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The Chuppah Has An Important Meaning For 'GG' Fans
Gilmore Girls fans were sent into an emotional roller coaster ride thanks to promotional content for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life on Nov. 3, when the show shared some intel for Luke/Lorelai 'shippers via the fan Instagram, Gilmore Gals. This juicy morsel involves the infamous chuppah Luke built for Lorelai for her wedding to Max Medina in Season 2. In the clip, Lauren Graham reveals, "The chuppah lives. It's standing strong in Lorelai's front yard." But what's this whole deal about a chuppah? Why does a Jewish wedding tradition matter for our favorite 'ship? Let's all take a step back here and dust off all the knowledge we're storing in the ol' brain encyclopedia about the ultimate symbol of Luke and Lorelai's love.
The chuppah was carved by Luke out of wood for Lorelai in Season 2, Episode 3, "Red Light On The Wedding Night." As Luke describes it to Lorelai, "you stand under it, you and Max, it's for your wedding." Before Luke hauls the marriage canopy onto Lorelai's yard, he gives her another gift of sorts. You know, in the form of a monologue on everything he thinks is wrong with weddings (they are "bureaucratic civil ceremonies" because monogamy's "not biologically natural," duh).
While he initially acts all tough about marriage (because he's heartbroken, of course), the conversation Luke has with Lorelai after she notices him dragging the chuppah onto her yard is all the proof a Gilmore gal needs to know that Mr. Future Gilmore is really just a big teddy bear.
Lorelai is shocked and touched by her chuppah, gushing that "no one has ever made me a chuppah," to which Luke gruffly responds, "You only get married once... theoretically." While Luke claims he started the project because he "had some time,"that he got the idea because he "saw a picture in a book," and that "the picture looks better," there are definitely some stronger emotions going on.
In fact, the conversation about the chuppah seems to turns the tide of Lorelai and Max's wedding. As Luke puts it, "if you can find that one person... who's willing to put up with all your crap and doesn't want to change you or dress you or... make you eat French food, then marriage can be all right... But that's only if you find that person." Their post-chuppah conversation seems to prove to Lorelai that Max isn't "that person" — but maybe, though Lorelai hasn't quite grasped it yet, Luke might be.
Now for a little background on the actual custom of a chuppah, because the symbolism means something to Luke, so it should probably mean something to us, too. According to chabad.org, a "chuppah," which has the literal Hebrew translation of "covering" or "protection," is an ancient ceremonial tool meant to represent home that has carried on for thousands of years in Judaism. So it seems like Luke is pretty much saying, "I'm OK with this guy being the person with whom you make your home, because I want you to be happy. But you better recognize that I built that home."
So, basically the chuppah has an emotional pull for fans because the scene that goes along with it changes the game for Lorelai's life and any future relationship she might have with Luke. If the chuppah is still in working order, does that mean Luke and Lorelai are getting married... maybe under the chuppah? Isn't it back luck to get married under the chuppah of an unsuccessful wedding?
Hopefully, things are still going OK, and might even get better, for Gilmore Girls' most "will they, won't they" couple. Hopefully.
Images: Warner Bros. Television; Giphy