JEWISH WEDDING TRADITION - THE BROKEN WINE GLASS
Few Jewish wedding traditions are as well known as the groom’s smashing
of the glass at the conclusion of the ceremony. Different explanations for the
act of breaking the glass abound: it reminds us of the fragility of personal
relationships. It ushers in the outbreak of celebration that should immediately
follow the ceremony; the breaking recalls the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem,
so that we remember sadness at the height of personal joy. Two older explanations
are that the shattering scares off any demons attracted by the event; or that
it symbolizes the consummation of the marriage. |
