Jewish Wedding Breaking Glasses

Handmade dupoini silk bags w/glass & canvas & trim: Lace, fringe, sheer fabric; $25/ea	Handmade dupoini silk bags w/glass & canvas, plain in white or ecru; $22/each
Breaking glasses for Gary Rosenthal wedding mezuzot w/navy velvet bag & canvas $25	Gary Rosenthal wedding mezuzot; $110, $68,. $90 and $92, respectively

Moire bag with glass & canvas; green or purple $24

Velvet bag w/glass & canvas; wine, gold & green $26

Moire bag with star, glass & canvas $26

To purchase: The bags pictured may be purchased at Afikomen or ordered by calling 510.655.1977 or toll-free 1.877.284.2345 or emailing Alexis at wedding@afikomen.com. We ship anywhere in the U.S.

The ritual of breaking the glass: At the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony, the groom (and now in modern times, sometimes the bride as well) steps on a glass and breaks it. The celebrants call out "Mazel Tov!" and the celebration begins.

The symbolism can vary depending on what has meaning for you. Some believe that it is to remind us that personal relationships are fragile and must be tended to remain intact; others experience the breaking as a reminder of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, so that we remember that life contains both sadness and joy; another meaning is that the shattering of the glass reflects the work to be done by the new couple, i.e.,Tikkun Olam in both their relationship and the world at large. And, regardless, it is the signal that the wedding ceremony has been completed and the celebration is to begin.