Junior Rasmussen
Red wedding dresses are a common tradition in many cultures. In Western cultures, white wedding dresses have been popular since the 19th century, symbolizing purity and grace. However, in Eastern cultures, red is often the colour of choice for brides, symbolizing passion, romance, strength, and success. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes good luck, happiness, and prosperity, and brides traditionally wear red dresses known as qipao or cheongsam. Similarly, in Indian culture, brides wear red saris or lehengas to symbolize fertility, auspiciousness, and marital bliss. Red wedding dresses are also worn by Kurdish first-time brides to symbolize postcoital bleeding. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, red was a popular choice for noble and wealthy brides, and some modern couples still choose red dresses to make a bold statement or honour their heritage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Viking culture | Wealth |
| Hindu culture | Passion, success, fertility, loyalty, courage, happiness, strength |
| Chinese culture | Luck, happiness, joy, celebration, fortune, success, love, enthusiasm |
| Italian culture | Warding off the evil eye |
| Indian culture | Fertility, auspiciousness, marital bliss |
| Middle Eastern and North African cultures | Celebration, good fortune |
| Western culture | Romance |
| Kurdish culture | Postcoital bleeding, virginity |
| Chinese New Year | Joy, new beginnings |
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What You'll Learn
Chinese brides wear red for luck, happiness, and prosperity
In Chinese culture, the colour red is imbued with deep symbolic significance. It is associated with luck, happiness, joy, and celebration. The traditional Chinese wedding dress, known as a qipao or cheongsam, is often red and embellished with intricate embroidery and gold accents. The custom of wearing a red wedding dress, along with a honggaitou (a red veil), has been practised in China for centuries, dating back to the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago.
The colour red is believed to bring good fortune and success, making it an auspicious choice for brides who want to embrace their cultural heritage and express their joy on their wedding day. In ancient China, an emperor dressed a princess bride in a bright red dress made of phoenix feathers to bless her with luck and happiness in her marriage. This ancient myth is thought to be one of the reasons why Chinese brides still favour red today.
Lunar New Year is a particularly festive and joyous time in Chinese culture, marking new beginnings and bringing extra luck and fortune to any weddings that take place during this period. Thus, brides who get married during this time often opt for a red wedding dress to honour their heritage and celebrate the happiness associated with the colour.
In modern times, Chinese weddings have been influenced by Western culture, and many brides now choose to wear a white, Western-style gown for the ceremony, changing into a red dress for the reception to incorporate their cultural traditions. While the colour white symbolises purity and grace in Western cultures, it represents death in Chinese culture, making it a colour that was traditionally avoided for weddings.
In addition to red, green is also a traditional colour for Chinese wedding dresses, dating back to the Tang Dynasty when green bridal fashion was highly popular. In Chinese culture, green symbolises vitality, life, harmony, and compassion, making it a positive and uplifting choice for brides.
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Indian brides wear red to honour the Hindu Goddess Durga
Indian brides often wear red to symbolise passion, success, love, purity, and commitment, and to honour the Hindu Goddess Durga, who represents ancient cosmic feminine energy, new beginnings, zeal, and feminine strength.
The tradition of Indian brides wearing red is a blend of history, culture, and personal significance. Red is a major hue in most religious rites in Indian culture and has a variety of positive implications. The colour is also associated with the fire god Agni, who is believed to purify and sanctify the wedding ceremony.
The choice of red for bridal attire is also deeply personal. Brides select red because it resonates with them and holds sentimental value. For many Indian brides, wearing red connects them to their cultural heritage and family values. Red bridal attire is often passed down through generations as cherished family heirlooms, carrying the memories of a joyous occasion and becoming a symbol of family heritage.
While red is the most popular choice for Indian brides, modern brides are also choosing gold, ivory, pastel shades, and other colours for their wedding attire.
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Viking brides wore red as a sign of wealth
Viking weddings were not just about love and personal connections; they were deeply intertwined with social, political, and economic structures. Viking brides wore red as a sign of wealth because red dye was expensive to buy or barter for, making a bright red dress a symbol of success in trade and battle. The wedding dress was not just an item of clothing but a symbol of social status, personal belief, and a deep connection to Norse culture.
