Detailed explanation of European wedding customs
Wearing a white wedding dress and holding flowers in her hands, the bride, accompanied by her father, walked towards her beloved and made a lifelong promise in the church. This is a sacred and romantic European wedding. So, what are the European wedding customs? What is their origin? Let's understand it together!
European weddings 1. European wedding customs-The bride standing on the left hand side of the groom is different from traditional China weddings. European weddings do not follow the position of "male left and female right." That's because in ancient times, Anglo-Saxon grooms often had to step forward to protect their bride from being snatched away by others. During the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom asked the bride to stand on his left. Once a rival appeared, he could immediately draw his sword to defeat the enemy.
2. European wedding custom-wearing an engagement ring on the "left ring finger". The ancients believed that the blood vessels of the left ring finger led directly to the heart. In the Middle Ages, the bridegroom took turns placing the wedding ring on the bride's three fingers to symbolize the trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and finally put the ring on the ring finger. Therefore, the ring finger of the left hand became the traditional finger for wearing wedding rings in all English-speaking countries.
3. European wedding customs-Customizing wedding cakes In traditional European customs, the bride and groom must kiss across the cake. A clever pastry chef had an inspiration and mixed various pastries together and covered them with a layer of snow-white icing to make a modern wedding cake. When cutting the cake, the groom and bride must use two knives to cut the first cake. They cannot cut it alone, nor should they ask others to do it for them. At the end of the wedding, people will break a loaf of bread on the bride's head. The bread made from wheat symbolizes fertility. Bread crumbs represent luck. If a single girl takes the crumbs of the cake home and puts them under her pillow, she can see her future Prince Charming in her dream.
4. European wedding custom-the bride wears gloves, which are a token of love.
In the Middle Ages, many gentlemen sent gloves to their loved ones to imply marriage proposal. If the other person is wearing the gloves when going to church on a Sunday, it means that she has agreed to his proposal. Nowadays, whether to wear gloves at weddings is a personal choice, but a pair of suitable gloves is still a must-have to highlight the Western-style wedding atmosphere. Gloves are made of fabrics such as lace, silk, satin, wool, lace, cotton, and even leather. Basic principles for matching gloves for wedding dresses: For long-sleeved wedding dresses, it is best to avoid wearing gloves, and if you must wear them, wear short gloves; short-sleeved wedding dresses are suitable for matching gloves up to the wrist; wide-shoulder wedding dresses are suitable for matching gloves with elbow length; Strapless wedding dresses are paired with styles that stretch above the elbow.
5. European wedding custom-the bride must wear a veil.
Initially, the bride's veil symbolized youth and purity. In the early years, Christian brides wore white veils to imply purity and celebration; Catholic brides wore veils to represent purity. Therefore, many brides choose to wear a veil when going to church for weddings. After the bride's father handed over his daughter to the groom, the groom lifted the veil himself. It is said that Martha Washington's granddaughter Nelly Wallace took the opportunity to wear a white scarf when she got married, setting off a fashion. This is the origin of the custom of brides wearing a white veil today.
6. European wedding customs-Brides have worn white dresses since Rome, and white symbolizes celebration. In the era of Queen Victoria, white was also a symbol of wealth. Later, the meaning of holiness and loyalty was strengthened, forming the lofty status of pure white wedding dresses.
7. European wedding custom-the bride wears a white handkerchief, which symbolizes good luck.
According to folk customs, farmers believe that on the wedding day, the bride's tears will bring good luck, cause rain to fall from the sky and nourish the crops. Later, the bride shed tears on the wedding day, indicating that she would have a happy marriage, which meant that she would not have to shed tears for her marriage in the future.
8. European wedding custom-honeymoon trip.
"Honeymoon" is a sweet time when newlyweds spend time alone after the wedding. The word "honeymoon" originated in Europe. Previous marriages were born under capture and were usually rejected by the bride in cities, so the groom would take his bride to a place where no one could find her. In ancient times, honey was a symbol of life, health and fertility, so during the days after marriage or at the full moon, they had to drink a beverage made from fermented honey every day, which gave rise to the word "honeymoon". This custom has also been passed down. Now all newlyweds go to a place together after the wedding to celebrate the beginning of a new life.