Wedding Traditions New & Old: Part Two

__By Tiffany Amber Stockton__

In May, a few wedding traditions received the spotlight focus. May and June remain the most popular months of the year for weddings, and along with them, the anniversaries celebrating that special day, so let's look at some more traditions and how they got started.

WEDDING TRADITION ORIGINS: PART TWO

I often find it fascinating to see which traditions make it into modern-day wedding ceremonies. It's also fun learning about other customs or family honors included in the planning or actual event in some way. A key area where you might find this lies with the wedding party itself.

For ancient Romans, having a bridal party meant adhering to Roman law. It required 10 male witnesses to vouch for a couple, while a bride’s female companions would prepare and escort her to the ceremony.

In many cultures, bridesmaids acted as incognito bodyguards for a bride. They would dress or style their hair in similar fashion to the bride to prevent kidnappers and thieves from making off with a bride’s dowry or the bride herself.

As for groomsmen? Beyond helping the groom get ready, some of their historical roles included safeguarding the bride, preventing others from intervening in the wedding, or even kidnapping an unwilling or unwitting woman and forcibly bringing her to the groom. Yes, that did happen!

Once the bride stood with the groom, they would speak their vows and exchange rings. Of course, a groom receiving and wearing a ring didn't step into the socially acceptable ring until around the time of WWII. A brief attempt to popularize the men's engagement ring occurred in the 1920's, but cultural norms about masculinity and marriage struck down that ad campaign rather quickly.

Women, on the other hand, have worn engagement and wedding rings for centuries. They served as a gesture of betrothal or visible sign that a woman had entered into a marriage contract. Post-Depression, many couples could afford the cost of two rings, and they represented a romantic link between married couples separated during the war. Today, both bride and groom give and receive a ring.

Following the ceremony, attendees most commonly celebrate by showering newlywed couples with rice. Tossing grains has its roots in many cultures, with the kinds used differing by region. Ancient Romans thought wheat the best signifier of fertility, with rice taking up that role throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Lentils, oats, peas, and other grains are popular alternatives throughout the world. Oh, and that theory about a bird's stomach exploding from expanding rice after consumption? Yeah. It's an urban legend. :)

Finally, we come to the cake. The earliest known wedding cakes baked by ancient Romans were made of wheat or barley, while cakes in Medieval England consisted of stacked spiced buns. Hmm, can you imagine how that tasted? Certainly not the decadent and sweet flavors seen today, and likely not ideal for smashing. *winks* However, infinitely healthier!

The multi-tiered wedding cake didn't appear until the early 1900s. Wedding etiquette of the time suggested happy couples who quickly started a family could save money by using their remaining wedding cake as a christening cake. The popularity of home refrigerators and freezers in the 1930s and '40s helped this tradition along. Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) followed that advice and served a tier of her wedding cake at Prince Charles’s christening in 1948.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What fond memories or memorable moments do you have from your wedding? If you haven't had one yet, what would you *like* to see happen?

* Did you save a tier from your wedding cake and freeze/preserve it in some way? If you did, how did it taste when eaten the second time around?

* So many people today are dismissing marriage and its sacred covenant. They're even reducing the intimacy shared to nothing more than self-serving physical pleasure. What can we do to help restore the sanctity of marriage?

** 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.

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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.

With This Symbol, I Thee Wed

 By Kathy Kovach

Let's go way back into history. The date was July 12, 1975. An epic day, at least in my life, when I wed the cute boy from church. Okay, 46 years may not be way back there, but it does give me the opportunity to highlight the time honored tradition of marriage.

Specifically, the ring.

This tiny piece of metal, (or leather, or twine, or thimble...more on that later,) really packs a punch in the symbolism trade. Let's take a stroll—to the tune of the Wedding March—through the years to explore this trinket of love.

We'd have to travel back some 3000 years to Egypt to find the first wedding ring. Several symbols were attributed to it because, well, ancient Egyptians loved to attach meaning to inanimate objects. The design of the ring meant no beginning and no end. A pledged love throughout eternity. The circle reminded them of the sun and moon, which they worshipped. Today, we could say the sun and moon represent our heavenly Father and His Son. The empty space within the circle was said to be a pathway to the unknown as the happy couple stepped into the future together, naïve and probably a little frightened. They wore this symbol on the fourth finger of the left hand, just as we do today, with the belief that the vein in that finger is directly connected to the heart. We know now this isn't correct, but the sentiment is lovely and worthy of continuing today.

The tradition continued into Greece and later into Rome. The material varied, with copper and iron most prevalent. In some cases, a key motif was worked into the metal to symbolize that the wife was now in control of the household goods. By the 2nd century CE, gold had become the preferred metal.

On into Medieval times, the gems themselves carried significance. Sapphires symbolized the heavens, rubies were for passion, and diamonds reminded one of steadfast strength. Of course, diamonds did hold steadfast, especially thanks to marketing in the 1950's where we were told diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Amongst all this talk about gold and shiny gems, the Puritans went the practical route. A thimble was given as a pledge of love. The new bride accepted it in the sweet way that Wendy presented the kiss—or thimble— to Peter Pan. The puritan bride then went on to sew items for the couple's new home. Once that was done, her groom would often cut off the top of the thimble for her ring. Now, I'm as pragmatic as the next gal, but give me a sparkling bauble and I'm good.

The Hebrew nation eventually adopted the ring from the countries in which they lived. However, they kept them free of jewels or intricate embellishment. Rather, the idea of a simple gold band held monetary value, as could a coin, property deed, or any other token of worth. The groom was not buying his bride as his property, but more precisely buying her intimacy, sealing the contract that she agrees to be with him and him alone. Traditionally, the ring had no gems, as the ring itself was to be presented as the true worth. Once precious stones were finally allowed, they needed to be of the finest quality, and not imitation. For the union itself should be pure as the purest gold, free of distractions, and simple in its faith between two people and their God.

Symbolism is an excellent way to ground one's belief. Yes, we've exchanged rings, but what does that mean? They are a reminder that our marriage is to be steadfast and true, free from distractions, and intimate in its very nature.

James and Kathleen, July 12, 1975

Happy 46th anniversary, my love! 

MissAdventure Brides Collection
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures? Includes:
"Riders of the Painted Star" by Kathleen E. Kovach

1936 Arizona
Zadie Fitzpatrick, an artist from New York, is commissioned to go on location in Arizona to paint illustrations for an author of western novels and falls for the male model.

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother, though much too young for that. Kathleen is a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

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