THE TRADITIONAL INDIAN WEDDING CEREMONY

Usually a week or two before they are married by a
Catholic priest, the future husband's parents make the
Wedding Vase. When the Vase has been made, the
Husband, along with his parents and all his relatives go
to the bride's house. The bride brings out everything
she will need to establish their new home together;
clothing, utensils, mattress, moccasins, corn and any
other homemaking essentials including her white
manta wedding dress.

The parents of both the bride and the groom give the
young couple advice to help them have a happy and
successful marriage. The Indian holy water is placed in
the Wedding Vase and the Vase is turned around and
given to the bride. She drinks from one side of the
Vase, turns it round again and gives it to the groom
who then drinks from the opposite side of the Vase.
This ceremony unites them as one.

The couple will treasure the Vase throughout their
married life. Should one of them outlive the other, the
remaining person will give the Vase to a couple known
to be living a happily married life. The Wedding Vase
is treasured and protected always----it is never broken.

This Story of the Wedding Vase was told by Margaret Gutierrez,
a famous potter of Santa Clara Pueblo, NM.

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