Being dropped from chairs during Horah (Jewish wedding)?

The dance is called the horah, and the song is Havah Nagila. It is done at celebrations like weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs. No, I've never seen anyone fall lol. I'm sure if you search YouTube, you may find a video or two since that seems like exactly the type of thing that would end up on YouTube.

I went to a wedding where they did this and I was anxious for them but nothing happened. I was hoping no one took pictures of the crowd because I know I looked very stressed LOL

No, I have never seen anyone fall. But it is helpful to use a chair with arms.

I want to also add that the horah is done at Jewish celebrations where all or the majority of the guests are typically Jewish, and it is a cultural tradition. Thus, the people involved know how to do it and have done it numerous times throughout their lives. I personally wouldn't do it if the crowd doesn't know what's going on. 1. There is a higher risk of you falling 2. It can be considered cultural appropriation by some, as it is a cultural custom and you explained that although your FH has some Jewish heritage, it does not seem like he's really observant of those customs.

View Quoted Comment Yeah that’s why we’re not doing it for the second reason. As fun as it seems I wouldn’t want the few Jewish family members on his side to feel like we’re stealing the “fun part” of their religion and not practicing anything else type of thing. So yeah as much as I would think its fun we’re definitely not doing it. This was just more so a curious post about it and if anyone fell

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I really don't think you need to worry about cultural appropriation here. If FH's family are Jewish then he has every right to partake in the cultural aspects of Judaism. I myself am a blatant atheist as is my FH (but raised in a secular Jewish household) and I am debating if we do the Horah or not.

In response to your first question however, I haven't myself witnessed it but I know of someone who did fall. The Bride panicked and didn't hold on properly to the chair and fell forward (but thankfully landed like a cat on all fours!).

Hi all, practicing Jew here! I have DEFINITELY seen a fall (or a few) and everyone is usually fine afterwards... it looks (and feels) higher than it is in reality and usually when there is a fall, one of the people holding the chairs is there to break the fall. I've never seen anyone hurt from falling off the chair.

Second, my FH and I attended a non-jewish wedding in september of 2019 and we, along with other jewish friends of the bride and groom, orchestrated a horah for them and even brought them a glass to break. In my opinion (knowing others may disagree) the horah by nature is there to be celebratory, not religious. Go ahead an horah your heart out!