August 2003
Something old, Something new
Bridal traditions often have their tale behind them
Every once in a while, guests are invited to participate in a truly unique wedding. The bride and groom may exchange vows 30 feet under water or take the plunge by literally plunging off a bungee platform 100 feet in the air. But more often than not, weddings are of a more traditional tone.
From the white dress to the towering wedding cake, today’s nuptials are fraught with throwbacks to the past. Some traditions stem from the ceremonies of wedding trendsetters like Queen Victoria. Others are remnants of superstitious societies who devised a number of ways to promote fertility and frighten away evil spirits who threatened to steal the new couple’s happiness. While explanations for the origins of wedding customs vary widely, the following is a collection of some of the most accepted folklore.
Hard Rock
How did diamonds become a girl’s best friend? Grooms can blame the diamond engagement ring on the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who gave the first one to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. However, the diamond didn’t become popular as a jewel until the discovery of the South African diamond mines in the late 19th century. These days, the diamond ring is best served up in Tiffany’s little blue box, thanks to the classic Audrey Hepburn film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Here comes the bride, all dressed in white...
These lyrics wouldn’t have applied to a wedding before Queen Victoria’s time. Before this notable royal walked down the aisle in an elaborate white gown in 1840, ladies simply donned their best gowns to take their vows. And what about the veil? In ancient times, the veil was worn to protect the bride from evil spirits. As fear of spirits waned, the veil came to symbolize bridal innocence and modesty.
A mess of shoes, a gang of rice...
Newly married couples have been pelted by everything from rice to birdseed to bubbles over the years as guests shower them with good wishes. The tradition stems from the Orient, where rice, a symbol of fertility, was tossed at the newlyweds to promote a fruitful marriage and the birth of many children. Other cultures toss peas and even figs at the newlyweds. Ouch!
Higher and higher...
Today’s sugary wedding confections stem from ancient Rome, when a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the bride’s head to symbolize fertility. To further the bride’s good luck, the guests would eat the crumbs of the broken bread. As the custom made its way to England, it turned into a game. Guests would bring small cakes and pile them on top of each other; the bride and groom would then stand over the tower of cakes and kiss. Success meant the promise of many children. And what about the icing? French chefs were the first to use it to help the cakes stack better.
Getting Gertie’s garter...
There are a number of stories behind this tradition but the one from France is a favorite. In the 1300s, the French believed it was good luck to grab the bride’s garter and would chase her down the street in pursuit of it. She began tossing it herself as a means of self-preservation! The English had a similar tradition called “throwing the stocking.” Guests would barge into the couple’s bedroom, procure the bride’s stocking by force and take turns throwing it at the groom. If the stocking landed on the groom’s nose, the thrower would be the next to marry.
“You may now kiss...”
Forget the romanticism of the bride and groom’s first kiss. This tradition has practical, legal roots. In ancient Rome, a kiss was necessary to seal a contract. Without it, the marriage was not valid.
Bridal traditions have a myriad of origins and have continued to evolve over time. Some, like the father’s giving of the bride, are threatened with extinction, thanks to the women’s movement that has stamped out the image of females as possessions.
Other traditions are likely to remain a permanent part of weddings for years to come. After all, it’s not likely that the diamond engagement ring will ever fall out of favor with brides-to-be—whether they choose to take their vows traditionally or while freefalling for 55 seconds on a skydiving adventure.
Information from this article was gathered from theknot.com, weddingchannel.com, The Everything Wedding Book by Janet Anastasio, Michelle Bevilacqua and Stephanie Peters, and Something Old, Something New: 701 Creative Ways to Personalize Your Wedding by Becky Long.
