Chuppah

The Jewish marriage ceremony is conducted under a marriage canopy, known in Hebrew as a Chuppah (Hebrew: חופה).

The Cuppah consists of a square cloth, usually made of silk or velvet, supported by four staves. In ancient times the Cuppah was held by four men.

The Cuppah is first mentioned in the Bible in Joel 2:16 and Psalms 19:6-
 

” וְהוּא–כְּחָתָן, יֹצֵא מֵחֻפָּתוֹ; יָשִׂישׂ כְּגִבּוֹר, לָרוּץ אֹרַח.”
 

” Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.”

A traditional Chuppah recommends that there be open sky exactly above it. If the wedding ceremony is held indoors in a hall, sometimes a special opening is built to be opened during the ceremony.

According to Jewish Tradition, the Chuppah symbolizes the new home to which the bridegroom will take his bride. The groom enters the Chuppah first to represent his ownership of the home on behalf of the couple. When the bride then enters the Chuppah it is as though the groom is providing her with shelter or clothing, and he thus publicly demonstrates his new responsibilities toward her.

The appearance of the bride and groom together under a Chuppah before an assembly who have come to witness the event is in itself a public proclamation by them that they are now bonded together as man and wife. It is a significant element in Jewish Marriage.

Credit :
Myjewishlearning.com