It will soon be the wedding season, and as the backlog from the pandemic years continues to be cleared, you might find yourself attending more marriage celebrations than usual, or perhaps are even tying the knot yourself. The world of weddings is a fascinating mixture of tradition and creativity, as people seek ways to combine the old and new.
While it can be refreshing to attend a wedding that breaks with formality and tradition, sometimes the most memorable and unique events look to the customs of the past. In Wales, many of the charming old customs have sadly fallen out of favour, but if you want to help keep these traditions alive, here are some of the old ways!
The Welsh love spoon
All weddings start with a courtship, and in the 17th century the blossoming of romance might have begun with a very special gift: the Welsh love spoon. These are intricately carved wooden spoons that were often crafted by young sailors to while away their spare time at sea, as well as to prove their skills at woodwork.
Over time, the handle of the spoon was carved to represent meaningful symbols, such as flowers, crosses, or locks and keys. The young man would then present his work as a gift to a young lady who had caught his eye, often with a hopeful proposal of marriage.
Love spoons have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, and are now often given as a wedding gift or to celebrate any other milestone occasion.
Flower girls
The role of the flower girl in traditional weddings is to walk down the aisle after the bridesmaids, scattering petals in the path of the bride. This not only looks charming, but was also thought to symbolise God’s favour. The girl (or sometimes boy) was usually the youngest member of the wedding party and related to the bride or groom.
In Wales, the flower girl would begin her journey on the road leading to the church or chapel, following behind the wedding party and scattering fresh flower petals to symbolise a happy journey in life for the bride and groom.
Myrtle bouquets
The historical Welsh bride usually carried a bouquet woven with myrtle leaves. The myrtle plant is associated with prosperity in love and life. and is traditionally used on ceremonial occasions. There are many references to myrtle in Greek mythology and scripture.
Cuttings of the leaves were given to the bridesmaids to plant and nurture, and if they successfully produced blossoms, it was said that they would go on to marry and have children.
Birdsong
It was said that if a bride was woken by birdsong on her wedding day, this was the sign that the heavens were in favour of the decision; a huge source of joy and relief, no doubt!
Throwing grain
It is usual to sprinkle the newlyweds with colourful confetti, but in Wales the lucky couple were often showered with grain. This symbolised a fertile marriage that would be blessed with children.