Lyla Dejesus
Mexico is a popular wedding destination due to its exotic locales, accessibility, romantic atmosphere, and favourable climate. Mexican weddings are vibrant, festive, and full of life, colour, music, and dance. They are also rooted in faith and family, with rituals, customs, and traditions combined from Spanish, Aztec, Native American, and Anglo-American cultures. This article will explore the many unique and wonderful ways in which weddings are celebrated in Mexico.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Music | Mariachi, international hits, Mexican musicians such as Vicente Fernández, Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, and Selena Quintanilla |
| Dance | La Vibora de la Mar, Money Dance |
| Food | Local food, mezcal, desserts |
| Duration | 8-9 hours, often lasting until the next day |
| Location | Churches, haciendas |
| Attire | Guayaberas, tuxedos |
| Rituals | La Callejoneada, Las Arras Matrimoniales, La Vibora de la Mar, La Tornaboda, El Lazo |
| Guests | Family, friends, foreigners |
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What You'll Learn
Mariachi music and dancing
Mariachi music is a staple at Mexican weddings, with couples hiring mariachi bands to perform at their weddings to honour their Mexican heritage. Mariachi bands typically play during the ceremony and cocktail hour, providing a lively and festive atmosphere with their upbeat music. The mariachi band's performance often includes traditional Mexican songs and hymns, creating a strong connection to the couple's cultural roots.
The mariachi band's performance is not just limited to instrumental music but also extends to singing. In some weddings, the bride herself might surprise the groom by performing with the mariachi band, serenading him with classic Mexican love songs. This adds a unique and personal touch to the celebration.
Dancing is an integral part of Mexican weddings, and the mariachi band's music provides the perfect backdrop for guests to show off their moves. While there are specific dances traditionally associated with mariachi music, such as the Zapateado, a type of tap dance, guests at Mexican weddings often break out into spontaneous dancing, creating a joyful and energetic atmosphere.
The "money dance" is another tradition at Mexican weddings, where guests take turns dancing with the bride and groom and pinning money to their clothing. This custom allows guests to offer their best wishes to the couple and have a brief moment of connection with them.
In addition to the mariachi band, weddings in Mexico often feature other types of live musical groups that vary by region. For example, in the San Luis Potosi and Queretaro State areas, the "Huapango" musical style is popular, with fun, country-style dance beats played on various guitars.
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La Callejoneada parade
La Callejoneada is a Mexican wedding tradition that takes place after the wedding ceremony. It is a parade that involves the entire wedding party parading through town, dancing and singing in celebration of the newlyweds. The parade is led by giant mojigangas, which are papier-mâché puppets designed to look like the bride and groom. The festive procession is accompanied by the upbeat music of mariachis, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere. The celebration continues as guests make their way from the ceremony to the reception, setting the tone for a night of festivities.
During La Callejoneada, it is customary for the wedding party to be accompanied by a "burro," a donkey that carries tequila or wine. This unique addition ensures that the group has their drinks poured for them throughout the parade, adding to the merriment and cheerfulness of the occasion. The whole town often joins in the celebration, showcasing the importance of marriage and community in Mexican culture.
The parade is not just a means of transportation but a symbolic journey. It represents the transition from the solemnity of the wedding ceremony to the joyous celebration of the reception. The lively music, dancing, and singing unite the community in congratulating the newlyweds and wishing them well on their journey together.
La Callejoneada is more than just a parade; it is a cultural expression of Mexican traditions. The vibrant procession reflects the country's rich history and cultural diversity, combining influences from Spanish, Aztec, Native American, and Anglo-American cultures. It is a testament to the Mexican people's love for celebration and their strong sense of community.
As the sun sets and the parade concludes, the mojigangas lead the wedding party back to the reception venue for an evening of dinner, dancing, and festivities. La Callejoneada sets the tone for the rest of the night, and the celebration often continues well into the early hours of the morning, sometimes even until the sun rises again. It is a testament to the vibrant and joyous nature of Mexican weddings, where the whole community comes together to celebrate love and unity.
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La Vibora de la Mar dance
Mexico is a country steeped in rich culture and tradition, and weddings are no exception. One of the most vibrant and dynamic customs is the "La Vibora de la Mar" dance, which has become an integral part of Mexican wedding celebrations.
La Vibora de la Mar, which translates to "The Sea Snake," is a symbolic representation of the journey that a newly married couple embarks on together. The unpredictable movements of the "snake" during the dance signify the challenges and obstacles that the couple may encounter in their married life. It is a playful yet profound reminder that marriage requires resilience, unity, and a strong support system from family and friends.
The dance begins with the bride and groom standing on chairs facing each other, holding a veil or a long piece of fabric between them to form a bridge or arch. This bridge symbolizes their union and the support they receive from their loved ones. The "snake" is then formed, usually by women who hold hands or place their hands on each other's shoulders, led by a "head." The snake weaves its way around the dance floor, under the bridge, and through the venue, with upbeat music playing in the background.
