Purpose of the wedding veil

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"I can’t imagine a happier way to start married life than in this wonderful venue with all their family and friends around them. Ok, so I can – but it would have to be an exceptionally big Jacuzzi."

The purpose of our modern wedding veil is itself veiled in a fascinating web of history, tradition and legend. In ancient times, the veil was seen as a declaration of either the bride's purity or of the solemnizing of the marriage bond. Today, of course, things are a little less formal, and most brides choose their veils for fashion more than ritual significance. Still, the wedding veil is firmly embedded in our cultural history, and seems certain to remain so.

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1. History

   • Veils were widely used in many parts of the ancient world. For instance, Babylonian, Greek and Mesopotamian women often wore veils as part of everyday clothing. Several different traditions tell of the veil's purpose in the wedding ceremony.
     

     In some cultures, wearing a veil to the wedding served as a symbol to the groom that his bride was innocent and untouched. In the ancient Near East, husbands would often throw a veil over their new wives, symbolizing either the fulfillment of their bond, or the husband taking ownership of his wife. In the biblical book of Joshua, the veil served a more functional purpose, hiding the identity of the bride to trick the hero into marrying his beloved's sister.
     

     Over time, the wedding veil became common in many cultures throughout the world, with each culture adding its own layers of tradition and symbolism.

   Change in Purpose

   • In Western culture, the purpose of the veil shifted from symbol to fashion statement. According to the Smithsonian Institute, the modern wedding outfit began with the wedding of Queen Victoria in 1840. Her outfit of white, including a white veil, was embraced, first as a fashion fad, then as the wedding standard by many in Britain and the United States.

   Current Use

   • According to Ohio State University historian Katherine Jellison, white weddings became most common during the prosperous period after World War II. A white dress and veil not only fit the conservatism of the period, but demonstrated that the bride and her family could afford the best and fanciest wedding.

   Misconceptions

   • While white is considered the traditional color for weddings, veils of many colors have been used in marriage ceremonies. In Spain, the traditional color was black until recent times. American Civil War era brides often wore yellow or other bright colors.

   Alternatives

   • The veil remains an important part of the traditional wedding dress for many brides, but some choose to do without, or look to other coverings, including hats, hairbands or hair ribbons. These choices underscore the transition of the veil from a functional part of the wedding ceremony to a fashionable, and now optional, accessory.

Source: www.ehow.comTags: wedding veil, modern wedding, often wore, Purpose wedding veil, that bride