Wedding Traditions
Traditions have a
way of becoming rules of etiquette, and fewer human rites are more
imbued with tradition than weddings.
Bridal gowns,
for example are white because the Greeks believed that white embodied
purity, innocence and joyfulness. This also implied the bride
virgin. In more recent societies, the white gown has come to
symbolize the celebration of the wedding itself. Your wedding veil
has always symbolized modesty, privacy, youth and maidenhood. That
way of thinking still has a foothold. Bridal etiquette authorities
today advise second time brides to skip the veil and wear a hat
instead.
Most are familiar
with the poem about bridal attire: “Something old, something new,
something borrowed, something blue and lucky sixpence in your shoe.”
What’s not generally known is that if a bride borrows and item from a
happily married woman, the giver’s happiness is said to be passed on
to the bride. And something blue symbolizes constancy in a
relationship.
The bridal
garter originated in at least two cultures, in ancient times, it
represented the virginal girdle and the groom’s removal of the garter
symbolized her relinquishment of that status. The garter can also be
traced to the Old English custom of flinging the stocking. Wedding
guests would sneak into the bridal chamber, pick up the newlywed’s
discarded stockings and throw them at the couple. Whoever flung a
stocking that hung on the bride or groom’s nose would be the next to
marry.
Wedding bands,
symbolizing eternal love by their lack of beginning or end, grew out
of an ancient tribal custom of using circlets of grass to decorate a
bride’s wrists and ankles. The Romans and Egyptians, with their love
of precious metals and stones, initiated the practice of using sliver
and gold. Rings are worn yet today on the third finger of the left
hand because ancient cultures believed that finger had a vein running
straight to the heart.
The wedding
kiss is a symbol of the newlyweds’ faith and love, and signifies
respect and obedience to mutual beliefs. It grew out of the feudal
practice of kissing a lord’s ring.
Old shoes tied
to the honeymoon car were once considered symbols of authority and
possession. The bride’s father would contribute one of the bride’s
old shoes to the groom, thus symbolizing the transfer of authority
over her to her husband.
Throwing rice,
or better yet birdseed, at fleeing newlyweds is a traditional way of
wishing them many children.
And,
traditionally speaking, we wish you happiness, health and prosperity
in your new life together. |
