15 Interesting Wedding Facts That Are Worth Knowing About
Marriages, as they say, are made in heaven but the anecdotes, traditions and sayings regarding marriage are certainly not. Wedding bells, the honeymoon and the wedding cake are all originated from age old customs observed in ancient countries such as Babylon and the like. Here are 15 wedding facts you may be interested to hear about.
1 Groomsmen and the Best Man
Across the world, there is a tradition of the groom kidnapping his future bride with the help of his friends known as groomsmen today. The man who helped him the most was given the honor of being best man.
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2 The honeymoon originated in Babylon
In ancient Babylon 4000 years ago, it was the father of the bride who was supposed to supply mead (honey beer) to the groom for a month. The period became to be known as the Honey Month and due to the lunar based calendar of the times; the term came to be known as honeymoon in the modern era.
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3 Reason why the bride is hidden from the groom before the wedding?
This practice dates back to the time of arranged marriages where it is believed that the groom may bolt if he sees the bride before the marriages. In places like India the practice is still observed but for other reasons that is considered inauspicious.
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4 Brides wearing something “blue” and something “old” in the bridal ensemble
Brides usually carry something old on their wedding day. This is a symbol of continuity of the past. They also wear blue to symbolize fidelity, love and purity.
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5 The importance of wedding bells
The origin of wedding bells dates back to ancient times when Church or temple bells were rung to ward off evil spirits and herald good luck for the couple.
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6 The custom of tiered cakes
IN ancient Rome, there was a tradition of breaking a bun over the brides head as a symbol of luck and fertility. This ultimately gave way to a cake and subsequently the tiered cake. In medieval times, couples were made to kiss over tall cakes without knocking it over.
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7 Why does the bride stand to the left of the groom?
In most marriages, the bride stands to the left of the groom so that his right hand is free to protect her and fight off jealous rivals which was not uncommon in medieval times.
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8 Why do we say “tying the knot”?
In countries like ancient Babylon and India where such a ritual is still part of a marriage ceremony, the thread or end of the garments of both were tied together as a symbol of their martial union. The tradition is still observed in various cultures worldwide.
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9 Reason why wedding rings worn on the third finger of the left hand
Among wedding facts, engagement and wedding rings are worn on the third finger of the left hand because of a very interesting theory that says the vein of their finger on the left hand is connected to the heart.
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10 Sapphire in a wedding ring
In various countries around the world, wedding rings are encrusted with sapphires or a single sapphire which is a symbol of marital bliss and happy union.
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11 June weddings are popular
June is the moth dedicated to the Roman Godess Juno, hence its name. Juno rules over the home, hearth, marriage and childbirth. Thus it is considered good luck for a marriage held in June.
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12 Stag parties
Stag parties originated in ancient Sparta where feasting and merrymaking would mark the eve of a wedding. It was mainly held in the honor of the groom and is now observed in modern day as a stag party or bachelor’s party.
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13 The white wedding gowns
The white wedding gown was first worn by Queen Victoria who wore a lace gown. In Japan too, people have always preferred a wedding to be dominated by white. The wedding gown is a huge trend today and a billion dollar industry.
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14 The importance of veil
In ancient Rome and Greece, women covered their faces with a veil as protection from evil eyes and spirits. The concept has since become part of the wedding ensemble.
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15 Carrying the bride over the threshold
This is a nice wedding fact that is observed all over the world. The tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold of their new home symbolizes her reluctance to say goodbye to her father’s home. It was also believed that evil spirits lurked near thresholds and thus carrying the bride would protect her from any bad luck.
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