~:~ Peace ~:~ Happiness ~:~ Trust ~:~ Respect ~:~ Caring ~:~
~:~ Wisdom ~:~ Joy ~:~ Wholeness ~:~ Nurturing ~:~
The wedding Coins or Arras (Arrhae) is an essential part of a Filipino Wedding. It represents the willingness of the man to provide for his wife. It had been part of the wedding ceremony since our earliest fathers. The tradition was to use 13 coins (usually gold plated), placed inside intricately designed cages which the husband literally give to his bride during the ceremony.
But in past couple of decades, two new trend related to the Arras came about…
1. It was now known as the Unity Coins. Each coin represents one of the thirteen virtues that the marriage must have. Most couples now use these coins, and placed either in pouches, or treasure/jewelry boxes. Many are also holding them as keepsakes with the intention to give it later on to their kids to be used during their own weddings.
2. The second thought was that each coin represents the 14 Apostles (Jesus was also an Apostle). But after Judas killed himself, the remaining Apostles had to draw straws to pick another Apostle to keep the number at 13. They chose Mathas as the 14th Apostle.
Therefore, during my weddings, I give the wedding couples 14 total coins.
