Married couple's first kissIt is a Western custom for a newly
married couple to exchange a kiss at the conclusion of their
wedding ceremony.
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| Picture By Life Moments Media. Tonderai Gondwa and Menory Rufaro Mataruka enjoy their wedding kiss. |
Some
Christians hold the belief that the kiss symbolizes the exchange of souls between the bride and the groom, fulfilling the scripture that “the two shall become one flesh.”
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| Picture captured by Life Moments Media. Primrose Moyo and Gibson Chibika |
However, some trace the tradition to an ancient
Roman tradition, whereby the exchange of a kiss signified the completion of a contract. Although the kiss is not a formal requirement of the ceremony, most regard the gesture as a joyful start of the marriage.
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| Picture By Life Moments Media.Tatenda Mugwambi and Nomusa Nyauchi celebrate their day with a kiss. |
The most traditional way guests entice the new couple to kiss is by clinking their glasses. An ancient
Christian tradition explains that the clinking sound scares the devil away and the couple kisses in his absence. Another tradition is to ring bells placed at the tables by the wedding party. A ring of the bell signals the bride and groom to kiss. Today, most people uphold these
traditions as a fun excuse to get the couple to smooch.
