Czechoslovakian Wedding Traditions

The friends of a traditional Czech bride might plant a tree in her yard, then decorate it with colored ribbons and painted eggshells. Legend believed the bride would live as long as the tree. The night before her wedding day, her friends would also give her a crown of rosemary to represent wisdom, love, loyalty and remembrance.

Before the marriage vows take place an infant is laid on the couple's bed, to bless and enhance their fertility. The bride-to-be is also given three covered dishes containing wheat for fertility, millet mixed with ashes that she must sift through to prove her patience, and the third hides a sparrow under the lid.

After the Czech marriage ceremony, the new bride's wedding veil is switched for a traditional matron's bonnet, and the reception guests sing a Czech wedding song.