Has anyone ever heard of this tradition?

fancieface

My mom told me and my FI about a catholic tradition. She said she's not sure its done anymore but its what her and my dad did when they married 40 years ago. I've never been to a catholic wedding so I am still learning. She said my father gave her 13 coins( gold dimes) and it represents the groom professing he will always provide for his wife. The exchange of these coins took place during the ceremony. She mentioned what this is called in spanish but I don't remember. Has anyone heard of this?  I think its such a sweet sentiment.

garzal

I have heard of that tradition. My fiancé & I come from families in which certain traditions are part of the catholic mass.  One of them is called the "arras" in Spanish.  It's the presentation of 13 coins either in gold or silver and it represents that the groom will not fail to provide necessities for his bride during their marriage.  It also symbolizes that the bride/groom will work to share their earnings.  I got this from the booklet the sister at our church gave us.  When we asked about these traditions being included in our mass, she gave us the information because she wanted to make sure we understood the reason behind them. 

meep2

I don't think it's Catholic, per se. It's more a Spanish/Latin American tradition that occurs in the context of marriage. One translation of "arras" is "bride price"; today, the 13 coins symbolize Jesus and the apostles.

fancieface

Oh...ok. Thanks for that info. I'm going to talk to my priest about it and read up on it some more.

ootmother2

I believe it is a Hispanic tradition because M's former nanny gave them to her for a wedding gift.

I don't know the meaning though

aclaro

i really do beleive that it is a hispanic tradition. we do it in all of our wedding and i'm goign to do it too. Im not sure how many coins its supposed to be but they are ususally provided by padrinos (which is usually people that give them to you along with the lazo and the bible or a bridesman and a groomsman)
during the ceremony the husban hands them to the wife and promises to always be able to provide and the wife takes them and hands them back promising that she will provide a good home with what teh hisband provides.
hope this helps

aghouston86

Its a Hispanic tradition. A pp has it correct. Its 13 coins that are passed through the hands of the groom to the bride and back, that represent the intent to provide financial stability, and the bride promises to keep a stable home with what the groom provides.