As you know, February is Black History Month! If you follow our blog or social media, you’ll also know that the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings love to dive deep into the rich and diverse history of weddings and the traditions that make them so special and meaningful. With it being Black History Month, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about some wedding traditions and how they can celebrate a couple’s Black heritage.

The Libation Ceremony

Libation ceremonies play a large role in African societies, especially the Yoruba and Igbo cultures. In this ritual, alcohol or holy water is poured on the ground in each of the cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—in the presence of elders attending the wedding. This is done to invite family members who have passed on to send blessings and guidance toward the newly married couple. While the libation is being poured, appropriate prayers are recited, and the liquids are typically presented in elaborate vessels aligned with the occasion. If you’re not keen on wasting holy water or aren’t a fan of alcohol, you can always opt for an alternative beverage. It may even be more intimate if you infuse a deceased relative's favorite drink into your ceremony instead.

Crossing Sticks

Another ritual where the couple demonstrates their commitment to each other in marriage involves crossing tall wooden sticks, often while reciting their vows, to represent both the life force within trees and the first two pieces of wood the couple will use to build their home together. The tradition is seen as a symbol of strength and the joining of the two families. The sticks are sometimes decorated with flowers and other accessories, painted in the couple’s wedding colors, or even picked from their respective family’s home or other venue that holds special meaning. The intention: to start the building of their own home on a strong note.

Tasting the Four Elements

If you read our last Fun Fact Friday on social media then you will have heard of this one. This ritual originated with the Yorùbá people in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. During the ceremony, the couple gets a literal taste of four flavors that are meant to represent distinct stages and trials within a marriage: cayenne for spiciness, lemon for sourness, vinegar for bitterness and honey for sweetness. By tasting each of these flavors, newlyweds symbolically demonstrate they'll be able to remain united for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.

Exchanging Kola Nuts

Kola nuts were used for medicinal purposes throughout numerous tribes in what is now Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Today they are commonly exchanged during a wedding ceremony as a sign of the couple and their families being unified through marriage. The healing properties of the kola nut denotes the two parties willingness to help each other heal through thick and thin and in sickness and in health. These nuts are then placed in the couple’s home as a reminder of their wedding promises. For many African Muslims, sharing a Kola nut is an act performed during engagement celebrations to implore fertility.

Money Spray

Both Filipino and Nigerian couples will often incorporate this practice into their big day. Historically speaking, Yorùbá and Igbo tribes are the primary groups that practice this generous tradition, but it's also made its way into some African-American wedding receptions. On the big day, the newly married couple dances to music of their choice at the wedding reception, while guests toss cash at them. The money is eventually collected by the couple or others assisting with the event. This money is then used to help the pair start their new life together. For guests, it’s a way to share their blessing and wish the newlyweds a life of prosperity.

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