The bride and bridegroom exchanges coins the arras from her Venezuelan tradition with celebrant Clarissa Botsford. Photo by Sotiris Tsakanikas.
Coins often feature in marriage rituals – it’s not hard to understand why!
In many Latin American countries and in the Philippines, couples exchange what are called las arras matrimoniales. Traditionally, these wedding tokens were made up of thirteen gold coins handed down through the generations. Twelve of the coins represent the months of the year while the thirteenth represents those who are poor. In legal terms an “arras” is a contract, adding an extra layer of significance to the ritual.
In a wedding I celebrated in Umbria with a Venezuelan bride last September, Gabriela brought her arras, which had been her grandmother’s and then her mother’s before her. The couple clasped the bright, jingling coins in their hands while speaking their vows. Gabriela’s mother was present, her eyes shining with pride and emotion. But the ritual resonated even with those who were not familiar with the tradition.
In a traditional Irish ceremony, the groom would give the bride a silver coin saying something like “I give you this as a symbol of all I possess”. In modern times, more democratically, both members of the couple will exchange the coin, declaring that they will share everything they own!
