Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-06-22
BY HELEN WELSHIMER
NEA Service Writer

MN 49,
There is nothin at all original
about getting married.
Most OF the customs that are OBJ
served started so long ago they are
as permanently established as The
Constitution Of the United States
or the Rock Of Gibraltar.
In fact. in order 10 have a nod
ern wedding a bride must have an
~old-fashioned one.
The wedding ring didn't develop
because an ambitious ieweler de-
c!ded that Ii would swell his trade.
II started long ago, when there
wasn't a jewelry shop on the face
OF the earth Men decided that when
they chose the maidens whom they
wanted. there should be some way
to impress upon the feminine minds
that henceforth and forever they
were theirs. The men started TO
weave cords which they bound a
round the girls waist. according 10
tradition. Both the girl and the man
believed that the girls spirit enter
cd into the mans body when the
knot waS tied.
And Knot Stayed Tied!
The word divorce" was as un-
known as artichokes or penthouSes
so when the cord was tied the girl
belonged TO her husband forever.
AfterWhile anklets and waistlets
replaced the cord. And from that
tho ripU doraInDad
The ancient people believed that
the third finger Of the left hand
connected with the heart. Sc when
the ring came into being, II vas
placed on this finger.
To be properly attired a bride must
always wear something old and
something new. something borrowed
and something blue, the old verse
says.
The wearing OF the blue came
down from an old ISraelite custom.
Long ago everyone was instructed
10 sew blue ribbons around the bor-
ders Of his or her fringed garments.
since blue was the color which stood
for purity and love and fidelity.
Gradually the habit Of wearing
something blue conferred around tire
bridal costume.
Brides Were Costly
Brides are given away now IN a
great many marriage ceremonies.
or course the words are purely de-
corative. for the twentieth century
girl is making her decision because
she wants 10. and II no n would
attend to this feature she would
tell the minister 10 eliminate 1t and
hurry up. pleasel
But once upon a time a man had
TO buy the girl he wanted. All she
could do was hope that she brought
a large number of COWS and horses
and oxen. Therefore. the giving
away is merely a relic Of the old
marriage by purchase.
The trousseau. too. goes wander
ing back TO one of the virginia. Tor
ests for its history. People were not
much concerned with clothes at that
time but a girl had to bring a dow
cry to her husband, even when ne
bought her. This dowery consisted Of
anything in which her father hi
his wealth. Today all she has 10
bring Is enough clothes to last til.
the season is over.
All sorts Of belief attend the
wearing Of the first wedding vcil.
One thing Is certain. Women IN
many lands weren't allowed 10 let
their husbands see their faces until
after the wedding ceremony. Wells
helped th-m manage this. So whe.h-
er the veil stands for independence
or submission, it has a modest out
look.
These Golden Apples
Orange bl.ssoms we're originally
selected as a bridal flower because
they represent good luck and hap2i-
ness. Some people think that an
orange was the golden apple which
Jupiter. king of the Roman gods.
gave Juno on their wedding day.
Tday brides throw their bouquets.
Those who think IL Is a foolish Gus
tom should have lived in France in
the fourteenth century. Every bride
who approached the altar prayed
that her garter wouldn't shp. She
had to leave one dangling under
her petticoats 50 the guests could
cl i'm il. They weren't timid about il.
either.
Later the brides started to throw
a stocking instead but this was