Something old, something new

Author: Karen Creel

Article: Something old, something new....

....something borrowed, something blue, a silver sixpence in her shoe. This well known rhyme is only one of many customs and traditions associated with the marriage ceremony. It originates from an old English superstition that required the bride to carry each of these objects with her as she walked down the aisle. Something old symbolized the bride's past and hope for a long marriage. Something new, the beginning of the bride and groom's new life together as husband and wife, something borrowed: ""borrowing"" the happiness of an existing marriage and using it to start happiness and joy in the couples new marriage. The bride carrying something blue symbolized loyalty and fidelity in the marriage: and a silver sixpence in her shoe symbolized good luck. Today's version of the wedding cake may have evolved from the early Roman tradition of breaking bread over the brides' head right after the ceremony. The wheat in the bread symbolized fertility and the crumbs were considered good luck. The custom of having flowers play a role in the wedding ceremony has long been a custom, but herbs have not been used as much in today's modern wedding. The symbolic use of herbs and the herbal theme wedding appears to be undergoing a revival. Every bride wishes for a fairytale wedding, and wants hers to be the one everyone remembers When you plan a wedding to incorporate herbs, you will create a lifetime of memories for you and your guests. There are scores of herbs that can be chosen by the bride and groom to express their love for each other, but there are five herbs that have the longest documented history in wedding ceremonies. Some date as far back as 2,000 years. Rosemary: ""that's for remembrance"". In ancient Greece brides entwined rosemary with myrtle and hawthorne to style their bridal crowns. Rue: ""to protect one from evil"" According to some eastern European customs, the brides's mother would present her daughter with a pot of rue she had taken from her own garden, for the daughter to start hers. Myrtle: represents ""true love"" Myrtle was the herb of the goddess of love, Venus. She used the herb's blossoms to fashion crowns and garlands for her followers to wear. Ivy: ""for fidelity"". The Roman bride and groom were given a bough of these heart shaped leaves and trailing stems of ivy during the wedding ceremony. Marjoram: ""the herb of joy, happiness and marital bliss"" Marjoram was woven into the crowns and nosegays of the bride and her attendents by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Herbs, dried, fresh, and their essential oils can be used before the ceremony, during the wedding itself, and the reception. Invitations scented with the essential oils of lavender, vanilla, or ylang ylang, are some of my favorites. (Place a cotton ball with several drops of oil in the corner of the box, not touching the paper). Herbs can used liberaly in the bride and attendants bouquets, and the groom and groomsmens boutonnieres. There are a number of good books with herbal recipes for main dishes, dips, cakes, punches, and teas, that will continue the herbal theme, and the wedding and reception area can be filled with the aroma of diffusing oil, bouquets or pots of fresh herbs, and herb scented candles. Whether you decide to plan an herb themed wedding, or just incorporate one or a few herbs in your ceremon, they will make your special day truly memorable. Karen Creel karen@gardenchick.com www.GardenChick.com

About the author: Karen Creel is a nurse by profession, but enjoys organic gardening in her urban garden. Using the harvest of the garden in cooking, herbal seasoning blends, bath and body products, dream pillows and pet products, Karen has developed a business GardenChick, to bring these products to the market. She has written several articles for the Essential Herbal Magazine, and a local womens magazine.