Where Did Some Of Our British Wedding Traditions Originate?
Weddings are steeped in historical traditions
, and British weddings in particular are stacked with peculiar customs that have become so standardised, and absorbed into modern culture, that no one questions the reasons behind these long standing traditions.
Have you ever wondered how and why these traditions came about? Britain is such a melting pot of cultures, that many rituals have been imported from abroad. This article is a brief rundown of the traditions that have been woven into the fabric of British society, and the weird and wonderful reasons behind them.
Wedding / Engagement Rings
This tradition supposedly dates back to the 12th century, when the pope of the time decreed that all weddings should be held in churches and that the time between the initial engagement and wedding should be longer, which increased demand for more showy rings.
Many believe, however, that the tradition dates back to an era before christianity, with the Roman and Egyptians utilising this symbol in their ceremonies of union. Most shockingly, it is often stated that the ring represents a less restrictive version of the tied hands and feet of a captured bride.
Despite the controversy surrounding the origin of the ring, there is one point that is indisputable. The De Beers Group manufactured the desire for diamond engagement rings in the early 1900s, with the infamously memorable slogan:
A Diamond is Forever
This phrase has now entered modern parlance permanently, and is even woven into the title of a James Bond movie, Diamonds are Forever, the title track delivered by Shirley Bassey, as well as a recent Kanye West smash hit.
Bouquet
This modern tradition has a history steeped in survival. During the age of the Plague, the bride would often be seen holding a bouquet of garlic and dill to her nose, in a desperate bid to ward off the illness. In fact, we know today that the use of garlic as a way of warding off illness may have some resonance - as garlic contains a large amount of acillin, a substance with anti-bacterial properties.
The development of the bouquet into flowers is a fairly recent occurrence, and nowadays each flower in a bouquet has a meaning or symbolism behind it, as well as being chosen for aesthetic appeal.
Bridal Veil
The idea behind the veil is actually as a defence against evil spirits, which brides were believed to be easily susceptible to. The Romans used red, yellow and orange colours to keep demons at bay.
In modern times, it is often seen as a way of showing respect and humility to God, if the wedding is held in a church. There is also the element of a big reveal, when the bride lifts back her veil to show the groom how beautiful she looks at the altar.
However, not so long ago, the big reveal was even more of a big deal, as often the groom would literally never have laid eyes on the bride before the ceremony. Veils, and wedding dresses in general, are commonly used as a symbol of status, with more intricate, elaborate and even garish designs used to show the brides conspicuous affluence to the world.
Honeymoon
The phrase honeymoon actually originates from Norse traditions. After a Viking ceremony, the bride and groom would go into hiding for 30 days. During each of those days, a relative or close friend would bring them a goblet of honey wine to share. Then, after 30 days of drinking the honey wine on a daily basis, the "honeymoon was complete.
by: Gemma Halliwell
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