Here is a list of 7 most common wedding traditions and their origins to wedding enthusiasts across the globe.

Weddings are layered with many traditions that have evolved over time.


1. BRIDESMAIDS: One of the most interesting wedding traditions remains with bridesmaids and their original purpose. Nowadays, bridesmaid dresses usually cause the most contention. However, originally bridesmaids dressed exactly the same as the bride. The purpose was to confuse evil spirits and stop them from becoming fixated on the bride, and ultimately prevent them from cursing the newlyweds.

2. WHITE BRIDAL GOWN: It was actually Queen Victoria who introduced the white wedding tradition back in 1840. Since then, women all over the world have followed her cue. Traditionally, the white wedding gown symbolized purity, innocence and chastity. Not so sure about this nowadays…and many brides are choosing other colours for their gowns.

3.THE RING FINGER: Beyonce’s "if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it" lyrics chimes an element of ancient truth. In ancient Rome, when a man put a ring on a woman, he literally took possession of her. The ring symbolized his ownership. Additionally, ancient Romans believed the ‘Vena Amoris’ or ‘Vein of Love’ connected the left ring finger directly to the heart, which is why the wedding ring is only ever placed on this finger.

4.STAG NIGHTS: One of the oldest wedding traditions is the stag night and it hasn’t changed much since the Spartans started it in the 5th Century B.C. Stag nights are when a groom celebrates his last night as a single man. No superstitions, no evolution, just the same celebration with the same purpose and we're guessing the same outcome – MESSY.

5.BOUQUET: In ancient times, bouquets were made up of pungent herbs and spices like garlic and dill. The reason was to ward off those pesky evil spirits and prevent ill health. Fortunately times have changed and we have evolved to become a less superstitious society. Nowadays, brides carry bouquets made up of fragrant flowers as oppose to pungent herbs.

6.THROWING RICE: In ancient times, rice symbolized the seed of life. Traditionally it was thrown at the newlywed couple as they departed from the church. This gesture was to wish the couple luck, prosperity and fertility. Nowadays, it's simply seen as littering and apparently it's not so good for native birds. These days, people are replacing rice with ribbons or confetti.

7.CARRYING THE BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD:Traditionally speaking, there were two different reasons the groom carried the bride over the threshold. In some parts of the world it was to protect his bride from being possessed by evil spirits. Back then, brides were considered as being highly vulnerable to spirit intrusion. In other parts of the world, it was a way of preventing the bride from appearing too eager to lose her virginity. Nowadays, it’s a romantic gesture, one that we hope sticks around forever.

There are so many more interesting wedding traditions in the different parts of the world, and typically most of them spawn from our ancient ancestors’ superstitious natures.

Can you think of any? What is your favorite wedding tradition?

Un-African art they all.

smurfy: Un-African art they all.

totally agree with you....if only we celebrate our local ways of doing things: once said, the white wedding we value so much is the white man's traditional and only wedding! Anyway, what is your favorite wedding tradition.....?

.

ulster:

totally agree with you....if only we celebrate our local ways of doing things: once said, the white wedding we value so much is the white man's traditional and only wedding! Anyway, what is your favorite wedding tradition.....?

Me? Ain't married yet. And that area is still a complex zone to venture into

smurfy:
Me? Ain't married yet. And that area is still a complex zone to venture into

well , you don't have to be married to like or have a favorite wedding tradition; at-least one to be looking up-to when you finally get married

ulster:

well , you don't have to be married to like or have a favorite wedding tradition; at-least one to be looking up-to when you finally get married

Yeah, I know. That's why I added sentence No 2. I'll like to get near the bridge before deciding how to cross it.

And nigerians don copy am like say nah dia own. We always imitate the western world and sometimes we imitate without understanding; and that is why sometimes you see someboy telling you that white wedding is more important than traditional marriage. I think the blacks have a great incurable inferiority complex

ulster:

totally agree with you....if only we celebrate our local ways of doing things: once said, the white wedding we value so much is the white man's traditional and only wedding! Anyway, what is your favorite wedding tradition.....?

We don't value what we have.

The wedding tradition that I know of is that the woman dances like that's her last because finally she has moved from spinsterhood to marriagehood.

" Searching for the groom- Igbo wedding.

