dding Arras are one of those nuptial symbols that, at first glance, seem like simple ceremony objects. Then you start digging and realize that behind those small coins hides an entire universe: history, faith, culture, love, prosperity. A symbolic heritage that has traveled from medieval Spain to the Americas, all the way to the Philippines, transforming over time without ever losing its essence.
Today, Arras consist of 13 coins, and each one carries a unique meaning. Twelve recall the months of the year or the apostles, while the thirteenth represents a special wish: generosity, charity, abundance that overflows and never runs out. It's the extra coin, the one that goes beyond what is owed, and for this reason it's perhaps the most fascinating of them all.
But what do wedding Arras really represent? Why, in an era when a click opens a joint account, should a couple get emotional over a little pouch of coins? The answer is simple: because the gesture is powerful. In the Catholic rite, the groom gives the Arras to the bride as a sign of trust and commitment to sharing all possessions. Today, in the more modern version, the bride can return them to the groom to confirm the reciprocity of the commitment. A gesture that says out loud: "What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine."
It's a small rite, but it contains the promise of an entire lifetime.
A journey through history: from ancient Rome's "arrha" to the Spanish wedding rite
Wedding Arras weren't born yesterday, nor are they a modern invention to make ceremonies more scenic. They're rooted in a distant world, made of ancient rituals that celebrated commitments, pacts, and alliances.
The term "Arras" derives from the Latin arrha, which indicated a pledge or deposit given as confirmation of an agreement. It wasn't yet a matrimonial tradition as we know it today, but the concept of "pledge that confirms a commitment" was already present. A sort of spiritual ancestor of the wedding custom.
The transformation in Christian-Spanish times
It's in medieval Spain, however, that the rite takes shape. Here the Arras become a symbolic and liturgical gesture, loaded with religious and cultural meanings. The 13 coins, often in precious metals, are introduced into the Catholic wedding ceremony as a symbol of the groom's willingness to provide for the new family. Over time, this gesture becomes enriched and transformed, acquiring the modern meaning of sharing goods and mutual responsibility.
It's surprising to think how such a simple gesture managed to survive centuries of historical, political, and religious changes, remaining a cornerstone of Spanish wedding traditions.
From Spain to the world: a traveling legacy
Wedding Arras left Spain and, together with conquistadors and missionaries, crossed oceans and continents. That's how they arrived in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and many other Latin American regions. And even farther, to the Philippines, where the tradition has become an integral part of local Catholic weddings.
Each country has added a personal touch, adapting the rite to its own culture. But the heart of the gesture has remained the same: the Arras are a gift full of meaning that blesses not only the spouses but also their future family.
The deep meaning of wedding Arras: much more than thirteen coins
On a symbolic level, the Arras are a small world enclosed in a fist. We could describe them as a "miniature sacred text," capable of telling what the spouses will experience on their journey: abundance, love, responsibility, and sharing.
Material and spiritual prosperity
Wedding Arras represent abundance—but not just material abundance. Sure, in ancient times they also had a practical, almost "economic" value. Today, however, their value is primarily symbolic. They're a wish for prosperity that goes beyond the wallet: it speaks of a harmonious home, a generous relationship, a life shared with sincerity.
It's like saying: "May your life as a couple be full in every aspect."
Sharing and reciprocity
In the modern Catholic rite, the exchange of Arras is not a unilateral gesture. Even though historically the groom was the one who handed them over, today the bride often returns them. This detail, simple but powerful, confirms that marriage is built on mutual trust and shared responsibility.
That's why the Arras are considered the material symbol of daily commitment. If the ring symbolizes eternal alliance, the Arras represent the concreteness of living together: the "making of a home," supporting each other, sharing what you possess.
The thirteenth coin: the gift that goes beyond
The 13th coin is always surrounded by an aura of mystery and poetry. It symbolizes charity and generosity toward others: an invitation to the spouses not to close themselves in their own happiness, but to open their hearts to those who are less fortunate.
It's as if it said: "True love doesn't hold everything for itself, it overflows."
Arras in the modern Catholic wedding: a rite that moves hearts again
We live in a hyper-technological world, where everything moves fast. Yet, in today's wedding ceremonies, the Arras are becoming protagonists again. Why? Because symbols still speak to us, perhaps more than before. And because couples are looking for authentic gestures, capable of telling their story in a unique way.
The exchange scene is simple, almost minimal, but it has impressive ceremonial power. The groom gives the Arras, the bride receives them, often returns them. The priest blesses the gesture. And around them, the guests are moved.
The Catholic Church and the Arras rite
The Arras rite is not mandatory, but it's recognized as a valid cultural and liturgical tradition in Hispanic communities and all those realities where the tradition is rooted. It doesn't replace the ring, but accompanies it, creating a pairing that unites eternal symbol and daily symbol.
In some parishes official formulas are used, in others more freedom is left to the spouses. But the substance remains the same: the Arras bless the couple's future and their ability to share life's journey.
Choosing wedding Arras: contemporary guide for future spouses
The Arras are not just a symbol, but a true family treasure. For this reason, choosing the set is fundamental: it must reflect the importance of the commitment and the quality intended to be passed down.
In our catalog, options focus on excellence of materials and richness of details, offering models with coins in gold or silver finish metal, accompanied by elegant cases and the possibility of adding a personalized message.
Buy the Arras with Wedding Coins.
The tradition of 13 metal coins
Each of our sets is composed of the canonical 13 coins (symbol of generosity and abundance) and is distinguished by the quality of the finish that enhances their luster:
- Metal coins with gold or silver finish: These sets combine the traditional appearance of noble metals with refined elegance. The coins often present reliefs that recall classic figures and Christian symbols such as the Cross, the Chalice, or Grape Clusters, which evoke divine blessing and providence on the marriage.
- Detailed craftsmanship: Attention to craftsmanship ensures that each coin maintains a high aesthetic and symbolic value, essential for the rite.
Buy the Arras with Blue Velvet Case.
The importance of the case: premium boxes
The Arras container is as crucial as the coins themselves, as it will be the keeper of this treasure for future generations.
- Artisan boxes and display cases: The sets are accompanied by elegant cases made from selected materials such as velvet, silver, or finely worked wood.
- Refined design: Some cases elevate the set to a true icon, with silver finishes decorated with wedding bands, symbol of the sacred bond of marriage.
Buy the Arras with Wooden and Sterling Silver Case.
The secret value of wedding Arras
Wedding Arras are a small gesture, but loaded with meaning. They tell of trust, mutual gift, generosity. They tell of the desire to build together, to share every good, to open oneself to the other with sincerity. They're an ancient symbol that doesn't fear time: yesterday they spoke of pacts between families, today they speak of authentic love, collaboration, shared responsibility.
The 13 coins don't just represent material prosperity, but also spiritual prosperity: the richness of the heart, of the family, of daily life built as a couple.
In a world where everything constantly changes, there's something deeply reassuring about a gesture that crosses centuries and continues to move people. The Arras remind us that love is a gift, a commitment and, above all, a sharing.
And perhaps this is exactly why this rite continues to shine, coin after coin, promise after promise.