Needless to say, it was thanks to Queen Victoria’s wedding that this accessory became popular once more. The popularity of the bridal veil went into decline for some time in the past but saw a resurgence during the Victorian period. Evidently, the opinion of the woman about her new husband mattered little in those days. Once the veil was lifted, however, the ‘transaction’ was regarded to have been completed and the man would no longer be able to “return” his wife. Marriage was considered to be a transaction between two families and the veil was meant to prevent the groom from changing his mind about the marriage in case he did not like what he saw. As an example, in the past, when arranged marriages were the norm, the bridal veil was meant to conceal the bride’s face from the groom. The bridal veil served a number of practical purposes in the past as well, though these are not as relevant today as their symbolic function. Jewish Orthodox Wedding – the wedding veil symbolizes the promise he is making to marry her for her inner beauty. In a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the veil, being red in color, was worn as an auspicious symbol in addition to its ability to chase away harmful spirits. In Christianity, the veil symbolizes the modesty and purity of the bride, as well as her reverence for God. In Jewish tradition, for example, it was the groom who placed the veil over the head of his future wife, and this is meant to symbolize the promise he is making to marry her for her inner beauty. The symbolic value of the bridal veil is seen also in other marriage traditions. ( Rui Vale de Sousa / Adobe) What Does the Bridal Veil Symbolize? Romantic Love: The Evolution of Courtship RitualsĪ Roman bridal veil was known as a flammeum.Ghost Marriages: Love For the Living and the Deceased.Rituals at a Modern Viking Wedding: A Blood Sacrifice, Bride Running, and Obligatory Drinking.Alternatively, it has been suggested that the veil was made to match the height of the bride, so that it may be re-used as her burial shroud. Additionally, the flammeum is thought to have covered the bride from head to toe, which was intended to make her look like she was on fire, hence giving it its apotropaic power. The color of the veil was meant to symbolize the couple’s intent to remain married for the rest of their lives. The Roman bride’s veil was known as a flammeum, which based on the word itself, is believed to be flame-colored. While this tradition has not survived to this day, the veil has. One of these, for instance, was to style the bride’s hair with a spear point. Therefore, measures had to be taken in order to ward off these malevolent beings. During this time, it was believed that the bride was especially vulnerable to the influence of evil spirits on her wedding day. It is commonly believed that the bridal veil was used as early as the Roman period. Although the veil is still used in weddings today, it has largely been reduced to a mere accessory, as its functions have mostly been forgotten or disregarded. Nevertheless, the veil served other important functions as well. In the past, it was believed that the bridal veil had apotropaic powers and was used primarily to ward away evil spirits. This bridal accessory is reckoned to have its origins in Roman times. The bridal veil is one of the most recognizable elements of a traditional Western bridal ensemble.
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