Choosing the month, date and timeWritten by Tom Ttsatsos
The wedding and events leading up to ceremony are steeped in ancient traditions. Choosing month and day of a bride's wedding were considered as one of most important decisions. Many followed this rhyme when choosing their wedding month: Marry when year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true. When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate. If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know. Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man. Marry in month of May, and you'll surely rue day. Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go. Those who in July do wed must labor for their daily bread. Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see. Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine. If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember. When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last. May was considered an unlucky month due to several Pagan traditions. Summer began in May with festival of Baltane, which was celebrated with outdoor orgies. It was considered an unsuitable month to begin married life. In Roman times, Feast of Dead and festival of goddess of chastity both occurred in May. In Victorian Era, this advice was taken more seriously than it is today. It is rumored that Queen Victoria forbade her children to marry in May. It was also considered inappropriate to marry during Lent, as it was a time of abstinence. Thus was born rhyme: Marry in Lent, live to repent. June was considered to be a lucky month to marry in because it is named after Juno, Roman goddess of love and marriage. It was believed that getting married in June would bring prosperity and happiness to newlyweds. June also signified end of Lent and arrival of warmer weather. Summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry due to sun's association with fertility. If married in June, bride was likely to birth her first child in Spring, allowing her enough time to recover before fall harvest.
| | The Engagement RingWritten by Tom Ttsatsos
When a man wanted to get married, it was tradition for him to give his beloved's family something of great value as a sign of his wish to marry her. If woman accepted his gift, it signified their pledge to marry and it was considered a legally binding transaction. In ancient times, betrothal gift was of a more practical nature, usually livestock, fabrics, herbs and spices and even land. The Greeks are credited with beginning tradition of betrothal (or engagement) ring. Here, groom-to-be presented a ring to his intended as a promise of marriage. Early Roman engagement rings were simple bands with a carved key. There are two theories surrounding this particular style. The romantic version states that key was to 'unlock' her husband's heart. The more practical version was that key represented wife's ownership of her husband's estate. When a Roman woman married, she received half of her husband's wealth. In 860 A.D., Pope Nicholas I ordained that an engagement ring was a requirement as a statement of nuptial intent. He insisted that they be made of gold to show financial sacrifice on part of prospective husband. In Renaissance Italy, silver became a popular metal for engagement and wedding rings. These rings were often very ornate and inlaid with Niello, a method of decorating metal objects with engraving techniques. An alloy of silver, copper, lead and sulfur was rubbed into an engraved pattern on silver or gold and then fired. Darkened areas remained in crevices after object was polished. Elaborate engagement rings of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious gems became commonplace among wealthy. Many rings would feature a group of stones to spell out a sentimental word. For example, if one wanted to spell out LOVE on his ring, he would use Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Verde Antique and Emerald. Some husbands-to-be would have a ring fashioned featuring his and his fiancée's birthstones. Since color blue symbolized purity and fidelity, Sapphire engagement rings were quite popular, especially during Victorian era.
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