It is a Finnish wedding custom for the newlywed's to sit together in designated seats of honour at the wedding reception. The bride holds a sieve, covered by a shawl, into which guests deposit gifts of cash.
At some weddings, the bride's mother-in-law or godmother puts a china plate on top of the her head when the newlywed's begin their wedding dance, usually a waltz. After the plate falls, the pieces of broken china foretell the number of children the couple can expect to have.
The sharing of bread, salt and wine is an important feature of weddings in Poland. The parents of the newly married couple will present them with rye bread, lightly sprinkled with salt, and a glass of wine.
The bread represents the hope that the bride and groom will never go hungry. The salt is a reminder that life may be difficult at times, but that they will learn to cope. The wine symbolizes the desire that the couple will never go thirsty, and that their lives will be filled with health and happiness.
Slices of dark wedding fruitcake laced with rum are mailed to all friends and relatives unable to attend the reception.
Traditional island "black cake" is made the old fashioned way and contains lots of rum, raisins and prunes and is a great source of iron and fibre!
