Marriage is a historic institution celebrated around the world. Each culture brings its own set of traditions and customs to the union between two people. Here’s a look at just a few fascinating facts about marriage and wedding traditions.
5 Marriage and Wedding Facts
1. Couples that spend over 5 hours a week together have the most successful marriages. (Source)
Maybe this is common knowledge but couples that work to make dedicated time together are the happiest! Some studies show that the average couple only spend 4 minutes a day of focused time together. No wonder divorce rates are high!
2. Medford, OR, has the highest divorce rates in the United States. (Source)
Medford is a small city in Oregon with an older average population. Since younger Americans are tending to marry at an older age and people over age 65 are trending toward higher divorce rates, perhaps age impacts this city’s statistics.
3. There’s a reason wedding bands are worn on the “ring” or fourth finger. (Source)
The fourth finger of the left hand has a vein that was once believed to lead directly to the heart, so it became the traditional finger to wear a wedding ring on.
4. Indian brides apply henna to their hands and feet for weddings. (Source)
Henna is an ink placed in intricate patters on the bride’s skin. Once the ink dries, it’s believed that the deeper the color, the more the bride will be loved by her husband. Indian brides traditionally don’t do housework until the henna tattoos fade away!
5. Chinese weddings feature a tea ceremony. (Source)
This tradition is practiced to honor the couples’ parents. It begins with a prayer followed by tea. The most popular tea varieties are orange blossom, black dragon, and green tea.
