Franklin Dean
Red wedding dresses are a common tradition in many countries, including China, India, and some parts of the Middle East and North Africa. In these cultures, the colour red is associated with good fortune, prosperity, happiness, and success. In China, brides traditionally wear a Qipao or a Cheongsam, a bright red dress adorned with intricate embroidery and gold accents. In India, brides wear red to honour the Hindu Goddess Durga and to symbolise fertility, auspiciousness, and marital bliss. In some parts of the Middle East and North Africa, brides may opt for red wedding dresses to symbolise celebration and good fortune. While red is an unconventional colour for wedding dresses in Western cultures, some modern brides are choosing to wear it because of its symbolism and to stand out from the traditional white gown.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Culture | Pagan, Hindu, Viking, Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, North African, Western |
| Colour symbolism | Love, romance, desire, passion, success, fertility, loyalty, honour, good fortune, prosperity, happiness, celebration, strength, courage, danger, future quarrels, unhappiness |
| Dress type | Qun Kwa, Cheongsam, Qipao, Lehenga, Sari, Long Feng Gua |
| Accessories | Red veil, red or pink shoes, red envelopes, red stones and flowers, red candle on the wedding altar |
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What You'll Learn
India: honouring the Hindu Goddess Durga
In India, the colour red is deeply rooted in the country's culture and traditions. This is especially true for weddings, where brides often wear red to honour the Hindu Goddess Durga.
Durga is an embodiment of the divine shakti, an ancient cosmic feminine energy that protects against evil and fights destruction. She is usually depicted wearing a flowing red sari, a symbol of her power and strength. By donning a red lehenga on their wedding day, modern Indian brides invoke Durga's blessings for integrity, loyalty, forgiveness, courage, and happiness in their marriage.
The colour red itself carries profound significance in Indian culture, representing new beginnings, zeal, and fortune. It is also the colour of Mars, which, according to Hindu astrology, is the planet that governs marriage. Thus, wearing red on one's wedding day is believed to bless the couple with a strong and enduring bond, imbuing the bride with power and confidence as she enters a new phase of her life.
The tradition of wearing red wedding attire in India has its roots in the Mughal Era. The colour is often complemented with gold jewellery, featuring intricate designs, gemstones, and pearls. Some brides also opt for gold jewellery embedded with rubies or red gemstones to further accentuate the elegance and richness of their ensemble.
In addition to its cultural and religious significance, the choice of red for Indian brides also symbolizes passion and success. It is a bold and fashionable statement, reflecting the zeal and enthusiasm of the occasion. Thus, the colour red plays a pivotal role in Indian weddings, not only in the bride's attire but also in the overall aesthetics and symbolism of the ceremony.
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China: a symbol of luck, happiness, and prosperity
In China, the colour red is a symbol of luck, happiness, and prosperity. The traditional Chinese wedding dress, known as a Qipao or a Cheongsam, is a bright red dress adorned with intricate embroidery and gold accents. This practice is said to symbolise joy, luck, and a blissful union. The colour red is also associated with the Lunar New Year, a festive time of year that marks new beginnings and brings good luck and fortune.
The roots of wearing red for weddings in China can be traced back to an ancient Chinese myth about a princess bride and a part dragon, part dog warrior named Panhu. The emperor at the time placed a bounty on his fiercest enemy, offering his daughter's hand in marriage as a reward. Panhu delivers the enemy's head and claims the princess as his bride. On their wedding day, the emperor dresses the princess in a bright red dress made of phoenix feathers to bless the couple with luck and happiness.
In Chinese culture, red is also synonymous with happiness, fortune, and success. It is believed that wearing red will bring good fortune to the bride and groom and blessings for their marriage. This is why it is common for modern Chinese brides to wear a white, Western-style wedding gown for the ceremony and then change into a red or more traditional-style dress for the reception.
Red envelopes are also often given out during the Lunar New Year, and wedding couples may choose to receive these red envelopes during their tea ceremony and gift them as wedding favours. On the wedding day, some brides may also add a red veil and red or pink shoes to their outfits to further incorporate the colour.
China's love for the colour red is deeply tied to their cultural beliefs. Red symbolises love, loyalty, fertility, success, and honour. It is also believed that red represents future quarrels and unhappiness in a marriage, but many modern brides ignore this superstition and enjoy the colour for its positive symbolism instead.
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Viking weddings: a sign of wealth
Viking weddings were important social events, often accompanied by large celebrations and festivities that could last several days. These celebrations were an opportunity for families and clans to strengthen their ties, display their power and wealth, and reinforce social bonds. Marriage was a sacred Norse tradition, and survival and life revolved around close-knit networks of family and friends.
