Lesson 25: Wedding Traditions

Warm-Up:
What was the last wedding you attended? Describe the
wedding traditions in your country.

Activity 1 – Pre-Learn Vocabulary

herbs (n.) = plants with an aroma, used in cooking (for adding flavor) and in
traditional medicine
Ex) The roasted potatoes are seasoned with a mixture of herbs.
mob (n.) = a large crowd of people that is disorderly and possibly violent
Ex) An angry mob attacked the man who was suspected of being a rapist.
alliance (n.) = an association of two countries, groups, or people, formed to advance
common interests or for strategic reasons
Ex) Many countries formed an alliance to fight against Hitler in World War II.
sinister (adj.) = suggesting or threatening evil
Ex) Police are investigating a guy who made some sinister comments online
about planning a terrorist attack.
crumbs (n.) = small pieces of baked items (bread, cakes, cookies, etc.)

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braided (adj.) = when three ropes or sections of hair are woven
together, this is called a “braid”:
betrothal (n.) = an official promise to get married. This is an older
word; the more modern word is “engagement” (n.) or to say two
people are “engaged.”
gemstone (n.) = a precious stone that is usually cut and polished to
make jewelry. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are examples of gemstones. They are
also called “gems.”

single-handedly (adv.) = doing or achieving something alone, without help.

Ex) In the movie, the hero single-handedly defeats an entire army.

Activity 2 – Listen for General Ideas

Speaker: Julie – British
Put the wedding traditions mentioned in the listening in order
from 1 to 8:
 bridesmaids & groomsmen (a few of the bride’s and groom’s friends or
relatives who accompany them during the ceremony)
 wedding rings
 the bouquet (a bouquet is a bunch of flowers)
 the veil (a veil is a piece of fabric that covers a person’s face)
 throwing the bouquet & garter to guests
 wedding cake
 engagement rings
 white dress

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Activity 3 – Listen for Specific Details
1. The bouquet originated as...
a. a symbol of fertility
b. a way to make the bride more beautiful
c. protection from evil
2. Wedding guests used to...
a. fight each other for the chance to dance with the bride
b. tear off pieces of the bride's clothing
c. steal decorations during the ceremony
3. The color white was a symbol of...
a. femininity
b. purity
c. wealth
4. White dresses were popularized by...
a. a celebrity's daughter
b. a princess
c. a queen
5. Groomsmen used to help a man...
a. get enough money to purchase a wife
b. kidnap a woman to be his wife
c. prepare for the responsibilities of married life
6. Wedding cakes used to be...
a. broken over the bride's head
b. only for decoration
c. served before the ceremony
7. The modern wedding cake was invented by...
a. a British artist
b. a French chef
c. an Italian baker
8. The tradition of wedding rings originated in ancient...
a. Egypt
b. Greece
c. Rome

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9. Engagement rings became popular after...
a. people began marrying for love
b. society's elite began using them
c. the Pope required a waiting period for marriage
10. The DeBeers company's advertising campaign emphasized
diamonds'...
a. beauty
b. longevity
c. value

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Activity 4 – Listen for Specific Words
Today it’s traditional for brides to carry a beautiful bouquet of flowers on their
wedding day – but originally, the bouquet was _____________________ for its scent,
not for its beauty. It consisted of fragrant herbs which were believed to ward off evil
spirits and bad _____________________ by their strong aroma. The herbs were later
_____________________ by roses and other flowers that are more pleasing to the
eye.

In modern weddings, the bride’s bouquet and garter are tossed into the waiting
hands of guests – and it is said that whoever _____________________ them will be
the next to marry. This tradition dates back to medieval Europe, where it was
believed that having a piece of the bride's clothing would bring good luck – and
sometimes a mob of overeager guests literally _____________________ the clothing
off the bride! Brides began throwing the bouquet and garter in order to appease the
guests and prevent them from leaving her dress and _____________________ in
tatters.

Wedding dresses weren't always white – in the past, women would simply get
married in the best dress they _____________________, whatever its color. Many
people believe that white is used because it represents purity, but it was actually a
_____________________ of wealth – white fabrics were among the most expensive.
Queen Victoria was the one who popularized the white wedding dress, wearing one
for her wedding in 1840.

What about the wedding veil? In _____________________ marriages, the veil served
to hide the bride's face from the groom until after the ceremony - to prevent him
from backing out if he didn’t like what he saw. At the time, marriages were seen as
_____________________ transactions and ways to form alliances between families –
and this is why we have the tradition of the bride’s father walking her down the
aisle, to _____________________ “ownership” of the woman to her husband-to-be.

In American weddings, the bride is accompanied by several female friends or

_____________________ who are called bridesmaids. Many centuries ago, the
bridesmaids were actually dressed nearly identically to the bride – they were

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intended to be decoys that would _____________________ evil spirits (or jealous
suitors) who might want to ruin the wedding day!

The tradition of the groomsmen – the male friends/relatives who accompany the
groom – has a somewhat sinister origin. In sixteenth-century Europe, if there were
not enough women _____________________ in the local area, men would visit a
neighboring town and capture a woman to marry. The group of friends would assist
the groom in kidnapping the woman and fighting off her justifiably
_____________________ relatives.

Did you know that originally, the wedding cake was not eaten, but instead
_____________________ at the bride or broken over her head? It was made of wheat,
which represented fertility and _____________________, and guests would eat only a
few crumbs for good luck. Later, a new custom arose in the British Isles: biscuits and
cakes were stacked on top of each other, and the couple had to
_____________________ each other over the growing pile. A French chef later
transformed this _____________________ mound of baked goods into a work of art –
the iced, multi-tiered wedding cake.

