Wedding Traditions – 7 Common Wedding Customs Explained
Traditions and customs, modern weddings have tons of ‘em: Flowers, rice, something old, something blue, you know the drill. Have you ever thought about how all these wedding traditions originated or what they actually mean? Here’s the meaning behind some of the most popular wedding customs and rituals.
1. Wedding Tradition: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Lucky Sixpence in Her Shoe
This popular rhyme originated in the Victorian area. Something Old – represents the link to the bride’s old life and her family. Something New – signifies the couple’s new life together as well as their hope for the future. Something Borrowed – originates from the idea that borrowing something from a happily married woman will impart similar happiness to the new bride. Something Blue – represents fidelity, love, and purity. Lucky Sixpence in her Shoe – signifies wealth, both financial wealth and a wealth of happiness.
2. Wedding Tradition – Bride and Groom Not Seeing Each Other Before the Ceremony
This tradition stems from the early days of arranged marriages – when the bride and groom’s first meeting occurred at the wedding. The two were kept from seeing each other to prevent the groom from bolting should he not like the look of his new bride.
3. Wedding Tradition – Bridal Bouquet
The first bridal bouquet did not consist of wedding flowers. Instead, wedding bouquets were originally made of strong herbs such as thyme and garlic meant to ward off evil spirits.
4. Wedding Tradition – Throwing Rice
As rice is considered a “life giving” seed, it is thought that by throwing it on the couple they will be bestowed with fertility and have many children.
5. Wedding Tradition – Bridal Shower
Tradition states that the first bridal shower was given to a poor couple in Holland who was denied the bridal dowry because of the groom’s lowly miller status. The miller’s friends gathered to “shower” the bride with items she’d need to make a new home and enter into marriage.
6. Wedding Tradition – Getaway Car – Cans Tied To The Bumper
One wedding tradition of the Middle Ages was to ward off evil spirits by banging pots and making a lot of noise after the ceremony. This custom has been replaced by tying tin cans to the bumper of the car transporting the bride and groom.
7. Wedding Tradition – Garter Toss
Garter-throwing derives from an English ritual called “flinging the stocking.” Guests would playfully invade the bridal chamber and grab the bride’s stockings, and then they took turns sitting at the foot of the bed flinging the stockings over the heads of the couple. Whoever’s stocking landed on the bride’s or the groom’s nose would be the next to wed.
Looking for more? Learn the meaning behind even more wedding traditions here.
Cori Russell
http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/wedding-traditions-7-common-wedding-customs-explained-742941.html
Site of Interest
Nfl Street Signs – Browse through our range of Authentic Street Signs and personalize the NFL Street Sign of your favorite team with your name
Custom Mailing Labels – Choose from variety of mailing label designs & styles and design your own custom mailing label online. Order your Mailing Label Today and Save
Valve Tags – Get best deal on Manila Tags, Shipping Tags and Rejected Tags at guaranteed low prices.We now offer two different types of custom tag delivery options.
Name Badges – Get the well designed and order branded, full color, personalized name badges which were previously afforded only by the largest of firms .
Plastic Signs – Order with a frame for a professional touch.Order with a frame for a professional touch.
No Smoking Signs – Get over 400 different designs and signs fro no smoking of different prices and according to the place they are need to put in.
Fire Extinguisher Signs – Get each and every kind of Instructions signs, regulatory signs and safety signs are all here at your fingertips.
Name Plates Office – We offer dozens of designs. From our low-cost XpressPlates to our award-winning Obsidian Series .Our Office Pal™ Desk Signs are engraved on both sides
Calibration Labels – We are the leading suppliers of Quality Control Tags, Inspection Stickers and Custom Calibration Labels. Buy Tamper Evident Labels and Calibration Stickers online.
Parking Passes – Browse our extensive library of Parking Hang Tags designs and personalize your own Custom Parking Stickers or Parking Hangers for free
Safety Banners – Our unique designs get attention. They are a tool to help you prevent accidents and recognize accomplishments. Explore all of our amazing banner designs here.
Recycle Stickers – Our label and signs provide handy reminders to recycle. Show how to segregate different recycled commodities. Encourage everyone to pitch in and to reduce their environmental footprint
myraditionsignInventory Labels – We offer largest array of Inspection Labels, Do Not Stack Labels and Fragile Stickers online.
Fire Exit Signs – Choose from brushed aluminum, green or red backgrounds, so that you can perfectly match your decor while getting the best in emergency exit equipment.
U Channel Sign Posts – Best Quality. Fastest Delivery. Best Pricing. Free Shipping. – Four great reasons why we have become the web’s leading source for Stop Signs.
Fatigue Mats – From recycled WaterHog Eco Mats to customized WaterHog Logo Mats, we have the Commercial Grade Door Mats you need at guaranteed low prices – all with Free Shipping.
Custom Stamps – Get top notch quality Address Stamps, Signature Stamps and Date Stamps at Factory Direct Prices. Our ‘Stamp Creator’ allows you to easily create a beautiful self-inking stamp.
Custom Metal Sign – Most signs are available in a wide variety of durable materials, including heavy-duty aluminum. Design and order Custom Signs from factory or download your Custom Made Sign for free.
Property Tags – At My Asset Tags, we offer you a wide variety of inventory asset tags. Order Now for getting one of the most Popular Asset Tags. Get your personal Barcode Asset Label or Laptop Asset Tags. All asset tags are available in a variety of text colors.
Smart Sign – Get the best and most different kind of signs providing different informations.
