By: Rafi Michael
Submitted: 2009-10-07 12:56:39 | Word Count: 510
Venezuela culture is a product of wide influence from American Indians, Spanish, Africans, Italians, Portuguese, Germans, Arabs and others from South America countries. Wedding traditions cultural in Venezuela is therefore as diverse as the many cultures that have made them what they are today. One of the common cultural wedding traditions in Venezuela that people from Toronto would be amazed at is that of bridal couples sneaking from the reception unnoticed. Venezuelans have continued with this tradition since they believe it brings good luck to those who have just married and is therefore done in good faith. Visitors from Toronto attending weddings of friends and loved ones in Venezuela get alarmed when they realize they cannot trace the bride and groom and yet the rest of the people appear disinterested in their whereabouts. It can be very alarming for a person who does not understand this tradition because the wedding day is mainly for the couple whose presence is vital. Guests are encouraged to eat drink and continue making merry even in the absence of the bridal couple.
Wedding traditions cultural in Venezuela incorporates ethnicity through the food. Caterers serve food from Spanish, Africa, Portuguese, Amerindian, Italian or any other ethnic culture named above. Wedding traditions cultural in Venezuela is very festive and colorful. Visitor from Toronto enjoy these weddings that major on merrymaking, music and food. They are also very colorful and this is mostly seen in how the Venezuelans decorate their venues and themselves. Another aspect of the wedding traditions cultural in Venezuela is that both the flower girl and ring bearer wear clothing, which is similar to the bridal couple in design. This is very unique and rare in Toronto where the flower girl especially may wear a wide range of clothes from princess to pleats depending on age and size. In Toronto the bride may prefer designs that are very mature for a flower girl such as strapless, halter or another design that requires a well formed body and curves that the flower girl may not have. Due to these factors rarely do the bride and her flower girl wear the same design in most parts of the world making this a very unique wedding tradition in Venezuela.
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Another tradition involves an exchange of thirteen coins. Some families prefer to use chocolate coins that have been wrapped in gold foil as facsimiles. These coins are commonly referred to as Aras. These coins can be presented by the groom or the bride’s father. When the groom presents the coins this symbolizes his willingness and love to support his bride. If they are presented by the father of the bride they symbolize the dowry for the bride. This is a very unique practice since most traditions do not require the family of the bride to pay dowry instead they receive dowry from the family of the groom. It is likely that these wedding traditions cultural in Venezuela came about from the Indian influence since this group of people is known to practice this tradition to this day.
