Trivia
Bridal Party and Ceremony Trivia
Best Man
The custom of having a best man originated around 200 A. D. with the German Goths. It seems that sometimes the bride was a bride not of her own free will. To protect the groom and his new bride from revengeful kin, a groom kept at his side his “best man” to fight off (literately) any problems that might develop.
Position of Bride at Alter
The bride stands on
the grooms' left as a result of days when a man protected his lady. By having
the bride stand to his left, his right hand was free to use with his sword.
Tradition of the White Gown and Veil
White was not always the color used for brides. Early Romans used yellow for their gowns. However, white has always signified purity and virginity. In 17th century England, it became the color of choice for brides.
In America, the tradition began in the Victorian Era when white became the symbol of affluence. At the turn of the century, white was once again chosen as a symbol of purity and virginity.
The wearing of the veil was brought to Europe from the Eastern cultures by the Crusaders. Eastern women, for protection against evil, wore the veil to cover their face. It was only removed at the end of the wedding ceremony. This symbolized to the groom that his wife was pure and innocent. The symbolism of wearing a veil to signify purity and innocence remains in Europe and America; however, many brides today do not cover their face with the veil.
The Bridal Party
This is another custom that came about for the need of protection. It began in England with the tradition of the bride and groom and their friends walking together to the church for the ceremony. Just in case there was anyone wishing to harm the couple with curses or bad wishes, all the wedding party would dress similar, thus tricking any evil-wishers.
Some historians believed that the custom of
exchanging rings goes back as far as Egyptian’s third dynasty where circles
symbolized eternity and the circle of life. Later the Romans made the rings out
of gold.
The Greeks in the third century BC believed that there was a love vein that went from the third finger of the left hand straight to the heart, thus the ring was placed on that finger. During the medieval times, it was said that the ring was placed on the hand closest to the heart. By counting the fingers as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the ring was placed on the third finger. However, early Hebrew women used to wear the ring on the middle finger while in India the woman wear the ring on their thumbs.
This custom of a wedding cake is a carry over from an ancient Roman custom when a thin loaf of bread was broken over a bride’s head at the end of the ceremony to signify fertility. The crumbs were considered “good luck” and were gathered up by guest. Some say this was the start of the tradition of putting a piece of wedding cake under your pillow for good luck.
Later, the tutors adapted the custom to be small cakes rather than bread. Later the English tradition was extended to having the bride and groom kiss over a table of small stacked cakes that had been brought by the guest.
During the reign of Charles the II, his French chefs
decided to arrange the cakes in an organized pile and then covered the cakes
with sugary frosting. Thus, our first tiered wedding cake.
Between 1784 to 1833, the French chef, Careme, began fashioning these cakes into
fanciful decorations of fruit and flowers.
The Honeymoon
Some say the word is a derivative of a word that meant "hiding" and was a result of a kidnapped bride being held for weeks so that her family could not find her. Others say the word "honey" comes from a Scandinavian word. Since the honeymoon is the "first sweet month of matrimony", it was the custom of the newlyweds to drink mead. Mead is a honeyed wine. Since it was the custom to drink the wine for one month, the word moon was added to denote the passing of one month.
Throwing Rice
This tradition came from the orient where rice was considered wealth, in that the pantry would always be filled. The custom later transferred to being a symbol of fertility and prosperity. Many locations today do not allow the throwing of rice. Taking the place of throwing rice, many people release butterflies, doves, and balloons. Throwing birdseed, and even blowing bubbles, also symbolizes good wishes for a life of plenty for the newlywed couple. Some also tie old shoes to the back of the bride and groom's vehicle for the same reason.
Carrying the Bride over the Threshold
This custom dates back to the Romans where, the bride
demonstrating her devotion to her family, had to be brought forcibly into her
new home. Instead of pulling her across the threshold, she was lifted up so
that the demons living at the door of the new home could not grab her.
