Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Spalier stehen
English translation:
form a tunnel
Added to glossary by
nino0523 (X)
Sep 29, 2016 19:51
8 yrs ago
6 viewers *
German term
Spalier stehen
German to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Wedding
Wie sagt man "Spalier stehen" auf Englisch? Also der Brauch, dass nach der Hochzeit die Gäste gegenüberstehend eine Art Gang bilden, den das Brautpaar durchlaufen muss. Vielen Dank!
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +3 | form a tunnel | jccantrell |
3 +5 | form a guard of honour | Armorel Young |
3 | form a passageway | Patrick Hubenthal |
3 | form a lane | Michael Martin, MA |
Proposed translations
+3
2 hrs
Selected
form a tunnel
This is what I have heard in the USA.
Reference:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/215046950930030277/
https://www.pinterest.com/tapestryh/fabulous-send-off-ideas/
Peer comment(s):
agree |
AllegroTrans
: Yes, the guests line up and hold their hands up above the newlyweds, forming a tunnel; assuming this is not a military wedding with a uniformed guard of honour; asker needs to check
14 hrs
|
agree |
Patrick Hubenthal
: Of the three "form an X" answers submitted, this seems to be the most common.
18 hrs
|
agree |
Johanna Timm, PhD
: form a "wedding salute tunnel" https://goo.gl/wWiSnA
1 day 2 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+5
19 mins
form a guard of honour
25 Apr 2016 - Players form a guard of honour for Jack on his wedding day ... PLAYERS at Cainscross RFC formed a guard of honour at the wedding of club ...
www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/.../14448613.Stroud_nostalgi...
Chernobyl children play a part in wedding day celebrations of Kinver host. Children from Belarus form a guard of honour for happy couple Paul
www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/.../14657257.Chernobyl_children_p...
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Patrick Hubenthal
: Yes if it's military personnel getting married; not so much otherwise. (And "guard of honor" / "honor guard" if the translation is into American English.)
8 mins
|
agree |
writeaway
: honor guard is US English for guard of honor? that's news to me.......
1 hr
|
agree |
Lancashireman
: Yes, the two links aren't working too well but can be found and do indeed have photos showing a guard of honour being formed.
2 hrs
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Indeed - I chose those references precisely because they indicate that the term isn't confined to military usage (although that is obviously where it originated)
|
|
agree |
Ramey Rieger (X)
: I KNOW I've heard another term, but the past half hour of research has be fruitless. Maybe I'm imaginging things. you'r is certainly the best suggestion.
10 hrs
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agree |
Gudrun Wolfrath
14 hrs
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agree |
Alison MacG
: Widely used in relation to weddings, even outside the original military/uniform context. I’ve posted more examples in reference section. (This has reminded me of when I was part of a Brownie guard of honour at the Tawny Owl’s wedding many years ago).
18 hrs
|
neutral |
Michael Martin, MA
: Works for this specific context unless Nino wants the normal meaning of “Spalier stehen” translated which is not context-bound. Then, I would have to disagree.//See added note
1 day 23 hrs
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I thought the whole rationale of Proz was to translate the term in the given context, so I don't quite understand your objection.
|
19 mins
form a passageway
I think "Spalier stehen" is a bit more involved than just standing in rows or lining the path – usually you also use your arms/hands to form a sort of arched roof over the newlyweds as well, right? If we have a word for that in English, I can't think of it at the moment, but "form a passageway" seems like a reasonable paraphrase.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2016-09-30 18:52:18 GMT)
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writeaway and AllegroTrans, good luck proving those negatives :-) On the side of "it does make sense" and "people do say it," we have for example:
“Just as traditional sparklers for weddings are used, these romantic heart sparklers can be used to form a passageway or a sparkling tunnel for the couple to pass through while exiting the venue.”
http://vipsparklers.com/product/wedding-products/heart-shape...
