Today most of us live in richly diverse communities. Experiencing different spiritual and ethnic traditions in meaningful ways can bring fruitful learning opportunities. This is particularly true when people of differing backgrounds join together for a ceremonial occasion.
We experience powerful opportunities for connection when people of differing faiths and cultural traditions come together for a marriage, birth, or death. Rather than be divided by differences, we can use the ceremonies for these occasions to foster memorable shared experiences. Here are five tips for creating meaningful multicultural or multifaith ceremonies.
- Look for underlying universal human truths.
- Honour commonalities between the two traditions.
- Research folk tales.
- Include unifying rituals.
- Learn to speak key words or phrases in a different language.
Look for Underlying Universal Human Truths
We all want to be loved. To feel part of a community. And to be accepted for who we are. Happiness and joy, grief and pain, disappointment... the emotional arc of what it is to be human is experienced by us all. Bring these universal human truths into the ceremony by illuminating experiences and emotional everyone present can relate to.
Honour Commonalities between the Two Traditions
Though two traditions may be very different in some ways, in others there is great similarity. Highlighting the commonalities helps bring connection and welcoming spirit to the ceremony and in interactions beyond. Here's an example: Chinese and Jewish families place great importance on family. Speak to these important shared values during the ceremony.
Research Folk Tales
Share folk tales during multifaith or multicultural ceremonies. Participants and guests appreciate the intention and effort! Folk tales or stories bring home deeper meaning in a way that seems to resonate with many listeners. Don't tell LONG stories, but rather abbreviate them into a paragraph. It is especially wonderful to share folktales from two traditions that illustrate the exact same point! Again, it's about celebrating what we share.
Include Unifying Rituals
All faiths and cultures have rituals intended to unify self with others and self with the sacred. Spend time learning about these and you will enliven your ceremonies with emotional richness. See if you can combine ritual elements of both traditions. For instance, a handfasting can use the crowning ribbons from the orthodox Armenian crowning. Always remember that to be resonate rituals must be relevant and suited to the individuals involved. No rites by rote!
Learn to speak Key Words and Phrases in a Different Language
Learning how to say "Welcome" in Mandarin, "You may kiss the bride" in French, "Mazel Tov" in Hebrew, "Ashes to Ashes" in German, "Sofrey-Aghd" in Persian will endear you to guests and to your clients. Make sure you practice!
In my blog Standing in the Power of Ceremony, Celebrant Michele Davidson muses on living a life of deep meaning in our fast-paced modern world. And how to use ritual and ceremony to embrace the moments of our lives. She is a professional Celebrant (aka ceremony maker) breathing new life into ritual and ceremony. All her ceremonies are custom written and like her wonderful clients, no two are ever the same! Weddings, Baby Naming and Adoption Ceremonies, Divorce Ceremonies, Memorials and more.
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