Anglophone countries, the groom extends this honor to someone who is close to him, generally a close friend or a relative (such as a sibling or cousin). During a wedding ceremony the best man stands next to the groom, slightly behind him. This means that the four people present at the altar are the officiant (such as a civil celebrant, priest, rabbi, minister, or other religious figure), the bride, groom, and best man. This is common in some western countries, although in others the best man and bridesmaid participate on an equal footing. While the best man's required duties are only those of a friend, in the context of a western white wedding, the best man will typically: Assist the groom on the wedding day, Organise a stag-do, Be in charge of the ushers Keep the wedding rings safe until needed during the ceremony, Stand next to the groom during the ceremony, Act as a legal witness to the marriage and therefore sign the marriage certificate, and Prepare a "best man's speech" to be read at the reception In various countries and cultures The best man is not a universal custom. Even in places where a best man is customary, the role may be quite different when compared to other areas of the world. In the Anglosphere, it is traditional for the best man to give a short speech. In Zambia, a best man is expected to lead processions both at the wedding, and at preliminary events. This includes pre-wedding dance rehearsals, at which the best man is always expected to be in attendance, and usually is expected to give an outstanding and outlandish dance-performance on the actual wedding-day. In Uganda, a best man is expected to guide the newlyweds in the ways of marriage. This means that ideally a best man must be married, preferably to one wife, and should be in position to give sound, tried and tested advice. A best man must be a confidant and be discreet about the details he shares with the new couple. In Bhutan, the best man presents himself at the wedding as a ceremonial guardian to both bride and groom. Thereafter he entertains the guests, sometimes for several hours. In Eastern Orthodox weddings in Greece, the best man is often also the koumbaros, or religious sponsor. The koumbaros (or koumbara, if a woman) is an honored participant who crowns the couple