by Carol H. Morgan

Created on: December 16, 2008

Do you know why many of us wear rings on our left hand to symbolize engagement and/or marriage? Many are surprised when they learn that this tradition and may others, including wearing white at the ceremony which didn't enter western European tradition until much later, is brought to our culture from Roman wedding traditions.

In fact, Rome's famous and involved engagement, wedding and marriage traditions have influenced many such marriage practices even to modern day, where they are the source for many current marriage customs. A ring on the third finger of a bride's hand is only one of the most famous. (It references a pagan belief that this finger has some kind of direct line to the heart). The following traditions come from Roman wedding engagements, ceremonies and celebrations:

CHOICE OF A SPOUSE AND ENGAGEMENT

Choosing the day of the wedding was often done with great care to avoid omens and initiate good luck for the family. June was especially favored and considered to be associated with luck leading to its popularity for weddings.

Economic considerations and relationships with the bride and groom's parents were more important than love or the relationship of the couple. Romance was seldom a factor in choosing a spouse, even though love and affection was not usually precluded between husband and wife to develop later in life.

For the particular couple, the selection of their spouse would greatly impact them. There was no polygamy, and little divorce, so there was special attention payed to selecting a marriage partner. Marriage was forbidden between relatives four times removed, in addition to between anyone connected by marriage.

Even if the couple did not choose each other, their consent was considered to be important. It was shown in a number of ritualized demonstrations. First, consent was shown in public prior to the wedding ceremony, one way was for the couple to appear in public holding hands. An engagement period before the wedding was often considered a good idea and was convention, but it wasn't required.

THE WEDDING CEREMONY/CELEBRATION

The night before the wedding the ceremonies began, and again there are a few similarities to modern day, even though overall the cultures are very different. Brides were of course young, very much children, so they would give away their toys to other younger children. They would try on their wedding dresses in the presence of their mothers and other women, like today.

On her wedding day morning, a bride was dressed by

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