8. Stepping On A Wine Glass
If you’ve been to a Jewish wedding, you’ve almost definitely seen the happy couple step on a wine glass or lightbulb. Even though it has become the staple of a Jewish wedding, very few people can confidently say that they know why. There are many schools of thought, but one of the most common is that the breaking of the glass represents the destruction of the Temple of Israel. According to Jewish custom, the destruction of the temple destroyed man’s connection to Heaven and, consequently, to God. But just as God and man are inextricably linked, so are the bride and groom. They step on the wine glass to remind everyone that love is fragile and easily destroyed, but no matter what has happened in the past, love can and will always find a way.
Another school of thought says that the wine glass is usually the one over which the seven sacraments have been said; by destroying the glass, the families of the bride and groom are signaling that they are satisfied with the proceedings and have no grounds upon which to object to the marriage.
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