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The Engagement Ring
Engagement rings, especially diamond engagement rings, became popular after the King of Egypt gave his betrothed his symbol of love. The ring, a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end made of gold; believed to hold mystical powers. The diamond, the hardest element on earth, showed that his love would always be forever.
Ancient Greeks believing the fire of a diamond reflected the flame of love, actually thought them to be teardrops from the gods. Ancient Romans also endowed them with romantic powers, believing diamonds to be splinters from falling stars that tipped the arrows of Eros, the god of love. In the Middle Ages diamonds were credited with the power to reunite estranged marriage partners.
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Wedding Ring
The circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth and the universe, of wholeness and perfection, continuity, and love. It is worn on the third finger because of an ancient Greek belief that a vein from that finger goes directly to the heart.
The circular shape of the wedding ring has symbolized undying, unending love since the days of the early Egyptians. A primitive bride wore a ring of hemp or rushes, which had to be replaced often. Durable iron was used by the Romans to symbolize the permanence of marriage. Today's favorite is of course, gold, with it's lasting qualities of beauty and purity.
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Bridal Showers
This event has its roots in Holland. When a bride's father did not approve of the husband-to-be, he would not provide her with the necessary dowry. The brides friends would therefore "shower" her with gifts so she would have her dowry and thus marry the man of her choice. While dowries are long gone today, the practice of giving gifts to the bride-to-be remains.
The idea to give gifts is fairly new; originating around 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 this charming idea that they decided to do the same at their showers.
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White Wedding Gown
In ancient times, the traditional color of bridal gowns was red or other bright colors. The wife of Napoleon III, broke the tradition and wore a white gown. Then, brides began wearing white gowns (that were worn only once) as a symbol of their wealth.
Queen Victoria was the first bride of modern history, to be married in white. White is the sign of purity and innocence. It is also a color represented in the bible for joy and celebration. Since that time, many brides followed in her footsteps.
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.
The first known white wedding dress was worn in 1499 by Anne of Brittany, for her marriage to Louis XII of France. Until that time, women simply wore their best dress, often yellow or red in color. In biblical times, most dresses were blue because blue symbolized purity. But in China and Japan the brides have traditionally always worn white. White is the color of mourning, which is thought to be appropriate as the bride is leaving her family of birth to join that of her husband's thereby undergoing a symbolic death.
Since early Roman times, white symbolized a joyful celebration. In the twentieth century white stood for purity. Today it is a symbol of happiness.
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The First Kiss
No ceremony is complete without the kiss. In fact, there was a time when an engagement would be null and void without one. Dating back from early Roman times, the kiss represented a legal bond that sealed all contracts.
The kiss that seals the wedding is much more than a sign of affection. It has long been a token of bonding - the exchange of spirits as each partner sends a part of the self into the new spouse's soul where it would remain ever after.
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Tossing the Bouquet
Tossing of the bridal bouquet is a custom which has its roots in England. It was believed that the bride could pass along good fortune to others. In order to obtain this fortune, spectators would try to tear away pieces of the bride's clothing and flowers. In an attempt to get away, the bride would toss her bouquet into the crowd. Tradition says that the single women who catches the bouquet will be blessed with good fortune and the next to get married.
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Wedding Bouquet
In Medieval times, the first bridal bouquets were made of not only flowers but special herbs and spices. This was done to ward off the evil spirits.
They also used particular herbs that symbolized fertility.
Later, since many weddings took place in the warm spring and summer months, brides added lots of fragrant flowers to cover up body odors since soap and deodorant were non-existent.
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Bride and Groom's Attendants
Bridesmaids
Inviting women to be members of your bridal party dates back to ancient times. One Roman custom was to dress the bridesmaids in a fashion similar to the bride's to confuse evil spirits trying to kidnap the bride. Bridesmaids also had the role of fending off unsuitable suitors, leaving the bride for her groom. Although the specific functions of being a bridesmaid have changed over time, being the brides support system, confident, defender and friend hasn't.
Another legend states that it was once common for the bride, her groom and all their friends to walk together to the church on the morning of the wedding. Afraid that someone, maybe a rejected suitor, would spot the happy couple and put a curse on them. The groom's friends wore clothes almost identical to his, and the women costumed themselves like the bride. These disguises tricked evil wishers into letting the real bride and groom live happily ever after.
