In addition to exchanging wedding rings, there are several traditions that persist from long ago, such as wearing a white wedding dress, celebrating with a great feast or raising the bridal glasses after the first toast as newlyweds. These are customs rooted in ancient cultures, in which superstition is also mixed in. In fact, it is believed that it is good luck for the husband to carry hisWhat's the truth in that? Where does that tradition come from? We clarify all your doubts in the following lines.

A Roman custom

Gabriel Pujari

In Ancient Rome, the people were very superstitious in general and in matters of marriage, had a series of rituals that ended up being inherited from the Among them, the white robe and veil worn by the bride, the signing of the contract by the bride and groom, the kiss at the end of the ceremony and the spelt cake eaten during the banquet, equivalent today to the wedding cake, although with obvious changes.

All these traditions, typical of the Roman ceremony, evolved and are still in force to this day. However, there were also many that were lost because they were not updated to the new times, such as having the consent of the parents or sacrificing an animal as an offering to the gods. Now, if there is another custom that did manage to transcend, even though its meaning is massively unknown, it is that, after exchanging their gold rings, the man carries the woman in his arms when they arrive at theroom where they will spend their first night of marriage.

What the original act was like

Hacienda Venus

After the banquet, at nightfall, at weddings in Ancient Rome the bride was escorted between torches by some guests and musicians to the groom's house. Oak branches were carried as a symbol of fertility, and songs were sung with beautiful love phrases and picaresque sayings. Then, on the threshold of the new home, the bride offered prayers and impregnated with oil.The beams of the doors, to which she tied woolen ribbons, a symbol of domestic virtue. After that, and ready to enter, was lifted by two male members of the cortege. The groom, meanwhile, who had already gone ahead of her, waited for her in the courtyard of the house to complete another rite of offerings, before they went together to the wedding bed.

Why was she being carried

Jonathan Lopez Reyes

During those years, the Romans believed mightily in the evil spirits and they were convinced that many of them were stationed at the thresholds or entrances of houses. Evil beings who were mainly attracted by brides, whom they wished to harm, jealous of such happiness, which they did through the soles of their feet. Therefore, as a way of protecting the newlywed, the escorts carried her in their arms, thus preventing him from stepping on the ground and falling into the designs of some evil spirit. In fact, the veil and the bridesmaids served the same function.

But there was another reason as well. the Romans believed that tripping was an omen of bad luck. Otherwise, there was a risk that the woman would become entangled in her simple wedding dress -a straight tunic at that time- and fall right on the threshold when entering the home. Although it was not originally the groom who carried his wife, the tradition mutated over the years.

Alternative version

Pilar Jadue Photography

Although it is much less popular, there is another version that tries to explain this ritual and that has to do with the Goths, who lived around 1490 B.C. According to the story, the men of this Germanic people went out to look for women from nearby tribes when there were not enough in their village. And since they could only choose between the brave ones, they chose the one they liked the most as a wife and took her in their arms. This, because to stay in their village, they would take her with them.The abducted woman was not allowed to set foot on the ground during the journey from the place of abduction to her new home. Otherwise, the woman was released.

If you started the road to the altar with the delivery of the engagement ring, and you are lovers of traditions, you may want to culminate your big day in this way, adding some love phrases to dedicate in that special moment.