Traditions
Have you ever wondered where certain traditions & superstitions came from or why they came about?
Grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine) and take a few minutes to scroll through the ones we have listed below. You will find out why these little things continue to be part of today’s modern weddings, including some which you will be glad aren’t practised today!
With thousands of years of history in weddings many traditions are associated with ancient ritual. These were practised to bless the marriage, for things such as fortune & children and to guard them against evil.
- In the middle ages marriage was regarded so sacred and life affirming that weddings were often held in graveyards. It was believed that the ceremony could guard against plagues.
- In Anglo-Saxon times marriages were more like kidnappings! The man would carry off his bride, willing or not! Girls were seen as their father’s property and prospective husbands had to prove their worth by offering gifts or working for her hand in marriage.
- The tradition of brides standing on the left during the ceremony dates back to more violent times as the groom could hold his new wife with his left hand while leaving his sword hand free to fight any rivals!
- Wearing a veil originated when eager grooms would simply fling a blanket over the bride’s head and carry her off! Roman-time beliefs consisted of when a veil was worn it would guard off evil spirits. Another origin of the veil came from arranged marriages so the groom couldn’t see his new brides face in fear he may run off if he didn’t like what he saw!
- In Saxon times a best man was generally a partner in crime, aiding and abetting in the kidnapping of the helpless bride. He was to protect the groom on the way to the church.
- Traditionally the bridesmaids were to dress the same as the bride as a ploy to confuse evil spirits. Of course, they were also there to help the bride dress which was often thought that at this time the bride was at her most vulnerable.
- From Roman times the richness of a wedding cake was seen to be a symbol of fertility. A bride and groom would cut the first slice together to ensure a fruitful marriage. It has also been heard that the wedding cake was once broken over the brides head while guests scrambled for pieces for good luck. Another old custom states if an unmarried girl sleeps with a slice under her pillow she will dream of her future husband.
- The five sugared almonds wrapped in netting or muslin which were and often still are given as a gift from the bride and groom to their guests represents health, wealth, fertility, good fortune and long life.
- Herbs as well as flowers use to be carried in early times as their scents were said to drive away evil spirits.
- Chinese traditions suggest the couple gets married on the half hour so the hands of the clock are on their way up not down.
- Engagement rings and wedding rings are worn on the third finger of the left hand as any other finger is considered unlucky. This dates back to Egyptians and early Greeks who wrongly believed that an artery ran from this finger to the heart.
- Carrying the bride over the threshold was believed as a way to avoid the dark, evil looming spirits. Another superstition warned that tripping at the doorway would bring bad luck to the couples marriage.
- In Ireland tying a hen to the bedpost on the bride and grooms first night together was to encourage fertiltiy. The same was thought in Scotland where a lactating woman was to make up the bed.
- Until Victorian times bridesmaids and groomsmen were to accompany the bride and groom to bed where they would stand over each side of the bed. They would then throw their stockings over their shoulders at the newly married couple. If a bridesmaid hit the groom she would be next to marry and the same if a groomsman hit the bride. The modern tradition of this is the throwing of the bouquet and garter.
- According to folklore, superstitions surrounding the bride’s dress are that it is bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the ceremony, the veil should not be tried on at the same time as the dress until the wedding day, the dress must never be made by the bride herself and must always be finished on the day of the wedding and not before. The colouring of the dress played a large role with white signifying purity. Green was considered unlucky from fears of falling under a spell of the fairies. It was also thought that green referred to a dress being covered in grass stains and therefore the bride was accused of “rolling in the meadows”.
- The custom of throwing confetti over married couples is to represent grains of corn for fertility.
- Shoes had a symbolic associtaion with weddings from ancient times where once the couple were wed the guests would throw their shoes in the air to celebrate. It was often thought lucky if a shoe hit the poor bride or groom! Another shoe custom was for the groom to tap his shoe on his bride’s head to show who was “in charge!