Show I Wedding Customs Ii 1 I THE HE custom of ot brides dressing In white is of ancient origin and of a n. strange and unusual origin at that White is the symbOl symbol of purity and this is one of the reasons that I It has been used in all ages and In all alt coun countries trIes as the color of ot the bridal I gown Tho The custom originated In a far different dif dl- ferent manner however In the old Saxon days even up till the tho eighteenth century the poor bride came camo to her wedding robed In plain white as aa a n. declaration declaration dec dec- fo to o tho the public that as she brou brought ht nothing to tho the marriage her husband was not to bo be held responsible for tor her debts But many a of the richer brides began adding color to their bridal gowns which necessitated a D. large larSe amount of ot thought and c care re In ancient days when families held feuds against ono one another certain colors could not b worn by certain brides as they thoy used upon tho the liveries of the enemies enemies' Servants In this wa way blue which stood for tor constancy constanC and green which meant youth could not be bo worn by brides in certain sections of ot tho coun coun- try Yellow could not be used as a. It stood for Jealousy jealous or gold as It Jt meant avar avar- ice lee The Hebrew and Roman brides always always al aJ al- al ways WD'S wore pale yellow veils but among the so-called so barbarian nations na na- lions such sueh as ns the early early- earl Saxons Goths Gothi and Norsemen the tho bride let Jet her hair hall hang han loose as a n symbol of ot her freedom until entering her husbands husband's house bouse when It was bound up upon her head as a sl sign n of her future submission Among the Saxons Anglo this custom continued until a r. r late date when tho the I veil Yell took the pl place co of or the loosely hanging hangIng hang hang- in Ing hair Flowers lowers were ere always used and used with meaning at these early weddings Am Among ng the Greeks and Italians the myrtle and the 0 were intertwined with white and purple flowers the white while s symbolizing tho the girls girl's Irl's purity and the tho purple Christs Christ's blood Among the tho English roses myrtle mrtle and rosemar rosemary were worn orn by over every even bride Sometimes pansies were used The rose represented love and secrecy and as the mad Ophelia Ophella says strewing her flowers upon an imaginary grave e Theres rosemary that's for Cor I brance pray you ou remember love lo and there Is pansies that's for tor thoughts A very beautiful old wedding wedding- CUB custom tom consisted in each guest Kuest dipping dipping- his spray of or rosemar rosemary Into his cup of or wine before he drank the health and happiness happi happi- ness of the fire bridal couple |