Wedding Traditions: New and Old

   __By Tiffany Amber Stockton__

In April, the historic total solar eclipse of April 8th received the spotlight focus. As we head into the popular months for weddings, let's look at some traditions and how they got started.

WEDDING TRADITION ORIGINS: PART ONE

Some things about weddings seem to remain unchanged — the bride wears white, the couple is apart on the day of the ceremony, and a cake must be made. But how did those traditions become actual traditions?

Not seeing your spouse-to-be until the ceremony starts now exists as a romanticized tradition, but at one time, it ensured that marrying off a daughter actually happened. Despite all the romantic movies and books out there highlighting marriage to the one you love, that's a relatively new concept. 

Prior to the 18th century, marriage was used to improve a family’s social standing in some way. Brides and grooms often got paired off without giving much of their own input. As a result, arranged marriages had a high risk for cold feet. Keeping the couple apart until they said their vows reduced the chances that one of them would back out before making it to the altar.

This next one made me chuckle. It can definitely be chalked up to superstition. The English rhyme of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe,” was first heard in the mid-19th century. It didn't appear in print until 1871.

More than these items bringing mere luck on the wedding day, the "something borrowed" item was supposed to increase the bride's chance of becoming pregnant. So, the bride borrowed a pair of bloomers from a woman who had already become a mother. Can you believe that? I don't know about you, but I don't know that I could have donned another woman's underwear beneath my gown.

"Something old" represents the bride's past. "Something new" symbolizes the couple's happy future. "Something borrowed" comes from someone happily married in the hope good fortune rubs off on her. "Something blue" denotes fidelity and love.

Speaking of dresses, a white gown has only been commonplace for about 150 years. Historically, brides simply repurposed their best dress as their wedding gown. Prior to modern washing machines and stain removers, white clothing was rare because it was so difficult to keep clean. Brown, gray, and even red were the more popular colors.

Queen Victoria (after whom my daughter is named) wore a lacy white gown at her 1840 wedding, and she's often credited with making "bridal white" popular. However, she wasn't the first. Mary, Queen of Scots wore white during her 1558 Notre Dame wedding, and several other royals wore white before Queen Victoria.

Nevertheless, just a few years after Victoria’s wedding, dressmakers and etiquette books latched onto white as being virginal and pure. Godey’s Lady’s Book even wrote that a white dress was “an emblem of the innocence and purity of girlhood, and the unsullied heart which she now yields to the keeping of the chosen one.” Wow. That's quite a mouthful. :)

There are many other traditions, such as the reason for a bridal party, the exchange of wedding rings, tossing rice, and even saving a tier of the wedding cake, but I'll save those for next month.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What traditions did *you* follow for your wedding? If you haven't had one yet, what traditions do you intend to follow?

* How would you respond if an arranged marriage was still the leading method today? Do you feel they have any merit? If so, in what situations or circumstances?

* Marriage is a consecrated union, set forth by God, and designed to be a temporal representation of the eternal agape love of Christ for His Church. What are your thoughts on how to help restore the sanctity of marriage in today's society?

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Come back on the 9th of each month for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

For those interested in my life as an author and everyday gal, what I'm currently reading, historical tidbits, recommended reads, and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my monthly newsletter. The latest edition was just sent out last week. Receive a FREE e-book of Magic of the Swan just for subscribing.

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, one dog, and three cats in southeastern Kentucky. In the 20+ years she's been a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

New Steps and Old Monuments

As I advance in years, my perspective progresses. I attempt to lean not on my own understanding, but to seek wisdom and discernment. On a lighter note, I am working on margin in my schedule for the unforeseen, all the while praying for direction. Why employ this opening to the blog today?

It is often unplanned experiences, side streets, and extra stops that can bring the most joy in life and in travel. Yet still we tend to aim for the main events and major attractions. Why is that the case? Do we have fomo (fear of missing out)? Do we think that because people deem an occasion or site worthy, we must explore the possibility or location? Whatever the reasons, I suggest consideration of alternatives. 

For a writing research trip with Cindy Stewart (former HHH blogger and author of Abounding Hope), we planned months in advance the sites we would visit. As is often the case, our schedule changed. These alterations are some of my favorite portions of the trip. What did I learn? Leave space in life for the unexpected. Be flexible. Above all, abide. This leaves room for God's plans. As I discovered in recent years, His are better than any I could design.

Additional stop #1 on our trip - Amiens, France. This is a small town located just 112 km (70 miles) north of Paris. It is northwest of Caen, which appears in prior posts. Amiens is a magnificent medieval village that offers a cathedral, views of the Somme River, and interesting tidbits to delight history enthusiasts. Oddly enough, it is not listed in the guidebook for France I used. Perhaps less attention lends itself to the quaint ambiance?

Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens featured in the image at top and three below, is a Unesco Heritage Site. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. In fact, two Notre Dame de Paris could fit inside the 200,000 cubic meter structure. It soars 42 m (137.8 feet) in height. Three master builders completed this edifice from 1220 - 1288. The elevation, sculptures, and stained glass allow this cathedral to serve as a model for Gothic architecture. It did influence many Gothic cathedrals built in the succeeding centuries. Notice the intricate and plentiful figures on the exterior. We could not take photos inside. Imagine the beautiful interior or plot a visit to Amiens to peek for yourself.

Key aspects of this monument are additions and alterations over the years that retained the nature of the structure. At the end of the 13th to the beginning of the 14th century, chapels constructed between the buttresses did not affect the interior. Over the proceeding years restorations occurred that offered enhancement. The cathedral survived religious wars, the French Revolution, and for the most part, both World Wars. Listed as an Historic Monument in 1862 and inscribed with Unesco in 1981, this site remains protected for future generations.

Continuing on and strolling through Amiens offers a glimpse into medieval life as well as current adaptions. The Quai Bélu (below) in Saint-Leu once supported the area's milliners, tanners, and weavers. Now, this lively strip serves diners at shoppers. Can you imagine women with baskets over their arms, collecting fish from the monger and produce from the farmers? 

What shoes did they wear on these cobbled streets? What about their clothing? Since the dyers supported this location, did they sport a variety of colors? While little changed in this landscape, attire and goods evolved many times since the 1200s. 

Now for a few whimsical notations, take a gander at this photo at right. "Where everybody knows your name..." 

In the subsequent photos, do you see "L'Homme sur sa bouée?" The Man on His Buoy? As visitors cross le Pont de la Dodane, they observe a statue nestled in the Somme River. Phase one originally made of wood got a makeover and now consists of a more durable option in stainless steel. Stephan Balkenhol, a German artist created the piece in 1991. The Amiens museum team worked to design the updated version. I read a piece stating Amiens students dress him up on occasion for fun. He modeled t-shirts, hats, bags, a buoy (ironically), and even another statue dangling from his shoulders. 

            

Can you recall a time in your life where the day unfolded contrary to what the calendar required, and the results are cherished memories? Did you take a trip that opened new horizons that were not in the guidebook? Please comment and share your stories.

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with 118 Plans on the Bible.com app, in 44 languages.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. Visits to their two grown sons would be first. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. 

Connect with Rebecca: Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest X (formerly known as Twitter)

Notre-Dame de Paris, Part 2: Exterior Features--and a Giveaway!

By Joan Hochstetler

View of Notre-Dame de Paris by Gilbert Bochenek (2011)

The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was in the news last month because of the fire that started on the evening of April 15, while the cathedral’s roof was being repaired. I became interested in the cathedral while doing research for my upcoming release, Refiner’s Fire, which is partially set in Paris. In my last post I covered the building’s history, and over the next couple of months I plan to highlight some of the marvelous details and treasures Notre Dame contains. Today I’m focusing on its exterior features.

Notre Dame is an imposing 420 ft. long, 157 ft. wide, and 115 ft. high, excluding the two massive towers at the main entrance on the western side. These are among its most recognizable features and were the last major part of the cathedral that was constructed. The south tower was built between 1220 and 1240 and houses the 13-ton Emmanuel bell. The north tower was built between 1235 and 1250 and at 226 ft. is slightly taller than the south tower as you can see in the image above. They remained the tallest structures in Paris until the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889.

The Last Judgment, Central Portal
Carlos Delgado; CC-BY-SA

The three magnificent portals on the western façade were built in the 13th century. A significant amount of their carvings and statuary were demolished during the French Revolution but have been carefully duplicated. The left portal portrays the life of the Virgin
Mary. The central portal features a vertical triptych of the Last Judgment, displaying the resurrection of the dead, the judgment, Christ, and the apostles, with Christ reigning in the highest panel. The portal of Saint-Anne on the right side includes the oldest, most beautiful, and last surviving sculpture from the 12th century, showing the Virgin Mary sitting on a throne holding the Christ child. A gallery of 28 statues of the kings of Israel occupies the space above the portals. The west side also features a stunning rose window measuring 32.8 ft. in diameter, with images of Adam and Eve on the outer rim. The Grande Galerie that connects the two towers is adorned with images of demons and birds that can only be seen from above.

Chimera,  Jawed Karim (2014)

There are also impressive portals on the north and south façades. The one on the north features a magnificent 13th-century statue of the Virgin Mary. She used to hold the Christ child in her arms, but it also was destroyed during the French Revolution and never replaced. On the cathedral’s south side lavis sculptures adorn the Saint-Etienne Portal portraying the life and deeds of the saint. And from the cathedral’s rear at its east end one can see the exterior of the apse and the graceful flying buttresses that support its walls.

