Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-15
Where Our
Weddin@CuStOmS
Came From


trembling slips the ring the fourth finger of
the left hand Rice shoes tossed shivaree is
held, and you slip away your honeymoon.
You through all this rigmarole-but why? What
custom led don veil? Why didn't the husbandtobe
slip the ring any finger-and why ring anyhow?
Why did your pet you with dry and tie old
shoes to your car?
The answers to all these questions and many
like them supplied by William j. Fielding in his
Gently published book Strange Customs of Courtshp and
Marriage Garden City Publishing Company, in which he
undertakes exhaustive study the history signifi
of modern marriage conventions.
Both the bride and the groom surrounded by
assortment of traditional practices The idea of having
best man." according Fielding goes back to the
days when it the custom for the groom to
take woman by force
When the prmordia bridegroom started capture
bride he usually accompanied by able bodied friend
who intercepted the pursuit by the girls knsmen
tector," explains Fielding
Groomsmen, likewise, originally attendants the
stalking bridegroom when he needed small contingent
his adventure and instead of depending
upon his strong armed adhe forernner of the best
man."
The bridesmaids the hand, find origin
brides preenss struggle These bridesmaids Field
ing tells modification or survival of the brides
militant assigned to protect her from the i'm
pending fate that awaited her
The idea of rings for engagement well marriage
history itself Fielding believes that this
springs from the ancient days when ring used
as pledge in any important or sacred agreement
Aside from the symbol unity eternity associated
with the wedding ring" Fielding asserts 1T has been
maintained that the finger crcet of marriage developed
from the circular letters bracelets placed upon the
tive of primitive times this being symbolic relic
although unconscious of her ancient status Of
subsection servitude to the master"
the concept servitude according
the author indicated by wearing ring
the left hand.
The particular digit upon which the ring is worn
the fourth fingeronce had special significance Field
ing writes 1T thought in ancient times that
tain vein the fourth finger of the left hand
directly that timehonored of the affections the
heart.
This significance is longer known by the great
majority of women who the ring and it is known
to be anatomical falacy Nevertheless the old
Many would consider themselves
thing than properly they wedding
ring any other finger"
The use of the ring finger has varied In Ezabethan
times for example il proper to the ring the
thumb
OF the brides marriage outfit the veil has special
symbolic significance again mark of submission the
husband Just as sisters In ecclesiastical orders wells
symbols their submission authority
religious order out of
Difference to her mate.
Flowers have by brides fron time imme-
mortal and the throwing of the bridal bouquet doubt
less substitute for the old 14th century
OF scuffne the brides garter
practice throwing which Worldwide like
goes back 70 ancient times Rice, explains Fielding
additionally symbolic of fertility productveness
its at weddings evidences the wish Of futfuness for
the union
shoe-throwing is one of the most common of nuptal
ftermaths and may have had it's beginnings in the battle
the brides knsmen and tribesmen
groons party which is carrying her
Britain it the the father to give
ms SOn--idW OF the DrdtS SHOES IN Token OF
transfer authority" writes Fielding The bride was
once made cognzant of the change by tap on the
head given with the shoe"
The shivaree especially in the smaller cities vii
of this eeHRtFyis very popular and
serenading the newly couple with pans and
kettles The practice is Latin in origin and
duced into America by the French people Canada and
louisiana
The honeymoon regarded as relic that remote
time when marriage by capture was the custom
necessary for the TO remain in hiding
his bride until the search for her was given up