At Jewish weddings, why does the groom stomp on the glass?

Stew54

So that he gets to put his foot down just one last time! I thought it was a tradition reminiscent of the destruction of the Temple and to remind everyone that in the midst of happiness there is an element of sadness. Oct 22 04, 12:16 PM

Linus_337

In support of Stew's answer: The wedding ceremony ends when the grooms steps on and breaks a glass. The custom of breaking a glass under the chuppah is derived from the Talmud. It is written that a rabbi broke a vase during a wedding feast in order to warn those present against excessive joy. Even during times of great joy, we should remember the tragic destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. http://judaism.about.com/library/3_lifecycles/wedding/blwedding5.htm Oct 22 04, 1:22 PM

Arpeggionist

Upon breaking the glass, the groom quotes two verses of the 135th Psalm: "If I forget thee, Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten. May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember thee, if I do not recall Jerusalem first as my pride and joy." At all times of joy the psalmist would remember Jerusalem and the Temple, and so we do the same, not necessarily out of sadness. Besides, what kind of wedding isn't such a happy occasion that something doesn't get broken? (Incidentally, my cousin is getting married tomorrow.) Oct 23 04, 10:05 AM