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The Tradition of the Bridal Veil
The bride's veil and bouquet are of greater historical nature than her white bridal gown. The brides wedding veil, was historically yellow in ancient Greece and red in ancient Rome, usually shrouded her from head to foot.Since the earliest of times the bridal veil has denoted the subordination of a woman to man. The thicker the brides veil, the more traditional the implication of wearing it.
According to tradition, it is considered bad luck for the bride to be seen by the groom before the ceremony. As a matter of fact, in the old days of marriage by purchase, the couple rarely saw each other at all.Courtship of the bride and groom is a more recent emergence.
The lifting of the brides veil at the end of the ceremony symbolizes male dominance. If the bride takes the initiative in lifting it, thereby presenting herself to him, she is showing more independence. |
