How many of us
carry on wedding traditions without wondering where they came from or how they
got started because they are so ingrained in our culture? Did you know the
English believed that a spider found in a wedding gown is good luck? Seriously,
if I found a spider in my wedding gown, said gown would need to be cleaned
before any vows were exchanged.
Although most
think of diamonds as the traditional wedding jewel, that custom didn’t get
started until sometime in the 1500’s and began as a Venetian custom. In the
symbolic language of jewels, a sapphire wedding ring means marital happiness
but a pearl engagement ring is said to be bad luck because its shape echoes a
tear. On the other hand, snake rings dotted with ruby eyes were popular wedding
bands in Victorian England, their winding tails symbolizing eternity. Spiders
and snakes; there seems to be a pattern here.
Closer to my
family tree, although I’ve personally never witnessed this, besides rice to
ensure fertility the bride and groom could be showered with peas and lentils at
a Czech wedding.
In Holland, a
pine tree is planted outside the newlywed’s home as a symbol of fertility and
luck.
Personally, this one sounds better than being pelted with pellets.
South Africa has
a very sweet old custom of the parents of both the bride and groom carrying
fire from their own hearths to light a new fire in the newlywed’s hearth. To me
this speaks volumes about the acceptance of both families and wonderful new
beginnings.
Ever wonder
about why we have wedding cake? The tradition supposedly comes from ancient
Rome where cakes were made of wheat and barley and after the ceremony the groom
broke it over the brides head as a symbol of her fertility. Again, was someone
spiking the punch because I’m not getting the connection?
Italian brides
may carry a white silk or satin purse called a “busta” to carry wedding gifts
of money given during the dancing which might features the traditional folk
“Tarantella” or tarantula dance; again more spiders. I much prefer the custom
of giving five sugared almonds that represent health, wealth, long life,
fertility and happiness to each guest.
There is a
lovely old French custom practiced at receptions, of the bride and groom each
pouring a glass of wine from different vineyards into their glasses and then
mixing them into another glass and each drinking from it.
One of the
reasons June weddings are thought to be auspicious was because the Roman
goddess Juno ruled over marriage, the hearth and childbirth. I don’t honestly
think I know anyone that has been married in June. Winter and fall seem to be
the seasons/months of choice in my family circle.
Hand-fasting was
popular before Christianity took hold. Couples would cross and join hands,
forming the symbol for eternity and pledge to stay together for a year and a
day. If all was well after that time they could decide to stay joined.
In many
cultures the hands of the bride and groom are literally tied together to
demonstrate their commitment to each other, giving us the phrase “tying the
knot”. Going back further; ancient Roman brides wore a girdle of knots that the
groom untied before consummating the marriage.
Although I’m
Italian on my father’s side, my husband and I share a Croatian/Polish heritage
and these are the weddings that I remember most. The wedding ceremony itself
usually occurs in the morning with the reception that evening. First let me
tell you that there are copious amounts of food and dancing at our wedding
receptions.
Ever hear of the
“Chicken Dance”? It’s a polka that is truly as ridiculous as it sounds and
everyone gets into the act from the children to the great-grandparents. You
open and close your fingers as if they were a beak, then flap your arms like
wings, “shake your tail feathers” and clap four times before you turn and swing
a partner around. If you’ve ever had a strenuous workout that was so much fun
you forgot you were working out, that’s the best way I can describe this silly
polka.
If we’re not
dancing we’re eating. Some of our more traditional dishes, Kielbasa or as it’s
known at our house, Polish Sausage, sauerkraut, pierogi’s, povitica and
traditional kolatchky (filled nut cookies) are just a few of the dishes served
and most of the time made by family members.
I’m leaving you
today with a recipe for Pierogi, little potato and cheese filled dumplings that
are a staple at most of our gatherings, including weddings.
Pierogi
Dough:
Filling:
1 c. flour
3-5 potatoes, boiled and drained
1 egg
½-1 onion, chopped & sautéed in butter
¼ t. salt
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
About 4 T. cold water
Mix the flour, egg, and salt with
enough water to make medium-soft dough.
Knead well; then roll thin. Cut
into squares to make about 40 appetizer size portions.
Mash your potatoes and add the
sautéed onion and cheddar cheese, salt and pepper to taste and use as filling
for pierogi. Place 1 t. (or whatever amount you need to fill the size you’re
making) filling in center of each square or circle, fold over and pinch the
edges to seal.
Drop into boiling, salted water and
cook until the pierogi float to the top.
Drain and place on platter.
Melt about a half stick of margarine
or butter (if using butter, heat and skim off all white milk solids—this is
what burns when you fry them) and fry until golden or pour the melted butter
over the boiled pierogi and keep warm until served.
Tradition is what calls us back and
reminds us of whom we are and what better time for that than a celebration of a
bride and groom’s new life together.What about you? What lovely wedding customs have been handed down in your family?
Happy Reading!
Paris Brandon
Website: http://parisbrandon.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParisBrandon
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/parisbrandonaut/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00N3M7EEM
USA
Today bestselling author Paris Brandon writes contemporary, paranormal, erotic
and historical romance, throwing in a little mystery and suspense for good
measure. She can be found most days bent over her keyboard creating worlds
where sleeping beauty turns out to be a cursed bootlegger or an outlaw shifter is
forced to go on the run with the assassin tasked with killing her.
When not
dreaming up stories featuring heroes who aren’t intimidated by strong heroines,
she can be found searching through antique and thrift stores for vintage
treasures, or communing with nature, which is code for sitting on the patio
with a cup of tea and a good book. And as with any activity, chocolate is
usually involved.
