Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part II
Whether you are a superstitious person or not, wedding tradition is shrouded in superstition.
During the Middle Ages it was believed evil spirits lived among us. It was thought people were particularly susceptible to the misfortune of evil spirits during rites of passage and in order to prevent bad luck people would carry good luck charms or partake in rituals, some of which are still practiced today.
How are you going to ward of those evil spirits on your wedding day?
Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part I
Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part I
Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part III
Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part IV
Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part V
Wedding Tradition or Just Superstition Part VI
Bride on the Left, Groom on the Right
This dates back to the time when the groom would have to do battle for his lady love. He would draw his sword with his right hand against his rival and protect his lady with his left hand.
The Kiss
In times gone by a kiss would legally seal an agreement. Today the bride and groom will kiss after the wedding ceremony to show they accept the contract of marriage.
Wedding Bells
The ringing of church bells would let the town known there had been a wedding. It was also believed the bell ringing would drive away evil spirits.
This is a tradition which is on the decline with the increase in the number of couples choosing to have Civil Ceremonies.
Confetti
The custom of throwing confetti is thought to date back as far as the Pagans. The throwing of seed and grain were believed to increase the newly weds chances of fertility. The word confetti originated from Italy and referred to ‘sweets’, they like the Pagan before them would shower the happy couple but rather in sugar coated nuts and grain.
This tradition is on the decline as many wedding venues do not allow the throwing of paper confetti due to the mess.
The Grooms Button Hole
During Medieval times knights would declare their love for a woman by wearing her colours; this is why the groom will wear a flower which appears in the brides wedding bouquet.
Thistle
Scottish grooms will wear the thistle in their buttonhole as a show of national pride and independence along with white heather for good luck.
The Wedding Cake
The wedding cake originally consisted of a number of small cakes which were brought by the wedding guests and stacked on top of each other. The bride and groom would attempt to kiss each other over the top of the cakes and if they succeeded it was thought to be good luck. The Romans would later alter the tradition so that the bride had the cakes broken over her head in the hope it would make her more fertile. Further changes occurred and the cake became a series of layers or tiers with many couples still attempting the kiss over the top of the cake. The wedding cake shape is believed to represent the spire of St. Bride’s Church in the City of London.
It’s customary for the bride and grooms to cut the cake together and to feed each other a slice. The top tier if often reserved for either their first wedding anniversary or the Christening of their first child.
Wedding Favours
This tradition originated from Italy. They were referred to as ‘Bomboniere’. The bride would present her female guests with a little pouch containing five sugar coated almonds. The five almonds represented health, happiness, long-life and fertility.
