Roman Weddings

Presented by: Kavoiseir Beatty

The Roman wedding is the basis for many modern marriage customs.

There are some differences and similarities that are still used.

History

The first thing was an engagement ring when they could afford it.

The ring is worn symbolically on the third finger of the left hand.

Romans believed that a nerve ran from this finger directly to the heart.

Engagement Ring

At the wedding the bride was dressed in white, wore a veil and was with her bridesmaids by her side.

The Bride

They considered at the age of 12 through 14 as ready for marriage.

Fathers would choose a husband and deal with all of the arrangements.

Ready For Marriage

A lucky day was carefully chosen for the wedding to avoid any bad omens.

June was the favored month.Marriages in February and

May were forbidden.

My Lucky Day?

Marriage transferred a woman from the authority of her father to the authority of her husband.

That control extended even to life and death, but in reality it was limited to economic matters.

Trapped?

Divorce was no existing. Divorce was far more

viable option for women.

Divorce

The marriage had to be shown publicly to make the union official.

A way to show it was for the future bride and groom to appear in public holding hands.

Official Or Not?

The morning of the wedding the bride was dressed by her mother.

The most important part of her wedding dress was a belt, tied around her waist in the "knot of Hercules"

Hercules was considered the guardian of wedded life.

Only the husband could untie this knot.

Knot Of Hercules

The wedding was usually held at the home of the bride's father.

There had to be witnesses there, usually 10, for the ceremony to make it legal.

The bride and groom would stand before a priest and hold hands.

The Ceremony

The Roman vows were a chant, and were the same words for all brides and grooms.

The bride would say: "Quando tu Gaius, ego Gaia." (When and where you are Gaius, I then and there am Gaia.)

Its origin is deeply rooted in the lucky meaning of the name Gaius.

The Vows

After the vows, the bride and groom sat on stools, facing the alter.

An offering was made to Jupiter, which usually was cake.

When the priest had made the offering, this cake was eaten by the bride and groom

Congratulations were offered by the attending guests.

Dinner immediately after that.

After The Vows

After the dinner party, the bride was escorted to her husband's house.

This ceremony was the completion of the marriage, so it could not be changed.

The mother held her daughter, and the groom took his bride with a pretend show of force from her mother's arms.

Nuts were thrown by the participants instead of our traditional rice.

Completion

Before entering her new home, the bride recited the consent chant again.

Then the bride was carried over the threshold by her husband

The bride lit a fire with a special torch carried in front of the procession.

The torch was then blown out, and tossed among the guests, just like the bride's bouquet.

Married Life