Elviswasmydad

THE ORIGIN OF MANY WEDDING TRADITIONS

AND

OTHER TRIVIA

















THE 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 persons wealth. In ancient times the
wedding ring was thought to protected the bride from "evil spirits".
Ancient Roman wedding rings were made of iron.



In early Rome a gold band came to symbolize everlastinglove 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 husband's heart.









THE ORIGIN OF THE "ENGAGEMENT RING"



In 860 A.D., Pope Nicholas I decreed that an engagement ring become 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 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 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 bride's 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 Jacob's 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 bride's 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 man's 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 1890's.









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 groom's home afterwards. The women
who accompanied and assisted the bride were called "bridesmaids" or
"brideswomen".

















THE ORIGIN OF THE TRADITIONAL WHITE WEDDING DRESS



In 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 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 brides shoe. Something old, signifying continuity, could be a piece
of lace, jewelry, or a grandmother's 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
bride's 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 groom's flower, worn on his lapel, usually matches one of the
flowers in his bride's 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
bride's 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.

















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.