Enduring Symbols of
Marriage
Today's popular wedding traditions have evolved over
hundreds, even thousands of years of people joining
together in some form of matrimony. Some wedding
traditions that have endured are based on blessing the
couple with good luck; others are a means for the couple
to convey their feelings for one another. Regardless of
the wedding tradition itself, all wedding traditions share
the same essential symbols of unity, happiness and
prosperity; messages that stand the test of time.
Old, New, Borrowed, Blue
The saying, "Something old, something new, something
borrowed and something blue” is a popular rhyme that has
been used since Victorian times. The "something old"
represents the bond to the bride's family and her old
life; "something new" represents the couple's new life
together and their future hope for happiness, prosperity
and success; "something borrowed" from a happily married
woman is meant to impart similar happiness to the bride;
and "something blue" represents fidelity and constancy.
White Bridal
Dresses
Wearing white also dates back to Victorian times when
Queen Victoria abandoned the usual royal tradition of
wearing a silver gown, instead choosing to wear white.
Before that time brides simply wore their best gown,
rather than a special
wedding dress . The popularity of white can also be
attributed to it symbolizing purity and virginity. White
was also thought to ward off evil spirits.
Throwing Rice
Showering the couple with rice is an ancient tradition. As
rice is considered a "life giving" seed it is thought that
by throwing in on the couple they will be bestowed with
fertility and have many children. Many churches now forbid
it on their property but there are some safe
alternatives to throwing rice .
Sharing the first
piece of wedding cake is a
wedding tradition with Roman roots. The Romans believed
that by eating the
wedding cake together a special bond was created
between the couple. The wheat used to bake the cake was
symbolic of fertility and a "fruitful union", while the
cake's sweetness was thought to bring sweetness to all
areas of the couple's new life.
The ceremonial kiss
that concludes the
wedding ceremony is said to represent the couple
sharing and joining their souls. In Roman times the kiss
"sealed" the couple's agreement to join in a life-long
commitment.
The wedding tradition of
the groom wearing a
boutonniere originates in medieval times when a
knight wore his lady's colors (through flowers) as a
statement of his love. Flowers and
bouquets have long been used in weddings. In addition
to adorning the bride with flowers to promote good luck
and good health flower meanings allow the bride to express
her feelings for the groom. Orange blossoms signify
purity, daisies loyalty, violets modesty and red roses
signify true love.
Placing the
wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand
has two possible origins; ancient Egypt or 17th century
Europe. The Egyptians believed the "vein of love" ran
directly from the ring finger to the heart, therefore the
ring was placed there to denote eternal love. During a
17th century wedding ceremony the groom would slide the
wedding ring part way up the bride's thumb, index finger
and middle finger as the priest said "In the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". As the ring
finger was the first free finger, the ring was placed
there. |
