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Against The Grain: Andy Sullivan

Have you ever wondered about the origins of wedding traditions? Having been to a few in the last several months, I started wondering where some of the traditions originated.  So, I did a little digging.
From the time of Adam and Eve, the relationship between a man and woman has been unique and ordained by God.  Eve was created for Adam to complete his need for companionship.  What of our wedding rituals we celebrate today, though? What is known as the bachelor party came about in the fifth century in Sparta, where military comrades would feast with and toast one another on the eve of a friend’s wedding.
During the “marriage by capture” era, close friends of the groom-to-be assisted in the kidnapping of the bride from the family.  Bridesmaids attended to the needs of the bride-to-be. The matron assured that the bridal wreath was made.  We still celebrate the bridesmaid tradition.  The kidnapping and wreath-making: Not so much.  I’m pretty sure the kidnapping would land somebody in jail!
The tradition of the bridesmaids wearing dresses akin to the bride, and groomsmen dressing like the groom, began as a symbol of protection against evil rather than uniformity.  Legend also has it that dressing alike would confuse jealous suitors who would attempt to harm the newlyweds.  What of flowers? Well, legend has it that they were to ward off evil spirits.  These days, they symbolize everlasting love and fertility.
The phrase “tie the knot” originated from the Renaissance ceremony of “Hand-fasting”.  This is simply the joining of hands.  It is the old Celtic tradition of binding two people in love.  It was traditionally performed May 1. The bouquet is a symbol of the couple’s future life together. 
The saying “Something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe” refers to dates back to Victorian times.  “Something old” represents ties to the past(family jewelry, etc.).  “Something new” represents good fortune of success in the future.  “Something borrowed” is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there when help is needed.  They could lend anything as simple as a handkerchief.  Blue is a symbol of faith and loyalty.  The sixpence is to wish the bride wealth.
The giving away of the bride dates back thousands of years to when the bride was considered property.  Tying shoes to the car used to symbolize possession.  Honking horns goes back to the days when brides travelled in open carriages.  Being carried over the threshold originated because the bride was hesitant to “give herself” to her new husband, allegedly.  Veils symbolize innocence, virginity, modesty.  In medieval times, the groom had to pay for the bride’s hand in marriage.  While this tradition has ceased, the purchasing of the ring remains.
The wedding cake was originally thrown at the bride, not eaten! Early Roman bakers changed that tradition.  No word as to how that tradition started.  Www.brideandgroom.com has more interesting facts.

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