Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-18
Picked Up Here and There.

Did you know that most of our TWEEN
tieth-century wedding customs are rem
nants of bar
Nothing New in barrie days?
Wedding Customs. .dant.tions -,
course.
Wedding rings date back to Bible
times, only then they were to convey
the idea of a fetter instead of the more
lenient present significance The first
wedding ring on record was made of
iron and adamant Later choices seem
to have varied between copper brass.
leather. sedge and even grasses, until
gold gained predominance. 1t is only
the daring suitors of the present day
who have broken the golden spell and
changed to platinum. Chances are this
fad, for me must call it such, will not
be enduring, for it certainly has not
met with the approval of the older
generation.
In more respects than material was
the betrothal of GENIAL ring of olden
times different from today's. Made in
two fitted sections, it was divided at
the service, one-half for the bride, the
other for the groom, a significant cere-
mony.
The ring finger has always remained
the same, as there seem to be not only
sentimental but physiological reasons
for this custom. The fourth finger is
supposed to contain blood vein that
connects directly with the heart, and
also this finger is the least active, so
least BILE to injury.
In the days of myrtle and olive we'd
ding wreaths the hair was allowed to
flow at will, but with orange blossoms
q more conventional couture was nee
essary. Then came the wedding ven,
supposed to have been originated Dy
Margaret Tudor.
The modern gift from groom to orloe
is remnant of the dow purse custom
which in days of old was bag OF
money handed the bride at the win
all my worldly goods l thee endo"
part of the ceremony, and was sup
posed to be the brides first pin money.
A decidedly neathenish custom was
that of tossing the bride after reai
or pseudo capture. and whoever caught
her was to wed within the year. me
throwing of the brides bouquet is a
beautiful remnant of this. Way, way
back in capture days, the angry parents
of the bride hurled missiles at the re-
turning bridegroom. And what do they
do nowo Old shoes The rice. Oh, 1t Is
symbolic, meaning Increase and multi
ply"
Matrons of honor. bridesmaids. man
attendants. mower girls anu pages 80
as old as royalty itself.
The nuptial kiss comes down from
the early Romans, as does also the
nuptial benediction. hence, the prlde-
groom was called the benedict. W ed
ding favors were formerly distributed
in great numbers to guests present and
to many absent, white gloves Delns one
Of the most popular gifts.
Fifty years ago a smiling bride was
decidedly improper. Often she wouid
be accompanied by all of the wedding
party Fortunately, our love of tradi-
tion has not seen MT to follow TINS
gloomy custom to the letter. except
some time on her wedding day II good
luck is to be hers.
Something old. something new, some
thing borrowed. something blue" clfngs
with great tenacity, along with the
time-worn lucky rabbits foot and its
near companion, the yellow garter. an
equally ancient bit of barbarism.
As for the wedding day itself, there
are many traditions. but this little
verse is known to most brides, whether
or not they obey its message:
Monday for wealth.
Tuesday for health.
Wednesday best Of all.
Thursday for crosses
Friday for losses.
Saturday luck at ALL
For this elusive thing called luck,
tradition says. the bride must sneeze
some time on her wedding day; that
the initials of the welded couple should
not spell a word, that the bride must
throw away any pins that might have
been placed in her wedding dress and
ad infinitum. Indeed. II you are in
clined toward believing the supersti-
lions, you'll be kept busy keeping
track of them on your wedding day.
AS for the unmarried guests, they
have ample opportunity for trying out
CTR nv1a
IL you put a crumb of wedding cake
through the bridal ring nine times and
lay IL under your pillow at night you
will dream of your future mate. An