9. Bridal Veil
The veil is actually significant in several cultures. As well as helping to hide the bride’s appearance until she and the groom are ready to take their vows (a tradition that is still sometimes practiced in parts of the Middle East and Asia), women of Ancient Rome would actually wear a full-body veil that would later serve as their burial shroud. Just let that sink in for a minute. Judeo-Christian tradition actually holds that the practice of unveiling the bride started with Jacob. In the Bible, Jacob spent seven years as a laborer in service to his uncle Laban; in exchange, Laban had promised the hand of his younger daughter, Rachel. At the wedding, however, Laban exchanged Rachel for his older daughter, Leah, because it was the custom in his country for the older daughter to be married before the younger. Supposedly, the reason the bride wears a veil today is so that she can be unveiled and her father, who is expected to give her away, can show that he is not trying to deceive the groom. Obviously switching the bride with her sister isn’t something we really have to worry about these days, but it’s worth noting that veils are steadily disappearing.
Discussion about this post