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Many of today's popular wedding ceremony and reception traditions can be traced to ancient Egyptian and
European customs.  Many of these were based on symbolism, superstition, folklore, religion, and the early
belief that evil spirits could bring disease and death to newlyweds and crops, the focal point of many
farm-based early cultures.

Although the exact origin and usefulness of many of these early wedding traditions are unclear, popular
acceptance has allowed them to flourish.  Besides, many of these wedding traditions are just plain fun!

Take a small breather from planning your own wedding and check out the origin of these traditions that we
follow today.


Wedding Traditions and Folklore

According to various sources, some of the early marriages were literally carried out by the Groom and his
Bridesmen or Bridesknights who would kidnap a woman from another tribe!  The Groom and his fellow
conspirators would then fight off the female's family of tribesmen with swords held in their right hand while the
Groom would hold the captured Bride in his left hand, thus the origin of the Bride standing on the left side of the
Groom at a wedding.

After a successful capture, another politically correct practice was for the Groom to hide his new Bride for one
month for mating purposes.  It is said that the word "honeymoon" was created to describe this one month cycle
of the moon when they would drink mead, a honey sweetened alcoholic brew that affects both sobriety and the
acidity of the womb, thus increasing fertility.
Perhaps this was the first aphrodisiac.

Later, in the more civilized times, some marriages were nothing more than trading chips used in bartering land,
social status, political alliances, or money between families!

The word "wedding" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "wedd" that meant a man would marry a woman and pay
the Bride's father.  

Bouquet
Wedding bouquets were originally made of the strong herbs thyme and garlic to frighten away evil spirits and to
cover the stench emitting from people who had not bathed recently.

Bouquet Toss
In ancient times, it was believed that a Bride was especially lucky on her wedding day.  Guests would often tear
at her dress for a souvenir piece of good luck to take home. The Bride's tossing of her bouquet grew from her
desire to offer a good luck souvenir and prevent guests from bothering her during her reception.

Bridesmaids
Early Brides and Bridesmaids wore similar dresses in the hopes that evil spirits were confused.

Bridal Shower
Back in the days when weddings were arranged by family members, a poor Dutchman fell in love with a girl
whose father refused her a dowry.  Their friends showered her with enough gifts to help them start a
household.  According to another lore, the first "Bridal Shower" occurred at the end of the 19th century.  At a
party, the Bride's friends placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened it over the Bride's head. When she
opened the parasol, she was "showered" with presents!

Bridal Veil
In early times, when marriages were arranged by family members, the newlyweds very rarely were allowed to
see one another.  Family members exchanging a dowry were afraid that, if the Groom didn't like the
appearance of the Bride's face, he might refuse to marry her.  This is why the father of the Bride "gave the
Bride away" to the Groom at the actual wedding ceremony.  Only after lifting her veil just prior to the ceremony
did the Groom see the Bride's face for the first time!  Early Greek and Roman Brides wore red or yellow veils to
represent fire and ward off demons.

Carrying The Bride Over The Threshold
When a Groom used to steal his Bride from her tribe, he was forced to carry her kicking and screaming. This
act of thievery has evolved into a more romantic gesture welcoming the Bride into her new home.

Garter
Brides originally tossed a garter rather than a bouquet at a wedding reception.  In the 14th century, this custom
changed after Brides tired of fighting off drunken men who tried to remove the garter themselves. According to
legend, the garter toss in England evolved from an earlier tradition of "flinging the stocking". On their wedding
night, guests would follow the Bride and Groom to their bedroom, wait until they undressed, steal their
stockings, and then "fling" them at the couple. The first person to hit the Bride or Groom on the head would be
the next person to marry.

Money Dance
According to one custom, when arranged marriages were common, the Groom collected a dowry only after his
marriage was consummated.  The money dance ensured that the couple would have some money before they
left their wedding reception.  According to another wedding tradition, the people of the village gave gifts of
pottery, livestock, and garden plants to the newlyweds because the Bride and Groom had no money to acquire
these items until they had children, after which a dowry was exchanged.

