SHALL WE SAY "MAZEL TOV"
TO
PRINCE WILLIAM & KATE MIDDLETON?
by
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe

Syosset, New York

1900 guests have been invited to the wedding of William and Kate which is to take place on April 29.  Kings, charity insiders, close friends, university friends, old classmates and prime ministers around the world received the beveled and gilded invitation.

I've stopped watching the mailbox.  "Ich bin ahntoisht."  (I am disappointed.)  Oh, well, even President Obama and his family did NOT receive the coveted pieces of "shtayf" (stiff) cardboard.

I wish I could be at Westminster Abbey and witness "di simche" (the joyous celebration).

"Vos tut zich?"  (What's going on?)  There will be crucial differences in "di tseremonye" (the ceremony).

• Prince William won't wear a wedding "He just doesn't do rings," an aide insists.  The "por" (couple) has decided to go against "di traditsye" (the tradition) of both huband and wife wearing a ring.
  
  
• No "gloz" (glass) coach for Kate.  The princess-to-be won't be driven to the wedding in a glass carriage.  She'll use an "oytomobile" (automobile).
  
  
• Two cakes are being made for Prince William and Kate.
  
  
• No gift registry for the Royal couple. Instead, they have set up a gift fund that goes to the 24-26 charities they have picked.  If by any chance you'd like to give the royals a wedding gift, go to RoyalWeddingCharityFund.org.
  
  
• There will be a mixing of traditions. YourJewishNews.com wrote, "Buckingham Palace is keen that the wedding takes account of the multi-cultural nature of modern British society, so Muslim, Hindu and Jewish traditions will be incorporated into the Church of England ceremony ("tseremonye").
  
  
• A small amount of Mehendi or turmeric, paste will be smeared on Kate's "hant" (hand) in a Muslim pre-wedding ritual.


• The couple will offer each other a morsel of food ("bisn") to express mutual love and affection ("libshaft") in accordance with the Hindu practice.
  
  
• And, "ver volt dos geglaibt?" (Who would have believed it?), Prince William will smash a "gloz" (glass) with his "fus" (foot) just as is done at Jewish weddings!

Buckingham Palace spokesperson, Esther Calthorpe Watts said, "They want everyone to feel a part of the wedding. And while religiously, the ceremony will be completely Anglican in nature, they felt it appropriate to include these small gestures towards other faiths. "If the congregation at the Abbey want to wish the happy couple ("gliklekh por") "Mazeltov," we will be very happy but this will be totally optional.

I wonder if William and Kate know the various interpretations of the breaking of "di gloz."

1, The breaking of the glass is a "dermonung" (reminder) of the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem.

2. "Ayngleybenish" (superstition) A loud noise is thought to drive away "beyz" (evil) spirits.

3. "Umet" (sadness) and "freyd" (joy) A reminder that even in times of great joy that there is sadness. Life ("lebn") will bring sadness as well as joy.

4. "B'sulim" (hymen) The breaking of the glass represents symbolically the breaking of the hymen, and the consummation of the marriage.

5. Fragile The glass symbolizes the love and relationship of the couple and is fragile. It must be cared for and not broken.

6. Broken "velt" (world) A reminder that although the couple came together as a single union, the "velt" as a whole is broken and needs mending. Note: The Yiddish word "farrikhtn" means "to mend."

And, finally, Prince William needs to be made aware of this "fakt" (fact): The glass he chooses must NOT be too "dik" (thick). It needs to be easily broken when stepped on! For this reason, he should stay away from heavy lead crystal goblets.
-------------------------------------------
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe has been married for 52 years. She reminds the Royal couple that "You don't marry someone you can live with. You marry the person who you cannot live without."

home

Search for Stories Beginning with the Letter

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

___________________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:

"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction?  Yiddish
Trivia."  To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com

NU, what are you waiting for?  Order the book!

Yiddish Stuff Jewish Humor Schmooze News More Majorie Wolfe

Principle Jewish Stories All Things Jewish Jewish Communities of the World

Site Designed and Maintained by
Haruth Communications