The story behind 4 popular wedding traditions
Published on Mon May 14 2018 in Community
Every year thousands of Kiwi couples tie the knot, often incorporating customs into the ceremony and reception that date back centuries. But do newlyweds and their families know the history surrounding these traditions? You may be shocked to learn what’s behind some of these customs, fashions and superstitions that many couples still participate in.
Here are four wedding traditions and superstitions, and their surprising meaning.
The groom can’t see the bride before the ceremony
Anyone who has been married or part of a wedding ceremony has likely heard this superstition. Starting the night before the wedding, the bride and groom must part ways until the actual ceremony begins, lest the couple suffer bad luck. As common as this belief is, its origins are a bit of a mystery.
One explanation is very superstitious: In ancient times, a bride-to-be was considered especially unlucky. To prevent her from passing her bad luck to others, some cultures made betrothed ladies live in seclusion for a period prior to the wedding ceremony.
Another guess is that this tradition was started to keep nervous grooms from rethinking their decision. Back when marriages were typically a business transaction arranged by other family members, keeping the groom from the bride gave him little chance to pull out of the deal if he didn’t like what he saw!
Wearing a veil
A veil has been part of the traditional bridal outfit since ancient times. Greek and Roman women wore veils at their weddings to help ward off evil spirits. This head and face covering would hide the bride from demons. Bridesmaids—who were dressed in outfits matching the bride—would serve as decoys to put evil spirits even further off the scent.
Veils were also a way to ensure that the bride would go through with the wedding. The thinking was that it would be more difficult for her to run away if her face was covered. Long trains on wedding dresses also served the purpose of stopping the bride from fleeing before the ceremony.
Over time, the veil has taken on new meaning. It now symbolises a bride’s virginity and modesty in many religions. The lifting of the veil at the end of the ceremony may also serve as a symbolic unveiling of the bride as a newly married lady to her community.
Wearing a white wedding dress
While many bridal traditions are steeped in folklore and superstition, the white wedding gown is a more modern creation. This fashion was popularised by Queen Victoria back in 1840 when she wed Prince Albert.
Before Victoria, brides rarely wore white on their wedding day. They usually dressed in bright, colourful frocks that could be re-worn on other occasions. Victoria chose a white gown to highlight the handmade lace on the dress and veil—not to reflect purity, as is sometimes thought.
Queen Victoria’s fashion was a sensation. Print media was starting to take off, and illustrations of Victoria and Albert’s wedding appeared in newspapers, books and magazines. This helped popularise white as the colour of brides, as well as another choice Victoria made—she asked that her wedding guests not wear white, so that she and her bridesmaids would stand out.
Carrying the bride over the threshold
This is another tradition with murky origins, and seems to have evolved from several customs in different cultures. One is the belief that a bride could bring bad luck to her new home and marriage if she tripped over the threshold the first time she entered. Thus, the groom would carry his bride to avoid the possibility altogether.
Another explanation comes from the days when weddings sometimes followed kidnappings. Carrying the bride over the threshold is a symbolic way of “stealing” her away from her family. This may also explain why grooms are now accompanied by groomsmen—male family members and close friends would help fight off the bride’s angry relatives whilst the soon-to-be newlyweds escaped.
A third reason comes from Medieval Europe. Grooms may have carried their bride into the house (or the bedroom) to prevent her from seeming too eager to lose her virginity. Picking her up provided a convenient alibi for his wife’s chastity!
What’s your wedding story?
As our culture changes, so do our wedding traditions. Imagine what customs and superstitions we do now that might confuse future generations! Share your wedding stories and favourite traditions with us on Facebook.
Sources:
Snopes, Not Seeing the Bride
MamaMia, The tradition behind why brides wear veils on their wedding day is quite disturbing
Vanity Fair, How 20-Year-Old Queen Victoria Forever Changed Wedding Fashion
Victoria & Albert Museum, Queen Victoria and the White Wedding Dress
How Stuff Works, Why do grooms carry brides over the threshold?
Mental Floss, 21 Surprising Historical Duties of the Wedding Party
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
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