Panageotean Graphics,
derivative work Lämpel

The original spire was constructed in the 13th century and placed on the cathedral’s roof above the transept and altar. By 1786 it had become so weakened that it had to be removed. A new spire built of oak covered with lead and weighing 750 tons replaced it during the 19th-century restoration by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. This one was surrounded by copper statues of the twelve apostles, with groups of 3 facing in each direction along with an animal symbolizing one of the four gospel writers: an angel for Matthew, a lion for Mark, a steer for Luke, and an eagle for John. The only statue that didn’t face outwards toward Paris was that of Thomas, the patron saint of architects; it faced the spire and had Viollet-le-Duc’s features. The spire was crowned by a rooster weather vane that contained a tiny piece from the Crown of Thorns and relics of Denis and Saint Genevieve, patron saints of Paris, placed there in 1935 by Archbishop Jean Verdier, to protect the congregation from lightning or other harm. This spire was destroyed in the April fire along with the roof itself, but by a stroke of luck the statues had been removed for restoration a few days before the fire. And miraculously, the rooster was found intact in the rubble left by the fire.

My post next month will take a closer look at the exquisite rose windows and other treasures of the cathedral. This month, since Refiner’s Fire officially publishes June 1, I’m giving away a copy—or for those who haven’t read all of the previous books of my American Patriot Series, your choice of any of the volumes! To enter the drawing, please leave a comment on this post answering the question below. And be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Because of the holiday, I’m extending the drawing through Tuesday. I’ll announce the winner in the comments here Wednesday morning, so be sure to check back!

QUESTION: What do you think of the ideas being proposed for the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral? Should this historic building be restored to its former glory, or do you favor adding dramatic modern features as some experts advocate? Let’s hear your opinions and your reasons why!

~~~

J. M. Hochstetler is the daughter of Mennonite farmers and a lifelong student of history. She is also an author, editor, and publisher. Her American Patriot Series is the only comprehensive historical fiction series on the American Revolution. Book 6, Refiner’s Fire, releases in April 2019. Northkill, Book 1 of the Northkill Amish Series coauthored with Bob Hostetler, won Foreword Magazine’s 2014 Indie Book of the Year Bronze Award for historical fiction. Book 2, The Return, received the 2017 Interviews and Reviews Silver Award for Historical Fiction and was named one of Shelf Unbound’s 2018 Notable Indie Books. One Holy Night, a contemporary retelling of the Christmas story, was the Christian Small Publishers 2009 Book of the Year and a finalist in the Carol Award.

Stained Glass

A footnote from history by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Do you have any stained glass in your home? Have you visited old mansions and wondered at the beauty of those windows? Have you been to Europe and marveled at the stained glass in cathedrals? Do you by any chance make stained glass? 

As a student, I attended school in France, and I remember ascending the narrow winding stairs up from the main floor of La Sainte Chapelle in Paris (built in about 1248 as a place to house precious Christian relics) and staring in open-mouthed wonder at the glorious stained glass windows soaring upward. The panels of stained glass depict over 1,000 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. It was as if I were standing in the middle of a multi-faceted jewel. I'll never forget it. 

How, I wondered, did artisans create such things so long ago?

Written records--among them, the writings of a German monk named Theophilus--describe the process. Sand and potash were heated until they liquified and formed glass. Powdered metals were added to the mixture to create various colors. Once cooled, pieces were cut to fit the outlines of a drawn design. Finally, the pieces of glass were joined with lead and surrounded by an iron frame. But we don't know everything. The "how" of the blue created 800 years ago for the stained glass windows at Chartres Cathedral remains a mystery. 

Why did stained glass become such an important medium during the Middle Ages? Mostly illiterate parishioners might not be able to read the Bible, but they could learn the stories as they were depicted in stained glass illustrations. The Bible teaches that God is light, and the light pouring through those windows called everyone to "look up." 

In America, the subject of stained glass will inevitably circle around to the name Tiffany. The work on display at the Morse Museum in Winter Park, Florida, will take your breath away. (Recent novels Tiffany Girl and Clara and Mr. Tiffany highlight the role women had in the Tiffany success story. 

Not long ago, I discovered a damaged stained glass

window at an antique mall in Fremont, Nebraska. Artisans restored and enlarged it to fit into a window in my dining room. I literally teared up with joy when it was installed last week. Now I have a little reminder of the wonderful cathedrals I've visited ... and a reminder to look up. Toward the Light.

How about you? Have you seen any gorgeous glass lately? Did you realize the process to create stained glass dates back to the Middle Ages?

And here's a more personal question: how should I drape those bottom three casement windows? Colors or white? If colors ... what color? I'm not sure!

In my novel A Garden in Paris, Mary Davis returns to Paris in search of a long lost love. A visit to Notre Dame Cathedral (where visitors revel in the famous rose windows of stained glass) presents a moment of poignant longing and regret. Learn more here: https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Paris-Stephanie-Grace-Whitson-ebook/dp/B06Y1F93VW