest dropping coins at the bride and groom's feet for them to pick up
as they leave the church. In Malaysian weddings which span a
total of two days, rice and scented water is sprinkled over the bride
to greet her at her home on the second days of the ceremony.
Due
to a widely held, but false, belief that birds eating the rice left
over from the wedding will explode, some marriage ceremonies use
birdseed rather than rice. Because of this, some weddings use the blowing of bubbles instead. Rice does not harm birds however,
this having been confirmed by The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, Birdwatcher Digest and
Birder's magazine. In fact, many birds eat raw rice
throughout
the world and naturally enjoy it without exploding. As one
scientist explained, if rice had the effect stated, why aren't there
pieces of birds scattered everywhere near rice fields!
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You
can feel assured therefore that you're safe to have rice
thrown at
your wedding without risking any unintended avian detonations.
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