Wedding 'Fee' of Tree Seedlings
Couples getting married in the Sragen region of Java in Indonesia are now having to help towards the tree-planting campaign by paying for the planting of 5 trees before they get married.
They can either pay 25,000 rupiah (£1.30) or hand over 5 of their own tree seedlings on the day of their wedding to the officiating person. The seeds are to be of the hardwood variety trees such as teak or mahogamy and will then be passed on to the Government; who will then plaint them in the same area as the donated couple live.
District head Untung Wiyono is quoted by the BBC as saying: "The money will then be used to buy tree seedlings which would have to be planted in the area where the couple live."
The tree-planting programme is aimed at combating global warming where President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyona showed his support and commitment when he joined in a nationwide attempt to plant almost 80 million trees last month.
The campaign was started after Indonesia had been been derided by worldwide environmental groups for its lack of efforts in helping to combat global warming.
Those couples who file for divorce are to face a much higher fee as their ‘price’ in the scheme will be 25 tree seedlings or 40,000 rupiah.
Tree Traditions – Past and Present
Tree planting on the day of your wedding is nothing new today. Many countries have followed the tradition of planting trees as couples get married and in Czechoslovakie friends of the bride plant and decorate a tree in her garden. It is then vestooned with ribbons and painted eggshells where according to legend the bride would live as long as the tree.
Getting married in the Cook Islands holds a tradition of planting a young coconut tree to celebrate the occasion.
In Bermuda wedding cakes are topped with a small sapling and after the wedding the newly-married couple may plant the tree and watch it grow all through the years
In Holland and Switzerland the planting of a tree on their wedding day symbolises good luck and fertility for the newlyweds.
In Parsi, Indian both the bride and grooms family each plant young saplings of mangos into a pot where the soil has been enriched with betel, turmeric and rice. The pot is then placed at their front door and watered every morning until the 8th day when it is it then replanted elsewhere.
Many resorts, hotels and wedding planners are now offering couples getting married the choice of planting their own tree during or just after the wedding celebrations. This seems to be getting more popular especially with overseas weddings.
If you are going to have an eco wedding, have some connectoins to trees, or just want to do you bit towards fighting global warming: tiny saplings could be placed on your tables and used as favours for your guests to take home and plant.
Trees can be picked for different meanings, some as in the Oak tree symbolises strength, Hazel indicates knowledge while the Hawthorn Tree is said to represent true love, partnership and commitment.
