Bridesmaids: Ancient Wedding Traditions And Their Modern Legacy

The tradition of bridesmaids has evolved over the years, but the role originated from the need to protect the bride from evil spirits and jealous suitors. In ancient Rome and China, bridesmaids wore identical outfits to the bride to confuse evil spirits and potential attackers as the bride travelled to her groom's village. The tradition of wearing matching colours and veils continued well into the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria and her bridesmaids wore matching white dresses, setting a new trend for bridal parties. In modern times, bridesmaids are typically the bride's close friends or relatives, chosen to provide emotional and logistical support, although they still carry out some traditional duties, such as holding the bridal bouquet.

Bridesmaids were body doubles to confuse evil spirits and suitors

Bridesmaids have not always been the bride's close friends or relatives. In fact, the role of the bridesmaid has evolved significantly over time.

In ancient Rome, Roman law required ten witnesses to be present at a wedding. These witnesses were usually friends of the couple, and thus the 'bridal party' was born. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were dressed just like the bride and groom to confuse vengeful spirits or jealous suitors who might try to harm the couple.

In ancient China, brides were susceptible to kidnapping by rival clans and hooligans. Bridesmaids were dressed like the bride to lower the risk of her being identified and taken. This practice of using body doubles was also used in ancient Rome, where the bride would have to travel many miles to her groom's town, making her vulnerable to attack by bandits or rival suitors.

In biblical times, bridesmaids were the servants or slaves of the bride. For example, in the biblical story of Jacob, his two wives, Leah and Rachel, were escorted to the wedding by their servants.

In the Victorian era, as commercial dyes became more available, bridesmaid dresses started changing colours and short veils fell out of favour. Nowadays, bridesmaids are chosen by the bride to provide emotional and logistical support and to help with any pre-wedding tasks.

They also served as protection against bandits and kidnappers

In ancient times, bridesmaids served as protection against bandits and kidnappers. Brides were often targets for robbers and kidnappers due to the dowry of money, furniture, and other riches they brought with them. Bridesmaids dressed identically to the bride, acting as "decoys" to confuse potential attackers and make it difficult to identify the bride. This practice has been recorded in ancient Rome and feudal China, where a bride may have had to travel long distances to her groom's town, exposing her to a higher risk of attack.

In ancient China, brides were also susceptible to kidnapping by rival clans and hooligans. Bridesmaids dressed like the bride to lower the risk of her being identified and taken. As legal protections for marriage were established, the role of the bridesmaid evolved to become more symbolic.

In Roman times, the presence of bridesmaids was also linked to the requirement of having ten witnesses at a wedding. These witnesses, dressed like the bride and groom, served to confuse vengeful spirits and jealous suitors who might wish to harm the couple.

The tradition of bridesmaids wearing matching outfits continued well into the Victorian era. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, her twelve bridesmaids wore identical white dresses to complement the Queen's satin gown. This started the tradition of royal brides wearing white instead of silver.

While the role of bridesmaids has evolved, and modern weddings are less focused on the protection aspect, some cultural remnants remain. For example, in some Chinese ceremonies, a bridesmaid may still be called upon to deflect drinking requests for the bride and consume rice wine on her behalf during numerous toasts with guests.

Bridesmaids were servants or slaves, not social peers

The role of the bridesmaid has changed significantly over time. In modern times, bridesmaids are usually the bride's close friends or relatives, but this was not always the case.

In fact, according to the Bible, bridesmaids were originally servants or slaves, not social peers. In the biblical story of Jacob's marriage to Leah and Rachel, each bride was escorted to the wedding by her own servants, referred to as "brides' maids". These women were not friends or relatives but domestic workers who catered to the bride's every need on her wedding day.

In ancient times, bridesmaids dressed identically to the bride, a practice that was believed to protect the bride from evil spirits or bandits. By having a group of women dressed alike, it became more difficult to identify the bride, thus protecting her from potential harm. This practice can be traced back to ancient Rome and feudal China, where brides often had to travel long distances to their groom's village, making them vulnerable to attack by bandits or rival suitors.

The tradition of wearing matching outfits also extended to the groomsmen, who dressed like the groom to further confuse evil spirits or jealous suitors. This belief in the supernatural power of matching outfits eventually evolved into a legal requirement in Roman wedding customs, mandating the presence of ten uniformly dressed witnesses at the wedding ceremony.

In summary, the historical role of the bridesmaid was quite different from what it is today. Bridesmaids were once servants or slaves tasked with protecting the bride and catering to her needs, rather than social peers chosen for their close relationship with the bride.

They were chosen from unmarried, marriageable women

Bridesmaids have not always been chosen because of a close relationship with the bride, as they are today. In the past, bridesmaids were chosen from unmarried, marriageable women, often relatives or close friends of the bride. The number of bridesmaids chosen was dependent on the social status of the bride's family. The larger the group of bridesmaids, the higher the social status and wealth of the family.

The role of the bridesmaid originated in ancient Rome, where Roman law required ten witnesses to be present at a wedding. These witnesses were usually friends of the bride and groom, and so the 'bridal party' was born. Bridesmaids were dressed the same as the bride to confuse vengeful spirits or jealous suitors who might try to harm the couple. This practice also occurred in ancient China, where brides were susceptible to kidnapping by rival clans or hooligans.

In the Victorian era, as commercial dyes became more available, bridesmaid dresses started to change colour and short veils fell out of fashion.section

In modern times, bridesmaids are chosen because of their close relationship with the bride. Their duties include helping the bride with wedding planning and offering emotional and logistical support.

Today, bridesmaids offer emotional and logistical support

Today, bridesmaids are a given at nearly all weddings, but the role has changed significantly over time. Bridesmaids offer emotional and logistical support to the bride, helping with any pre-wedding tasks and supporting her on the big day.

The maid of honour, or matron of honour if she is married, is in charge of the other bridesmaids and offers additional support to the bride. She may be asked to hold the bride's bouquet during the vows, make a toast to the newlyweds, and wear the groom's ring on her finger if there is no ring bearer. The maid of honour also leads the bridal party in planning any pre-wedding events, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

The bridesmaids act as a support team for the maid of honour, forming the bride's entourage. They help with tasks such as decorating for the wedding feast and planning the bridal wreath. In modern times, bridesmaids often participate in planning wedding-related events and may be asked to provide practical and emotional support to the bride on the wedding day, such as helping her get dressed.

In the past, bridesmaids had a more dangerous role, protecting the bride from evil spirits or bandits. They would dress like the bride to confuse jealous suitors or evil spirits and prevent them from harming the bride. This tradition is believed to have originated in ancient Rome and feudal China, where brides were vulnerable to attack while travelling to their groom's village.

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