Buzz
Marriage is widely regarded as a sacred bond, often celebrated with meaningful rituals and customs. Many of these practices have become so ingrained in our culture that we rarely pause to reflect on their roots. If we did, we’d be amazed to discover that most of the marriage traditions we observe today date back centuries.
10. 'Honeymoon' Once Symbolized The Diminishing Of Love
The concept of a honeymoon, as we understand it now, emerged in the late 18th century. However, the word itself comes from the Old English term “hony moone.” ‘Hony’ referred to the sweetness of honey and the ‘indefinite period of tenderness and joy experienced by newlyweds,’ while ‘moone’ signified the temporary nature of this sweetness and the gradual fading of love.
Some theories suggest that the term 'honeymoon' originates from a time when a shortage of women led to situations where men would forcibly capture brides. Once a woman was abducted, her tribe would chase after the couple in an attempt to rescue her. To escape, the man would hide with his bride for a month, during which they consumed large amounts of mead, a drink linked to sweetness and sensual pleasure.
9. Spartans Pioneered the Bachelor Party Tradition
The concept of a bachelor party is believed to trace back to the fifth century BC, with ancient Spartans being the first to mark the groom’s final night of bachelorhood. Spartan soldiers would host a feast and toast the groom's upcoming marriage.
This tradition of a bachelor dinner evolved into modern times. During the 1940s and 1950s, a 'gentlemen’s dinner' was typically organized by the groom’s father the night before the wedding. This gathering served as a way for the men to bond and celebrate the groom’s transition from single life to married life.
8. The Best Man's Role Was To Assist In Kidnapping The Bride
The tradition of the best man originates from Germany’s Goth community, where bride kidnapping was a common practice due to a lack of women. The groom would often enlist his closest friend to help him travel to the village or town where the woman he desired to marry lived. As the bride’s family would usually try to rescue her, the best man’s role was to protect the couple.
The best man also had the important task of guarding the bride against other suitors. His primary responsibility, however, was to serve as a protector during the wedding ceremony. He would stand by the groom’s side, armed with a sword, ensuring that no interruptions or threats disrupted the event.
7. Wedding Rings Represented The Purchase Of The Bride
It is widely believed that the ancient Egyptians were the first to introduce wedding rings. These early rings were crafted by braiding hemp or reed into a circle. However, since reed rings were not very durable, they were eventually replaced by rings made of bone, leather, or ivory. The groom would place the ring on his wife’s finger, symbolizing his trust in her ability to manage his household.
The Romans carried on the tradition of wedding rings, but more often than not, the father of the bride would receive the ring as a symbol of the purchase of the bride. By the second century BC, the groom would give the ring to the bride to demonstrate his trust in her with his valuable possessions.
It wasn’t until AD 860 that Christians began using rings in wedding ceremonies, though at that time they were often seen as a symbol of the exchange of valuables. In some cases, rings were given with conditions attached. For example, one German marriage vow stated, “I give you this ring as a sign of the marriage which has been promised between us, provided your father gives with you a marriage portion of 1000 Reichsthalers.”
Men's wedding rings became popular in the Western world only in the 1940s. During wartime, men began wearing rings as a symbol of their love and commitment to their distant wives. After World War II, the tradition of men wearing wedding rings persisted and remains common to this day.
6. Carrying The Bride Over The Threshold Was Believed To Protect Her From Evil Spirits Entering Her Body
One theory behind the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold connects it to the ancient belief that young, pure girls were particularly vulnerable to evil spirits. These spirits were thought to dwell in doorways, the threshold between life and death, where they could enter the girl’s body through her feet. To shield his bride from such spirits, the groom would carry her across the threshold.
Another explanation points to the time when brides were abducted. Since kidnapped brides were usually unwilling to enter the husband's home, they would often be either dragged or carried inside.
5. The Wedding Garter as Proof of Consummation
In the past, it was believed that owning a fragment of a bride’s wedding dress would bring good fortune. This belief often led guests to physically wrestle with the bride, attempting to tear pieces of her gown. In response to this, brides began wearing garters as an alternative, a token of luck that could be given away without the need for violence.
Another widespread belief associated with the garter was that it symbolized the consummation of the marriage. It was rumored that groomsmen would sneak into the couple's bedroom late at night to verify the marriage was consummated, taking the garter as evidence.
4. Prenuptial agreements were a common practice in Ancient Egypt
You might be surprised to discover that prenuptial agreements have a much longer history than you might expect. In fact, they were commonly used in ancient Egypt. An ancient Egyptian document, nearly 2,500 years old, outlined that if a marriage between a husband and wife ended, the wife would be well taken care of, receiving '1.2 pieces of silver and 36 bags of grain each year for the remainder of her life.'
The ketubah, the Hebrew marriage contract, has existed for over 2,000 years, and it also specifies the financial responsibilities a husband has toward his wife in the event of divorce or widowhood. By the ninth century AD, European husbands were required to secure a third of their property for their wives upon their death, a right referred to as 'dower rights.' The 'dower' is the portion of a deceased husband's estate that his widow is entitled to.
3. Bridesmaids Were Used as Disguises to Deter Evil Spirits
The ancient Romans believed that evil spirits were drawn to brides during wedding ceremonies, bringing bad luck. To counter this, they devised a strategy involving bridesmaids dressed in nearly identical attire to the bride. By having up to ten women in similar outfits, the spirits were unable to distinguish the bride, and as a result, were left to leave the entire group of women alone.
The custom of bridesmaids wearing matching outfits persisted into the 19th century, fueled by the belief that the bride could fall victim to curses cast by those with ill intentions.
2. Bridal Veils Were Believed to Shield the Bride from Evil Spirits
The bridal veil is often thought to have existed before the wedding dress, although its precise origins remain unclear. Some theories suggest that the tradition dates back to ancient times when brides wore vibrant veils for protection against malevolent spirits. Greek and Roman brides typically wore red and yellow veils, symbolizing fire, to drive away evil spirits and demons. Roman brides, in particular, were said to have been fully cloaked in a red veil on their wedding day.
In early European societies, arranged marriages were commonplace, and bridal veils served another purpose: they kept the groom from seeing the bride’s face until the conclusion of the ceremony. This ensured that the groom could not back out of the marriage if he was unhappy with her appearance.
1. The First Wedding Cakes Were Made of Meat
The custom of having a wedding cake dates back to ancient Rome, where it was traditional for the groom to crush a barley cake over the bride’s head. In medieval England, sweet buns were stacked as high as possible for the newlyweds to kiss over. A successful kiss was thought to promise a life filled with prosperity for the couple.
However, early wedding cakes weren’t always the sweet treats we know today. Many were made with minced meats or mutton. One of the earliest English recipes for a 'Bride’s Pye' included ingredients such as cockscombs, pine kernels, lamb testicles, oysters, and various spices. Guests were expected to have a slice, and failing to do so was seen as a serious breach of etiquette. A ring was often hidden in the pie, and the person who found it was believed to be the next to marry.
It wasn’t until the 17th century that bride pies began to be replaced with bride cakes, marking the beginning of what we now recognize as the modern wedding cake.
