Thursday, April 28, 2011

Women and the Royal Wedding.



Not necessarily monarchists either.
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We know within the confines of traditionalist enclaves, many men love lace and trains and silk and furs and pretty colors and high heels.  We know that Puffy.  I mention that because most Americans think these tastes pertain only to women and effeminate males - but there is an entire remnant of gentlemen who like the same things as the romance obsessed contemporary lady in waiting for her knight in shinning armor.  I know!
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So I'm just saying, it's not just the girls who are anxiously awaiting THE Royal Wedding tomorrow, but high-church lovers and royalists are too.  But never mind the men - the women are actually the most interesting - especially the brides to be, wanna be, already have been, as well as their mothers in or out of wedlock.  I suggested to one friend she do a post about bridal superstitions, but since she may not be able to compose herself to do so before THE Royal Wedding airs, I thought I'd do it myself.  I have nothing to blog about anyway - especially after reading Larry's altar server's post.  (He's totally nuts I think.  Very sick people online these days, I must say.)
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Anyway - here it goes.
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Did you know white wasn't always worn by brides?  I know!  And that was before pre-marital sex became so popular!  Yet catty women of today act as if it's canon law and for virgins only.  Queen Victoria started the white wedding trend - before that women just wore their nicest dress.  So let them wear - who cares?  (Other cultures may have worn white but they don't count in WASP society.)
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Evidently - according to what I read on Angela's blog, wearing the jewelry of divorced women on your wedding day might be bad luck.  (I think I should take credit for that superstition.)
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Oh!  Oh!  Queen Victoria's wedding cake weighed a whopping 300 pounds - and from the looks of later photos, she must have eaten the whole thing herself.  What?
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I once attended a neighbor's wedding and the bride was so fat the seams burst on her wedding gown during the dollar dance, and her hair was wet from sweating so much.  I'm not sure what that means however, but ever since I've been turned off to weddings.
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More superstitions from other sources:
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The new bride must enter her home by the main door, and must not trip or fall - hence the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold.  (The heavy weight bride I mention above had a very short skinny husband.  Evidently she tripped because they divorced a couple of years later.)
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A Swedish bride puts a silver coin from her father and a gold coin from her mother in each shoe to ensure that she'll never do without.
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In Holland, a pine tree is planted outside the newlyweds' home as a symbol of fertility and luck.
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Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
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In the symbolic language of jewels, a sapphire in a wedding ring means marital happiness.  (So don't worry about Kate.)
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Snake rings dotted with ruby eyes were popular wedding bands in Victorian England -- the coils winding into a circle symbolized eternity.   (Southern Pentecostals use real snakes.)
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In Denmark, brides and grooms traditionally cross-dressed to confuse evil spirits!  (I think that's being revived these days.)
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The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head for fertility's sake.  (My dad did something like that at my sister's reception - only it was a whiskey bottle over the groom's head.)
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Bonus point:
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Grooms have very few, if any superstitious tabu since the man is the boss and calls all the shots.  Bark like a dog.  Kidding! (Shoulder hunch, eye squint and foolish grin.)
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And what's with these crazy hats British women wear?
Continuity?
I wonder if this is why Harry VIII chopped off their heads?

19 comments:

  1. We wed before an altar; the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is what we were after.

    Family was held to a minimum, and the poor were our guests of honor.

    I have always loved the story about the wedding at Cana.

    Christ put His hands into the water, and it became the finest of wines.

    We asked Christ to keep His hand in our marriage.

    We only cared for what pleased God.

    While it is virtuous to please God, it is not always possible to do so.

    All we can do is the best we can do. It pleases God that we at least try.

    If someone's marriage falls apart, or the spouse walks away from the sacrament, never the less, it is a permanent sacrament.

    Never give up.

    Never was it known that anyone that asked our Mother's help was left unaided.

    God answers all our prayers.

    Our lifetimes are specks of dust compared to God's eternity.

    Your prayers will be answered; the answer depends on your Faith.

    *

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  2. It's not safe to call speculate someone might be nuts, in case they actually are.

    And especially if they read your blog. LOL!

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  3. Anonymous3:36 PM

    Very interesting facts--funny how trends get started--like the color white on wedding dresses--and they seem to last forever!

    And why do they wear those hats anyway?!

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  4. Someone said the woman in the hat is Princess B but I think it's Ricky Martin.

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  6. I love that hat.
    Love it.

    [Shrinks away in shame.]