During the dance, participants try to knock the bride and groom off their chairs, symbolizing the obstacles and problems that may challenge the couple. However, family and friends hold the couple steady, representing their commitment to supporting them through any adversity. The energy and enthusiasm of the dance reflect the joy and celebration of the wedding day and the couple's new life together.
The La Vibora de la Mar dance is a lively and memorable tradition that adds a unique touch to Mexican weddings. It is a fun and interactive way to celebrate the union of two people while also conveying the deeper meaning of love, resilience, and the importance of community.
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The Money Dance
While the money dance is a fun and meaningful tradition for many, some people may feel uncomfortable with the idea of asking guests for money. In these cases, there are alternatives to the tradition, such as a ransom game where the groom must perform tasks to "rescue" the bride from the groomsmen who have "kidnapped" her.
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Catholic and indigenous rituals and traditions
Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country, and many of its citizens' weddings are rooted in faith and take place in a church. The church is considered the house of God, so Catholics consider it very important to perform the holy sacrament of marriage in a church. The rite of marriage is not just between two individuals but also God's presence. The ceremony usually lasts over an hour and includes many sacred elements, including communion. The ceremony may be spoken entirely in Spanish and include some uniquely Mexican traditions.
Catholic weddings in Mexico include a full Catholic mass and marriage rituals. This includes the exchange of consent (or vows) and the nuptial blessing. At different points throughout the mass, the couple (along with guests in the pews) will kneel to pray. The couple will exchange wedding rings as a symbol of their love and commitment to one another.
A unique Mexican wedding tradition typically included in Catholic weddings is las arras matrimoniales (the marriage coins), an ornate box filled with 13 gold coins. The coins represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. The box and the coins are usually gifted to the couple by the padrino and madrina. The priest blesses the coins during the ceremony before the groom presents the box to the bride. The coins symbolise the groom's commitment to supporting his bride financially and otherwise.
Another significant Mexican wedding tradition is el lazo, which translates to "the lasso". It is part of a unity ceremony representing the newlywed couple's union. The lazo is typically a decorative silk cord or a large rosary draped around the couple during the ceremony. In most cases, the lazo is presented as a gift to the wedding couple by the padrino and madrina. The couple keeps the lazo in their home as a symbol of unity, faith, and love. In some spiritual ceremonies and traditional Maya rituals, the lazo is made with natural elements like flowers or sisal twine.
After the ceremony, it is common for Mexican couples to present the bridal bouquet to the Virgin Mary and ask for her blessing. A second bouquet is prepared ahead of time for the bride to carry in photos and at the reception. In a Catholic ceremony, the bride offers the bouquet to the Virgin of Guadalupe. In a Mayan ceremony, the bride and groom may offer a bouquet of flor de mayo (frangipani) to the ceiba tree, the sacred tree of the Maya.
Mariachis are also a common feature of Mexican weddings, adding a festive air to the reception. The Marimba is a traditional instrument with a very upbeat sound, used to give a unique flavour to local events. Other regional band styles include the "Huapango", which means "on the dance floor" in the indigenous Nahuatl language.
Mexico's indigenous communities also have their own traditional alcoholic drinks that are served at weddings. Posh, for example, is a strong alcoholic spirit brewed from cane and used as a spiritual drink during religious celebrations. It is made in the indigenous Tzotzil communities.
In ancient Aztec and Mixtec weddings, there was a torch-lit procession that escorted the bride to the groom's house. The bride was carried on the back of a 'matchmaker', a woman with the important job of choosing who would marry who. The wedding ceremony took place at night and included a feast with plenty of food and drink.
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Frequently asked questions
One unique Mexican wedding tradition is Las Arras Matrimoniales, where the groom presents the bride with 13 coins to symbolise trust, responsibility, and mutual commitment. Another is La Callejoneada, a parade that takes place after the wedding ceremony, where the wedding party dances through the streets to the reception, accompanied by a donkey carrying tequila or wine.
Religion plays a significant role in Mexican weddings, with the majority of citizens identifying as Catholic. Religious symbols and customs are often incorporated into the ceremony, such as the lazo ceremony, where a wedding lasso is placed over the couple's shoulders in a figure-eight shape to symbolise their unity. It is also common for the bridal bouquet to be presented to the Virgin Mary after the ceremony as a request for her blessing.
Mexican weddings can vary in terms of attire, depending on the region and setting. In coastal regions and the Yucatán Peninsula, the attire may be more relaxed, with grooms opting for traditional guayaberas—elegant, lightweight shirts with distinctive embroidery and four front pockets. In larger cities like Mexico City, grooms typically wear a fitted tuxedo.
