1. 1. Weddings in Spain
2. 2. Weddings in Spain Here in Spain weve got different ways to celebrate a wedding. For example: religious, civil or vaqueiras weddings. Religious and civil are the most celebrated ones all around Spain, but Vaqueiras weddings only take place in Asturias, a province located in the north of Spain.
3. 3. Religious weddings
4. 4. Religious weddings Religious weddings are the most common kind of celebration in Spain. They take place in a church and they are officed by a priest. It consists of the engagement party, the wedding day, and finally the honeymoon.
5. 5. The engagement party Its a very common tradition in our country. Families of the engaged meet in this ceremony. The groom's family goes to the bride's house and he gives her an engagement ring. It's the formal celebration after the engagement. The bride gives to her fianc a watch or something similar, it used to be a jewel. Although it's just protocol, it's a very important part in the marriage.
6. 6. The wedding dayThe wedding day is the most important day for both bride and groom. The bride wears a long white dress, and she should wear something blue, something new, something old, and something borrowed. And the groom wears a dark suit. They can't see each other since the night before the wedding. They should sleep separated and the man can't see his girlfriend dressed up with the white dress till the ceremony, when she comes through the door of the church, because that means bad luck.
7. 7. The wedding day The bride arrives to the church 5 minutes after the beginning of the ceremony and the groom is already waiting for her in the altar. She comes into the church with her father. There are no bridesmaids, instead of this, there are witnesses. They only have to sign the registry. Witnesses are often friends of the couple or family of the bride and groom. Another important figures in a Christian wedding are the godfather and the godmother. The godfather tends to be the bride's father, and the godmother the groom's mother.
8. 8. The weeding day The ceremony starts when the bride comes in the godfathers arm, and then children with the arras. The arras are 13 coins symbolizing the sharing of goods between the bride and the groom. At the end of the ceremony the new wife and husband go out of the church. The family throw rice to them symbolizing luck, prosperity and fertility. Then they celebrate a feast where they eat and it ends with the dessert, which is a cake cut by the married couple.
9. 9. Brides white dress The white color symbolize de pure of the bride.The exchange of rings The Arras The groom spends 13 coins to the bride and the girl does the same.
10. 10. The wedding dayFinally they dance the waltz, that is started only by the new couple and then the father dances with his daughter. When the ceremony is finished they come back home, and the next day the couple go on a travel called Luna de miel in English honeymoon, to celebrate their wedding. And this is all about the Christian weddingsAnd they lived happily ever after!
11. 11. Civil weddings Civil weddings can take place in the halls of City Halls, at the headquarters of the municipal districts or in the Civil Registry. It lasts about 15 minutes and concludes with the signing of the marriage and the giving of the family book. The procedures of these weddings are performed in the court, which delivers the required certificate to present at the City Hall. This certificate usually takes a few months.
12. 12. At the civil ceremony in the city hall, you can go dressed as you like. The bride may be dressed in the traditional white dress, religious style. There are no rules about this. Another option is to go with a smart short dress or a dress and jacket.
13. 13. Normally, these weddings take place in the City Hall but sometimes the couple wants to celebrate it in different places lsuch as gardens or beaches.
14. 14. ASTURIAS Catholic and civil weddings take place all around Spain but here, in Asturias, they are celebrated a kind of weddings a litle bit different and they are called Vaqueira weddings. Asturias is a place situated in the north of Spain with a lot of animals, mountains, lakes and is communicated with the sea.
15. 15. Who are the Vaqueiros? The Vaqueiros d'alzada were a northern Spanish nomadic people in the mountains of Len and Asturias, who practiced transhumance, moving seasonally with cattle. The vaqueiros are one of the most important cultures of Asturias for their unalterable change over the centuries, despite of the discrimination suffered by the Church.
16. 16. Vaqueira Wedding Vaqueira wedding is possibly the most authentic nuptials of those held in Spain. A very anthropological event that gathers many people the last Sunday in July every year at the height of Aristbano, between the municipalities of Valdes and Tineo. On this site, family and relatives practice the Asturian summer pilgrimages around the Chapel of La Divina Pastora. Declared of National Tourist Interest, the ceremony follows the ritual largely of former appellate vaqueiros.
17. 17. A married couple wishing to marry by this rite must request Vaqueiro Council, who will give, or not, their consent for the dream to come true. Only one couple will be the lucky one. From here the preparations begin. The wedding starts at noon, when the bridal caravan reaches the high part of the mountain and there is a pilgrimage with guests going riding or on foot. It is the best time of year to wear traditional costumes
18. 18. The Godmother basket is adorned with ribbons and includes bread, butter, eggs and sweets. The couple remains the undisputed protagonists and they are received with bagpipes and folk groups. Before the altar improvised outdoors, they exchange arras and give the kiss that seals the commitment. Afterwards, there is a banquet, a picnic with ham in the eveningn, cider and vaqueiro coffee.
19. 19. Generally, the attire of the bride is made of yarn and felt. Stockings, skirt and shirt in white thread, dengue and skirt in black felt, a satin or felt apron and vest in different colors or prints. About the head handkerchief used for the ceremony by the bride it is made of black felt and red velvet. The groom wears trousers and vest in black and red felt; brown or green stockings and white linen shirt, and, as the bride, he wears a black cape lined in red, and the typical vaqueiro hat of wide-brimmed felt.
20. 20. The only disadvantage of these suits is that they are hot and heavy but they are very nice.These weddings are only celebrated on our community, the Principado of Asturias.