I’ve written a bit more in the discussion thread above as well.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2016-09-30 18:52:18 GMT)
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writeaway and AllegroTrans, good luck proving those negatives :-) On the side of "it does make sense" and "people do say it," we have for example:
“Just as traditional sparklers for weddings are used, these romantic heart sparklers can be used to form a passageway or a sparkling tunnel for the couple to pass through while exiting the venue.”
http://vipsparklers.com/product/wedding-products/heart-shape...
I’ve written a bit more in the discussion thread above as well.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Lancashireman
: Passageway. tunnel, lane... How about thoroughfare, corridor, alley, couloir?
2 hrs
|
Thanks, but I prefer to stick with things people actually say :-) Which was rather the point of my response to Armorel's answer – people at nonmilitary weddings don't call it a "guard of honor" in my experience. But maybe that's an AE/BE difference too?
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|
neutral |
writeaway
: no AE/BE difference here. agree with Lancashireman. this answer makes no sense at all (in Englis(c)h).
10 hrs
|
neutral |
AllegroTrans
: this is not what people actually say
16 hrs
|
16 mins
form a lane
crowds form a lane..
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Note added at 9 hrs (2016-09-30 05:13:17 GMT)
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'Spalier stehen' is not at all limited to any particular context such as one involving honor guards. It simply means a crowd forms a lane for somebody to come through, whatever the occasion. Compare with example below:
"At his funeral in San Diego, more than three dozen fellow SEALs formed a lane for the pallbearers to walk down." http://blogs.cfr.org/lindsay/2013/05/24/twe-remembers-memori...
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Note added at 1 day23 hrs (2016-10-01 19:28:19 GMT)
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If you use a translation of 'Spalier stehen' that's specific to weddings or comparable rituals, make sure it's noted as such in the glossary. Otherwise, people will be barking up the wrong tree..
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Note added at 2 days1 hr (2016-10-01 21:14:03 GMT)
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Hi Armorel!
That’s correct. But the way the question is set up, it’s unclear whether or not asker knows ‘Spalier stehen’ is not always tied to weddings. With evocative verbs like that, it just seems more natural to focus on the physical meaning, rather than on the specifics of any particular context.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2016-09-30 05:13:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
'Spalier stehen' is not at all limited to any particular context such as one involving honor guards. It simply means a crowd forms a lane for somebody to come through, whatever the occasion. Compare with example below:
"At his funeral in San Diego, more than three dozen fellow SEALs formed a lane for the pallbearers to walk down." http://blogs.cfr.org/lindsay/2013/05/24/twe-remembers-memori...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day23 hrs (2016-10-01 19:28:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
If you use a translation of 'Spalier stehen' that's specific to weddings or comparable rituals, make sure it's noted as such in the glossary. Otherwise, people will be barking up the wrong tree..
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days1 hr (2016-10-01 21:14:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hi Armorel!
That’s correct. But the way the question is set up, it’s unclear whether or not asker knows ‘Spalier stehen’ is not always tied to weddings. With evocative verbs like that, it just seems more natural to focus on the physical meaning, rather than on the specifics of any particular context.
Reference comments
19 hrs
Reference:
More refs in support of Armorel's answer
Wedding Exit: How to make a Stylish Exit from your Ceremony or Reception
Wedding Exit Idea #3. Guard of Honour
If your venue doesn’t want to clean it up or you just don’t fancy picking tiny pieces of paper out of your hair, a simple guard of honour from friends and family that you newlyweds can run through is a nice touch.
http://smartgroom.com/stylish-wedding-exit/
Again the bride and grooms entrance for the first dance has been given detailed consideration and they can expect to enjoy a guard of honour from their friends and family down a dramatically lit cat walk to reach the dance floor…..
http://www.wedding-venue-ayrshire.co.uk/press-release/
Fellow team members created a guard of honour with ice axes outside the hotel, following the ceremony.
http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/people/Rescuer-Chris-weds...
