Eman Salah Sara Tarek Nader Sameh Heba Ali Gihan Tawfik 11c

History of Japanese Marriage

During the age of aristocracy, Muko-iri was the common marriage system in Japan. A bridegroom would nightly visit his bride at her home. Only after the birth of a child or the loss of his parents would be the bride be accepted as the wife in the man's home. Among common people labor power was an essential factor to maintain a family. A bridegroom would live with his bride's family to offer his labor for a certain length of time. The practice remains today in the system of adoption by which a man becomes a member of another family by marriage. With the rise of "Bushi" warriors, the system of women marrying into men's families called Yomeiri was gradually adopted and widely accepted in the 14th century and on. Under the feudal system marriages were often used as political and diplomatic approaches to maintaining peace and unity among feudal lords. Thus the personal will of men and women for marriage was ignored in the face of family interests and the social intercourse of unmarried persons was denied. Marriages came to be arranged by and for families and the role of "Nakodo" gobetween became very important in Japan. Now this Yome-iri system is quite common in Japan and you can find the traditional procedure in the contemporary marriage. Under the feudal system, Japanese marriages were often used as political and diplomatic means to maintain peace and unity among feudal lords. The young men and women of the day did not have a say in choosing their partners in marriage. Rather, a matchmaker would arrange marriages on behalf of both families. Thus, the role of a "nakodo" (a matchmaker) was established in Japan.

It is interesting to note that a young man had more say in choosing his own bride during the age of aristocracy. A young man would typically visit the young lady of

his choice at her home. If the young womans parents approve of their union, the young man would be invited to a ceremony termed tokoro-arawashi" and offered "mochi" rice cakes. This ceremony was deemed to be the most important function in ancient weddings among aristocrats.

The Mi-ai
the practice of "Mi-ai" is still widely observed to end in a happy married life for many. "Mi-ai" is an interview for a man and woman with a view to marriage, as arranged by their parents or a third party acting as a go-between. It is proposed with due consideration to social backgrounds and other factors of the prospective bride, bridegroom and their families. It is not essential on either of the parties concerned to accept such "Mi-ai" as a promise for marriage. "Mi-ai" was a mere formality, a young man would be invited to the home of the young woman. If he were favorably impressed, he would leave behind a fan to indicate his acceptance to pursue the marriage; however, the bride-to-be had little say on the issue.

The Yui-no
In this type of marriage, Once both families agreed in marriage, both families would meet at a formal dinner on an auspicious day in the Japanese almanac. Yui-no" (engagement) gifts are exchanged. The main gift for a bride-to-be is an obi (a kimono sash), which represents female virtue.

The Nakodo
A "Nakodo" is a go-between who negotiates between both families. Immediately after the marriage proposal has been accepted by the bride's family, there is a ceremonial exchange of drinks with the bride family and the Nakodo. Go-betweens are often selected more for ceremonial purposes. They may be elderly couples known and close to either or both of the families to be united in marriage

Contemporary Japanese weddings are celebrated in a great variety of ways. Many contain traditional Japanese and Western elements side by side.

What is the traditional wedding ceremony?

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies are Shintostyle San-san-kudo no Sakazuki and are held at shrines. In Japanese San-san-kudo means "three, three, nine times".

What do people wear?

Brides wear traditional wedding kimono called Shiromuku The wearing of wearing white robes with embroidered cranes symbolizes fidelity for the length of a marriage

and grooms wear montsuki, haori and hakama.

Women wear tomesode kimono a black formal kimono and is combined with a multi-color design on the skirt.

And Men wear Tuxedos

What happen in the San-san-kudo no Sakazuki?

The couple is purified, drinks sake The bride and groom take three sips of sake from each of three cups. The cup used in the ceremony is called "sakazuki". Three cups used differ in size. First three sips are from the smallest one. Number three was chosen on purpose. It is an indivisible number and Buddhist believes that it is sacred. For them nine means triple happiness. The Sake drank during this ceremony is not always delicious. It is the same with life. All kind of troubles will appear. But the bride and groom will have to overcome them with spirit of unity present in the ceremony, and the groom reads the words of commitment.

What happens after the ceremony is over?

After the ceremony, the couple welcomes all the guests, and the reception party Kekkon Hiroen is held. Usually the party is visited by about 20 to 200 guests among whom are relatives, friends, coworkers and bosses of the bride and groom. The party normally starts with the introductions of the bride and groom. Afterwards, a meal is held and several guests make contributions such as speeches, songs and the like. During the whole celebrations, the groom and especially the bride may change their dresses several times. At the very end of the party, the couple will make a speech to all the guests and thank everybody.

What is the Jappenese wedding now like?

During recent decades, Japanese couples have introduced many Western elements to Japanese weddings. Many brides chose to wear white, Christian style dresses, and some religious ceremonies are even held completely in Christian style at a Christian church even though the

couple may not be Christian. The ritual of cake cutting, the exchange of rings and honeymoons are a few other very common adopted elements.

