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Unusual Wedding Traditions Across Europe
Around one in 10 people move to a different country to be with a loved one. Since Hamiltons Removals provide high-quality UK to Europe removals packages, we have often helped people who are moving because of love – and possibly marrying a foreign partner in their home country. Here, we look at five of the more unusual wedding traditions across the world.
Germany
In Germany, weddings are marked with a ceremony called Polterabend. Guests traditionally arrive the night beforehand, usually at the bride’s home, and break as many porcelain objects as they can get their hands on – including those which they have brought along themselves.
This is believed to bring the newlyweds good luck and, as they are supposed to clean up the mess afterwards, also teaches them that married life will not be easy but by working together they can overcome any obstacles.
Any glass objects should escape unbroken, as this is supposed to bring good luck. In more recent years the ceremony has taken place on the day of the wedding. The tradition is believed to have started with ancient Germanic tribes, who believed that throwing and clearing up shards helped the couple ward off evil spirits.
Sweden
During the ceremony, the bride and groom walk down the aisle together, rather than the former being accompanied and given away by her father. This is meant to symbolise the couple uniting in marriage.
If the groom leaves the wedding reception for any reason, then all the other male guests in the room are permitted to kiss the bride. The same applies for the groom and the female guests if the bride leaves the room. This custom is known as The Kissing Tradition.
In Sweden, couples often wear three rings during their relationship – one for their engagement, one for their wedding ceremony and a third to mark the arrival of their first child.
France
In France, couples can have a civil ceremony, which officially recognises them as man and wife, followed by a religious one. In some regions of the country, the groom goes to the bride’s home, and escorts her to the ceremony. Young children sometimes stretch long white ribbons across their way, which the bride must cut through in order to proceed. As in Germany, this is meant to prove that the couple can overcome any obstacles that married life can sometimes provide.
Once seated at the venue, the couple exchange their vows on red velvet chairs. Laurel leaves may be scattered across their path by members of the wedding party when the bride and groom leave. During the reception, some couples opt to serve a croquembouche, a profiterole-style dessert of cream-filled puff pastries laced with caramel, rather than a wedding cake.
Switzerland
The Swiss also have a civil wedding service, at a registration office, so, if couples do opt for a second church ceremony, they are already officially married by the time they walk down the aisle. The church service tends to be in the afternoon, and it is usually followed by a cocktail party and a formal dinner.
However, there is still plenty of fun entertainment laid on. The maid of honour and the best man are usually responsible for organising games for the guests – and these can include setting quizzes for the bride and groom, and all the questions about their new other halves.
Italy
There are a whole host of customs associated with Italian wedding ceremonies. Services are rarely held on a Friday, which is when evil spirits are supposedly created. During the service, the groom sometimes carries a small piece of iron in his pocket while the bride sometimes tears her veil, both of which are supposed to bring good luck.
The bride-to-be should avoid looking at herself in the mirror before the service, unless she has removed a glove or shoe first. And there is also a tradition of wearing something green, rather than blue, during the service.
UK to Europe Removals with Hamiltons
Hamiltons Removals can help you with UK to Europe removals. If you are thinking of moving home to Germany, Italy, Sweden, France or Switzerland, we can either provide you with a dedicated service, where you have sole use of a shipping container, or a groupage service, where your possessions are combined with other consignments before being delivered.
We can pack, load and transport all your items to your chosen destination, including unusual or bulky objects. If you would like to learn more about our removals to Europe, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
Five of the Most Popular Places to Move to in East Anglia
The population of East Anglia is rising – and that’s official. According to the Office for National Statistics, this is partly because more people are being born in the region than are dying here. But it’s mainly because people are choosing to move to this attractive region, either from within the UK or from abroad.
As a leading moving company based in East Anglia, Hamiltons Removals have identified five of the most popular places to move to.
Bury St Edmunds
This west Suffolk town was rated the best place to live in the East of England in a 2019 national newspaper survey. It scored highly for its high-quality schools, while its diverse arts scene means it now offers a comedy club, an art-house cinema and a jazz group alongside more traditional fare.
Bury’s historic past also made it a hit with the judges. There are still plenty of impressive town houses and chocolate-box cottages mixed in among the more modern developments. And the town’s striking cathedral and Norman Tower (above) are both located close to the Abbey Gardens, the horticultural jewel in Bury’s crown.
Norwich
Described as ‘a fine city’ on many signs, it seems that the county town of Norfolk is a happy one as well. When it comes to being satisfied with where you live, the city is in the UK’s top 10, according to a report by the Metro newspaper. Norwich residents rated their city highly for factors such as friendliness, overall appearance and personal safety.
With two universities (the UEA and the Norwich University of the Arts), a diverse cultural offering and some comparatively inexpensive property prices, the city is also a popular place to move to for young people.
Woodbridge
This east Suffolk town has scored consistently highly in national surveys for its high quality of life. Its historic attractions, including the working Tide Mill (pictured above) and the famous Anglo-Saxon burial ground at nearby Sutton Hoo, have helped keep it near the top of the rankings.
Other factors in Woodbridge’s favour are its strong community spirit and its closeness to the coast. And the Thoroughfare, which contains a good mix of independent stores alongside the bigger retail names, was recently on the shortlist for being the best high street in Britain.
Cambridge
Even though its narrow streets can easily get clogged up with traffic, and its property prices are high, Cambridge is still one of the most popular places in East Anglia to move to. As well as a university which is famous throughout the world, people moving to Cambridge can expect to benefit from high rates of employment – and enjoy a high life expectancy.
The Petersfield area, east of the city centre, has scored highly in more recent quality of life surveys, thanks to its range of independent shops and popular pubs.
Manningtree
This Essex town on the banks of the River Stour is also one of the best places to live in the East of England, according to the national newspaper survey. Part of its attraction is its location – the delights of Constable Country and several nature reserves are on its doorstep, while its proximity to London means that commuting to the capital, by road or rail, is comparatively easy. Stansted Airport is less than an hour away, and it is close to both Colchester and Ipswich.
However, Manningtree itself has plenty to recommend it, with its schools, its shopping and its social scene all coming in for praise. The town also has its own beach – a small, artificial one in a corner of the estuary that runs up to neighbouring Mistley.
Moving House to East Anglia with Hamiltons Removals
As a moving company based in East Anglia, Hamiltons Removals have a wealth of local knowledge and expertise which will make your removals experience as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
We can help you with moves to East Anglia and all over the UK. This includes commercial and domestic moves to and from Bath, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Southampton as well as destinations closer to home.
We also offer a range of linked services, including insurance, packing your belongings, and specialist removals for horses, other animals and bulky items such as vehicles. And our self-storage facilities at Harleston and Aldeby will keep your items secure for the long or short term. To receive a quote for a move, simply follow this link and fill in the online form, or call us on (0)1379 855203.
(Photos: PIXABAY/PEXELS/GEOGRAPH.ORG.UK)