Jewish Wedding Glass Traditions

The Jewish wedding ceremony, also called kiddushin, is full of many elaborate rituals, explains Beau-coup.com, a high-end favors and gifts website. These ceremonial actions between the bride and groom are designed to express the significance and symbolism of the marriage. One of the rituals, the breaking of a glass, is steeped in tradition and very frequently performed.

Origin

• As recounted on Chabad.org, the glass-breaking ritual began when Mar, son of Ravina, noticed that several rabbis were becoming too boisterous at his son's wedding feast. Mar smashed a precious cup in front of them to sober them and stun them into tempered emotions. This story is found in the Talmud, a sacred collection of ancient rabbinic writings.

Symbolism

• There are many symbolic meanings associated with this ritual. The "Kol Bo," a 14th-century collection of Jewish ritual and civil laws, says that the breaking of a glass is done to represent the first-century destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Some scholars believe that the breaking of a glass represents the newly married couple's obligation to rebuild the Jewish temple symbolically in their marriage and lives. Contemporary rabbis say that the broken cup symbolizes a break from the past. Others view it as a reminder of the fragility of relationships.

The Ritual

• The breaking of a glass takes place under a chuppah, or altar canopy. The glass is typically wrapped in cloth or a napkin and the groom smashes it under his foot. In some Jewish sects, while the groom is smashing the glass, he recites, "If I forget Thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand fail at the height of my joy." After the glass is broken, most of the guests call out, "Mazel Tov!" to convey their best wishes and congratulations to the couple.

Timing

• The breaking of a glass is done at different times of a wedding ceremony, depending on the couple's religious heritage. For example, the Ashkenazi custom (from Germany and Eastern Europe) has the groom break the glass prior to the reading of the ketubah (marriage contract), while the Sephardic custom (from Spain, Portugal, Italy, North Africa) is to break the glass at the end of the ceremony. Most modern western Jewish couples follow the Sephardic custom and break the glass at the conclusion of the entire ceremony.

Glass Type

• The type of glass used for this ritual varies between customs. Ancient weddings used one of the wine glasses utilized during the ceremony--both a nuptials cup and a betrothal cup are used in the wedding. When silver goblets were incorporated into weddings, couples simply used a plain glass cup for the ritual. Most modern couples use a white wine glass.