Spills and stomping traditions

Yesterday's wedding was a traditional Finnish affair; a short ceremony, a reception at an old wooden community center, handmade decorations, basic but good food and of course, enough drinks. It was a nice evening and I think that the bride and groom enjoyed themselves enough to say all the planning and cost was worth it for them.

This was my date for the evening and the dress survived, although the white jacket she was wearing on top looks to be ruined as a rather clumsy person knocked over someone else who was carrying a glass of red wine. The jacket is a write off, so is the suede bag and polka-dot dress of the wine holder. These things happen of course, but have you noticed that some people cause them more than others?

I am not sure what it is, whether some people truly are just clumsier than others but I think that there is also an awareness case where some people tend to focus so heavily on themselves that they are unaware of what others are doing and potential conflicts. Live in the moment at the cost of others. Spatial awareness and the space we inhabit within the environment is something that might be lacking in some.

It was nice to catch up with everyone though and it was great to see the happy couple smiling so often, and while I didn't understand the entire speech of the Father of the Bride, it made people both laugh and cry. I have known him for years and he speaks well and reads the audience even better. What was interesting was that he focused more heavily on the groom rather than his daughter, because the groom has lost most of his family and there was no one to speak for him. I think he married into a family who will love him as one of their own.

Finnish weddings tend to be quite relaxed and informal in my opinion and other than the speeches, most of the programs are quite open and free for people to mingle after some drinks. This was even a bit more so in some ways as half of the room was from the same small town and had all grown up together which meant, they were very familiar and happy to talk - at least with each other.

Finns tend not to be very talkative in general - but after a couple drinks...

Oh, there is another tradition they do but I don't have a picture of and that is, stomping the foot as they cut the cake together. When the blade touches the plate, the first one to stomp is the one who will make the rules and where the pants in the family so to speak.

My wife and I didn't have a cake so, I didn't even have a chance.

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]