Viking wedding dresses were a symbol of marriage and a reflection of the values and traditions of the Viking Age. The dresses were often made from high-quality materials and featured intricate embroidery, symbolising the wealth and status of the family. The choice of materials, colours, and designs reflected the bride's social status and personal beliefs. For instance, silk was a rare and expensive fabric that symbolised wealth, status, and luxury. Fur and skins were also used to adorn dresses, serving as a symbol of status and providing warmth in harsh Viking climates.
The colour red was also significant in Viking weddings, as it is believed that brides and grooms wore red as a sign of wealth. Red dye was expensive, making a bright red garment a symbol of success in trade and battle. Additionally, red symbolises prosperity and good fortune, further emphasising the couple's wealth and abundance.
In modern times, some Asatru and Heathen couples still wear red when hosting Viking-themed weddings to honour this old tradition. Similarly, in Chinese culture, brides wear red wedding dresses to celebrate the joy and happiness of their marriage, with red being synonymous with happiness, fortune, and success.
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Ancient China: a blessing of luck and happiness
In ancient China, the colour red was seen as a symbol of luck, happiness, and prosperity. This belief continues to hold cultural significance in modern China, where red is synonymous with joy, fortune, and success. Thus, Chinese brides traditionally wear bright red wedding dresses, known as Qipao or Cheongsam, to celebrate the happiness and luck of their marriage. The Qipao or Cheongsam is often adorned with intricate embroidery and gold accents, and some brides even choose to wear a red veil and red or pink shoes to complete their outfit.
The tradition of wearing red during weddings in China is especially prominent during the Lunar New Year, a festive time that marks joy and new beginnings. Thus, brides who have their weddings during this period often don red wedding dresses to symbolise a double celebration of their marriage and the start of a new year. However, the tradition of wearing red extends beyond the Lunar New Year, with many modern Chinese brides choosing to wear a red dress during the reception after their ceremony, even if they wore a white, Western-style gown for the wedding ceremony itself.
The colour red is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and beliefs, where it is seen as a sign of love, loyalty, fertility, success, and honour. This is further exemplified by the custom of gifting red envelopes during the Lunar New Year, which wedding couples may also choose to give out as wedding favours.
The association of red with luck and happiness in ancient China may be linked to an ancient Chinese myth about a princess bride. In this tale, the emperor dresses his daughter in a bright red dress made of phoenix feathers when she marries a brave warrior, Panhu, to bless the couple with luck and happiness. Thus, the tradition of wearing red wedding dresses in China may have originated from this ancient belief in the auspiciousness and blessings associated with the colour red.
While red is a bold and unconventional choice for a wedding dress in Western cultures, it is a traditional and popular choice in many Eastern cultures, including China, where it symbolises the joy, luck, and prosperity of the marital union.
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Medieval Europe: a popular choice for nobility and the wealthy
In Medieval Europe, red was a popular choice for wedding attire among the nobility and the wealthy. The colour red was a symbol of wealth, power, and passion. It was also associated with the Virgin Mary, adding a religious significance to its use in wedding ceremonies. Brides from wealthy families often wore rich colours and exclusive fabrics, with bold colours and layers of furs, velvet, and silk. The attire of the bride was a testament to the wealth and social standing of her family.
Noble brides wore luxurious red velvet gowns adorned with gold embroidery and precious jewels to showcase their status and magnificence. In France, noble brides wore silk from Italy or Byzantium, dyed with costly pigments like cochineal for rich crimsons. In England, there was a preference for velvet, a textile that absorbed light, creating an almost mystical depth. In both England and France, medieval bridal attire mirrored the region's broader artistic and cultural currents, with influences drawn from illuminated manuscripts, religious iconography, and Gothic architecture.
In one example of a medieval wedding dress, the gown was made of a sumptuous, gold brocade cloth. The gold content of the gilding was 75%, evidence of opulent royal fashion in medieval Europe. The dress had a base of red silk, with gold thread used to create an all-over pattern of fruit, laurels, and pomegranates. This dress was likely made by a very skilled craftsperson and would have been extremely expensive.
While red was a popular choice for nobility and the wealthy in Medieval Europe, there was no single "medieval wedding look", and wedding attire varied according to region and custom. Commoners, for example, wore wedding attire made of durable wool or linen, dyed with readily available plants. These gowns were passed down through generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Red wedding dresses are traditionally worn in China, India, Korea, and by modern Pagan couples hosting Viking-style weddings. In these cultures, the colour red is associated with good fortune, prosperity, happiness, and success. In China, brides wear a Qun Kwa, cheongsam or qipao, while in India, they wear a sari or lehenga. In Korea, the bride wears red and the groom blue to symbolise the Confucian idea of yin and yang.
In many cultures, red symbolises passion, romance, strength, fertility, success, honour, and love. In Chinese culture, red is also associated with loyalty.
In Western culture, white wedding dresses became popular after Queen Victoria wore one. White is now associated with bridal looks in Western cultures. In some cultures, red is believed to be an unlucky colour for weddings, symbolising future quarrels and unhappiness in the marriage.