Why do Japenese prefer now Western style than old traditional style?
Japanese have long liked to copy, and improve on, the west. A western style wedding is cool. A western style wedding is usually less expensive than traditional Japanese style wedding. Just close family attend the Japanese wedding ceremony , whereas many friends and extended family are invited to a western style wedding. Western style is considered more romantic, cheerful, modern and less tiring as in Traditional style wedding the bride and groom has to change coustoms frequently. Western style is promoted through so many movies, magazines and Japanese TV dramas, that couples don't consider any other form.

What happens in the western style wedding?

It is usually held in hotels, and the wedding couple can choose the style that they feel is appropriate for solemnizing their special commitment. The place were the ceremony is held should include a room suitable for the bride to dress and be made up, and private changing rooms for the groom, the couple's parents and other important guests, also a place for the families to meet and formally introduce themselves, a studio for photographs and of course, a suitable place for the reception party. The ceremony is preceded by a rehearsal, enabling the bride (shinpu) and groom (shinro) to give their best performance with the

minimum of stress. Then the couple retire to a waiting room whilst the guests and families enter the chapel and take their places. Often there is a rather nice pre-ceremony ritual, where the bride's mother lowers her daughter's veil. This token is the final act of the mother for her child. For the father, his final act is the traditional escort down the aisle. When the veil is lifted again (in the ceremony), it will be the first act by the bride's new guardian, as he takes the responsibility of being her husband. The bible is read , the bride and groom declare their vows (seiyaku); undeniably the most important part of a wedding ceremony, then they exchange rings. The wedding reception here is a celebration enjoyed with a banquet, live music and whatever other entertainment the couple chooses, so that friends and family can toast the newly married couple and share in their happiness. Gifts (usually crisp new bank notes) are presented from guests to the couple to help them start out their new lives together. A large cake is served usually multi-tiered. The couple perform their first act together as husband and wife, by jointly making the first cut of the cake. They may also serve each other the first bites of the cake. The cutting and serving is supposed to signify how they will be sharing everything from now onwards. Everyone is supposed to eat at least a little cake to bring the couple good luck.

Famous couples in Japan

Kudo Shizuka Shizuka Kudo is a Japanese singer and J-Pop idol. She was also a member of the groups Onyanko Club and Ushirogami Hikaretai. Kudo also appears on television in jidaigeki roles. She is also known as the Japanese voice of Megara in the Japanese dub of the 1997 Disney film Hercules, opposite TOKIO drummer Masahiro Matsuoka, playing the title role. Kudo married SMAP member Takuya Kimura in 2000, They married on December

5, 2000. His first daughter, Kokomi (?), was born on May 1, 2001 and his second daughter, Mitsuki (?), was born on February 5, 2003. Actor Mizushima Hiro and Singer ayaka Not only are they already the envy of many, but Mei-chan no Shitsuji actor Mizushima Hiro and his singer wife, Ayaka, have now been voted the Best Newlywed Couple of 2009. From a poll conducted by marriage services company O-Net, Mizushima and Ayaka easily clinched the first spot by a wide margin. Many people praised the handsome Mizushima for being caring and supportive of his wife, who is battling Graves' disease. This 'ideal husband' has set the bar high for the next generation.

skier Uemura Aiko and alpine skier Minagawa Kentaro Olympic skiing stars Uemura, Minagawa tie at nuptial podium Kyodo News Aiko Uemura, Japan's mogul skiing queen and a medal hopeful at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and Alpine skier Kentaro Minagawa registered their marriage Thursday. The couple have been dating for three years.Also the were voted as the second Best Newlywed Couple of 2009 Actress Norika Fujiwara and comedian Tomonori Jinnai Actress Norika Fujiwara and comedian Tomonori Jinnai got married in a ceremony held at a Shinto shrine in Kobe city in Hyogo Prefecture on Saturday. Fujiwara, 35, and Jinnai, 32, were both clad in traditional formal court dresses in a ceremony at Ikuta Shrine that drew around 100 participants, mostly the couples kin, according to Jinnais management company Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. The shrine closed all its gates to bar entry of the public, while 400 police were mobilzed. Yet, around 2,000 fans braved a cold rain and showed up around the shrine to bless the couple.

Shortly after their wedding, the couple held a press conference for the legion of reporters gathered outside the shrine. In contrast to other celebrities who go for secret weddings away from the prying eyes of the media, these two seem to have embraced the media coverage of their marriage ceremony. They definately went all out with their decision to wear traditional court wear for their wedding. Pro Baseball Player Yu Darvish and Actress Saeko 20 years old actress SAEKO, who previously starred in "Nodame Cantabile," "Dragon Zakura," and "NANA," admitted on August 11th 2007 that she is 6 weeks pregnant with boyfriend, baseball player Yu Darvish's child. "We are planning to be married within this year. However, I have not seen a wedding ring yet!" was the statement released by SAEKO regarding her wedding plans. On SAEKO's official web site bulletin board, over 15,000 fans left her messages congratulating her on the pending wedding. And most importantly, her fans showed a lot of care and concern regarding her pregnancy. One fan wrote, "Now that you are pregnant, please take very good care of your health." Yu Darvish, the father-to-be, participated in a ball game the previous day. It is reported that he is working on obtaining a drivers' license, so that he can pick up and drop off SAEKO more comfortably. From the looks of it, SAEKO's fiance is showing great care for her.

