| The origin of the members of the bridal party | | | | The origin of the engagement and weddings rings |
| During the marriage-by-capture era, the loyal | | | | AS far as can be discovered, the wedding ring |
| tribesmen and close friends of the groom within | | | | originated in the days of the caveman in a cord |
| the tribe aided him to invade the enemy territory | | | | of reeds with which the man bound himself to his |
| to capture his bride. While he dashed off with her, | | | | wife's waist in order to make their spirits one. The |
| his friends stayed behind to fend off or fight the | | | | Egyptians, it is thought, introduced the first metal |
| bride's outraged relatives. Such were the first | | | | finger rings which were probably made of gold. In |
| ushers and best man. | | | | Egyptian hieroglyphics a circlet indicated eternity. |
| The maid-of-honour and the bridesmaids, as they | | | | The 9th century Christians began using the |
| are known today, can also be traced back | | | | wedding rings which have continued to the |
| through the centuries to Saxon England. The | | | | present. |
| senior among them would attend the bride for a | | | | There is a legend that the first wedding ring was |
| number of days before the wedding. She was | | | | made of iron adamant by Tubalcain for |
| especially responsible for the making of the bridal | | | | Prometheus. The iron symbolized lastingness, the |
| wreath, the decorations for the wedding feast, | | | | adamant perfect concord. |
| and for dressing the bride. Related forerunners of | | | | The early Romans used iron wedding rings. |
| today's bridesmaids were the guards who | | | | Among the poorer English, even as late as the |
| protected the maiden from capture. Other | | | | 19th century, it was customary to use the ring at |
| examples of the use of "bridesmaids" were the | | | | the Church keep. And today, when a very poor |
| ten witnesses required by the Roman marriage | | | | Irishman cannot buy a wedding ring, he rents one! |
| ceremony. | | | | The Puritans forbade rings as they considered |
| The flower girls and ring-bearers of modern | | | | their use pagan. |
| weddings are a vestige of the fertility rites | | | | Engagement rings followed much the same |
| practiced by many different peoples. The bride | | | | pattern through the years as wedding rings. The |
| was often accompanied by a little child who was | | | | cave man first plaited grass or rushes around the |
| supposed to symbolize a fruitful union. | | | | ankles or wrists of his chosen bride. These were |
| The origin of the processional | | | | awkward, and were abandoned in favour of |
| The origin of the processional has clearly | | | | strands of grass tied around the finger of the |
| developed from the ancient and medieval wedding | | | | betrothed. |
| processions. Among the Athenians, the ceremony | | | | It is said that the earliest allusion to engagement |
| began with morning offerings to Zeus and Hera, | | | | rings in Christian literature is in Tertullian's writings |
| and especially to Artemis, who was not, we are | | | | at the end of the second century A.D. The |
| told, in favour of marriages. Then, at nightfall, the | | | | Romans are credited with introducing engagement |
| bride was conducted to the bridegroom's house. | | | | rings to the ancient Germans and there is |
| She rode in a chariot, drawn by a pair of mules, | | | | reference to them in the law of the Visigoths in |
| and was seated on a couch-like arrangement | | | | 642 A.D. |
| between her husband and one of his close friends. | | | | Even the inscriptions in wedding or engagement |
| As the bridal procession advanced, it was greeted | | | | rings had their source in former centuries. As far |
| and joined by friends carrying nuptial torches and | | | | back as 400 B.C., the Greeks had dedications |
| singing songs. | | | | inscribed in their rings, while medieval French |
| In medieval times, the processional was especially | | | | suitors were especially fond of the practice. |
| colourful. Gaily dressed minstrels sang and piped at | | | | The ring ceremony of past times was interesting. |
| the head of the procession. Next came a young | | | | During the ceremony, the ring was placed upon |
| man bearing the bride-cup, which was a chalice or | | | | the open book. The clergyman then sprinkled it |
| vase of silver or silver-gilt, decorated with gilt, | | | | with holy water and blessed it. Then the groom |
| rosemary and ribbons. Then the bride walked, | | | | picked it up with the thumb and first two fingers |
| attended by two bachelors, and a dozen or so | | | | of his right hand and placed it upon the bride's |
| knights and pages. Next came maidens carrying | | | | thumb, saying, "In the name of the Father." He |
| bride cake, followed by girls with garlands of | | | | then transferred it to the first finger, saying, "And |
| wheat. The bridegroom then appeared, led by | | | | of the Son." Next he changed it to the second |
| two maidens, and walked in the midst of his close | | | | finger as he said, "And of the Holy Ghost." Finally |
| friends, including his "best man." The relatives | | | | he placed it upon her third finger with "Amen." It |
| walked after him, and these were followed by | | | | did not seem to matter whether the ring was |
| less intimate friends. Finally, at some distance and | | | | placed on the bride's right or left hand. Sometimes |
| appearing to have no concern in the festivities, or | | | | it was placed on the right at the espousal and on |
| ceremony, appeared the bride's father! | | | | the left at the wedding. |