Family, friends, religions, recognize new divorce customs

Different cultures and religions around the world are coming up with some interesting ways to help couples seek peace, forgiveness and start a new chapter.

You may have heard of divorce parties with close friends, or maybe a private glass of champagne once the final papers are signed in your divorce lawyer’s office. But what about ending the marriage with as much ceremony as you started it? International customs are changing and growing just as the numbers of divorces are growing.

Here in the U.S. The Unitarian Universalist church has a divorce ceremony they call a “ceremony of hope.” The divorcing couple can apologize and ask one another for forgiveness and blessings in front of friends and family who were also present for the wedding.

In China, it is customary that the divorce papers not be signed in the home, and then the ink and pen used to sign the documents must be thrown away because they may contain bad luck.

In Germany, one bishop has proposed a Mass of Lament where friends and family would gather in church and listed to the couple explain their reasons for divorce.

In a Japanese temple you can write your breakup wishes on a piece of paper and flush them down the toilet. Literally. Their divorce ceremonies also usually involve a buffet meal and a ritualistic smashing of the wedding rings. Japan has actually seen a large increase in divorces after the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis there.

If you live in Wisconsin and are contemplating divorce, it might help if you concentrate on the final goal; the light at the end of the tunnel; your next phase in life. Divorce is always a tough decision to make so let our firm help you with the logistics so you can plan your own Milwaukee divorce celebration party.

Source: Huffington Post, “Divorce Custom: 7 Post-Split Rituals From Around The World,” July 21, 2012