Mix in some old with some
new - and start making your own "traditions"
Some interesting facts about our Wedding
Traditions and Customs
As marriages were historically accomplished by capture (the groom
would kidnap the woman), a warrior friend was often employed. This
Best Man would help the groom fight off other men who wanted the
captured woman, and would also help in preventing the woman’s family
from finding the couple.
The bridal party has many origins, not the least of which are the
Anglo-Saxon days. When the groom was about to abduct his bride, he
needed the help of many friends, the "bridesmen" or "brideknights."
The "gentlemen" would make sure the bride got to the ceremony on
time and to the groom’s house afterwards. The bride also had women
to help her. These were known as the "bridesmaids" or "brideswomen."
The Bridal Shower originated with the intent to strengthen
friendships between the bride and her friends. In this gathering,
the bride’s friends would give her moral support and help her
prepare for her marriage. The idea to give gifts is fairly new;
originating circa the 1890’s. At one shower, the bride’s friend
placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened it over the bride’s
head so that the presents would "shower" over her. When word of this
hit the fashion pages, people were so taken with the idea that they
decided to do the same at their showers.
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Bride on the left, Groom on the right:
When the groom fought off warriors who also wanted his bride, he
would hold onto her with his left hand, while fighting them off with
his sword in his right hand (we suppose there were no Southpaws in
those days of yore), which is why the bride stands on the left, and
the groom on the right.
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Diamond Engagement Rings:
These lavish gifts were given by medieval Italians in the belief
that the diamond was created in the Flames of Love.
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Garter
Toss/Bouquet Toss:
In the 14th century, it was
customary for the bride to toss her garter to the men, but sometimes
the men got too drunk, and would become impatient and try to take
the garter off her ahead of time. (Eventually the groom got into the
act and saved his bride from the unruly mob…we hope). All the same,
it got to less trouble for her to toss her bridal bouquet instead.
Following the abduction, the groom would put himself and his bride
into hiding – the Honeymoon – so that by the time the bride’s family
found them, the bride would already be pregnant.
Tying shoes to the bumper of the car represents the symbolism and
power of shoes in ancient times. Egyptians would exchange sandals
when they exchanged goods, so when the father of the bride gave his
daughter to the groom, he would also give the bride’s sandals to
show that she now belonged to the groom. In Anglo-Saxon times, the
groom would tap the heel of the bride’s shoe to show his authority
over her. In later times, people would throw shoes at the couple.
Now, thankfully, folks just tie shoes to the new couple’s car.
In continuing with the discussion of the white wedding dress, it
should be noted that – in Biblical days – blue represented purity.
Thus the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of
their wedding attire, hence something blue.
Ancient Spartan soldiers were the first to hold stag parties. The
groom would feast with his male friends on the night before his
wedding. In this event he would say good-bye to the carefree days of
bachelorhood and swear continued allegiance to his comrades.
This wonderful expression originated from Roman times when the bride
wore a girdle that were tied in knots which the groom had the fun of
untying. As a side note, this phrase can also refer to the tying of
the knot in Handfasting Ceremonies, which were often performed
without the benefit of a clergy.
Along with these kidnappings and bartering, there were also arranged
marriages. In these, the groom’s family informed him that he was to
marry…but they very rarely let him see the bride. After all, if the
groom didn’t like the bride’s looks, he might not agree to the
marriage. With this in mind, the father of the bride gave the bride
away to the groom who then lifted the veil to see his wife of all
eternity for the first time. (I have to wonder how many of these
grooms voiced their reactions aloud.)
Although the aforementioned events were common, marriage by purchase
was preferred. Quite often the bride was exchanged for land,
political alliance, social status and/or currency. Indeed, the
Anglo-Saxon word "wedd" meant the groom would vow to marry the woman
– and that the bartered goods and/or currency would go directly to
the bride’s father. (Side note: the very word "wedding" comes from
the root term meaning "gamble" or "wager".) In short, a wedding
seemed little more than the purchase of a bride for breeding
purposes. Not a particularly liberated point of view.
It is unknown when wedding bands were first worn. They were probably
made of a strong metal such as iron. (One can easily guess the
portent of an omen if a wedding band broke.) As far back as the
ancient Romans, there was a belief that the vein in the third finger
ran directly to the heart, so the wearing of rings on that finger
joined the couple’s hearts and destinies.
Like most any other ritual handed down from the ages, a wedding
wouldn’t be complete without fertility symbols, like the wedding
cake. Ancient Romans would bake a cake made of wheat or barley and
break it over the bride’s head as a symbol of her fertility.
(Whether this meant cracking the cake above the bride’s head or
actually bonking her on the noggin with it is rather unclear. We’re
not sure we want to know…) Over time, it became traditional to stack
several cakes atop one another, as tall as possible. The bride and
groom would then be charged to kiss over this tower without knocking
it over. If they were successful, a lifetime of good fortune was
certain for the new couple. Finally, during the reign of King
Charles II of England, it became customary for cake to be a
palatable palace iced with sugar.
Anne of Brittany made the white wedding dress popular in 1499.
Before that, a woman Just wore her best dress. It should be noted
that a white wedding dress is in no way indicative of The "purity"
of the bride-to-be. Indeed, white is not accorded as a symbol of
chastity, but of joy.
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