Different wedding customs and traditions can be seen throughout the world—some are bizarre, some painful, but most originally served a purpose. Many couples still practice these traditions in their own ceremonies, but who knows where the customs originated and why? From an English bride wearing white to the sharing of wine during a Shinto wedding in Japan, each wedding custom has its roots in ancient beliefs meant to help the newlywed couple on their wedding day and bring good fortune in their life together.
Familiar wedding acts, such as the tossing of the bridal bouquet, the tossing of the garter belt, and even the tradition of wearing something “old, new, borrowed, and blue,” date back centuries to Victorian times. The poem, a guide to help brides figure out what to wear, is still followed by modern brides (though the last line has been mostly forgotten):
- Something old, something new
- Something borrowed, something blue
- And a silver sixpence in your shoe.
The “something old” represents the couple’s friends, who will hopefully remain close after the vows are exchanged. “Something new” symbolizes the couple’s happy and fortunate future. “Something borrowed” traditionally was something of value lent by the bride’s family to be worn on the wedding day. Good luck is only ensured when the borrowed item is returned. “Something blue” is thought to have originated in ancient Israel, where brides would wear blue ribbons in their hair to signify fidelity to their husbands. The silver sixpence was meant to symbolize wealth in the couple’s married life, and today, some brides wear a penny in their shoe for the same purpose.
The Evolution of Wedding Traditions
The tossing of the bridal bouquet and the tossing of the garter belt seem to be related, stemming from the idea that it was good luck for someone attending the wedding to take home a piece of the bride’s gown. This custom began in France in the 1300s. Apparently, unhappy brides began throwing personal items, such as flowers and garters, to prevent their gowns from being torn. As the tradition evolved, it became good luck for a groomsman to obtain the bride’s garter. Because there was drinking at these events, groomsmen often became rowdy, attacking the bride for the garter. Eventually, the groom began to throw the garter to protect his new wife from being molested by the groomsmen.
Most brides today marry in white to symbolize their maidenhood. In the United States, a white gown is worn, while in Japan, a bride is painted white from head to toe and wears a white kimono. The English tradition of the white gown began with the wealthy in the 16th century and was popularized by Queen Victoria, who chose to wear white for her wedding instead of silver, the traditional color for royal brides. A veil was originally worn by Roman brides to disguise the bride from malevolent spirits. Bridesmaids stood near the bride and acted as decoys to confuse these evil spirits even further.
Themes of protection, unity, commitment, and good fortune are seen in customs across all ethnicities and religions. In Mexico, a white rosary is draped around the couple during their vows to symbolize their union. It is also tradition for the groom to offer 13 gold coins to his wife during the ceremony to demonstrate his commitment to supporting her. For good luck, red beads are thrown at the couple as they leave the church. In Japan, the wedding day is chosen based on a specific almanac that deems it lucky. During a Shinto ceremony, the bride and groom’s families face each other, not the couple, to show allegiance to one another. The couple then drinks sake (wine) from the same cup three times to symbolize their dedication to each other. In Africa, some wedding ceremonies last for days as the families celebrate the couple’s union. Bright colors such as red and yellow are worn to celebrate the event. Smooth cowrie shells worn in the bride’s necklace encourage fertility, and both men and women braid their hair to honor the wedding day. In Egypt, women pinch the bride on her wedding day for good luck (thank goodness this tradition hasn’t spread widely!).
From smashing pottery in Germany, known as Polterabend, to presenting a newlywed couple with a horseshoe in Ireland, wedding traditions to ensure the couple’s happiness and prosperity are still practiced today. It’s quite heartwarming to know that these customs serve to support and honor the love and commitment a couple vows to each other. Even in a world where divorce (unfortunately) is relatively common, people continue to practice rituals that they believe will somehow protect the newlyweds in their life together—keeping them safe, fertile, and united for the rest of their lives.