"Once all presentation have been done as custom demands the bride makes an entrance led by her maidens, she approaches her father who gives her a symbolic wooden cup filled with palm wine, the purpose is for the bride to seek out her suitor among the teeming crowd.
The groom might choose to seat at the back with friends or within the crowd,
she seeks him out and offers him the wine which he drinks expressing his
love, affection and agreement with the bonding, they then present themselves
to their individual parents and the gathering." - Culled from http://tony55.hubpages.com/hub/The-Igbo-Traditional-Wedding-Igba-Nkwu-Igbo-Traditional-Marriage-ceremonies

From the OP's post, it seemz white wedding was never out thing. Now trending is when ur wife to be would tell u her pastor insist u come to her church or she can't marry u.

Another reason to love NL.

urhoboman: From the OP's post, it seemz white wedding was never out thing. Now trending is when ur wife to be would tell u her pastor insist u come to her church or she can't marry u.

Well, I think its a bit okay to get married in the girl's church, after all she is been taken away

urhoboman: From the OP's post, it seemz white wedding was never out thing. Now trending is when ur wife to be would tell u her pastor insist u come to her church or she can't marry u.

Well I think its okay to get married in the lady's church, after all she is one who is been taken away or leaving her church

ulster: 1. BRIDESMAIDS: One of the most interesting wedding traditions remains with bridesmaids and their original purpose. Nowadays, bridesmaid dresses usually cause the most contention. However, originally bridesmaids dressed exactly the same as the bride. The purpose was to confuse evil spirits and stop them from becoming fixated on the bride, and ultimately prevent them from cursing the newlyweds.

Interesting purpose.

This would surely send shivers down the spines of all prospective bridesmaids.

Who wants to embrace an evil spirit meant for the bride after all

The white man ain't GOD. must all these 'rituals' happen before getting married.

These unchecked history is the reason why our gals have chosen extented single hood all in a bid to fulfill fantasy of omotola jakandesque wedding instead of reasoning how to lead a good married life.

Consequence? divorce after a N3.5million wedding.

ulster:

Well I think its okay to get married in the lady's church, after all she is one who is been taken away or leaving her church

"HER CHURCH" That would be the problm. I believe u will do same for a lady. I don't have a church I call "my church". Evry sunday I do attend any church that comes to mind, at timez I do get invite from frndz to attend their church, nd I will attend the same church for like 3 to 4timez, itz the same God I went there to pray to. If at the point of getting ready 4 marriage my lady suggest to get it done in her church I won't mind bt glady accept, but if she INSIST itz her church alone or else she can't marry me. To hell with her. It amazes me how/why a pastor would brainwash hez/her members to that extent.

urhoboman: "HER CHURCH" That would be the problm. I believe u will do same for a lady. I don't have a church I call "my church". Evry sunday I do attend any church that comes to mind, at timez I do get invite from frndz to attend their church, nd I will attend the same church for like 3 to 4timez, itz the same God I went there to pray to. If at the point of getting ready 4 marriage my lady suggest to get it done in her church I won't mind bt glady accept, but if she INSIST itz her church alone or else she can't marry me. To hell with her. It amazes me how/why a pastor would brainwash hez/her members to that extent.

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aholiab: The white man ain't GOD. must all these 'rituals' happen before getting married.

These unchecked history is the reason why our gals have chosen extented single hood all in a bid to fulfill fantasy of omotola jakandesque wedding instead of reasoning how to lead a good married life.

Consequence? divorce after a N3.5million wedding.

very true...!

WoW..It's my first time hear so interesting meaning of bridesmaid dresses..And as a wedding vendor,I have got many same style bridesmaid dresses from grbidal.com.....They meet my all requirements.

Killing of cows and jollof rice nko

Na so!

ulster:

totally agree with you....if only we celebrate our local ways of doing things: once said, the white wedding we value so much is the white man's traditional and only wedding! Anyway, what is your favorite wedding tradition.....?

True,coz we lack creativity and have alot of frustrations in our art and literature forcing us to imbibe a foreign norm.

Spirit devil wtf

african culture is our true culture. Not islamic not christianity weddings.

Wasting money anyhow for a wedding doesnt make sense. My fore fathers did their wedding in the african way and they enjoyed it.

I shall not disappoint them.

I want jus introduction and court wedding from my hubby...is that too much to ask?

ulster:

Well I think its okay to get married in the lady's church, after all she is one who is been taken away or leaving her church

she is been taken. Is she also paying for it too?

[size=18pt]ALL THIS NA OYINBO TRADITIONS!

AM I IN OYINBO.com OR IN NAIRALAND NIGERIAN FORUM ? I am confused sef[/size]

irishCream: I want jus introduction and court wedding from my hubby...is that too much to ask?

that is what i have in mind too. Its not too much. Lets do it together.

No6 though