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Article - Wedding Traditions
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Some Wedding Traditions can be traced back to Roman & Anglo Saxon times, some to Victorian rhymes and others to folklore that has been passed down through countless generations. All of them are to do with bestowing good luck and fertility on the happy couple. There are so many traditions associated with Weddings that its impossible to follow them all. Many have changed over time, while others, thankfully, are very watered-down versions of old customs. |
 The tradition of tying old shoes to the back of the couple's car, for example, stems from Tudor times when guests would throw shoes at the Bride & Groom, with great luck being bestowed on them if they or their carriage were hit!
In Anglo Saxon times the Bride was symbolically struck with a shoe by her Groom to establish his authority. Brides would then throw shoes at her Bridesmaids to see who would marry next. |
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 Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe
This rhyme originated in Victorian times. 'Something Old' signifies that the Couple's friends will stay with them. In one version of the tradition the 'Something Old' was an old garter which was given to the Bride by a happily married woman so that the new Bride would also enjoy a happy marriage. 'Something New' looks to the future for health, happiness and success. 'Something Borrowed' is an opportunity for the Bride's family to give her something as a token of their love (it must be returned to ensure Good Luck), and 'Something Blue' is thought lucky because Blue represents fidelity and constancy. The custom began in ancient Israel where Brides wore a blue ribbon in their hair to symbolize their fidelity. A sixpence was placed in the shoe to bring the couple wealth in their married life. Some Brides still place a penny in their shoe during the marriage ceremony.
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 Flowers have always been a big feature at Weddings. The Groom wears a flower that appears in the Bridal Bouquet in his button-hole. This stems from the Medieval tradition of a Knight wearing his Lady's colors, as a declaration of his love. Each flower has its own meaning and can display a special message. Orange Blossom, for instance, signifies chastity, purity and loveliness, while a Red Chrysanthemum means " I love you " |
 If you've ever wondered why we put the Wedding Ring on the third finger of the left hand, it's because of an ancient Greek belief that a vein in this finger ran directly to the heart. And if you've ever groaned at having to buy both an engagement ring and a Wedding Ring, you can blame Pope Innocent III, who instituted a waiting period between engagement and marriage in the 13th century and also insisted that a ring be used in the Wedding Ceremony. Before that, rings were used to seal an engagement only (as well as other important agreements). |
 This is what the big Wedding Kiss symbolizes - the swapping of souls between the Bride and Groom. Even earlier than this belief, the Romans used a kiss to seal a contract. The kiss was considered legally binding.
What's more, a Bride marrying in the Church of England had to kiss the minister before she smooched the Groom. I would really love to go to a Wedding where the minister said, "Now, I may kiss the Bride." |
 We call it a "toast" when we drink to someone because of an old French custom in which a piece of bread was put in the bottom of the wine cup for flavor.
Partygoers would drink and pass the cup; when it reached the person being toasted, he would drain it crouton and all. It sounds pretty unhygienic. But think of how much more excitement a crunchy beverage would bring to the traditional Wedding Toast. I'd drink to that. |
 Many things are thrown through the air at Weddings: rice (for fertility), Bouquets (for luck and protection), and garters (also for luck). The throwing of confetti, meanwhile is an ancient fertility rite. Handfuls of grain or nuts were traditionally thrown because they are 'life-giving' seeds.
Apparently, in the good old days, before Wedding Dresses cost as much as small cars, people used to rip off chunks of the dress for good luck.
In long-ago England, in a slightly related custom, friends of the Groom would rip off their socks and throw them; the first to hit the Groom's nose would be the next to be married. |
 Traditionally, the Bride stands on the left, the Groom on the right. (Although the Jewish Wedding tradition reverses this.) Weddings used to be a lot more like the ones you watch on daytime TV, with dastardly ex-suitors and other thugs sometimes rushing the altar. And of course, some Wedding crashers were heroes, just trying to rescue a captured Bride. Whatever the reason for the interference, the Groom needed to keep his right hand free so he could grab his sword, thus the Bride stood clear and to the left. I have no idea what happened when the Groom was left-handed. |
 The Wedding Cake was originally lots of little wheat cakes that were broken over the Bride's head to bestow good luck and fertility. Today's three tier Wedding Cake is based on the unusual shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London. Traditionally the newly-weds should make the first cut to signify sharing their life. Every guest than eats a crumb to ensure good luck. And sleeping with a piece under her pillow is said to make a single woman dream of her future husband. |
 The giving of almond favors is connected with the motto: 'A gift of five almonds represents health, wealth, long life, fertility and happiness' |
 Walking is thought to be the best way of getting to Church, as there's more chance of spotting lucky omens. Seeing a rainbow, having the sun shine on the Bride and meeting a black cat or a chimney sweep are all lucky.
Bad omens include seeing a pig, hare or lizard running across the road, or spotting an open grave. Make sure the road is clear of Monks or Nuns too, they foretell barrenness and a life dependant on charity.
Coming home from Church can be equally hazardous. Tradition dictates the new wife must enter her home by the main door and, to avoid bad luck, must never trip or fall - hence the custom that a Bride should be carried over the threshold. |
 Until the Nineteen Hundreds Brides hardly ever bought a special Wedding Dress, opting for their best outfit instead. Green was always avoided, as it was though to be unlucky. To say a girl 'had a green gown' also implied that she was of loose morals, because her dress would be grass-stained due to rolling around in the fields! White Dresses were made popular by Queen Victoria, who broke the tradition of royals marrying in Silver. Symbolizing purity and virginity, white was also thought to ward off evil spirits.
Married in White, you have chosen right
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, you spirit will sink.
Other traditions are that the Bride should never make her own dress, that the final stitch should not be completed until she is departing for the Church and that she should never try on the entire outfit before the day. This was because it was felt dangerous for the Bride to count her chickens. For the same reason, a Bride should never practice signing her new name until it is legally hers, and Wedding linen was marked with the Brides maiden rather than married initials.
The tradition of Bridesmaids is evolved from the custom of surrounding the Bride with other richly dressed women, in order to confuse evil spirits. |
 Carrying flowers by the Bride is not something new to our century; it actually has its roots in ancient times. During that time, superstitious beliefs such as evil spirits and bad luck were prevalent. It was thought that the use of strong smelling herbs and spices would drive these away. Garlic and chives were also used for the same reason. During the Roman era, this tradition was added to. The Bride and Groom wore Floral garlands signifying new life and hope for fertility. The Bouquet in particular symbolized a women in bloom. During Victorian times, lovers would make use of flowers by sending them as messages to each other, each flower having a different meaning. Soon, the tradition of the meaning of each flower trickled down and was adopted for the Bride’s Bouquet. |
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