Today attendants are dressed alike for the beauty and pageantry of the event.
Groomsmen
Groomsmen were basically used during the time when men would kidnap their brides. The best warriors came with the groom to fight off anyone trying to save the female from being taking from her tribe, clan, or village. It has now just become standard practice to have the groom's friends be there to share in friendship.
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Groom on the Left, Bride 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 [left-handed people] in those days), which is why the bride stands on the left.
Tossing the Garter
This ritual dates back to a time when woman wore hose with a garter belt. It was a chance for the single men to share in the good fortune of the groom. Today, it is believed that the man who catches the garter when it is thrown will be the next to marry. In the 14th century, is 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.
Arching of Swords after the Ceremony
Walking through the arc of swords following the ceremony was done to ensure the couple's safe passage into their new life together.
Shoes on the Bumper
Tying shoes to the bumper of the car represents the symbolism and power of shoes in ancient times. Egyptians exchanged 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 threw shoes at the couple. Thankfully now, people just tie shoes to the new couple’s car.
Groom carrying the bride over the threshold
1)The first time the newlyweds enter their new home as man and wife, the bride should be carried over the threshold. It was thought that evil spirits would be waiting for the bride at the door. The bride, by being carried, could not step on the spirits and cause them to get angry. Also, if she were carried, the evil spirits could not reach her since she was in the arms of her husband and protected.
2.) Generations ago it was considered lady-like for the new bride to be, or appear to be, hesitant to "give herself" to her new husband, whether or not she truly was. At the threshold to the bridal chamber, the husband would often have to carry the bride over to encourage her to go in.
3.) Tradition dictates the new wife must enter her home by the main door, and to avoid bad luck, must never trip or fall. And from that we get the bride being carried over the threshold.
4.) During the days of "Marriage by Capture," the bride was certainly not going to go peacefully into the bridegroom's home, therefore, she was dragged or carried across the threshold. In even earlier times, it was believed that family demons followed the woman and to keep her family demons from going into the groom's home, she was carried across the threshold upon her entering for the first time. After that, the demons could not enter as she would come in and go out of the home.
Giving Away the Bride
At one time, female children were deemed to be the property of their fathers. When it came time for the daughter to marry and if her father approved of the arrangement, he actually transferred ownership of his daughter to the groom.
Today, it is simply seen as symbolic of the blessings and support of her marriage as a promise of continued trust and affection. Often when the question is asked by a clergy during the ceremony, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man," the father's response is, "Her mother and I”.
Honking Horns and Loud Noises
Loud noises were said to chase away evil spirits, and during the ceremony, the guests would make noises to keep the spirits away. Today, it's traditional that the bridal party honk their car horns while leaving the ceremony.
In the early 1900's a shivaree was common practice. Uninvited guests would arrive at the newlywed couples home on their wedding night, making noise outside their bedroom window until they are invited in and served food and drinks. At that time, the guests were known to play tricks on the newlyweds.
Wedding Cake
The three-tier wedding cake is based on the unusual shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London.
The bride and groom make the first cut of the wedding cake to signify sharing their life together.
Every guest in attendance eats at least a crumb of the cake to ensure good luck.
If a single woman sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.
The wedding cake, to be shared by the newlyweds and their guests, signifies the "breaking of the kinship."
The brides knife signifies that the new wife is ready to accept the responsibilities of her role as keeper of her own household.
Tying the Knot
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.
Jumping the Broom
The most widely known African American wedding tradition is "jumping
the broom", which for years was used by enslaved Africans in America as a way to maintain their ties to their culture and their homeland. They jumped the broom because that is the way weddings were ritualized in their African homeland.
What is jumping the broom?
Simply, it is a ceremony in which the bride and groom, either at the ceremony or reception, signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically “sweeping away” their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and stepping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as husband and wife.
The Receiving Line
In ancient times, it was believed that the bride and groom were blessed. Those who touched them would have good luck, so the guests lined up to wish them well and insure their own good fortune.
The Honeymoon
Honeymoons were actually one month long. The groom, usually having kidnapped his bride, would hide her from everyone for one month (or one moon cycle). During this time, they would drink a concoction of honey and mead (basically to keep her drunk and from screaming so that no one could find them).
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.
Later, the honeymoon was simply to allow the newlyweds time to be alone.
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