Chicano wedding customs - Essay Example

Chinano Wedding Customs Although the society has been changing with time, different cultures still have different wedding customs. Chinano weddings are among the most interesting and most valuable customs in many parts of the world. Chinano borrows most of its wedding customs from the fact that marriage is highly valued. Among the many customs, lasso, music, and Virgin Mary statue are some of the important elements of Chinano wedding customs. Traditional Chinano weddings are characterized by use of a lasso, which is a white loop hanged loosely on the necks of the wedding partners.

Sometimes, two rosaries are connected with a small loop and each rosary is placed around the neck of one partner. The meaning of the white lasso or the rosary is to represent the unity of the new family (Castro 243-249). Chinano weddings are characterized by presence of traditional as well as gospel music of Catholic Church. This is because Chinano customs are based on Catholic tradition. The music custom symbolizes the happiness of the wedding ceremony and the happiness of the marriage. However, the length at which the music festivals and parades are done depends on the social and financial wellbeing of the families that are wedding.

For rich families, the music festivals may last for a week (Gaspar de Alba 73-80). Based on the fact that Chinano traditions are connected with Catholic beliefs, Chinano weddings are characterized by the statue of virgin Mary. Several statues are placed in different positions within the wedding arena. Again, the possible significance of the Virgin Mary statue is to represent the sanctity of the wedding and value of the marriage (Stacy 163-168). Works CitedCastro, Rafaela. “Chicano Folklore: A Guide to the Folktales, Traditions, Rituals and Religious Practices of Mexican Americans.

” London: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.Gaspar de Alba, Alicia Chicano Art Inside/Outside the Masters House: Cultural Politics and the CARA Exhibition. Texas: University of Texas Press, 1998. Print. Stacy, Lee. Mexico and the United States. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2002. Print.