| Weddings are that special occasion where two | | | | |
| people come together to celebrate their love | | | | For a long while the ring went from being a |
| for one another. Yet, was it always this way? | | | | symbol of endless love, to that of ownership. |
| How did marriage come to be, and what is the | | | | The Romans used it like a branding. It was |
| meaning behind some of the many strange | | | | worn by the husband's wife, to signify his |
| traditions observed today? | | | | ownership over her. Two thousand years ago, |
| | | | in Asia, this ownership concept was taken to |
| We assume that marriage has always been a | | | | a new level with "puzzle rings." These were |
| sanctimonious tradition; however marriage was | | | | rings that were worn by brides as a sign of |
| not originally about "holy matrimony" or | | | | loyalty. If a bride were to take her puzzle |
| "true love." The original intent of marriage | | | | ring off, it would fall to pieces. These |
| was to insure a safe environment for the | | | | pieces could then only be put back together |
| bringing up of children, as well as the | | | | by knowing the solution to the puzzle. |
| acquisition and transfer of property. Indeed | | | | |
| it is the rather superficial "marriage of | | | | So what of the history of other common |
| convenience" which can be viewed as the | | | | wedding traditions? |
| original meaning of marriage. Eventually | | | | |
| marriage became more about love, and less | | | | One interesting tradition is the presence of |
| about property. Throughout that time, though, | | | | a flower on the buttonhole of the groom. The |
| numerous different traditions and | | | | flower matches one of the flowers in the |
| superstitions have surfaced. Here are just a | | | | bride's bouquet. This was a holdover from |
| few of these. | | | | medieval times, when a knight would wear his |
| | | | lady's colours in order to signify his love |
| In Ghana, Africa, location is everything. | | | | for her. I suppose that means that in one |
| Women in Ghana are viewed as the life force | | | | small way, chivalry isn't dead. |
| of the tribe. After all, they were where all | | | | |
| the great warriors and chiefs came from. | | | | Then we have the confetti. Prior to being |
| Because of this, Zulu culture referred to | | | | paper, confetti was originally a mix ofrose |
| women as "the great homes." Because of this | | | | petals, rice and grain. Before that, it |
| status, it was considered customary for the | | | | consisted of various sweets which were thrown |
| husband to be, to move to his bride's | | | | over the couples as they emerged from the |
| village. | | | | church. It originated in Italy. In fact, |
| | | | confetti is Italian for: candy. |
| The Mande people of Africa practice | | | | |
| clitoridectomies (female circumcision). | | | | Finally, what "history of weddings" article |
| During this time, the women are taught how to | | | | would be complete, without a brief rundown of |
| be good wives. They are also taught a special | | | | some popular wedding superstitions? |
| "secret" language that is only spoken by | | | | |
| married women. | | | | The day that a wedding took place, was |
| | | | considered to be vitally important. As such, |
| A common African tradition is "jumping over | | | | a little rhyme was concocted to allow future |
| the broom." The broom has become a symbol of | | | | couples to pick the appropriate days for |
| the sweeping out of the old, to welcome in | | | | their marriage. |
| the new. The part about jumping over is | | | | |
| actually of North American origin. It was | | | | Monday for wealth |
| from the days of slavery, when slaves were | | | | |
| not allowed to marry. By jumping over the | | | | Tuesday for health |
| broom, the couple was solidifying the | | | | |
| seriousness of their marriage. | | | | Wednesday the best day of all |
| | | | |
| In 1076, in Europe, it was decreed that no | | | | Thursday for losses |
| man should give away his daughter, or other | | | | |
| female relative, without a priestly blessing. | | | | Friday for crosses |
| Interestingly enough, it wasn't until the | | | | |
| 16th century that priests were even required | | | | Saturday for no luck at all |
| to perform wedding ceremonies. Another | | | | |
| interesting medieval tradition: women at the | | | | Then there was the month. Depending on what |
| time would pluck their hairlines in order to | | | | month one was married in, one's marriage |
| attain higher foreheads, which were | | | | could be glorious or tragic. By far the worst |
| considered more attractive at the time. | | | | month of all, was May. This was due to the |
| | | | historic pagan belief that May was the start |
| Conservative/Orthodox Jews have a neat | | | | of summer. This was celebrated by the |
| tradition where the bride walks 3 to 7 times | | | | festival of Beltane (commonly called May Day, |
| around her husband to be. This is done to | | | | now). As part of the festival, couples were |
| signify that she is a protective wall for her | | | | encouraged to have outdoor orgies to bless |
| husband, and that by stepping inside, their | | | | the crops and the Earth. Because of this, it |
| family status has changed. Ah, but what of | | | | was considered a bad month for a newly |
| the breaking of glass? This is done to | | | | monogamous couple to marry. The best month of |
| represent the many, many tragedies that have | | | | all, for marriage, was June. This was because |
| befallen the Jewish people. It acts as a | | | | June was named after the Roman goddess of |
| reminder of those bad times. | | | | love: Juno. Interestingly, June is now the |
| | | | second most popular month for marriages. |
| Interestingly, the Muslim faith doesn't | | | | August has recently taken over the top spot |
| really celebrate weddings. A marriage is | | | | for weddings. |
| strictly an officious occasion. The marriage | | | | |
