Re: Summer 2015 | Page 76

TOP 10 1 2 3 4 5 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. Queen Victoria is credited with starting the world trend for wearing white wedding dresses back in 1840 as before then brides simply wore their best dress. Brides traditionally wore veils because ancient Greeks and Romans believed they protected her from evil spirits. The tradition of a bride wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” comes from an Old English rhyme. Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future; somethi ng borrowed symbolizes borrowed happiness; something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity. The tradition of having matching bridesmaids dresses dates back to Roman times when people believed evil spirits would attend the wedding in attempt to curse the bride and groom. Bridesmaids were required to dress exactly like the bride in order to confuse the spirits and bring luck to the marriage. Wedding facts you probably didn’t know 6 7 8 9 10 In many cultures around the world — including Celtic, Hindu and Egyptian weddings — the hands of the bride and groom are literally tied together to demonstrate the couple’s commitment to each other and their new bond, hence the terms ‘tying the knot’ and ‘getting hitched’. The Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth is Juno who the month of June is named after. It’s no surprise that June is traditionally the most popular for weddings. The idea of the wedding cake also comes from ancient Rome, where guests broke a loaf of bread over the bride’s head for fertility’s sake. The tradition of the groom carrying the bride across the threshold is to protect her from evil spirits lurking below. Ancient Norse bridal couples went into hiding after the wedding, and a family member would bring them a cup of honey wine for 30 days — or one moon — which is how the term “honeymoon” originated. By Jason Edge THE GREAT OUTDOORS AL FRESCO £22.95 FOR THREE COURSES AND A GLASS OF PINOT £19.95 FOR TWO COURSES AND A GLASS OF PINOT B O O K A TAB LE TO D AY 0844 736 4251 www.HOTELDUVIN.com HOTEL DU VIN& BISTRO BRIGHTON Ship Street, Brighton, Sussex BN1 1AD TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Not available after 7pm on Friday, all day Saturday or during Sunday lunch. For full terms and conditions see website. 74