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By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
In almost every culture, there will be a celebration of joy and happiness through wedding celebrations. When it comes to Black heritage, there are different ways to celebrate weddings whether it is traditionally or culturally.
These weddings are organized in a way that shares an unforgettable experience with the ones attending. Often, these wedding traditions have symbolic meanings that reflect historical traditions and diversity within the Black community around the world. This article will discuss the different wedding traditions that are celebrated within countries that celebrate Black history and the origins from where they came from.
Jumping the Broom is a tradition that originated from Ghana, in the west. When wedding celebrations are facilitated, it is known that the broom holds spiritual value, as it keeps negative energy, evil spirits, and wrong doings away. The act of jumping over the broom symbolizes a new beginning and not looking at the past mistakes and oppression that has confronted the lives of many Black people.
Many people enact this ritual for tradition and others choose to engage in the act to symbolize solidarity with their ancestors. A majority of the time, the brooms are passed down through generations, or purchased by the couple themselves for their specific occasion.
The exchange of kola nuts has been a component of West African weddings for a while. These nuts are used as a symbol of communion and unity among the bride and groom. It also represents the power of healing one another as partners. The kola nut is known to bring good fortune and acceptance into the bride’s family through this exchange.
Money spray is prominent in African and Caribbean culture during wedding celebrations. The money spray usually tends to occur during the reception, where guests gather around the couple and shower them with money, while the couple dances to traditional music.
The purpose of the money spraying tradition is to show prosperity, support, and good wishes for their future. This highlights an aspect of Black culture and the importance of celebrating specific occasions where two people are coming together to start a life.
Traditional African Wedding Attire
Traditional African wedding attire consists of various different patterns and colours that are significant to their culture. There are regions in Africa that follow specific clothing requirements that represent the country and their heritage. For example in Ghana, dresses and suits are made from kente cloth, which is handwoven with strips of cotton and silk. Whereas in Nigeria, they specifically showcase their clothing involving head wraps called gele head wraps. These head wraps are specifically worn by women getting married.
In general, weddings hold significance when it comes to facilitating joy and happiness. Celebrating these events through important traditions demonstrates Black resilience and the spirit Black communities have to offer worldwide. It is important to recognize the cultural aspects of these traditions. Many have been preserved for decades and continue to strengthen their identity through celebration of bringing two people together. These traditions will conquer marriage stereotypes and offer a unique experience.
Lavanya Kathirgamanathan is one of the Writers for this year’s publication at Black Voice. She’s a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she studied Journalism and will further her education in Human Resources at George Brown College. Lavanya has experience writing for multiple publications and has her own food blog on social media. Lavanya’s main goal as a writer for the Black Voice publication is to showcase Black excellence within the community, and in the city of Toronto.