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The
wedding ring is usually worn on the third finger of the left hand.
People once thought that a vein or nerve in this finger ran directly
to the heart. |
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The most popular style
of wedding ring has always been a single unadorned band. |
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The most popular style
of wedding ring has always been a single unadorned band. |
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Some believe that it
is bad luck for a bride and groom to see each other before the
ceremony on their wedding day. |
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The custom of having
the groom carry the bride over the threshold probably comes from
the ancient practice of capturing a wife. |
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The roundness of a
wedding ring is believed to represent eternity and that it is
a symbol that the bride and groom are united forever. |
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In
earlier times, some think the best man's function was to be the
groom's strong-arm friend and help him escape from the bride's
father. The honeymoon may have been a waiting period for the bride's
parents to become less angry. |
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An old superstition
tells that the diamond's sparkle originated in the alchemists'
fires of love. |
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The use of a ring as
an engagement token comes from the ancient custom of using a ring
to seal any sacred or important agreement. |
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The
throwing of rice on the couple has always been
symbolic of wishing
prosperity and good luck. In the Orient,
throwing rice means, "May you always have a
full pantry." |
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For
much of history the rope was the most powerful way
to connect things and people. So, it made sense to
talk about "tying the knot." |
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Seeing
a rainbow, having sunshine on the bride, and meeting
a black cat or a chimney sweep are all lucky. Of
course you could run into some bad omens as well.
Bad omens are considered seeing a pig, hare or
lizard running across the road (not something we
usually have to worry about) or seeing an open
grave. |
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