Quaich Your Thirst for Marriage
The Quaich is a shallow drinking cup or bowl favored by the Scots that traditionally was carried to prevent people from poisoning them or watering down their whiskey. A tradition that later evolved to become a vessel shared only with those they trusted the most.
Today the tradition of using a Quaich in a wedding ceremony symbolizes that love and trust as they share a drink from the cup on their wedding day. Used at a religious ceremony, as a way to share communion in ceremonies that allow for it, or used at the end of a non-denominational ceremony, as a symbol to their joining, a Quaich can also be shared during the toast to the bride and groom, by the bridal couples themselves or with selected members of their families.
Typically shared with the fathers of the bride and the groom, sharing with family members is a good way to create a bond, especially with families who have never met, or who haven't had the chance to form an attachment, as a symbol of the joining of the two families. If sending the cup around to more than one member of each family, it is also a good idea to send an attendant to top off the Quaich to ensure that it does not run dry.
While what one drinks from the Quaich can be left to the bride and groom's discretion, the traditional drink is of course Scotch, followed closely by Ale.
A Quaich can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some created out of silver or pewter ornately decorated with Celtic symbols or designs, while the more traditional versions are made from wood or wood banded with silver.
Normally incorporated by those of Scottish descent, the Quaich also has roots in Irish and Jewish cultures, where it is known as the Loving Cup, and can be incorporated into any ceremony looking for that something extra.
While, for sanitary reasons, more than those of mistrust, a Quaich cannot be shared with all of your wedding guests, you can still involve them in your Quaich ceremony by sending them home with miniature versions filled with small Scotch mints, as a wedding favor from which they can enjoy a "wee dram" of whiskey.
The Quaich is also traditionally a gift that is offered to a piper who pipes the couple in, and can also make for a unique groomsman gift engraved with a special message of friendship from the groom.
While the tradition of a Quaich is an old one, today, many couples are finding that a Quaich is a very modern accessory by which they can declare and share their love.
©2008 Weddingstar Inc.
