Wedding Traditions - Wedding Forum

claire · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2004, 07:41 AM

Ever asked yourself the following questions ?

Why do brides wear white?
Why do we have a wedding cake?
Why does the bride carry flowers?
Why are brides given away?
Why is the ring placed on the third finger of the left hand?
why do brides wear garters?

Then read on........

Weddings are arguably one of the few events where people are reluctant to introduce change, where traditions which have existed through the centuries are applauded and upheld.

Even the most cynical bride will keep to the tried and tested customs which are associated with the wedding day, ensuring that she is not tempting fate.

But why does the bride wear white? and why is she "given away"?

There are dozens of traditions associated with a wedding, many of which go back centuries.

Why does the bride wear white?

The custom of the bride wearing white stretches back to early Roman times when the colour was a symbol of celebration. At the beginning of the 20th century white was also seen as representing purity and was equated with happiness and joy, obviously making it an ideal choice for a wedding.

Why do we have wedding cakes?

A wedding cake has been part of the ritual of getting married for centuries, although originally it bore no resemblance to the fruity confection which most couples have today.

The roots of this particular tradition are set again in Roman times, where a thin loaf was broken over the bride's head at the close of the ceremony to symbolise fertility.

While nowadays guests may get a slice of cake to take home with them, in Roman times there would be an unseemly scramble for the crumbs which were seen as good luck charms.

Why do brides carry a bouquet?

One of the most enduring wedding customs is the carrying of a bouquet.

In ancient times, brides would carry herbs beneath their veils as a symbol of fidelity, while Greek brides would ensure their bouquet included ivy ~ a symbol of never ending love.

Husbands ~to~be in times past would have to be very understanding and deeply in love with their betrothed~ how else would they be able to stand the stinking garlands of herbs and spices they carried in a bid to warn off evil spirits?

Why are brides given away?

In virtually every wedding ceremony the bride is given away~usually by her father or by some close friend or family member.

This tradition has its roots in an era where she really was "given away" by her family, mainly in exchange for money.

Why is the wedding ring placed on the third finger?

One constant in the wedding ceremony, no matter whether it is being held at a civil venue or a place or worship, is the placing of the ring on the third finger of the left hand. This partucular digit is used because of ancient belief that there was a vein in this finger which ran directly to the heart.

Medieval bridegrooms would put the ring on three of the bride's fingers to symbolise The Father, The Son and the Spirit. It would then remain on the third finger, a custom which was adopted by many English speaking cultures.

Why do brides wear a Garter?

Who would have guessed that a bawdy English ritual called "flinging the stocking" would be linked with the wedding day tradition of the bride wearing a blue satin garter?

In the past, guests would invade the bridal chamber. While the ushers grabbled the bride's stocking, the maids would steal the groom's. They would then take it in turns to fling the hosiery at the heads of the happy (or probably not so happy at that moment!) couple.

Whoever's stocking landed on the bride or groom's nose would reputedly be the next to wed.

The blue colour goes back to ancient Israel, where brides wore a blue ribbon to signify "fidelity".

Today brides will often wear two garters, one is kept as a momento and the other is retrieved by the groom and thrown at the young unmarried men attending the ceremony ~ a twist on the woman vying for the bouquet.

No matter how contemporary or modern a bride decides to make her particular day she is bound to adopt some of the familiar customs which supposedly bring her happiness, joy and many years with her new husband ~ after all, you can't be too careful !.

*Article taken from the free ! no ordinary wedding magazine*

Laurie · #2 (**permalink**) 30-03-2005, 06:26 AM

Does anyone know why it considered unlucky for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?

I'm just curious...

Is it going back to olden days when the groom may not have even seen the bride before the day itself? Similar to the veil thing maybe? Is it in case she's really horrible and he runs for the hills whilst he's still got chance and therefore the brides family lose out on the dosh?

Mrs Mac · #3 (**permalink**) 30-03-2005, 06:50 PM

Veils & Hiding From the Groom - The practice of covering the bride’s face on her wedding day is widespread, and is recorded in numerous societies around the world. The first veils were worn as a superstition, protecting the bride from the "evil eye" of jealous rivals. The woman was regarded as weaker and more prone to danger. It was also supposedly a protection against evil spirits, keeping them from knowing who she was. The Romans believed that demon spirits were jealous of people’s happiness, and since weddings were joyous events, it was necessary to confuse the devil. Thus, Roman brides wore veils to throw the devil off the track.
Among various ancient peoples, it was customary to keep the bride hidden from her future husband until the day of the wedding. In Egypt, for example, the groom was not permitted to look upon his bride’s face until the wedding day, at which time he went through the solemn ceremony of uncovering her face. Wedding veils were used to hide the face of the bride from the groom, especially where marriages were negotiated in childhood and the bride and groom never saw each other at all until after the wedding. After the marriage ceremony was complete, the husband would lift the veil and see his wife’s face for the first time. Other cultures carried the practice to even greater lengths, to the extent of covering the entire body. In some Eastern countries, a curtain was placed between the couple throughout the ceremony so that they could not see or touch other until the wedding was concluded. These customs, originating in superstition, gave rise to the belief that it was bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other on the wedding day prior to the ceremony. Some cultures went so far at to separate the engaged couple for days or weeks before the event. The first lace veil is said to have been worn by a woman named Nelly Curtis, George Washington’s adopted daughter, who married one of his aids, Major Lawrence Lewis. Apparently, the first time the aide ever saw her she was behind a lace curtain. He was mesmerized by her beauty. Nelly, the story goes, made herself a lace veil for the ceremony in an effort to duplicate the effect.

Mrs Mac · #4 (**permalink**) 30-03-2005, 06:53 PM

Why The Groom Can't See The Bride On Their Wedding Day: The bad luck omen of the groom seeing the bride on their wedding day is a holdover from primitive seclusion rites, which stipulated that nobody should see a betrothed girl before she has passed fully into womanhood.

an extra bit....Just waiting for Rob to get back from the pub. I cant go to sleep without him..bless!