What is a feet-washing ceremony you ask? The Christian church introduced this ceremony to imitate the love of Jesus, paying homage to washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper the night before his Crucifixion.
The early Christian church introduced the custom to imitate the humility and selfless love of Jesus, who washed the feet of the Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper (John 13:1–15), the night before his Crucifixion.
Hence, the tradition of washing his feet, thereby holding the groom as high as Shiva and giving him the best treasure a father can have, his daughter, as the Vamshodharini, Saha Dharma Charini, the Goddess Parvati herself.
Feet Washing
In Assamese tradition, it is the bride's sister who washes the groom's feet. It only seems insulting to get two adults, as old as the groom's own parents and deserving the same amount of respect, to wash the feet of the groom.
In most cultures, we no longer wash one another's feet but we have opportunities to serve one another humbly. Today, foot washing might be translated into cleaning up after someone who is sick, preparing food for someone who is tired, or doing the shopping for an elderly neighbor or family member.
The custom of foot washing among Christians is based on the Gospel of John (13:4-15). In this account of the Last Supper, Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe, tied a towel around himself, and began to wash the disciples' feet to emphasize that they were to care for each other as he had cared for them.
John 13:2–17 recounts Jesus' performance of this action. In verses 13:14–17, He instructs His disciples: If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
The empathetic ritual dates to the Last Supper when Christ performed it for his disciples. For Roman Catholics, the washing of the feet ceremony is full of symbolism. It represents the vocation of service, humility and equality that Christ's followers should practice.
One of the pillars of Islam is that Muslims pray five times a day. Before those prayers, they are expected to perform a purification ritual called Wudu, requiring that they wash their faces, hands, arms, and feet.
It shows the bride and groom sharing a happy hug after he touches her feet.
The History and Meaning of Giving Away the Bride
“Well, the tradition comes from an era where women were the property of men,” she says. “Fathers walking their daughter down the aisle and giving their daughter, the bride, away represented a transfer of ownership from her father to her new husband.”
1. Mother of the bride and groom don't attend the wedding: In a traditional Bengali wedding, the mother of the bride and groom don't attend their son's or daughter's wedding as they believe that the mother would have a harmful or evil effect on the married life of the child. 2.
The father-daughter dance is regarded as a beautiful moment between a bride and their father and symbolizes their appreciation for the love and guidance they received throughout their life.
It's where the bride and groom wash each others feet in a bowl with asponge and dry them off with a towel. The reason some Christian couples decide to do this is because it is a symbolofbeing humble and willing to serve one another since that is what Jesus did for his disciples.
By washing each other's feet today, you are saying, I don't only stand before you, promising my love with a vow and a ring, but I'm kneeling before you, washing your feet, humbly accepting you as you are, not only with my words, but with my actions. My love is not just a promise, but an unconditional action of love.
Maintains Body Temperature. As per the media report, Ayurveda puts great emphasis on washing feet in order to maintain the temperature of the body. The feet are associated with the elements of fire. Wearing footwear tends to contain that heat in a closed area all day long.
Although the washing of the feet imitates Jesus' act of love for his disciples on the night before he died, it is not a re-enactment of that moment of Jesus' life. It is a ritual that signifies our participation in Christ's mission of love and service to one another and to those in need in our world today.
The Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches practice the ritual of the Washing of Feet on Holy and Great Thursday (Maundy Thursday) according to their ancient rites.
All the same, foot washing isn't an exclusively Judeo-Christian practice. In Buddhism, feet are considered the most unclean part of the body; even pointing one's feet in the direction of an altar or one's teacher is considered disrespectful.
"The priest might invite the couple to exchange a kiss here, during the sign of peace, or at the conclusion of the ceremony," says Calis.
This injunction is symbolic. During Jesus' time, there were no cars or motorbikes; people trekked. On the night Jesus was about to be betrayed, He washed His disciples' feet. It is a symbolism of being clean and He said to them that that was an example, a 'new commandment I give you.
If you want to go a more "traditional" route, there is a generally-agreed-upon etiquette when it comes to the ordering of the dances: The bride and groom share the first dance. The father of the bride then dances with the bride. The groom may also dance with the mother of the bride.
Bridal dances
During the “bride's parents” dance, let both parties dance with their dates. If one hasn't come with a date or you've asked them both to come unaccompanied, then you might want to do away with this dance altogether to avoid unnecessary awkwardness.
The father of the bride should traditionally thank guests for coming and participating in the wedding, thank anyone who has contributed to the cost of the wedding, compliments and praises the bride and welcomes the groom into the family and ends with a toast to the newlyweds.
If the mother of the bride is taking part in the wedding processional, she is traditionally escorted by a close male relative like a son or brother or may enter alone. If the parents are divorced, she may be escorted by her partner. In some cases, a groomsman or best man will escort her down the aisle.