Last week, Julia and Solomon were not allowed to see each other for two weeks before their wedding day, although there was a little bit of cheating by the couple. There are many other traditions and superstitions surrounding marriage but few people actually know the origins of these traditions.
Here are 10 facts about wedding traditions and superstitions from around the world you may not be aware of.
- Rain on your wedding day is actually considered good luck, according to Hindu tradition!
- Peas are thrown at Czech newlyweds instead of rice.
- In Holland, a pine tree is planted outside the newlyweds’ home as a symbol of fertility and luck.
- Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
- Queen Victoria started the Western world’s white wedding dress trend in 1840 — before then, brides simply wore their best dress.
- Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the veil protected the bride from evil spirits. Brides have worn veils ever since.
- The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride’s head for fertility’s sake.
- In many cultures around the world — including Celtic, Hindu and Egyptian weddings — the hands of a bride and groom are literally tied together to demonstrate the couple’s commitment to each other and their new bond as a married couple (giving us the popular phrase “tying the knot”).
- The bride stands to the groom’s left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.
- Stag parties were first held by ancient Spartan soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days goodbye with a raucous party.
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