Why Do You Break a Glass at a Jewish Wedding?

The tradition of breaking a glass at a Jewish wedding goes all the way back to the Talmud, though it wasn’t always done by the groom or even at the ceremony itself. The tractate Brachot recounts two different rabbis, Mar son of Ravina and Rabbi Ashi, who were bothered by the excessive revelry at their sons’ respective wedding feasts, and so they each smashed an expensive glass cup in front of the wedding guests in order to sober and sadden them.

Eventually this custom was incorporated into the wedding ceremony itself and done by the groom, though it’s unclear when exactly it became so formalized or universal. The glass breaking wasn’t always done by foot either; medieval German synagogues are known to have included a special stone in their facades to be used for breaking the glass at wedding ceremonies.

There are several meanings and reasons that have developed for the breaking of the glass at Jewish wedding ceremonies:

• To symbolize the destruction of our Holy Temple and to remind us of our sadness and mourning for it even during our greatest moments of joy; this is traditionally the most commonly cited reason behind the breaking of the glass
• To show that joy must always be tempered; this was likely the original reason in the Talmud
• As a reminder of the fragility of human relationships and acknowledgment that marriage will require both joy and sadness
• Marriage is a covenant, and Jewish covenants normally include cutting or breaking something, such as circumcision or the breaking of the stone tablets at Mt. Sinai; similarly, there is a tradition to break a plate at Jewish engagements
• There have historically been superstitions surrounding scaring away demons believed to be attracted to happy occasions such as weddings, and it’s possible the loud noise of the breaking of the glass was also meant to serve this purpose

A regular drinking glass or wine glass is usually used for the wedding breaking glass, though some couples today opt for a lightbulb as it’s easier to break and makes a louder popping sound.

Some opinions, however, are opposed to using something as cheap as a lightbulb for such an important and meaningful custom.

Some Jewish couples opt to buy a glass made expressly for this purpose, which can be made even more special and meaningful with a decorated pouch or by hailing from the Land of Israel (like the “O Jerusalem” Breaking Glass in our store here!).

The glass should be in a protective pouch or covered with a heavy cloth or foil in order to keep the shards from dispersing or causing injury.

It is also common to keep the broken shards as a special memento, and they can even be incorporated into a piece of décor or Judaica for the home like a beautiful mezuzah!

Now that you know about the breaking of the glass, check out other Jewish wedding ceremony essentials with our guide here, and shop for all your wedding needs and gifts straight from the Land of Israel right at our store!

Can’t decide on a wedding gift for a young Jewish couple in your life? See our Top 10 Wedding Gifts list here!