At a traditional Jewish wedding, a glass is commonly broken underfoot at the ceremony’s end.
Usually, the groom—or in some communities both partners—steps on a glass wrapped in cloth. Guests then often shout “Mazel tov!” The practice is widely associated with remembering the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, linking personal joy with collective Jewish history.
Some explanations also connect the breaking sound with warding off evil spirits or emphasizing that even a joyful marriage contains vulnerability and responsibility. Customs differ among Jewish communities, and the ritual is not identical in every wedding.
The glass-breaking ceremony occurs near the conclusion of the Jewish wedding ceremony, often after the couple has shared a cup of wine and the marriage blessings have been recited. It is not the same as the breaking of a glass in some other cultures, where the act may symbolize fertility, luck, or household prosperity.