Chuppah – A Jewish Wedding Tradition
Not just a wedding decoration, the Chuppah (wedding canopy) is an ancient religious custom, which has evolved in to a deep and rich wedding tradition.
The chuppah, (Hebrew for marriage canopy) is a four-pole fabric covered canopy, which the bride and groom stand under during the wedding ceremony. The chuppah or huppah as some spell it, is a symbol of the home. Just as Abraham and his wife Sarah’s tent was open on all four sides, to welcome friends, relatives and others, the chuppah symbolizes the home to be built by the couple; it too shall be open to all. The early chuppah’s came from the canopied litter, which carried the bride during the procession to the wedding. Later tent makers created chuppahs for wedding ceremonies. When the bride approaches the chuppah, she, her mother and her future mother-in-law circle the groom (who is already in the chuppah) seven times. This act signifies the idea that the wife protects the home from the outside world, while the number seven represents the seven days of creation and the new world the bride and groom are creating.
Offering beautiful ascetics and rich sentiments, this wedding tradition is gaining popularity in non-Jewish wedding ceremonies. Tents used during wedding ceremonies or receptions can help couples achieve the same sentiments as a chuppah.
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