THE ORIGIN OF WHITE WEDDING ORIGIN OF THE RING FINGER In 3rd. century Greece the ring finger was the index finger. In India it was the thumb. The western tradition began with the Greeks who believed that the third finger was connected directly to the heart by a route that was called the vein of love. THE ORIGIN OF THE WEDDING RING Rings were used as currency in the Middle East prior to the advent of coinage and were a sign of a person’s wealth. In ancient times the wedding ring was thought to protect the bride from evil spirits. Ancient Roman wedding rings were made of iron. In early Rome a gold band came to symbolize ever-lasting love and commitment in marriage. Roman wedding rings were carved with two clasped hands. Very early rings had a carved key through which a woman was thought to be able to open her husbands heart. THE ORIGIN OF THE ENGAGEMENT RING In 860 A.D., Pope Nicholas I decreed that an engagement ring becomes a required statement of nuptial intent. He insisted that engagement rings had to be made of gold which signified a financial sacrifice on the part of the prospective husband. THE ORIGIN OF THE DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING The diamond engagement ring originated with King Maximillian who presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring in 1477 as a token of his love. The Venetians popularized the custom during the 15th. Century. Since the diamond was the hardest and most enduring substance in nature it followed that the engagement and marriage would endure forever. THE ORIGIN OF THE WEDDING CAKE In the 1st. century B.C. in Rome, the cake was thrown at the bride or broken over her head as one of the many fertility symbols, which then were a part of the marriage ceremony. THE ORIGIN OF THE GROOMS CAKE The tradition of a Grooms Cake comes from England and Ireland. There, the traditional grooms cake is a fruitcake with white icing. The grooms cake is usually served along with the traditional wedding cake. Today grooms cakes are very often chocolate instead of the traditional fruitcake. THE ORIGIN OF THE TOAST The term originates from the sixteenth century. At that time a small piece of bread would be placed in a goblet of wine. The goblet would be passed from guest to guest until it reached the person being honored who would drain the goblet and eat the morsel of bread in the bottom. This tradition is practiced at weddings today - usually in the form of one or more champagne toasts. The best man has the honor of giving the first toast. Usually the bride and groom remain seated for the toasts while all the guests are usually standing to honor them. The couple may then make a few remarks thanking their families, wedding party members, and guests. They may also toast each other or share a toast together. The bride and groom use often-special glass or silver goblets. THE ORIGIN OF THE BEST MAN TRADITION Among the Germanic Goths of northern Europe in 200 A.D., a man usually married a woman from within his own community. However, when there were fewer women, the prospective bridegroom would capture his bride from a neighboring village. The bridegroom was accompanied by his strongest friend (or best friend), who helped him capture his bride. WHY THE BRIDE STANDS TO THE GROOMS LEFT After the bridegroom captured his bride, he placed her on his left to protect her, thus freeing his right hand or sword hand against sudden attack. THE ORIGIN OF THE HONEYMOON After kidnapping his bride, the groom would take her and go into hiding. By the time the brides family tracked them down them, the bride would probably already be pregnant! A bride price would then be negotiated. An earlier source is the early Jewish custom of the bride and groom spending a week together alone immediately after the marriage feast. The earliest reference to this practice is Jacobs marriages to Leah and Rachel. THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM WEDDING Although some brides were kidnapped, marriage by purchase was the preferred method of obtaining a wife. The bride price could be land, social status, political alliances, or cash. The Anglo-Saxon word wedd meant that the groom would vow to marry the woman, but it also referred to the bride price (money or barter) to be paid by the groom to the brides father. The root of the word wedding literally means to gamble or wager! THE ORIGIN OF DOWRIES As civilizations developed, political, military, and economic ties became very important to prominent families and clans. Arranged marriages were a means of cementing ties between families, middle class family businesses, and countries. A mans daughters, who were considered to be his property in those days, provided a means of securing needed alliances with other families. Thus dowries were introduced as a means attracting and securing the most beneficial family alliances possible. THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM TO TIE THE KNOT The term tie the knot also goes back Roman times. the bride would wear a girdle that was tied in many knots which the groom had the duty of untying. THE ORIGIN OF BRIDAL SHOWERS Bridal showers were meant to strengthen the ties between the bride and her friends, provide her moral support, and help her prepare for her marriage. Gift giving at showers dates from the 1890s. THE ORIGIN OF STAG PARTIES In Sparta, during the height of Greek civilization, soldiers were the first to hold stag parties. The groom would have a party for his friends the night before he was to marry. He would bid farewell to his bachelorhood and pledge his continued allegiance to his comrades. THE ORIGIN OF THE BRIDAL PARTY This term has many origins from different cultures. In Anglo-Saxon times, the groom had the help of bridesmen or brideknights to help him capture and/or escort his bride. Later they would make sure that the bride got to the church and to the grooms home afterwards. The women who accompanied and assisted the bride were called bridesmaids or brideswomen. THE ORIGIN OF SATURDAY WEDDINGS In early times, for Christians, Sunday was the original day of choice for weddings because it was not a workday. The Puritan revolution in England during the 17th century changed all that - because the Puritans thought it improper to be festive on the Sabbath. Saturday is the most popular day for