Filipino Wedding Traditions Unity Candle

There are traditional filipino catholic wedding customs that involve candles coins a veil and cord.

Filipino wedding traditions unity candle.

Filipino wedding tradition veil cord coins and candles october 20 2012 by revjeri when theresa and phia planned their wedding ceremony they wanted to honor theresa s filipino heritage by including the traditional ceremonies of veil cord and coin. The ceremonies you are about to witness the unity wedding coins the unity veil and unity cord the wedding rings and vows and the unity candle lighting are uniquely and traditionally a part of the filipino wedding. The candles exemplify all that the bride and groom are from their past experiences and represent each. Actions such as the rituals performed today for your wedding ceremony holding hands carrying flowers and exchanging rings convey deep symbolic meaning.

Today a typical filipino wedding consists of the following rituals. A unity ceremony is a symbolic conclusion to your vows before exchanging the wedding rings. This is the final ritual symbolizing the bonding of two individuals and in filipino culture two families. Some mothers have anxiously anticipating the wedding day and want to play up their role as the mother of the bride or mother of the groom if a couple tells me this is the case it s the first thing i recommend.

Some weddings will add a unity candle that is lit with the bride and groom s candles to signify the unison of the families and the presence of god guiding the couple into their new life. Here s what each means the candles the lighting of the candles usually takes place at the beginning of the ceremony. A candle lighting a coin blessing a veiling the tying of the nuptial cord as well as the throwing of rice grains. One person from each side of the family lights a candle symbolizing god s presence at the union.

Unity candle ceremony 3. Lighting of candles unity candle sponsors or parents of the wedding couple will light these candles as is typical in catholic ceremonies. The unity candle ceremony is a great options if your mother s really want to be involved in your ceremony. They show that you are committed to taking action with regard to your promises.

One of the most well known ceremonies is the unity candle. Filipino muslims in the mindanao region of the philippines commonly practice pre arranged marriages and betrothal. It is a well known phrase that actions speak louder than words. Traditionally the parents of the to be weds each light one candle then the couple takes the candles and use them to light one large candle to represent the bringing together of two families.

The two outer candles are a representation of their individual lives before the wedding day. During the candle ceremony the ninong and ninang would light the couple s candles who then light up a larger middle candle as a sign of unity.