The tradition of exchanging wedding rings may have originated in ancient Egypt,
where _____________________ would give each other rings made of braided grasses
and reeds. We can thank the Romans for the custom of wearing wedding rings on
the fourth finger of the left hand. They believed that this finger
_____________________ a vein that led directly to the heart. Although later studies
of anatomy disproved this notion, the tradition endures to this day.

As for engagement rings, these became popular in the 13th century, after the Pope
issued a decree establishing a _____________________ waiting period between a
betrothal and a wedding. At the time, engagement rings were made with various
gemstones and inscribed with poems or love messages. The _____________________
of the diamond engagement ring today is due to the DeBeers diamond company,
which single-handedly established a tradition with a very _____________________
advertising campaign using the slogan, "A Diamond is Forever."

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Complete Transcript
Today it’s traditional for brides to carry a beautiful bouquet of flowers on their
wedding day – but originally, the bouquet was assembled for its scent, not for its
beauty. It consisted of fragrant herbs which were believed to ward off evil spirits
and bad luck by their strong aroma. The herbs were later replaced by roses and
other flowers that are more pleasing to the eye.

In modern weddings, the bride’s bouquet and garter are tossed into the waiting
hands of guests – and it is said that whoever catches them will be the next to marry.
This tradition dates back to medieval Europe, where it was believed that having a
piece of the bride's clothing would bring good luck – and sometimes a mob of
overeager guests literally tore the clothing off the bride! Brides began throwing the
bouquet and garter in order to appease the guests and prevent them from leaving
her dress and dignity in tatters.

Wedding dresses weren't always white – in the past, women would simply get
married in the best dress they owned, whatever its color. Many people believe that
white is used because it represents purity, but it was actually a symbol of wealth –
white fabrics were among the most expensive. Queen Victoria was the one who
popularized the white wedding dress, wearing one for her wedding in 1840.

What about the wedding veil? In arranged marriages, the veil served to hide the
bride's face from the groom until after the ceremony - to prevent him from backing
out if he didn’t like what he saw. At the time, marriages were seen as business
transactions and ways to form alliances between families – and this is why we have
the tradition of the bride’s father walking her down the aisle, to transfer
“ownership” of the woman to her husband-to-be.

In American weddings, the bride is accompanied by several female friends or

relatives who are called bridesmaids. Many centuries ago, the bridesmaids were
actually dressed nearly identically to the bride – they were intended to be decoys
that would distract evil spirits (or jealous suitors) who might want to ruin the
wedding day!

The tradition of the groomsmen – the male friends/relatives who accompany the
groom – has a somewhat sinister origin. In sixteenth-century Europe, if there were

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not enough women available in the local area, men would visit a neighboring town
and capture a woman to marry. The group of friends would assist the groom in
kidnapping the woman and fighting off her justifiably angry relatives.

Did you know that originally, the wedding cake was not eaten, but instead thrown
at the bride or broken over her head? It was made of wheat, which represented
fertility and prosperity, and guests would eat only a few crumbs for good luck.
Later, a new custom arose in the British Isles: biscuits and cakes were stacked on
top of each other, and the couple had to kiss each other over the growing pile. A
French chef later transformed this disorganized mound of baked goods into a work
of art – the iced, multi-tiered wedding cake.

The tradition of exchanging wedding rings may have originated in ancient Egypt,
where couples would give each other rings made of braided grasses and reeds. We
can thank the Romans for the custom of wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger
of the left hand. They believed that this finger contained a vein that led directly to
the heart. Although later studies of anatomy disproved this notion, the tradition
endures to this day.

As for engagement rings, these became popular in the 13th century, after the Pope
issued a decree establishing a mandatory waiting period between a betrothal and a
wedding. At the time, engagement rings were made with various gemstones and
inscribed with poems or love messages. The predominance of the diamond
engagement ring today is due to the DeBeers diamond company, which single-
handedly established a tradition with a very successful advertising campaign using
the slogan, "A Diamond is Forever."

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014
Extra Vocabulary
"roses and other flowers that are more pleasing to the eye."

“Pleasing to the eye” is an expression that means attractive, something that is

nice to look at

"leaving her dress and dignity in tatters."

If something is “in tatters” it means it is torn into pieces. This word is usually
used for fabric, but it can also be used metaphorically – as in the example of her
dignity being left “in tatters” (ruined).

"to prevent him from backing out if he didn’t like what he saw"

The phrasal verb “back out” means to fail to keep a commitment or promise; to
reverse your intention.

"they were intended to be decoys who would distract evil spirits (or jealous
suitors)"

A “decoy” is a person or thing used to divert attention from the real target.
“Suitors” are men who are romantically interested in a woman, and are
pursuing a relationship with her.

"the iced, multi-tiered wedding cake."

The sugary cream that covers cakes and cupcakes is called “icing,” and the
adjective form is “iced.” A “tier” is a level – so a “multi-tiered” cake means the
cake has many levels on top of each other.

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Activity 2 Answers
1. the bouquet
2. throwing the bouquet & garter to guests
3. white dress
4. the veil
5. bridesmaids & groomsmen
6. wedding cake
7. wedding rings
8. engagement rings

Activity 3 Answers
1. c
2. b
3. c
4. c
5. b
6. a
7. b
8. a
9. c
10. b

Image sources: Mauro Cateb, Chris 73 at Wikipedia commons, Lupin

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014