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The legend concerning kissing as part of the ceremony
There is a story that the custom was for the priest to kiss the groom after the ceremony. The groom then kissed the bride, the priest kissed his assistants, and they kissed the guests!
The tradition regarding the white bridal gown
The lovely silk illusion veil of today has evolved out of a series of Oriental customs from past ages. Once, in Far Eastern countries, people believed that wicked spirits were especially attracted to women. So, as protection from the Evil Eye, women always wore veils. The custom continued although the feeling behind it changed with time into a role of modesty and obedience. From this the veil developed into a symbol of chastity. Then it became accepted as a sign of the submission of women.
The introduction of the veil into Europe came through returning Crusaders. In early wedding traditions in Europe, the bride was bargained for through her father, was swathed in a bridal veil, and revealed to her mate after the ceremony!
In early centuries, Hebrew, Greek and Roman brides wore veils of many hues and veils threaded with gold and silver. In Southern Europe, early Christians placed a large cloth over both bride and groom. In Anglo-Saxon times, the bride wore her hair hanging loose as part of the wedding ritual. The Chinese held a sacred umbrella over the bride's head. Around 1500 in Europe, there was a fashionable conical headdress topped with a veil that hung to the toes. Each era has revealed a different style for the bridal veil. Now the bride prefers a transparent one that does not conceal her hair.
The origin of the trousseau
The trousseau can be directly traced back to the barter-price, purchase-price and dowry systems. It was customary for a bride to come to her husband well-provided with a dowry, so that the man might be compensated for his expenses in caring for the children of his wife's lineage. In our present time in this country, it is not thought essential that a bride bring to her husband money or land, but she is usually provided with a good supply of personal clothing, household linen, silver, china, etc., although much of this also comes along as wedding presents and the meaning of flowers.
The origin of the wedding gifts
The tradition is also closely related to the bride's dowry. In all societies and in all centuries, the celebrations attending the marriage ceremony included the exchange of gifts, even if only of food. By Saxon and Elizabethan times, it was customary to bestow upon the bride various items of hardware which she carried in her belt, such as bodkins, knives, scissors, pinchers, scales, etc. There is record of wedding gift-giving as far back as the Norman Conquest. Among the peasants, gifts were understood to be loans which the couple was expected to return once they were established. As the feudal lord grew in power, he passed laws requiring that all those dependent upon him make generous gifts for his children's marriages. He even arranged for the Church to act as record-keeper for him to insure that no one escaped from "giving" his share.
How Flowers are associated with a wedding
Throughout history, most celebrations of weddings, whether pagan or Christian, use flowers in some way. Almost every country has its own traditions and symbolism concerning flowers.
Popular contemporary customs associate the orange blossoms most closely to the wedding ceremony. The wearing of a wreath of orange blossoms as a crown over the bridal veil was a Saracen custom introduced by returning Crusaders. Orange blossoms were so expensive that only the wealthy could afford them and poorer brides resorted to artificial ones. A "kissing knot" of croton leaves and rosemary was hung over the bridal couple in Elizabethan England. In Sweden it was believed necessary to put chives, garlic or rosemary in the bride's bouquet to keep the dwarfs from bothering her on her wedding day! In Poland it was believed that to sprinkle the bride's bouquet with sugar would keep her temper sweet. In Rome, roses and marigolds were used to decorate the bride's home. Here are some of the "meanings" associated with certain flowers:
Apple blossoms or quince blossoms: better things to come
Clematis: love vine
Ivy: good luck
Rosebud: a promise
Myrtle: lover's flower
Laurel: peace
Tulips: infidelity
Yellow flowers of any kind: jealousy
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