wedding now. THE ORIGIN OF THE TRADITIONAL WHITE WEDDING DRESS 1499, Ann of Brittany popularized the white wedding gown. Prior to that time, a woman simply wore her best dress or a new dress without regard to the basic color. THE ORIGIN OF SOMETHING OLD, NEW, BORROWED, AND BLUE The tradition of carrying one or more items that are old, new, borrowed and blue also comes from English. There is an old English rhyme describing the practice, which also mentions a sixpence in the bride’s shoe. Something old, signifying continuity could be a piece of lace, jewelry, or a grandmothers handkerchief. Something new, signifying optimism in the future, could be an article of clothing or the wedding rings. Something borrowed, signifying future happiness, could be handkerchief from a happily married relative or friend. Something blue, signifying modesty, fidelity and love, comes from early Jewish history. In early Biblical times, blue not white symbolized purity. Both the bride and groom usually wore a band of blue material around the bottom of their wedding attire, hence the tradition of something blue. Originally the sixpence was presented to the bride by her future husband as a token of his love. Today, very often, it is the brides father who places a coin in the brides shoe prior to leaving home for the church. THE ORIGIN OF WEDDING FLOWERS From the earliest times, brides have adorned their hair with flowers and carried bunches of flowers. Traditionally, each type of flower had a special meaning and significance in and of itself. Flowers were often thrown at the couple after the ceremony. However today, most brides pick their flowers for color and personal appeal not based on the traditional meaning of particular flowers. The grooms flower, worn on his lapel, usually matches one of the flowers in his brides bouquet. This tradition goes back to medieval times when knights wore the colors of their lady in tournaments. THE ORIGIN OF THE GARTER AND BRIDAL BOUQUET TOSS In parts of Europe during the 14th contrary, having a piece of the brides clothing was thought to bring good luck. Guests would literally destroy the brides dress by ripping off pieces of fabric. In order to prevent this, brides began throwing various items to the guests - the garter belt being one of the items. In order to avoid this problem, it became customary in the 14th century for the bride to toss her garter to the men. Sometimes the men would get drunk, become impatient, and try to remove the garter ahead of time. Therefore, the custom evolved for the groom to remove and toss the garter. With that change the bride started to toss the bridal bouquet to the unwed girls of marriageable age. WHY IT BECAME BAD LUCK FOR THE GROOM TO SEE BRIDE BEFORE THE CEREMONY Until relatively recently, brides were considered the property of their father. Their futures and husbands were arranged without their consent. The marriage of an unattractive woman was often arranged with a prospective groom from another town without either of them having ever seen their prospective spouse. In more than one instance, when the groom saw his future wife, usually dressed in white, for the first time on the day of the wedding, he changed his mind and left the bride at the altar. To prevent this from happening, it became bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the day of the wedding prior to the ceremony. THE ORIGIN OF THE WEDDING VEIL Brightly colored veils were worn in ancient times in many parts of the world and were considered a protection against evil spirits Greek and Roman brides for yellow or red veils (representing fire) to ward off evil spirits and demons. At one time, Roman brides were completely covered with a red veil for protection. In early European history, with the advent of arranged marriages veils served another purpose - to prevent the groom from seeing the brides face till after the ceremony was over. Brides began to wear opaque yellow veils. Not only could the groom not see in, the bride could not see out! Therefore, the father of the bride had to escort her down the aisle and literally give the bride to the groom. Nellie Custis, the daughter of Martha Washington, is credited with wearing the first lace veil. Today, prior to a Jewish wedding ceremony, it is the groom who ritually veils the bride. This reason for this tradition goes back to the marriage of Jacob to Leah (the older sister) when he thought he was marrying Rachel (the younger sister) whom he loved. THE ORIGIN OF THE BRIDAL KISS The kiss dates back to the earliest days of civilization in the Middle East. A kiss was used as the formal seal to agreements, contracts, etc. In Ancient Rome a kiss was still being used as the legal bold to seal contracts. Hence the obvious use of the custom at the end of the wedding ceremony to seal the marriage vows. THE ORIGIN OF THROWING RICE Rice has been used as a symbol of fertility and as a wish for a full pantry in various parts of the world from ancient to modern times. In the past, rice was not the only thing thrown at the bride and groom as the left the wedding. Wheat, instead of rice, was thrown in France, figs and dates were thrown in Northern Africa, and a combination of coins, dried fruit, and candy was thrown in Italy. In some European countries eggs are thrown! Since rice is harmful to the birds that eat it, birdseed has replaced it for most weddings. Flower petals, confetti, baubles, and balloons are often used today instead of rice. THE ORIGIN OF TYING OLD SHOES TO THE CAR This tradition originated in England during the Tudor period. At that time, guests would throw shoes at the bride and groom as they left in their carriage. It was considered good luck if their carriage was hit. Today, more often than not, it is beverage cans that are tied to a couple’s car instead of shoes. It should also be noted that the English consider it good luck if it rains on their wedding day! THE ORIGIN OF THE GROOM CARRYING THE BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD Traditionally, the bride had to enter her new home the first time through the front door. If she tripped or stumbled while entering it was considered to be very bad luck. Hence the tradition of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 21:12:40 +0000
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