combine traditions in a marriage
It's interesting:"Sometimes people get upset when their friend gets married, especially if they don’t know the bride too well. Well, the way I see it – today I’m not losing one friend to marriage, but gaining one instead. And, if you look over at our college friends sitting at table 9, it’ll highlight how nice it will be for us to gain a new member of the crew, a new best friend, especially one who clearly bathes regularly."
Traditions vary widely across cultures and faiths, and even within them from family to family. A marriage consists of members from two families, each with their own set of customs and traditions, coming together to form a new family. Of course, each spouse will want to bring his traditions into the new family unit, which can be difficult if they clash with his partner's customs. These traditions may start with the actual wedding, but extend well into the life of the marriage as well when it comes to celebrating holidays.
Instructions
The Wedding
1
Plan your wedding closely with your spouse. Popular culture suggests women do most of the wedding planning, but it will take both spouses' cooperation to make sure important family and cultural traditions are included from both sides of the family. Sit down with your partner and discuss what wedding traditions you would like to include at your ceremony- plan around them. This may take some compromise.
2
Hold two ceremonies if your budget allows. For example, a marriage between a Hindu woman and Christian man can incorporate a traditional Hindu ceremony in the morning, then a church wedding in the evening. Give guests the option to attend one or both, or draw up different guest lists for each. This will make for an exhausting wedding day, but will let you incorporate more traditions from each culture.
3
Compromise. If two distinct ceremonies is beyond your means, you will both need to compromise, in some cases giving up some traditions to incorporate your partner's. Prioritize what is most important to you personally, not your family. It's your wedding, and should be as you and your partner want it. If a wedding tradition is particularly important to you, your future spouse should understand that and be eager to accommodate you.
The Marriage
4
Talk about life-long family traditions before you get married. You will have to think about what traditions your new family should have throughout the life of your marriage. You may find yourself having to teach your spouse about your culture's traditions and vice versa: this is a valuable learning experience for both of you.
5
Combine holiday traditions. Even in marriages where both spouses are Christian, celebrating Christmas can prove to be a vastly different experience. Compromise is important here too: if your families live far apart, you may find yourself having to alternate whose family you spend Christmas with every year. Alternatively, if it's within your means, host Christmas at your home and incorporate as many traditions from both sides as you can.
6
Form your own traditions. You and your spouse are a new family unit now: while it can be distressing to let go of the traditions you grew up with, creating your own new ones with your spouse is a rewarding bonding experience and something you will be able to pass down to your children. These traditions can be anything from a unique way to celebrate Christmas or birthdays to a weekly family night. Strong family traditions will strengthen bonds in your new family unit.
Tags: your spouse, family unit, with your, your family, your partnerSource: www.ehow.com
