Wedding customs from medieval times
It's interesting:"What about the bride then, ladies and gentlemen? How wonderful she looks today. And Paul has scrubbed up quite nicely too – it’s amazing what a flannel and a bar of soap can do. But it’s a bit rude of him to have copied my outfit eh!"
Strange though it may seem, traditions and practices that exist in modern day nuptials are actually rooted in the age of knights in shining armor and damsels in distress. What some might consider to be wedding day cliches or hackneyed habits actually stem from fervent beliefs that were intended to protect newlyweds in a time when sorcery, hexes and black magic were thought to be tangible threats, shadowing the footsteps of every man and woman, and thus rendering the need for preventative measures, especially on such an auspicious day.
Time Frame
Knights were expected to be well-versed in the art of "courtly love."
1076 -- Council of Westminster declares that no man can approve a marriage for a female in his family without the sanction of a priest.
1100s -- "Courtly love" catches on in Southern France. Popularized through romantic literature, the stories exalt the value of love and passion.
16th century -- During the 1500s, the Council of Trent issues an official decree that nullifies any wedding that takes place without a priest.
History
Wedding announcements often hung on church doors.
Once a marriage was arranged, the local priest would put up a sign, called the banns, on the outside door of the church to announce the upcoming nuptials. This was a way of ensuring that there was no objection toward the marriage that might disrupt the happy day.
Meanwhile, today's custom of a man proposing on one knee harkens back to the gallant manner where a knight would kneel before "his" lady at a tournament in hopes that she would bequeath her colors to him.
The current custom of diamond engagement rings was begun by the Italians, for they believed the gemstone to be filled with the flames of love.
Significance
The white wedding gown was not in vogue in the Medieval era.
"Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" stem from the Age of Chivalry for both practical and superstitious reasons.
"Something old" was, and still is, often an item of sentimental value passed down from the mother to the bride. It signifies that the bride--though starting a new life--is still connected to her family and her past.
"Something new" is most often the wedding dress itself and, since the new item is meant as a promise of good fortune and a lifetime flush with happiness, the more sumptuous the dress, the rosier the future.
"Something borrowed" is the part of the bride's trousseau meant to remind the bride that her friends and family will always be there for her.
"Something blue" is symbolically important, for it is associated with the robes of the Virgin Mary, thereby emphasizing the bride's dulcet demeanor and chastity. The white wedding dress was initially used by Anne of Brittany in 1499, but was popularized when Queen Victoria wore white on her wedding day.
Features
Bridal veils endured through the ages.
No matter the station of the couple and their families, there were ceremonial idiosyncrasies that were part of every union.
The veil was a ubiquitous part of a bride's attire. Concealing her as she walked down the aisle, it was taboo for the bride to lift the veil herself. It was the husband's job to lift the veil, signifying his dominance and her obedience. Another staple was the bouquet, only, unlike weddings since the Victorian Era, the bouquets were composed of herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits.
Certain protocol was also the same in every wedding, no matter the social strata. Brides stood on the groom's left for safety reasons. Since there was a fear of jealous suitors snatching the bride away from an unsuspecting groom, brides stood on the left, leaving the groom's right hand free to grab his sword.
Misconceptions
Bridesmaids of yore dressed alike to confuse malicious spirits from harming the bride.
In today's choreographed weddings, it is assumed that the bridesmaids dress alike for simple color conformity and aesthetic pleasure. However, in the Middle Ages, bridesmaids dressed alike to trick nefarious spirits from finding and perhaps cursing the bride.
The practice of carrying the bride over the threshold is, by modern standards, simply a romantic gesture. Like so many medieval wedding traditions, however, it stemmed from superstition: If a bride were to stumble over the threshold, it was seen as a sign of an unhappy marriage.
Medieval Wedding Rhymes
There were numerous rhymes to help brides choose when to wed.
"Monday for wealth
Tuesday for health
Wednesday, the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all"
Tags: white wedding, customs from, customs from medieval, dressed alike, from medieval, from medieval times, lift veilSource: www.ehow.com