For the exit of the Bride and Groom from their Muncaster Castle Wedding in December, all of the guests lined up outside with a sparkler guard of honour for the beautiful couple to exit through.
http://www.stuartjamesphoto.co.uk/black-white-wedding-photog...
Wedding Exit Idea #3. Guard of Honour
If your venue doesn’t want to clean it up or you just don’t fancy picking tiny pieces of paper out of your hair, a simple guard of honour from friends and family that you newlyweds can run through is a nice touch.
http://smartgroom.com/stylish-wedding-exit/
Again the bride and grooms entrance for the first dance has been given detailed consideration and they can expect to enjoy a guard of honour from their friends and family down a dramatically lit cat walk to reach the dance floor…..
http://www.wedding-venue-ayrshire.co.uk/press-release/
Fellow team members created a guard of honour with ice axes outside the hotel, following the ceremony.
http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/people/Rescuer-Chris-weds...
For the exit of the Bride and Groom from their Muncaster Castle Wedding in December, all of the guests lined up outside with a sparkler guard of honour for the beautiful couple to exit through.
http://www.stuartjamesphoto.co.uk/black-white-wedding-photog...
23 hrs
Reference:
Spalier stehen
Spalierstehen
Die Hochzeitsgesellschaft stellt sich nach der standesamtlichen oder kirchlichen Trauung in zwei Reihen auf und bildet mit den Händen einen Tunnel, den das Brautpaar durchschreiten muss. Der Gang symbolisiert den ersten gemeinsamen Weg in die richtige Richtung. Dadurch dass das Brautpaar sich einen Weg durch den meist sehr engen Tunnel bahnt, beweist es auch, dass Schwierigkeiten und Hindernisse in Zukunft gemeinsam überwunden werden. Für die Gäste ist das Spalierstehen auch eine Form, dem Brautpaar die Ehre zu erweisen.
Die Hochzeitsgesellschaft stellt sich nach der standesamtlichen oder kirchlichen Trauung in zwei Reihen auf und bildet mit den Händen einen Tunnel, den das Brautpaar durchschreiten muss. Der Gang symbolisiert den ersten gemeinsamen Weg in die richtige Richtung. Dadurch dass das Brautpaar sich einen Weg durch den meist sehr engen Tunnel bahnt, beweist es auch, dass Schwierigkeiten und Hindernisse in Zukunft gemeinsam überwunden werden. Für die Gäste ist das Spalierstehen auch eine Form, dem Brautpaar die Ehre zu erweisen.
Discussion
I also wonder whether this is a case of usages changing in a living language. There’s an interesting discussion at http://www.youandyourwedding.co.uk/forum/general-chat/what-d... – it begins with “You know at the end of the evening when you can walk through a tunnel created by your guests by forming two lines facing each other & raising arms/linking hands … what is this called?” and then further down the thread someone says “i think it's called a guard of honour or something??”
That suggests to me that “guard of honor” is establishing itself outside the military context, as Armorel and Alison say. But it also suggests that that process is still unfolding, and that “guard of honor” is not (yet) an established all-purpose term in the way that “Spalier stehen” is.
I guess receiving line is not the line up of the guests, but rather bride & groom & parents forming a line.
'The shortest receiving line comprises, in this order, the bride's mother -- who is historically the hostess, and therefore stands at the head -- the groom's mother, the bride, and the groom.'
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/226683/greeting-your-we...
Look at the picture of my first link. That's outside the church, after the ceremony.
(I should get married more often)
On the other hand, I had no idea it is called 'Spalier stehen' at weddings in German. I thought that is a military term.
Receiving Line Etiquette, Options and Tips
https://www.theknot.com/content/receiving-line-etiquette-opt...
'After the wedding ceremony, your guests will be eager to hug you and congratulate you. A receiving line is an efficient way for you and your parents to receive these good wishes and give a warm welcome to friends and family who have come to share this special day. '
http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/07/wedding-receiv...