What About Some Weird Wedding Facts!!

1. Hey, brides, tuck a sugar cube into your glove -- according to Greek culture, the sugar will sweeten your union. 2. The English believe a spider found in a wedding dress means good luck. Yikes! 3. In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the "best day" to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health. 4. The groom carries the bride across the threshold to bravely protect her from evil spirits lurking below. 5. Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore. Funny -it's the most popular day of the week to marry! 6. Ancient Romans studied pig entrails to determine the luckiest time to marry. 7. Rain on your wedding day is actually considered good luck, according to Hindu tradition! 8. For good luck, Egyptian women pinch the bride on her wedding day. Ouch! 9. Middle Eastern brides paint henna on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the evil eye. 10. Peas are thrown at Czech newlyweds instead of rice. 11. A Swedish bride puts a silver coin from her father and a gold coin from her mother in each shoe. 12. A Finnish bride traditionally went door-to-door collecting gifts in a pillowcase, accompanied by an older married man who represented long marriage. 13. Moroccan women take a milk bath to purify themselves before their wedding ceremony. 14. In Holland, a pine tree is planted outside the newlyweds' home as a symbol of fertility and luck.

15. Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart. 16. About 70% of all brides sport the traditional diamond on the fourth finger of their left hand. 17. Priscilla Presley's engagement ring was a whopping 3 1/2-carat rock surrounded by a detachable row of smaller diamonds. 18. Diamonds set in gold or silver became popular as betrothal rings among wealthy Venetians toward the end of the fifteenth century. 19. In the symbolic language of jewels, a sapphire in a wedding ring means marital happiness. 20. A pearl engagement ring is said to be bad luck because its shape echoes that of a tear. 21. One of history's earliest engagement rings was given to Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII. She was two years old at the time. 22. Seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the United States! 23. Snake rings dotted with ruby eyes were popular wedding bands in Victorian England -- the coils winding into a circle symbolized eternity. 24. Aquamarine represents marital harmony and is said to ensure a long, happy marriage. 25. Queen Victoria started the Western world's white wedding dress trend in 1840 -- before then, brides simply wore their best dress. 26. In Asia, wearing robes with embroidered cranes symbolizes fidelity for the length of a marriage. 27. Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the veil protected the bride from evil spirits. Brides have worn veils ever since.

28. On her wedding day, Grace Kelly wore a dress with a bodice made from beautiful 125-year-old lace. 29. Of course, Jackie Kennedy's bridesmaids were far from frumpy. She chose pink silk faille and red satin gowns created by African-American designer Ann Lowe (also the creator of Jackie's dress). 30. In Japan, white was always the color of choice for bridal ensembles -- long before Queen Victoria popularized it in the Western world. 31. Most expensive wedding ever? The marriage of Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's son to Princess Salama in Dubai in May 1981. The price tag? $44 million. 32. In Korea, brides don bright hues of red and yellow to take their vows. 33. Brides carry or wear "something old" on their wedding day to symbolize continuity with the past. 34. In Denmark, brides and grooms traditionally cross-dressed to confuse evil spirits! 35. The "something blue" in a bridal ensemble symbolizes purity, fidelity, and love. 36. In Egypt, the bride's family traditionally does all the cooking for a week after the wedding, so the couple canrelax. 37. In South Africa, the parents of both bride and groom traditionally carried fire from their hearths to light a new fire in the newlyweds' hearth. 38. The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head for fertility's sake. 39. The custom of tiered cakes emerged from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over. 40. Queen Victoria's wedding cake weighed a whopping 300 pounds.

41. Legend says single women will dream of their future husbands if they sleep with a slice of groom's cake under their pillows. 42. An old wives' tale: If the younger of two sisters marries first, the older sister must dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never landing a husband. 43. In many cultures around the world -- including Celtic, Hindu and Egyptian weddings -- the hands of a bride and groom are literally tied together to demonstrate the couple's commitment to each other and their new bond as a married couple (giving us the popular phrase "tying the knot"). 44. The Roman goddess Juno rules over marriage, the hearth, and childbirth, hence the popularity of June weddings. 45. Princess Victoria established the tradition of playing Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" during her wedding processional in 1858. 46. The bride stands to the groom's left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors. 47. On average, 7,000 couples marry each day in the United States. 48. Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve are the two busiest "marriage" days in Las Vegas -- elopement central! 49. The Catholic tradition of "posting the banns" to announce a marriage originated as a way to ensure the bride and groom were not related. 50. Stag parties were first held by ancient Spartan soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days goodbye with a raucous party.