No Solicitation Signs – Find out why our security signs lead the market. Security Signs, No Trespassing Signs and Video Surveillance Signs,Video Surveillance Signs, Restricted Area Signs.
Lockout Tags – Our quality lockout tags and high standards are impossible to match. Our pricing and innovations lead the industry.
Repair Tags – We have been designing and printing Repair tags for over twenty-five years and welcome the chance to design a tag that has your exact wording and uses the most durable and suitable materials possible.
Fire Extinguisher Tags – Your ultimate source for custom and stock fire extinguisher signs. Instructions signs, regulatory signs and safety signs are all here that shine brighter and long laster.
Hazardous Materials Placards – Our Find-a-Placard™ makes fast work of selecting just the right DOT legend. Discover instant delivery, free shipping
Tamper Evident Labels – Order our blank label sheets, available in a variety of material constructions – and design your own custom labels at home.Also Choose from our destructible label designs.
Do You Feel Misunderstood Sometimes?
Do you feel misunderstood on Yahoo Answers! Weddings sometimes? I feel like there are many cultural, regional and ethnic traditions and etiquette rules represented on this board. Anytime there is a discussion question about those traditions, people tend to point the finger at one another and call them selfish, rude or entitled.
I guess the best way to explain this is to use an example. A few days ago, I posted a question asking, "Do you expect a meal at a wedding?" I noticed it was a big debate around here and I wanted to know people’s opinions on it.
Many people responded that expecting a meal was rude and that a person was selfish to expect anything from the couple. Others responded by saying, it’s rude to not provide a meal at all.
I’ve come to the conclusion that’s this is a regional debate. However, I was a little put-off at how quick others were to discountinue the traditions and customs of others.
Going back the the meal debate, some people seemed to be in disbelief that a wedding meal in my area is customary and that not providing one is truly rude. They acted like this was truly my own personal philosophy, rather than commonplace in my region.
It really shocks me that people just don’t understand that what’s NOT commonplace in their area is considered to be common in another region and not following that standard is rude. I sometimes feel like others are completely in denial of this and unable to understand how different some etiquette and tradtion can really throughout our country?
What do other people think? If you had to tackle one topic, about your region/cultural/ethnic belief, that people tend never to understand, believe or wrap their head around; what would it be? Elaborate too. I’m always interested in hearing about different customs and traditions and the reason behind them
This is about more than the meal. I just used that as the example. But, I’m talking about lots of things related to weddings. Even questions I don’t answer, I’ll read and notice that others are less than understanding that things are truly different in different places.
This is about more than the meal. I just used that as the example. But, I’m talking about lots of things related to weddings. Even questions I don’t answer, I’ll read and notice that others are less than understanding that things are truly different in different places.
sorry, the details were posted twice, as you can see.
You feel mis-understanding this time.
References :
yup i totally agree with you
where im from, you provide a meal AND you provide an open bar. its extremely rude not to. alot of people dont agree about the open bar in america or wherever else, but in my country its almost a must
also the parents of the bride pay for everything, the couple pays for nothing. i know that if i were to ask a question regarding that, i would be called selfish and be told not to have a wedding if i myself couldnt afford it. thats not the case, in my culture the parents of the bride pay for everythig except the grandparents of the bride pay for her dress
owell, some people dont like to think that their way of things isnt the only way. i feel bad for those people
hollyy
References :
Hello, i actually remember your question about the meal..
And yes, there are many things in which i feel misunderstood when i post a question or even a comment. I’ve asked many questions about weddings since i’m getting married this year..
and being a hispanic makes my beliefs sometimes different than others here on yahoo (US section)..
References :
please answer my question.. i need you help..http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai4ENcRkkIwl80G_3z6kz0bE7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20090308153009AA4HvgJ
A meal is nice if you can afford it, how can it be rude. I didn’t have a dinner at my wedding because my parents couldnt afford it, so we just had cake and champagne. It would be rude of people to think they have to be fed, but it hardly would be anything but gracious if you could.
References :
Dont forget you will be to excited to probably eat a piece of cake and the whole day is about you anyway! So have fun and enjoy it whatever you decide and my best wishes to you and your future husband.! p.s. my middle name is marie too.
I would have to go with the meal. I’m from the Midwest and unless you are super wealthy, we don’t have sit down meals. In fact, it hasn’t been all that long ago that a "Reception" consisted of cake, punch and coffee. I have never been to a wedding that had a "cocktail hour" and frankly, that seems like a huge waste of money to me, but I understand in some parts of the country it’s as necessary as wedding cake. I haven’t even been to a wedding with a buffet dinner; all weddings here have finger type foods, sometimes heavy, sometimes light.
Also, again here, I have only been to one wedding that had an open bar. Usually, we pay for our drinks, and nobody thinks anything about it. In other parts of the country? Scandalous!!!
And, we never give cash as a gift. We always pick something off of a registry. We might do a gift card, but giving cash here is like saying, sorry, I was too lazy to go to the store and pick out your gift. In other parts of the country? Cash – and then enough to "cover the cost of your plate". Are you serious? But that seems to be a very everyday thing to do.
So, yes, take what you hear on here with a grain of salt. I realized a long time ago that different areas have different customs.
References :
I agree!
References :
Sometimes, yes. I have posted here enough to know that there are some people that are reasonable and there are some that always want to be argumentative.
As for the meal issue, I still expect a meal. If people can’t afford a meal, then they should have the wedding at a non meal time or have a really small wedding.
References :
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it differs from our own.
References :