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Wedding Day Symbols & Traditions –
How They Got Started

Summer is wedding time and no matter whether you are planning one, or attending one, most of us enjoy every last ceremonial tradition without ever being aware of all the symbolism.

Rice, for example, is a symbol of fertility and prosperity," says Dana McCauley, author of Dana's Top Ten Table and spokesperson for leading brand, Minute Rice. "Foodies, like us, know that every kind of rice, including instant, is a nutritious, fat-free and sodium-free staple, but would you have known that rice has a rightful place in the rituals of love and marriage?

"In ancient tribal cultures, the abundance and goodness of rice ensured the ability to raise big, healthy, productive families," McCauley explained. "The prominent role of this grain in male-female relationships continued from then, through Roman times – and by throwing rice at the bride and groom today, the guests symbolically wish them a lifetime of these blessings."

Here's the interesting symbolism of other wedding traditions uncovered by Minute Rice:

• The Honeymoon - Initially it wasn't a vacation but instead, a ritual of drinking wine. In northern Europe, wine made from mead and honey brought good luck to the newlyweds, as long as it was consumed every day for a month. One month was known as one "moon".
• The Bridal Shower - The first of its kind is said to have originated after a disapproving father declined to provide his daughter with a dowry. Her friends "showered" the bride-to-be with gifts instead.
• The Bachelor Party - The groom's last taste of freedom became a ritual in fifth century Sparta, where military comrades would feast and toast one another on the eve of their friend's wedding.
• The Ring Finger - The third finger on the left hand became the ring finger several centuries ago when it was believed to be connected by a vein directly to the heart.
• The Wedding Cake - In ancient Rome wheat bread was broken over the bride's head to symbolize hope and fulfillment. The tradition continued into the Middle Ages in Britain, when guests brought small cakes to a wedding, piled them up and asked for a newlywed kiss. Pretty soon someone decided to pile all the cakes together and frost them – and the multi-tiered wedding cake was born.
• The Taste of Cake - Feeding cake to each other symbolizes how the couple will "feed" and nourish the relationship for the rest of their lives.

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