My soon-2-bee is African American. He was adopted and as he puts it, he grew up Cosby - very well off in the OC. I am white, always wanted to be adopted and grew up so broke it wasn't funny.
I would like to add things to our wedding to make it truly our own and I honestly would like to bring in some traditional African American "things" for lack of a better word. I know there is the jumping of the broom and I'm hearing mixed things about if it's "ok" for us to do that.
I have Jewish heritage and would like to bring that in, and as I know it that isn't really a problem.
Any thoughts on how and what to bring in to celebrate his African American heritage?
Is your fiance really connected with his African American heritage? If he is, then I'm sure he will want to include aspects of it and it doesn't matter what other people think. If it's important to the two of you do it! I love the idea of jumping the broom.
I know some African American weddings have a Yoruba. If memory serves me right this is where a prayer is said asking for God's blessing and the families get together and exchange gifts. I may have butchered that though :( I've also read about the tasting of the four elements. This isn't practiced very much anymore but during the ceremony it is required that the bride and groom taste: lemon as representing the sour, vinegar as representing the bitter, cayenne pepper as representing the hot, and honey as representing the sweet times of marriage. This ritual dramatizes the "traditional" promise to love "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health." I think this is unique.
I think its a great idea, I love the idea! Jump brooms, break glasses (and no fair using a light bulb either!) My rabbi said...and for gods sake get a real glass...if you cant break a glass start practicing! ENJOY!
I understand how you feel with mixing traditions, and I can't offer specific advice for African American traditions, but I can offer encouragement! My FI is a bit Scottish (maybe just over 1/4), but has really enjoyed some of the cultural things, and asked me if he could wear his kilt for the wedding. I think he was half joking, but I agreed and since then we've been working to encorporate a bunch of Scottish traditions. Sometimes I second guess myself because we don't have strong cultural ties, but I don't think there's anything wrong with showing appreciation for another culture's traditions.
We'd like some German traditions to throw in there, but those are much harder to come by! Anyway, good luck and do what you'd like to do!
My soon-2-bee is African American. He was adopted and as he puts it, he grew up Cosby - very well off in the OC. I am white, always wanted to be adopted and grew up so broke it wasn't funny.
I would like to add things to our wedding to make it truly our own and I honestly would like to bring in some traditional African American "things" for lack of a better word. I know there is the jumping of the broom and I'm hearing mixed things about if it's "ok" for us to do that.
I have Jewish heritage and would like to bring that in, and as I know it that isn't really a problem.
Any thoughts on how and what to bring in to celebrate his African American heritage?
posted by thefuturemrsjohnson 22 posts 2 months agoIs your fiance really connected with his African American heritage? If he is, then I'm sure he will want to include aspects of it and it doesn't matter what other people think. If it's important to the two of you do it! I love the idea of jumping the broom.
I know some African American weddings have a Yoruba. If memory serves me right this is where a prayer is said asking for God's blessing and the families get together and exchange gifts. I may have butchered that though :( I've also read about the tasting of the four elements. This isn't practiced very much anymore but during the ceremony it is required that the bride and groom taste: lemon as representing the sour, vinegar as representing the bitter, cayenne pepper as representing the hot, and honey as representing the sweet times of marriage. This ritual dramatizes the "traditional" promise to love "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health." I think this is unique.
posted by maureen9004 261 posts 2 months agoI think its a great idea, I love the idea! Jump brooms, break glasses (and no fair using a light bulb either!) My rabbi said...and for gods sake get a real glass...if you cant break a glass start practicing! ENJOY!
posted by Hyacinth 33 posts 2 months agoI understand how you feel with mixing traditions, and I can't offer specific advice for African American traditions, but I can offer encouragement! My FI is a bit Scottish (maybe just over 1/4), but has really enjoyed some of the cultural things, and asked me if he could wear his kilt for the wedding. I think he was half joking, but I agreed and since then we've been working to encorporate a bunch of Scottish traditions. Sometimes I second guess myself because we don't have strong cultural ties, but I don't think there's anything wrong with showing appreciation for another culture's traditions.
We'd like some German traditions to throw in there, but those are much harder to come by! Anyway, good luck and do what you'd like to do!
posted by HistoryBride 74 posts 2 months ago