The colour red was also associated with love, passion, and desire, reflecting the emotional depth and intensity of the union. Red was also commonly used to symbolize the passionate bond between partners, representing love and devotion. In addition, the wedding dress was often made from high-quality materials and featured intricate embroidery, further emphasizing the wealth and status of the family.
The choice of materials, colours, and designs was of great importance and reflected the bride's social status and personal beliefs. Traditional fabrics such as linen and wool were frequently used, and dresses were often in bold colours such as red, blue, and green. These colours often had symbolic meanings and were carefully chosen to promote happiness and prosperity in the marriage.
Furthermore, Viking brides wore amulets or charms sewn into their dresses for protection and good fortune. This attire was a key part of the cultural narrative of Viking unions, with marriages serving as vital strategic alliances between families and clans, strengthening ties and ensuring the community's survival and prosperity.
While the tradition of wearing red at Viking weddings may have signified wealth and status, it also carried deeper symbolic meanings related to love, passion, and emotional intensity. The colour red played a significant role in Viking weddings, reflecting the cultural and spiritual significance attached to this vibrant hue.
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Kurdish brides wear red to symbolise post-coital bleeding
In Kurdish weddings, the bride usually wears a traditional Kurdish dress, full of embroidery and jewellery. Although red is not necessarily worn by the bride, Kurdistan is quite large and has a lot of regional differences, so wearing red may be a custom in some areas.
In many other cultures, red is the traditional colour of bridal looks. In Eastern cultures, red often symbolises good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. In Chinese weddings, for instance, red symbolises luck, happiness, and prosperity, and brides traditionally wear bright red dresses known as qipaos or cheongsams, adorned with intricate embroidery and gold accents. Chinese brides may also wear a honggaitou, a square of red fabric used as a veil to cover their faces before the wedding night. This custom can be traced back to the Song dynasty period.
In Indian weddings, the bride often wears a red sari or lehenga, symbolising fertility, auspiciousness, and marital bliss, as well as honouring the Hindu Goddess Durga, who is usually depicted wearing a flowing red sari. In Middle Eastern and North African cultures, red is also associated with celebration and good fortune.
In medieval and Renaissance Europe, red was a popular choice for wedding attire among the nobility and wealthy. It is believed that Viking brides wore red as a sign of wealth, as red dye was expensive.
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Red symbolises romance and passion in Western culture
In Western culture, red symbolises romance, passion, and enthusiasm. Wearing a red wedding dress is a bold statement that reflects a passionate and brave personality. Red is also associated with strength and success.
In contrast to the white wedding dresses that became popular in Western culture after Queen Victoria wore one at her wedding in 1840, red wedding dresses have been the standard in many cultures throughout history. In Chinese culture, red is a symbol of luck, happiness, and prosperity, and has been the traditional colour for brides for over 650 years. Chinese brides wear red to celebrate the joy and happiness of their marriage. The colour is also associated with the Chinese Goddess of Happiness and is believed to bring good fortune.
In Indian culture, red is the colour of fertility, auspiciousness, and marital bliss. Brides wear red to honour the Hindu Goddess Durga, who is usually depicted wearing a flowing red sari and represents ancient cosmic feminine energy.
In Middle Eastern and North African cultures, red is associated with celebration and good fortune, while in Viking culture, red clothing was a sign of wealth as red dye was expensive.
While white wedding dresses remain the standard in Western culture, some modern brides are choosing to depart from this tradition and embrace the idea of wearing red to showcase their individuality.
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Frequently asked questions
In Chinese culture, the colour red is synonymous with happiness, fortune, success, and celebration. The tradition of wearing a red wedding dress dates back to the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago.
In Indian weddings, the bride often wears a red sari or lehenga, symbolizing fertility, auspiciousness, passion, success, and marital bliss. The colour red is used to honour the Hindu Goddess Durga, who is usually depicted wearing a flowing red sari.
Traditionally, a Kurdish first-time bride would wear a red dress to symbolise the postcoital bleeding she will experience when she loses her virginity.
It is believed that Viking brides wore red on their wedding day as a sign of wealth. Red dye was expensive, so a bright red dress symbolised success in trade and battle.
White wedding dresses in Western culture symbolise purity and grace. The trend is believed to have started with Queen Victoria, who wore white when she married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840.
