What Happens At A Korean Wedding? Korean Wedding Traditions
“A Korean wedding is not just about the joining of two people, but also about the joining of families,”
This week we thought we’d research some more weddings from different cultures, to help brighten up your isolation and inspire your own wedding plans. It’s South Korean traditions this time, and we’re excited to show you what we discovered — and just like we wrote in our Indian Wedding blog, if anyone would like us to focus on a specific culture, or if anyone has any more information that we may have missed from these traditions, please let us know via the links below!
Traditional Korean weddings are based around and centered on traditional Confucian values. An old Korean tradition is known as Eui Hon, matchmaking. It isn’t as common in modern-day, however in 2014 it was reported that there were 2,500 matchmaking companies in Korea, so it’s not a forgotten tradition. The wedding ceremony is called Taerye (The Great Ritual) and involves rituals which show respect to each other’s families; a korean wedding is not just about the joining of two people, but also about the joining of families, and accepting each other. This belief drives a lot of the customs around Korean Weddings, including a tradition where the parents of the couple invite everyone they know to the wedding. While not every couple will do this, it isn’t uncommon for a guest list to be in the hundreds for this kind of event.
One of the rituals is known as the Jeonanrye, an ancient Korean ritual in which the groom must present his future mother-in-law with a kireogi, or wild goose, in order to show his commitment to her daughter, but in modern times grooms offer a pair of wooden geese instead of searching for wild geese. The reason he must gift her a goose is because geese mate for life in the wild, so it becomes a promise to his mother-in-law that he will care for her daughter all his life. The kireogi also symbolizes structure and harmony and leaving a great legacy. Another tradition passed down the line is the clothing the couple will wear on their big day. Known as Hanbok, this clothing is made of silk, has simple lines, bright colours, often with high collars, and almost always with long sleeves and a sash wrapped around the waist. Hanbok is shorthand for the custom-made costumes which Korean women wear on special occasions such as weddings or national holidays — though western traditions have white dresses, a Korean bride will usually wear a pink, red, or purple hanbok. The mother of the bride will also wear a hanbok, either pink or purple, and the mother of the groom will wear a blue hanbok, matching her son who wears a gwanbok.
A Korean ceremony includes both an officiant and Master of Ceremonies to lead the couple through their wedding vows before the kunbere ceremony begins. The bride and groom bow to each other and sip wine from a gourd which is traditionally grown by the mother of the bride. After this ceremony, a fun tradition begins known as the Pyebaek. Originally this was a tradition which integrated the bride into the groom’s family; she would present gifts to her future in-laws and bow in subservience as she left her family for theirs. Today the ceremony celebrates the union of both families and is one of the most popular remnants of ancient Korean Wedding Traditions. The couple offers dates and chestnuts to the family, and the family in return offer sake. Finally, the family (usually the groom’s family but modern ceremonies can incorporate both sides) will throw the dates and chestnuts at the bride, and she will have to catch them with the skirt of her hanbok — this is a fun one, as this will symbolize how many children she will have later in life! Family members and guests will traditionally also offer gifts of money in white envelopes after this; gifts are not traditionally given but if you’re unsure always make sure to check your invitation or ask the couple!
What beautiful traditions from Korean culture, and such stunning clothing! If you’d like to know more, or if you think we’ve missed any Korean traditions out of this blog, please do let us know — we love learning! We’d also love to showcase any pictures you have of weddings from other cultures, or if you want us to research any specific cultural tradition around weddings then don’t hesitate to get in contact with us!
See you next week.
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