while i doubt any of those are based on fact, there are a bunch of strange wedding traditions, some of which people still do today. a kid in one of my classes a few semesters back did a presentation on them. pretty interesting stuff. For example:
scottish soon-to-be brides are taken by surprised and covered with "foul substances" like raw eggs, random sauces, and feathers and then paraded around the town.
a german tradition is for the family to break a lot of dishes and have the bride and groom clean the mess up together. another german tradition is to hide the bride and have the groom try to find her to see if they really are meant to be. kind of like a fortune telling game of hide and seek. married german couples also have to saw a log in half together.
in some indian traditions, the groom doesnt wear his shoes to the altar, but rather leaves them at the door. throughout the ceremony, the bride's family tries to steal the shoes while the groom's tries to protect them.
a tradition brought from africa with the slave traders is "jumping the broom." they literally jump over a broom lying on the floor into the new stage of their life.
ancient rome is where we got the saying "tie the not." brides' girdles were fastened with lots and lots of knots which the groom had to untie that night.
italians started the tradition of diamond engagement rings because they were thought to be made by the "flames of love."
ancient egyptians started the tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand. it was believed that veins in this finger came directly from the heart. so the love from the heart would go down into this finger and be trapped in the neverending ring and never escape, ensuring a loving marriage forever.
the honeymoon goes back to the times when a groom would kidnap his bride and keep her hidden for one moon cycle (a month) in which they would often drink lots of honeyed mead.
in the past, jealous men would try to steal the bride from the groom. he would hold the bride off to the side with his left hand so he could use his right to sword fight. the tradition of the bride standing to the left is still held today.
there are even poems about the day and month you get married on and what color dress the bride should wear:
Marry in white, everything right
Marry in blue, lover be true
Marry in pink, spirits will sink
Marry in gray, live far away
Marry in green, ashamed to be seen
Marry in yellow, ashamed of your fellow
Marry in black, wish you were back
Marry in red, wish you were dead
Marry in tan, he’ll be a good man
Marry in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Monday for health,
Tuesday for Wealth,
Wednesday the best day of all;
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
And Saturday no luck at all.
A January bride will be a prudent housekeeper, and very good tempered.
A February bride will be an affectionate wife, And a tender mother.
A March bride will be a frivolous catterbox, Somewhat given to quarreling.
An April bride will be inconsistent, or forceful, But well-meaning.
A May bride will be handsome, agreeable, And practical.
A June bride will be impetuous, And generous.
A July bride will be handsome, But a trifle quick-tempered.
An August bride will be agreeable, And practical as well.
A September bride will be discreet, affable, And much liked.
An October bride will be pretty, coquettish, Loving but jealous.
A November bride will be liberal and kind, But sometimes cold.
A December bride will be fond of novelty, Entertaining but extravagant.
*All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar
When my cousin got married this summer, all these random people followed him up to his hotel room and were like begging him for money. I wanted to smack every single of them, but my mom was like "No that's tradition" ... What the heck
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool! Love the poem.
ReplyDeleteMarry in yellow, ashamed of your fellow... is PRICELESS!
haha rashad yeah some "traditions" are kinda out there, but whatever floats their boats right??
ReplyDeleteand yeah kera i love learning about this kind of stuff... it's so interesting :)