Modern Wedding Traditions Evolved from Ancient Times
Many of the modern wedding rituals from the time of engagement until a return from the honeymoon have been part of the wedding celebration for centuries – exchanging rings, giving gifts, tossing the garter and the honeymoon. These are all ancient customs which have been handed down from generation-to-generation.
Probably the first tradition is the giving and receiving of an engagement ring. This can be dated back to ancient times but it was the Egyptians who initiated the tradition which most resembles our own. In those days, a man gave his beloved something valuable, usually a gold coin as a sign of his desire to marry her. If she accepted his gift, it signified to others their pledge to be married. Today, the coin has become a ring – an unending circle that symbolizes the bond of true love.
In the early 1900s in Ireland, a couple would walk to church together on their wedding day. If the people of their parish approved of their union they would throw rice, pots, pans, brushes and other household goods at the couple. Today, bridal showers help a couple set-up their new home.
Something old
Something new
Something borrowed
Something blue
This Victorian rhyme symbolises the ideals a bride desires for her new life. Nowadays, a piece of jewellery or other heirloom given to the bride by her mother often stands for “something old,” and is meant to symbolise the joy and love the bride brings to her future home.
“Something new” is usually the wedding dress or an accessory bought to wear on the day and signifies the success she wishes for her husband and married life. “Something borrowed” might be a handkerchief, veil or other trinket lent to the bride by a close friend or relative, and refers to the close friendship which she hopes to carry with her in her new life.
And the “something blue” is generally a blue garter, slip or ribbon sewn into the wedding dress. Blue is the colour of fidelity and symbolises the bride’s commitment to her new relationship.
Honeymoons are thought to have originated from the days when couples married under a full moon and drank honeyed wine for 30 days, or until the moon waned. Mi na meala (or month of honey) the Irish word for “honeymoon” also reflects this custom. Another tradition was that the couple went into hiding after the ceremony in case the bride’s family tried to claim her back.
In Ireland, some days of the week were believed to be luckier than others for a wedding: Monday for health; Tuesday for wealth; Wednesday the best day of all; Thursday for losses; Friday for crosses; and Saturday no day at all, according to the old saying. It used to be forbidden to marry during Lent as this was a time of penance and preparation for Easter, but Shrove Tuesday and St. Patrick’s Day were considered the luckiest days to wed. The most unlucky day of the year was Good Friday.
For more information about weddings, superstitions, traditions and all aspects leading up to the planned wedding, check out Kim McGuire’s The Irish Wedding Book which includes everything you need to plan a wedding. Available at Celtic Creations Shop at the Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver.
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