| occurs inside an office, rather than a | | | | Next we come to the bridal dress itself. |
| mosque. The wedding is viewed as a private | | | | While most brides today marry in white (which |
| civil/religious contract. The only real | | | | symbolizes maidenhood), the tradition is only |
| tradition here is that the groom must give | | | | as old as the 16th century. Prior to that, |
| his bride a dower to serve as insurance for | | | | brides chose whatever colour dress they would |
| her future. | | | | like. There was a general rule of thumb |
| | | | though. |
| Japanese (Shinto) weddings are also small and | | | | |
| private affairs, though they are far more | | | | Married in White, you have chosen right, |
| elaborate. Both bride and groom sip three | | | | |
| times from three separate cups of sake. It is | | | | Married in Blue, your love will always be |
| done to guarantee luck and happiness in the | | | | true, |
| marriage. | | | | |
| | | | Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl, |
| Chinese brides are given chestnuts and | | | | |
| jujubes. This was done with the wish of the | | | | Married in Brown, you will live in a town, |
| bride to conceive a son as soon as possible. | | | | |
| Brides wear red dresses to symbolize the | | | | Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead, |
| color of love and joy. As we shall see | | | | |
| further down, Europeans viewed the color red | | | | Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow, |
| in a completely different light. | | | | |
| | | | Married in Green, ashamed to be seen, |
| Speaking of Europeans, many Eastern orthodox | | | | |
| ceremonies featured the placement of wreaths | | | | Married in Pink, your spirit will sink, |
| on the heads of both bride and groom. It was | | | | |
| done to symbolize their place as king and | | | | Married in Grey, you will go far away, |
| queen of the heavenly kingdom of Earth. | | | | |
| | | | Married in Black, you will wish yourself |
| With such a wide variety of traditions out | | | | back. |
| there, it is interesting to note that two of | | | | |
| them are almost universal among human | | | | Green dresses were viewed as being a sign of |
| culture: the wedding veil and the wedding | | | | promiscuity. This lead to the old saying that |
| ring. | | | | a woman "has a green gown." This was meant to |
| | | | signify that she was rolling around in grassy |
| The Veil | | | | fields. Back then, only Irish women were |
| | | | considered "okay" in a green bridal gown. |
| Wedding veils saw their origin among the | | | | |
| Romans. Ancient Romans believed that women | | | | Last, but not least, we have the classic |
| were particularly susceptible to possession | | | | wedding rhyme: Something old, something new. |
| by demonic spirits during weddings (perhaps | | | | It started back in Victorian times, but what |
| they had a lot of runaway brides back then). | | | | does it mean? |
| The veil was used to "confuse" these spirits. | | | | |
| To further help the bride out, bridesmaids | | | | Something old: This represents the friends of |
| were dressed in clothing similar to the | | | | the couple and the hopes that they will |
| bride's. They were to act as decoys for these | | | | remain friends throughout the marriage. This |
| demons. | | | | was traditionally represented by an old |
| | | | garter which would be given to the bride to |
| When Christianity took over, the veil was | | | | be, by a happily married woman. It was done |
| changed to represent chastity and modesty. | | | | in the hope that the happiness would be |
| This really took off in Britain during the | | | | passed onto the new couple. |
| 1800s. During some Eastern ceremonies, the | | | | |
| groom is not allowed to remove his wife's | | | | Something new: The happy and prosperous |
| veil until after the ceremony. Jewish faith | | | | future of the newlyweds. |
| took the exact opposite approach. In some | | | | |
| Jewish ceremonies, the groom first validates | | | | Something borrowed: This is something lent by |
| that the bride is his intended, before | | | | the bride's family. It is often an item that |
| placing the veil over her face. | | | | is highly valued, and that the bride must |
| | | | return after the wedding in order to ensure |
| The Ring | | | | good luck. |
| | | | |
| Wedding rings are probably the oldest wedding | | | | Something blue: This is an Israelite |
| traditions out there. They can be traced back | | | | tradition. The bride would wear a blue ribbon |
| over four thousand years, to the Egyptians. | | | | in her hair to symbolize fidelity. |
| Ancient Egyptians would make rings out of | | | | |
| twisted pieces of plants. The ring was meant | | | | There is one more part to the rhyme that is |
| to symbolize a love with no end. Egyptians | | | | often omitted: |
| and Romans both placed the ring on the 4th | | | | |
| finger of the female's left hand. This was | | | | And a silver sixpence in your shoe: The |
| done out of the belief that there was a vein | | | | placement of money in the bride's shoe was |
| on the 4th finger that connected directly to | | | | done to ensure wealth and prosperity in the |
| the heart. It was called the "vena amoris," | | | | lives of the new couple. For some reason or |
| or "love vein." When Christianity became the | | | | another, this portion of the tradition |
| dominant religion of Europe, the vena amoris | | | | doesn't appear as popular. Perhaps that is |
| was replaced with a holy seal. Priests would | | | | why so many couples run into money problems? |
| take the wedding ring and touch the first | | | | |
| three fingers of the left hand (thumb, index | | | | So, when you are consulting the "Ms. Manners" |
| and middle) while reciting: "the father, the | | | | of wedding etiquette, remember, it's mostly |
| son and the holy ghost." Upon reaching the | | | | just folk lore. Just be sure to bring the |
| 4th finger, the ring was placed on it to seal | | | | ring. |
| the marriage. | | | | |