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Engagement Rings
Tradition
has it that Archduke Maximilian
of Austria introduced the idea of the
engagement
ring around 1477, when he placed a large
diamond
on Mary of Burgundy's finger preventing her father arranging her marriage to a wealthier suitor.
They married 24 hours later.
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Placement
of Rings
Traditionally
the wedding ring is placed first on your finger to be "closest to your
heart", followed
by the engagement ring.
On
the wedding day, many brides wear their
engagement ring on their other
hand then
place it next to their wedding ring after the ceremony. |
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Wedding
Cake
The
tradition of the wedding cake goes back to Roman times, when a cake was baked in
the bridegroom's hearth fire -sacred
to the gods and the ancestors. The
bride was carried over the threshold, sprinkled with lustral water and then, with her husband, ate from
the wedding cake.
This
symbolised their union and was an important part of the ritual.
Today
the cake-cutting ceremony usually highlights the joint effort of the couple
and is symbolised by their holding the knife
and
cutting the cake together.
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The
Old Saying
Something
old
protects
the bride and links the wedding day with her past
Something
new
brings
success and good luck to the bride's future life
Something
borrowed
transfers
happiness to the bride when borrowed from a happily married woman
Something
blue
signifies
loyalty and faithfulness.
And
a silver sixpence in her shoe
wishes
the bride wealth.
Dates
back to olden English time and was meant to give the bride good luck.
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Throwing
the Bouquet and Garter
In
mediaeval times wedding guests followed the bride and groom to their wedding
chamber at the
end of the ceremony. It was considered good luck to try and grab a part of the
bride's clothing and
this developed into throwing of the bouquet and garter instead.
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Five Sugared Almonds
Represent
fertility, health, wealth, luck and happiness.
Traditionally
they are given to the female wedding guests..
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