In Germany, there is a special tradition that precedes a wedding, — Polterabend. This is not just a party, but a symbolic rite that combines elements of folk beliefs, joint celebration and verification of the strength of the newlyweds' relationship.
What is Polterabend?
Polterabend (literally from German —) “evening rumbling”) — is a wedding-preceding party where guests break up ceramic or porcelain dishes. It is believed that the roar of the beating drives away evil spirits and brings the couple good luck in their life together. Glass, mirrors or crystal dishes cannot be broken — they symbolize misfortune, so they choose clay and porcelain items.
How is the tradition going?
The celebration does not have strict rules: there can be many guests, sometimes even an entire village or district. Friends and relatives bring old dishes, pots, tiles or even washbasins — the main thing is that they are made of ceramics. After the symbolic smashing, the newlyweds clean the wreckage together. This is considered the first joint test: they demonstrate a willingness to overcome difficulties together.
Origin
The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. Then people believed that noise and roar scare away evil spirits, and broken dishes symbolize cleansing from bad things before a new stage of life. Polterabend also aimed to gather a community around the newlyweds: even those who were not invited to the wedding could come to the “roaring evening” and greet the couple.
Modern meaning
Today, Polterabend remains popular in Germany and Austria. It is often held in the yard or outside, and the celebration turns into a fun party with music, dancing and barbecue. Some newlyweds replace this tradition with modern forms of —, such as themed evenings or quest parties, but beating dishes is still considered a classic element.
In Germany there is a saying: “Scherben bringen Glück” <TAG1> — debris brings happiness“.
The tradition is so entrenched that sometimes even famous politicians or stars hold Polterabend before the wedding.
Debris that remains after the celebration does not immediately throw away — sometimes they are kept as a symbolic talisman for good luck.
