A Nude Beginning
Traditionally Icelandic weddings took part in the bride’s house or the bride’s local church and sometimes they lasted up to a week. Weddings would normally start one day before the actual ceremony with lots of drinking and song. Many toasts would be made to the happy couple and also to the Virgin Mary. Another tradition which is performed at the end of a ceremony involves the bridesmaids taking the bride to her bridal bed and undressing her, leaving her just with her bridal headdress. The groom would join her in bed and the priest would bless them one more time.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:09 am
It’s funny how different countries have such diverse wedding traditions. I really enjoy reading about the different ones here on your site. I do think I’d have to draw the line at this one. The idea of the newlyweds being in bed, naked, preparing to consecrate their marriage and having the local priest come in to bless them just strikes me as a bit too much.
Then again I’m not from Iceland so who am I to disagree with their tradition.