Posted on: May 1, 2008
Bright Traditions
Throughout history, wedding dresses have had their own mystique
By Timothy R. Schulte
CTW Features
A lot has been made about the upcoming nuptials of First Daughter Jenna Bush. Specifically, what she will be wearing.
But for all the fuss, there hasn’t been a lot to be seen.
Bush, who will wed fiancé Harry Hager on May 10 at the Bush’s Crawford, Texas, ranch, will wear a not-to-be-seen-till-the-wedding-day gown designed for her by Oscar de la Renta. While sketches of the 14 Lela Rose-designed gowns her bridesmaids have been released, no one has seen what the bride-to-be will be wearing; it’s been reported that Hager wants to follow the traditional route and not see the gown before the wedding.
But that it must be white (we’re assuming Bush’s is) and that the groom must not see it before the wedding aren’t the only traditions that shroud the gown. Author Jennifer Trainer Thompson outlines some of history’s other dress decrees in her book “The Joy of Family Traditions” (Celestial Arts, 2008). Here’s a smattering of the samples:
• Blue gowns were worn in biblical times to symbolize purity, while ancient Roman brides wore yellow.
• In Japan, wedding-day kimonos can be any color BUT white, which is often reserved for mourning in Asian cultures.
• Hindu brides wear two saris. She starts the day in one given to her by her parents and after the ceremony switches to one given to her by her husband.
• Pakistani brides wear red, which symbolizes happiness. Chinese brides also wear red.
• Prior to the 16th century, European clergy discouraged brides from wearing white, saying it was in poor taste to advertise virginity, but white was better than green, which inferred that a bride had “rolling in the grass” with someone.
• During the Revolutionary War, colonial brides wore red ribbons to protest the British occupation.
Check back next week when we look traditional bridal customs from all over the world