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  7. When my brother and sis in law got married they used my grandmother's rings for photos as my SIL is very sensitive to any metals and wears no jewelry at all...she told my brother up front that she didnt' want a ring as it would just sit in the jewelry box. My brother wears a nice ring. You would not believe the catty comments especially why a married woman would not wear a ring. Yet they are going on 17 years of marriage...

    I wouldn't want a ring either..in my line of work around electronics and when I work in the barn on weekends I cannot wear rings, watches, or bracelets (nor would I want to)...I have my grandma's nice wedding set...but I would settle for a really NICE watch :) I have my eye on one if anyone really would like to know :)

    Sara

    PS I LIKE the hat too :) Very unique.

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  8. Marie re flowers...

    I do have a few...earlier this year a couple very BRAVE crocus and daffodils, now grape hyacinths and tulips should openup in a cuople more days...and I cheat and put pansies in pots for the front porch..my roses should bloom sometime this summer..

    But my yard is NEVER as nice as Terry's...someone should sneak over to his place and take some photos to send into BHG..

    Sara

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  9. My take on the Royal Wedding (after they practiced for how many years "living in sin"???? to which a "hip" Brit female commentator quipped, "Well, they'll be no surprises now!"...yeah, right)...
    the most outrageous comment was by Lady Elizabeth Aston, the Queen's cousin, last night on some news program, that Catherine would have the most important job in the world, or something to that effect (can't remember the exact quote).
    My response: Blecchhh!
    Ever heard of Pope Benedict, deary?
    I guess it's just plain "tunnel vision" with this lot.
    Funny how Americans get all tizzy about something that has absolutely NOTHING to do with them (and I speak as one of English descent; of which I am very embarrassed these days...yech!).

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  10. Terry, I called the pharmacist and he will have those meds delivered since you seem to be out. (JOKE!)

    It's a shame Kate and Wills lived together (in fact, it's a sin) but hopefully they will set things right now and by this time next year we'll be gazing at christening photos of baby whales...erm...I mean Baby Wales!

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  11. I couldn't care less; I wish them well as I do every couple.
    I DO wish the news would stop treating it like the Second Coming.
    But I am highly irritated by coverage of things like the Tower of London and how fun it is! wheeeee torture! and Westminster Abbey with no mention of the fact that it was stolen during the Dissolution of the Monasteries when all the monks and priests were killed.
    But I'm Catholic that way.

    :)

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  12. "... and Westminster Abbey with no mention of the fact that it was stolen during the Dissolution of the Monasteries when all the monks and priests were killed...'

    Good on you, Miss Cathy.

    Stand on Truth, no matter how unpopular it is.

    *

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  13. I'm so excited I don't think I can sleep.

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  14. Princess Eugenie, or is that her sister Princess Beatrice of York, technically isn't wearing a hat, she is wearing, what the British call, a fascinator.

    Smaller than a hat and larger than a headpiece.

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  15. Thanks for the information. Why do they wear them? Would Parisian women wear such things? Is it an evening thing? No it couldn't be because the photo of Beatrice is daytime. It's very peculiar.

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  16. I can't wait to see her dress...but I too will wait until the reruns later in the day...

    I stayed up all night to watch Princess Di's wedding..I'm a mush for weddings :) I love to sneak inside our parish church and social hall to see how they are decorated for a wedding :)

    As far as the "living together" thing--I had heard one report that they occasionally shared an apartment on certain weekends, but not for me to say what the living arrangements were... maybe she had her own bedroom who knows?? I'm sure the "staff" would know--I would imagine that a prince doesn't do his own laundry or clean his own bathroom :) It's really none of our business anyway..

    Sara

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  17. Bark like a dog, huh??

    OK gals--I think Mr Terry is getting a bit out of line.. :)

    Sara

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  18. Dear Nazareth Priest,
    I am so sorry you are embarrassed about your English links.Do you forget those English and Welsh Martyrs who were tortured and executed for the Faith you love so much.Do you forget those ordinary English people who hid priests in their homes at the risk of their lives?Believe me that spirit is still very much alive in English catholics today.Do not be ashamed or embarrassed about your English roots.It is a great legacy,and remember that this great and beautiful land is still Our Lady's Dowry and will be reeturned to her some day.

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  19. Terry: Why do they wear them?

    Is is silly to ask a Why? for a fashion item. One chould just as easily ask: "Why Whale bone corsetts? Or "Why skinny jeans?" or " Why torpedo bras?" It's fashionable - that's all.

    Yes they do wear them in France, and Canada and in the States as well.

    Though, just because it is fashionable doesn't mean everyone likes them.

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