The Importance of Being Married or the How and Why of Wedding Tradition around the World

Author Information

A Day Of Bliss has 10 Published Articles

United States of America,
New York,
New York,
146 West 29th Street Studio 11W,

The Importance of Being Married or the How and Why of Wedding Tradition around the World

Posted On : Feb-01-2012 | seen (576) times | Article Word Count : 603 |

Although millions of people no longer feel the need to make a public commitment, a large proportion of the world still feel it is the right thing to do. Perhaps it has something to do with tradition. In our grandparents day people didn’t get divorced at all. Maybe it was just ‘traditional’ to stay married...or maybe there is a special something that makes marriage tick, something that people have been doing for years without even noticing.

The word ‘wed’ is derived from the Greek word for ‘pledge’. This is the basis of any wedding, to pledge oneself to another. In nearly every culture there is a tradition of a wedding kiss – you may now kiss the bride - which symbolizes the physical union of two people. Another rite that stands out as being common to most weddings is the exchange of rings (another wedding photographer perfect moment). This truly is a tradition, dating back to biblical times. In the time of the Old Testament, when a couple pledged themselves to one another they would each have a brand on one finger. It was a ring right around the finger symbolising everlasting love and commitment. There are many traditions involving a circular shape to symbolize eternity. The Mexicans lasso the couple together with a white ribbon around their necks during the ceremony. In the Philippines, the couple have their hands bound together with a cord and in Tibet, they have symbolic scarves tied around their necks. Wedding photo journalism depicts these rites today but in the past wedding photographers were the sketch artists and scribes.

Originating in the UK is the ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ tradition. Many wedding photographers will capture these in an artistic fashion. The ‘old’ symbolises the past and continuity and the ‘new’ signifies the future. ‘Something borrowed’ is to indicate the bride has good friends who will always be there for her, and the ‘something blue’ represents the color that traditionally symbolises purity.

Generally, the ‘something blue’ is the bride’s garter. Wedding photographers are provided with an exciting moment to capture and many weddings when the bride removes the garter and throws it to the crowd. The white color of the wedding gown was actually to symbolize joy, with a band of blue around the bottom demonstrating purity.Gold became the most popular metal for making wedding rings as it is expensive and therefore showed the groom was willing to make a financial sacrifice for his bride.

Flowers were often given to the bride and groom as symbols of good wishes for the future. Each flower had a different meaning and was chosen with great care and an important part of the wedding photographers album. The chrysanthemum represents fidelity and the oriental lily communicates a wish for happiness and prosperity. The power of love is represented by the beautiful orchid, the red carnation, and the red rose that is probably the most romantic of all flowers. Perhaps you would not have sunflowers in a wedding bouquet, but planting them either side of the newly-weds front door is a symbol of timelessness. Arbutus says, ‘you’re the only one I love’; Orange lilies say ‘I desire you’ and Peach Blossom is the universal symbol for bridal hope.

With all these traditions and symbols of love and faithfulness, how could anyone possibly go wrong? When planning a wedding, from choosing or writing your vows right down to hiring the NY wedding photographers, the most important things all seem to symbolize everlasting love. If you love someone enough to promise them your eternal love and devotion, enough to stand up in front of a crowd and pledge yourself to another, then you must really mean what you are saying. If you have made all that effort to show your love for someone then you are going to fight to keep it, keep going together through the difficult times, look after and support one another, and love and laugh together in the good times. Together,that is what marriage is all about.

Re-Publish this Article

<h1>The Importance of Being Married or the How and Why of Wedding Tradition around the World</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_A Day Of Bliss.aspx'>A Day Of Bliss</a> The word ‘wed’ is derived from the Greek word for ‘pledge’. This is the basis of any wedding, to pledge oneself to another. In nearly every culture there is a tradition of a wedding kiss – you may now kiss the bride - which symbolizes the physical union of two people. Another rite that stands out as being common to most weddings is the exchange of rings (another wedding photographer perfect moment). This truly is a tradition, dating back to biblical times. In the time of the Old Testament, when a couple pledged themselves to one another they would each have a brand on one finger. It was a ring right around the finger symbolising everlasting love and commitment. There are many traditions involving a circular shape to symbolize eternity. The Mexicans lasso the couple together with a white ribbon around their necks during the ceremony. In the Philippines, the couple have their hands bound together with a cord and in Tibet, they have symbolic scarves tied around their necks. Wedding photo journalism depicts these rites today but in the past wedding photographers were the sketch artists and scribes.

Originating in the UK is the ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ tradition. Many wedding photographers will capture these in an artistic fashion. The ‘old’ symbolises the past and continuity and the ‘new’ signifies the future.  ‘Something borrowed’ is to indicate the bride has good friends who will always be there for her, and the ‘something blue’ represents the color that traditionally symbolises purity.

Generally, the ‘something blue’ is the bride’s garter. Wedding photographers are provided with an exciting moment to capture and many weddings when the bride removes the garter and throws it to the crowd. The white color of the wedding gown was actually to symbolize joy, with a band of blue around the bottom demonstrating purity.Gold became the most popular metal for making wedding rings as it is expensive and therefore showed the groom was willing to make a financial sacrifice for his bride.

Flowers were often given to the bride and groom as symbols of good wishes for the future. Each flower had a different meaning and was chosen with great care and an important part of the wedding photographers album. The chrysanthemum represents fidelity and the oriental lily communicates a wish for happiness and prosperity. The power of love is represented by the beautiful orchid, the red carnation, and the red rose that is probably the most romantic of all flowers. Perhaps you would not have sunflowers in a wedding bouquet, but planting them either side of the newly-weds front door is a symbol of timelessness. Arbutus says, ‘you’re the only one I love’; Orange lilies say ‘I desire you’ and Peach Blossom is the universal symbol for bridal hope.

With all these traditions and symbols of love and faithfulness, how could anyone possibly go wrong? When planning a wedding, from choosing or writing your vows right down to hiring the NY wedding photographers, the most important things all seem to symbolize everlasting love. If you love someone enough to promise them your eternal love and devotion, enough to stand up in front of a crowd and pledge yourself to another, then you must really mean what you are saying. If you have made all that effort to show your love for someone then you are going to fight to keep it, keep going together through the difficult times, look after and support one another, and love and laugh together in the good times. Together,that is what marriage is all about.About the Author: Internationally renowned <a rel="nofollow" href="http://adayofbliss.com/brides">NY wedding photographers</a> brings their unique talent to wedding photography in New York and the world. Professional photography to make every bride a supermodel on her Day of Bliss. Visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://adayofbliss.com/">Our Website</a> for exceptional samples. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The-Importance-of-Being-Married-or-the-How-and-Why-of-Wedding-Tradition-around-the-World_142025.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Importance of Being Married or the How and Why of Wedding Tradition around the World_142025.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Importance of Being Married or the How and Why of Wedding Tradition around the World_142025.aspx

Author Resource :
Internationally renowned NY wedding photographers brings their unique talent to wedding photography in New York and the world. Professional photography to make every bride a supermodel on her Day of Bliss. Visit Our Website for exceptional samples.

Keywords : wedding photographers, wedding photo journalism, Wedding Photography New York,

Category : Arts and Entertainment : Photography

Print this Article Send to Friend