Penny In Shoe
This was an early European tradition to bring the Bride good luck, fortune, and protection against want or need.
After the Wedding Day, the lucky penny could be turned into a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant, charm for a
bracelet, or ring setting.

Ring Finger
Prior to the 5th century, the ring finger was the index finger.  Later, it was believed that the third finger
contained the "vein of love" that led directly to the heart.

Shoes On Vehicle
Ancient Romans used to transfer to the Groom his authority over his Bride when her Father gave the Groom
her shoes.  In later years, guests threw their own shoes at the newlyweds to signify this transfer of authority.  
Today, this tradition is kept alive by simply tying old shoes to the back of the newlywed's vehicle before they
leave their wedding reception celebration.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This superstition of the Bride wearing something that fits each of these four categories originated in Europe to
ward off evil spirits.
Something Old:  This tradition symbolized the sense of continuity while making the transition from a single
person to that of a married couple.
Something New:  This tradition symbolized that marriage represented a transition to adulthood.
Something Borrowed:  This tradition symbolized the popular belief that, by borrowing something from a happily
married couple, good fortune would follow the newlyweds.
Something Blue:  In ancient Israel, blue was the border color of the Bride's dress symbolizing purity, constancy
and fidelity.

Stag/Bachelor Parties
The male equivalent of the Bridal Shower.  Roman empire soldiers would feast with the Groom the night before
his wedding to say goodbye to his irresponsible days of bachelorhood and to renew their vows of allegiance to
their friendships.

Tossing Rice
Believing newlyweds brought good luck, guests used to shower them with nuts and grains to ensure a bountiful
harvest and many children to work the land.  During years of a poor harvest, rice was tossed instead.  This
tradition continues today with rice, birdseed, or bubbles to wish the Bride and Groom much happiness.

Tuxedo
Until the 20th century, the Groom simply wore his "Sunday best" on his wedding day.  It is said that President
Teddy Roosevelt popularized the modern tuxedo.

Tying The Knot
This comes from the days of the Roman Empire when the Bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots.  The
Groom untied the knots prior to the consummation of their marriage.

Wedding Cake
Also during the days of the Roman Empire, wedding cakes were baked of wheat or barley.  At the reception,
they were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom as a symbol of her fertility.  Guests
would then scramble for pieces of the cake and take them home for good luck.  It later became a tradition to
place many small cakes on top of each other as high as possible.  The newlyweds would then try to exchange a
kiss over the top of the tower of cakes without knocking them down.  During the reign of King Charles II of
England, a daring baker added icing and the modern style of wedding cake was born.  It is unclear when the
tradition of the newlyweds smashing wedding cake into each other's face first began and uncertain if that
marriage lasted more than one day!

Wedding Ring
According to some historians, the first recorded marriage rings date back to the days when early man tied
plaited circlets around the Bride's wrists and ankles to keep her spirit from running away.  In approximately
3,000 BC, Egyptians originated the phrase "without beginning, without end" in describing the significance of the
wedding ring.  These rings were made of woven hemp, which constantly wore out and needed replacement.  
Although Romans originally used iron, gold is now used as a symbol of all that is pure. Diamonds were first
used by Italians, who believed that it was created from the flames of love.  In some European cultures, the
wedding ring is worn on the right hand.  In other cultures, an engagement ring is worn on the left hand and the
wedding ring is worn on the right hand.

Wedding Toast
It is said that this tradition first began in France where bread would be placed in the bottom of two drinking
glasses for the newlyweds.  They would then drink as fast as they could to be the first person to get to the
toast.  According to legend, the winner would rule their household!

White Wedding Dress
This was made popular in the 1840's by Queen Victoria instead of the traditional royal "silver" wedding dress.  
Prior to this, Brides simply wore their best dress on their wedding day.


Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!  We look forward to meeting you and helping you start some
traditions of your own ... as husband and wife.