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Why Do They Throw Rice at Weddings?

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What Does it Symbolize?

Throwing rice at weddings is an ancient tradition predominately practised by South-Asian and Celtic cultures. For South Asians, it symbolises wealth. By throwing the rice, it shows the bride’s gratefulness to her parents throughout her life. For Celtics, it symbolises fertility, happiness, the start of a new life, and overall prosperity.

When Did it Originate?

This practice at weddings dates back to before the origins of Christianity and variations can be seen in different ancient cultures – for example, Ancient Romans threw wheat, Italians toss candies or sugared nuts, and in Morocco, dried dates or figs are thrown at the newlyweds. In ancient times, tossing crops was usually a way to appease the gods and ask for prosperity and happiness for the married couple.

When During the Wedding Does it Occur?

If the wedding is taking place in a church or chapel, guests are usually asked to line up outside as the newlyweds exit for the reception. It can also occur for the couple’s grand exit from the reception.

 

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Reflecting on the Past Year with Kids

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

  • Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
  • NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
  • Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
  • The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]