White Wedding Dress
This was made popular
in the 1840's by Queen Victoria, who chose this instead of the traditional
royal "silver" wedding dress. Prior to this, Brides simply wore
their best dress on their wedding day.
Ring Finger
Prior to the 5th century, the ring
finger was actually the index finger. Later, it was believed that the third
finger contained the "vein of love" that led directly to the heart.
Bridal Veil
When marriages were arranged
by family members, the newlyweds very rarely were allowed to see one another.
Family members exchanging a dowry were afraid that if the Groom didn't like
the appearance of the Bride's face, he might refuse to marry her. This is
why the Father of the Bride "gave the Bride away" to the Groom at
the actual wedding ceremony. Only after lifting her veil just prior to the
ceremony did the Groom see the Bride's face for the first time! Early Greek
and Roman Brides wore red or yellow veils to represent fire, and to ward off
demons.
Carrying The Bride Over The
Threshold
When a Groom used to steal
his Bride from her tribe, he was forced to carry her kicking and screaming.
This act of thievery has evolved into a more romantic gesture, welcoming the
Bride into her new home.
Garter
Brides originally tossed a
garter, rather than a bouquet, at a wedding reception. In the 14th century,
this custom changed after Brides became tired of fighting off drunken men
who tried to remove the garter themselves! According to one legend, the garter
toss in England evolved from an earlier tradition of "flinging the stocking".
On their wedding night, guests would follow the Bride and Groom to their bedroom,
wait until they undressed, steal their stockings, and then "fling"
them at the couple! The first person to hit the Bride or Groom on the head
would supposedly be the next person to marry.
Money Dance
According to one custom, when
arranged marriages were common, the Groom collected a dowry only after his
marriage was consummated. The money dance insured that the couple would have
some money before they left their wedding reception. According to another
wedding tradition, the people of the village gave gifts of pottery, livestock,
and garden plants to the newlyweds because the Bride and Groom had no money
to acquire these items until they had children, after which a dowry was exchanged.
Bouquet
Wedding bouquets were originally
made of such strong herbs as thyme and garlic, which were meant to frighten
away evil spirits, and to cover the stench emitting from people who had not
bathed recently!
Bouquet Toss
I n ancient times, it was believed
that a Bride was especially lucky on her wedding day. Guests would sometimes
tear at her dress for a souvenir piece of good luck to take home. The Bride's
tossing of her bouquet grew from her desire to offer a good luck souvenir,
and prevent guests from bothering her (and her dress!) during her reception.
Bridesmaids
Early Brides and Bridesmaids
wore similar dresses in order to confuse evil spirits.
Bridal Shower
Back in the days when weddings
were arranged by family members, it is said that a poor Dutchman fell in love
with a girl whose father refused her a dowry. Their friends showered her with
enough gifts to help them start a household. According to another story, the
first "Bridal Shower" occurred at the end of the 19th century. At
a party, the Bride's friends placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened
it over the Bride's head. When she opened the parasol, she was "showered"
with presents!
Penny In Shoe
This is a European tradition
to bring the Bride good luck, fortune, and protection against want. After
the Wedding Day, the lucky penny can be turned into a piece of jewelry as
a pendant, charm for a bracelet, or ring setting.
Shoes On Vehicle
Ancient Romans used to transfer
to the Groom his authority over his Bride when her Father gave the Groom her
shoes. In later years, guests threw their own shoes at the newlyweds to signify
this transfer of authority. Today, this tradition is kept alive by simply
tying old shoes to the back of the newlywed's vehicle before they leave their
wedding reception celebration.
Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This superstition of the Bride
wearing something that fits each of these four categories originated in Europe
to ward off evil spirits. Something Old: This tradition symbolized the sense
of continuity while making the transition from a single person to that of
a married couple. Something New: This tradition symbolized that marriage represented
a transition to adulthood. Something Borrowed: This tradition symbolized the
popular belief that by borrowing something from a happily married couple,
good fortune would follow the newlyweds. Something Blue: In ancient Israel,
blue was the border color of the Bride's dress, symbolizing purity, constancy
and fidelity.
Stag Parties
This is the male equivalent
of the Bridal Shower. Roman empire soldiers would feast with the Groom the
night before his wedding to say goodbye to his irresponsible days of bachelorhood,
and to renew their vows of allegiance to their friendships.
Tossing Rice
By believing that newlyweds
brought good luck, guests used to shower them with nuts and grains to insure
a bountiful harvest, and many children to work the land. During years of a
poor harvest, rice was tossed instead. This tradition continues today with
rice or birdseed (where permitted), or bubbles to wish the Bride and Groom
much happiness. Incidentally, it is not true that birds eating rice thrown
after a wedding ceremony will cause their stomachs to enlarge and eventually
explode. This myth may have simply evolved from church and synagogue employees
weary from cleaning up after every wedding ceremony!
Tuxedo
Until the 20th century, the
Groom simply wore his "Sunday best" on his wedding day. It is said
that President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the modern tuxedo.
Tying The Knot
This comes from the days of
the Roman empire when the Bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots. The
Groom untied the knots prior to the consummation of their marriage.
Wedding Cake
Also during the days of the
Roman empire, wedding cakes were baked of wheat or barley. At the reception,
they were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom
as a symbol of her fertility. Guests would then scramble for pieces of the
cake, and take them home for good luck. It later became a tradition to place
many small cakes on top of each other as high as possible. The newlyweds would
then try to exchange a kiss over the top of the tower of cakes without knocking
them down. During the reign of King Charles II of England, the baker added
icing, and the modern style of wedding cake was born. It is unclear when the
tradition of the newlyweds smashing wedding cake into each other's face first
began, and uncertain if such marriages are consummated later that day or evening!
Wedding Ring
According to some historians,
the first recorded marriage rings date back to the days when early man tied
plaited circlets around the Bride's wrists and ankles to keep her spirit from
running away. Approximately 3,000 BC, Egyptians originated the phrase "without
beginning, without end" in describing the significance of the wedding
ring. These rings were made of woven hemp which constantly wore out and needed
replacement. Although Romans originally used iron, gold is now used as a symbol
of all that is pure. Diamonds were first used by Italians, who believed that
it was created from the flames of love. In some European cultures, the wedding
ring is worn on the right hand. In other cultures, an engagement ring is worn
on the left hand, and the wedding ring is worn on the right hand.
Wedding Toast
It is said that this tradition
first began in France, where bread would be placed in the bottom of two drinking
glasses for the newlyweds. They would then drink as fast as they could to
be the first person to get to the toast. According to legend, the winner would
rule their household!
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