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Though this part of the equation refers specifically to the importance of possessing an item from a successfully married woman, for the purposes of this treatise, we can extend it to mean the "borrowing" of customs and rituals from other traditions. The African American tradition includes the delightful "jumping the broom" ceremony, which, among other attributes, purports to "sweep away" any previous unhappiness or quarrel and banishes ill will. In some instances, couples would literally jump over the broom into their matrimony seat! The East has imparted such customs as the Hindu good luck offering of tying of old shoes on the bridal vehicle (this has somehow morphed into the embarrassing practice of shaving cream artwork covering the car). From the Orient rose the tradition of loud noises as the couple left, in order to frighten off evil spirits, thus the honking of horns and affixing of tin cans to the bumper. Oriental wedding food is carefully designed to offer messages of encouragement, almost a type of cuisinal punning. Rice, of course, is also associated with the East, the throwing of which is said to ensure prosperity and freedom from wants; wheat was a popular Western equivalent. Among some of the more interesting food traditions from other cultures: In Italy, the newlyweds distribute sugared almonds, symbolizing both the bitter and sweet in marriage and life. A traditional cake at Jamaican wedding feast often includes a tot of rum, leftover slices being mailed to those who couldn't attend (taking home a piece of cake and placing it under a pillow is said to hasten marriage. Effective, but messy.) The phrase, "Have you eaten noodles yet?" is a sly way of asking if someone is married, as it is associated with the Korean tradition of serving special wedding noodles. Jewish wedding meals are Kosher, while Welsh couples will often exchange wooden spoons. According to author Laura Reynolds, "Even though the wedding ceremony finally appeared across the world, no ritual was exactly alike. In the East, the most characteristic ritual was the placing of crowns upon the heads of both bride and groom; in the West, the nuptial blessing, imparted by the priest, became the central religious ceremony. At the beginning, marriage ceremonies were performed in the bedroom…later came the blessing of the couple infacie ecclesie, at the door of the church." So culture, naturally contributes greatly to influencing the rituals of weddings; in fact, some cultures even view a pregnant bride as a sign of fertility, an important aspect of marriage. ----------->
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