There are currently 5 traditions in this directory beginning with the letter F.
Father Giving The Bride Away
This custom originally had it's roots in arranged marriages where the bride was considered property. Later, this custom persisted as a symbol with two meanings:
- an endorsement by the father to all witnessing the ceremony that the groom is the best choice for his daughter.
- an offering to the groom: "I am presenting to you my daughter."
First Kiss
No ceremony is complete without the kiss. In fact, there was a time when an engagement would be null and void without one. Dating back from early Roman times, the kiss represented a legal bond that sealed all contracts.
The kiss that seals the wedding is much more than a sign of affection. It has long been a token of bonding - the exchange of spirits as each partner sends a part of the self into the new spouse's soul, there to abide ever after.
The kiss that seals the wedding is much more than a sign of affection. It has long been a token of bonding - the exchange of spirits as each partner sends a part of the self into the new spouse's soul, there to abide ever after.
First Purchase
It is said that the first partner who buys a new item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the relationship. Many brides ensure that they make the first purchase by arranging to buy a small item such as a pin from the chief bridesmaid immediately after the ceremony.
Flouncing
Flouncing was a special party held for an engaged couple to meet with friends of both families. This "flouncing" established a formal contract. If either changed his mind about the marriage, the other could lay claim to half of his, or her, property. Following a flouncing, the couple could no longer be seen with, or be found talking to, other suitors. In China, the betrothal was looked upon as a family obligation. If an engaged man died before the wedding, his intended bride was treated as his widow.
Flower Girl
The girl who put flower petals down the aisle before the bride walks down it.
The meanings and duties of the flower girl have really remained fairly stable throughout the passing ages and even into modern times. A representation of the beauty and joy of youth, the flower girl is a beacon of whimsy. The petals she scatters are viewed as a symbol of fertility, giving the couple luck. In the past herbs were scattered as a way to ward off evil (our ancestors sure were worried about the evil spirits at a wedding) but the main idea of the transformation of the bride from childhood, as represented by the flower girl, was and still is a major focus.
The meanings and duties of the flower girl have really remained fairly stable throughout the passing ages and even into modern times. A representation of the beauty and joy of youth, the flower girl is a beacon of whimsy. The petals she scatters are viewed as a symbol of fertility, giving the couple luck. In the past herbs were scattered as a way to ward off evil (our ancestors sure were worried about the evil spirits at a wedding) but the main idea of the transformation of the bride from childhood, as represented by the flower girl, was and still is a major focus.
