There are a handful of traditions, superstitions and customs that go with weddings. You probably know many of them, but do you know how they started? A lot of these traditions have been passed down through the ages and have survived because they promise fortune and future happiness. There’s nothing wrong with that a bit of that!

Did you know?

The world “wedding” actually comes from the gothic word wadi and the Scottish word wad which means “to pledge”.

The phrase “to tie the knot” comes from Roman times. In those days, a bride’s mother would tie up her daughter’s underwear in a very difficult knot in order to provide a challenge to the groom on their wedding night.

Even to this day, many brides still wear white. This custom began in the 16th century and is a symbol of purity. Queen Victoria decided against the tradition of royal brides wearing silver, choosing instead to wear a white gown for its symbolism.

Promise is represented by an engagement ring before the wedding day. The ring is meant to represent never-ending love. Gold symbolises the strength and purity of the love. The ring is worn on the third finger on the left hand as the Romans believed that the vein on that finger runs directly to the heart.

Evil spirits were thought to prey on brides and so it was these women who were most vulnerable. Most wedding customs began as a means of protecting the bride from evil spirits. For example, wearing a veil was thought to disguise the bride from evil spirits. During the 1800s in Britain, however, the veil came to symbolise modesty and chastity.

Jokes and pranks on the newlywed couple are other examples of a tradition that began with the intention of warding off evil spirits. Friends of the couple would play pranks on them in the hope that the spirits would take pity on the couple who had already been tormented enough, and leave them alone.

Tying tin cans on the back of the newlywed’s vehicle was intended to make such a loud noise that it would scare away evil spirits.

The tradition of having members of the wedding party dress alike was begun in the hope that this would cause confusion for the spirits and they would leave the bride alone.

Throwing rice at a couple represents fertility. These days, confetti or rose petals are thrown in place of rice due to a number of practical and environmental considerations.

A newlywed couple symbolise their unity, shared future and lives together by cutting the wedding cake together. The traditional fruit cake originated in Britain, with the fruit and nuts being a symbol of fertility.

Provided by www.Malta Weddings.com – Weddings & Beyond